Dev Suggestion...One "final" expansion(?) can be made for FFXI.

[draconus]

I've been playing this game for quite a long time. And while I was happy to see SoA (the final expansion for PS2 players, but I'm on PC) I still haven't worked through a few of the previous expansion storylines. I guess I like to take my time and enjoy the journey in this EPIC game. I don't like to rush level to 99 on some job classes because they're too fun to play on the way up! Plus I have 3 extra characters besides my main that I'm going to have fun leveling up from scratch and going through the storylines from different perspectives.

Over the past few months I have finally completed the CoP and Zilnart missions (thank you Trusts and new LS!) and I'm working my way through ToAU and WoG. The released and the upcoming scenarios (which I will get once they're released), are great additions even though I haven't completed a single one of the scenarios yet...

But after all this, I had an idea... While I'm sure this same idea may have occurred to the developers but they probably decided against it since the Japanese developers might have felt it was too "tired". *hint hint*

So here is the idea for an actual new "expansion" pack (not a scenario).

There has always been a place that many characters have gone and came back with new job classes, and has even been mentioned by multiple NPCs. Tenzen is from there, and MENTIONED that are issues still going on that he must address there. Noillurie was there in the past. The Tenshodo has exclusive trading routes with them...

THE FAR EAST. Norg would be a perfect place to have a ferry port access to that region. And obviously it would be Japanese and Chinese themed architecture, monsters, and mythos. ToAU took place in a sort of Middle-Eastern setting, so further east should mean Far East.

The prominent "beastmen" for the region should be Kitsune (fox people) that are somewhat similar in size and shape to the Qiqirn but are both friendly and mischievous to the main 4 races (although I think they should have some enmity and dislike for Mithra or vice versa...), AND tanuki type beastmen.
There can easily be a vast variety of new monsters i.e:

Red/Blue/and green Ogres -(not orcs) that like sake, fighting, are ridiculously tough and personality should be according to their color.
Kasa-obake -(one-legged umberalla monster)
Yuki-onna -("Real" ones, not that wanna-be bomb monster in Uleguerand range).
Tengu - Make them very distinctive from Yagudo...
Jorogumo- Spider women.
Kappa - Should be easy to figure out.
Noppera-bō (should be like the Fomor, but completely no facial features at all and dressed more for the region)
Bakeneko- two tailed cat demons. Mithra should feel a bit creepy around them (with two tails and similarities and all...)
Nurikabe - Some areas in this region should have this "fake wall" monster that obstructs random paths sometimes.
Heikagani- Easy to make this one, just put a creepier face-like texture on a crab mobs for the region.
Konaki-jiji - A creepy but small mob that should favor using weight/slow/paralyzing attacks on players.
A more promenint, substantial "ghost candle" monster for cemeteries that are highly resistant to melee, but weak to magical.
Mukade- Giant centipedes make great monsters...

And many other "youkai" that can be pulled from the region. Allow Kirin and Raidou to roam about there.

2 NEW Job Classes.
It's kinda hard to create some since SAM and NIN were already taken before this proposed expansion, but I have 1 solid new unique class/ and a few melee ideas I wouldn't mind sharing if the devs are seriously interested in it.
Of course there should be new AF sets/weapons specific to this region as well.

New SMN avatar
I've been holding on to this one for years. But it is very special and has something to do with it's own storyline/quest/mission that could easily plug into the FFXI world. I'll only share this if the devs would be seriously interested in progressing with this. If not I will keep it for my own intentions. I have character designs for this. If I release it to SE it can become their property.

Storyline
Shouldn't be to hard to cobble something together that is interesting with this. Here are the materials:
Tenzen obviously should be involved, as well as an Emperor, Japanese princesses/young princes, Shogun Warlords, Youkai/Human conflicts or power struggles, Shinobi (and shadowy organizations), Courtesans/Geishas, and Inner/outer court conflicts. Now try and tell me we can't make something out of that! Oh... and one little note. I think any storyline created for such an expansion requires at least one powerful and well known 9 tailed fox that can change shape between human/fox form... it is expected

Regional landscape and battlefield designs
Once again, I have artwork for this. Will only send to devs if they're seriously interested. Once released it can become under SE's property rights.

So that's the basics for it. Depending on how profitable developing such an expansion for such an old but still well loved game that still has so many fans. If the devs are truly interested and their bosses say, "Oh sure, why not! We'll invest in this idea!" then I hope I'll get some contact so I can send more detailed information about the ideas I have for such an expansion.

My reward from all this would be if they make it, I can play it.

[Sayomi]

Personally I think we should have an expansion that takes place in 3 different regions, and then interlink all three of them within. Tavnazia >> Far East >> Mithra Homeland and have the storyline throw you back and forth between all 3. Hardcore besieged type events in Tavnazia, ect. When you think about it PC only leaves alot of room for possibility.