Alpha First Look: Video 3 - The Black Shroud

I love the new look, the fact that the areas are filled with 'stuff' instead of being empty.

But the key is going to be - does that stuff represent content? The game can look and feel like the nicest game ever but unless its stuffed with compelling content.....

Here's hoping.

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Originally Posted by shane239

Just let me play the alpha already :P

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Have to agree - I can't wait to hopefully try Alpha, everything I see makes waiting even more difficult.

The music and ambient sounds remind me of the nature CDs I own (Dan Gibson's Solitudes). The South Shroud's music reminds me of the "Garden in Provence" or "The English Country Garden" tracks. This game and the video is a DEFINITE plus for me!

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Originally Posted by Tupster

Jump jump jump jump jump jump.

Jumping seems to serve almost no purpose except to make me wonder why somebody is jumping. I was going to wait to complain until I saw how nervous players would be, but after seeing the Live Letter and now even this video where the PR rep can't keep from jumping, I must say that I really hate the jumping. It is really distracting. It looks bad (one should jump differently if one is running vs. standing still). It also seems like it will actually be unneeded to actually get anywhere.

The jumping needs to be fixed.

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Those that didnt want jump at all are all saying "I told you so" with all the random bunny hopping; me included. Seeing that Live Letter where everyone was jumping just because was so annoying and this video where the Mithra, I mean Mi'Qote, jumped 5 times just before that bridge had me wondering what all the jumping was for.

I now laugh to myself thinking they all have a serious case of ants in their pants ;)

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Originally Posted by Bittereye

Those that didnt want jump at all are all saying "I told you so" with all the random bunny hopping; me included. Seeing that Live Letter where everyone was jumping just because was so annoying and this video where the Mithra, I mean Mi'Qote, jumped 5 times just before that bridge had me wondering what all the jumping was for.

I now laugh to myself thinking they all have a serious case of ants in their pants ;)

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I don't agree with your post, but its Miqo'te.

Hyrstmill (ハーストミル）　looks so much better and like a real outpost now. I wonder how the defenses in the new hamlets will be.

And I am really glad that the map isn't all instantly revealed anymore. Was one of the first complaints about maps lol.

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Originally Posted by Bittereye

Those that didnt want jump at all are all saying "I told you so" with all the random bunny hopping; me included. Seeing that Live Letter where everyone was jumping just because was so annoying and this video where the Mithra, I mean Mi'Qote, jumped 5 times just before that bridge had me wondering what all the jumping was for.

I now laugh to myself thinking they all have a serious case of ants in their pants ;)

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It looked like Popcorn! I do like being able to jump for the fact i wont be getting stuck on a little rock or having to walk around a random chunk of fence in the middle of nowhere. the novelty will wear off after a while. its useful and there for those who want it.

New rule. Any thread that mentions jump gets immediately ignored. I think that might be a good way to stop embarassing ourselves in front of the rest of the MMO community that doesn't have this insane obsession that a small but extremely loud portion of FFXIV players do. Get over it already, jeez.

As for the video, I love everything about it except the video's quality. I can't wait to see some other regions.

Im kinda tired of seeing only the Shroud... i want to see a little bit of the rest of the world :(

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Originally Posted by KamikazeMan

I absolutely love this! However, I do have some problems with it as well:

The areas, while populated with NPCs, feel...dead. Empty. I'm not talking about the lack of players, but the lack of things going on with NPCs. They just stand there not doing anything. I wish they would have voice clips that loop, do some gestures......something. They can have merchants say something like "Come one come all! I have wares for sale!" every 5 minutes or so or that guild leve NPC say "Dare to take up the challenge, adventurer?". Throw in some kids running around playing tag, throwing rocks at each other, animals roaming around, rodents sneaking into houses, people arguing (with voices), etc. Those are just ideas.

I also really can't stand these new animations. They feel so generic. The animations XIV has now make my character and all of the characters feel more life like. It's like they are putting so much detail into everything but the animations.

I hate to complain because I get that SE has put a tremendous amount of work into re-launching XIV.

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I noticed this too, however I am leery to request such a feature! Ever play Everquest II? They had this and it got so annoying NPC's would jump, holler, and yell to get your attention everytime you traversed to another area! You leave come back to the same area and the same NPC would do the same thing over and over.

Maybe it's just a matter of adjusting the timing, or using it sparingly in an area instead of having ALL NPC's do it. but when ppl mention stuff like this I cringe because that is all I can think about is how annoying it was to have all the NPC's yelling at you when you enter an area! lol

Now an interesting dynamic would be have this tied to fame/reputation! As you do more for a faction or area the more attention you get from the NPC's and they ask for your help directly!