Letter from the Producer LIVE Part XXXIV Digest (1/13/2017)

Greetings, everyone!

We're pleased to present the full digest of the Letter from the Producer LIVE Part XXXIV! If you missed the live stream, or if you just want to watch it again (and again), check it out below!

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* Please note that a portion of the video is unavailable as the viewing period has ended.

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0:05:56

Patch 3.5 Special Part 2

This being the second part of the Patch 3.5 special, we introduced some of the new content by showing it off with live game play.

0:09:08

The group pose feature will receive an update, and it will now be possible to edit your screenshots. Lots of features that will allow you to change the borders of the picture, add hearts, and apply filters will be added.

*The video introduces the new group pose features with live game play.

0:10:37

Recently there have been players that have been filming in-game footage for a television drama, and I would like to make an announcement.

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The cast for the show is really superb, and it will be broadcast on television next spring. To give a brief summary, the show is about a father and son who play FFXIV together, but the father doesn’t know it's his son playing with him until they beat Twintania. Be sure to watch and see how the live-action parts and in-game footage come together.

0:12:48

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The party finder will also be receiving an update, and I feel there is a good possibility that this will make it less of a necessity for players to try and move to heavily populated servers. With the party finder listing parties from across the entire data center, you may have an easier time playing on a less populated World. This new feature will open up many possibilities.

Additionally, we’re also adding a feature that will allow you to automatically progress through the text shown during story cutscenes, and you’ll be able to change the message speed in real time as well. For voiced scenes, it will progress forward once the entire line is delivered. We’ll be listing out more details on this feature in the patch notes.

0:16:03

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Patch 3.5 is divided into two parts, and the second half of the main scenario will be implemented in Patch 3.5 Part 2 which is scheduled for March. We’ll be implementing patches other than this, however, so you can expect periodic updates after the release of Patch 3.5 Part 1 on January 17th.

0:17:14

I teased some art previously, but we’ll be implementing the Paissa-themed housing exterior and painting furnishings. Additionally, we’ll also be making it possible to add the much requested Cupfish to aquariums.

*The video introduces new housing-related items with live game play.

0:19:52

Main Scenario

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I've mentioned before that the expansion will involve the reclamation of Ala Mhigo, and the main scenario will start to head in this direction. With peace being attained in Ishgard and the revival of the four city-state alliance of Eorzea, seeing Aymeric in a setting such as this is curious indeed. You’ll also start seeing mention of “Omega” which I spoke about a bit during the keynote. We’ll be debuting the Patch 3.5 trailer in the new year, so please look forward to it!

0:21:46

Zurvan the Demon

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The stage for the last of the Warring Triad, Zurvan the Demon, is set in a high place─but you won’t fall. The battlefield will gradually become smaller and smaller, but this is only a portion of the dramatic fight. As for the battle's theme, where Sephirot was a large game of jump rope and Sophia was a mind training game, I suppose you could call the Zurvan fight a game of Red Rover. In any event, this is an authentic primal battle. I believe there are many players now that have conquered Alexander: The Creator (Savage), so this will be a slightly more difficult battle than Sophia for players to tackle. This will be the hardest content implemented in Patch 3.5, and we’re hoping we can deliver a challenge.

Naturally, on the story side of things, there will be a lot of deep lore-related aspects involving Regula van Hydrus and whether we will see behind the mask of Unukalhai, so definitely be sure to check it out.

*The video introduces Zurvan the Demon with live game play.

0:27:06

Dun Scaith

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Dun Scaith is the location where the people of Mhach attempted to flee to on the ark to avoid the great flood.

You’ll be greeted by a boss battle as soon as you enter, but be careful─the rails on the airship will break. As usual, falling off the airship will result in a KO, but it will be possible to be revived. The dungeon will look different than what you’ve seen before, and battles will be taking place in a gothic town setting.

We received a lot of feedback in regard to the difficulty of Ozma, and we've decided to tune the difficulty of Dun Scaith to the same level as that of Mhach. However, since there was feedback that it took a bit too long to finish Mhach, we’ve designed Dun Scaith to be slightly shorter. Additionally, we made this somewhat different than our previous 24-man raids, and instead of the “defeat monsters, defeat a boss, defeat monsters” flow that you’re all used to, the boss battles, progression, and cutscenes are all combined into one, so I hope you’re looking forward to experiencing it.

*The video shows off Dun Scaith with live game play.

0:36:51

Exploratory Missions

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Though the name of this content will not be changing, in Patch 3.5 Part 2 we’ll be completely revamping Exploratory Missions. Rest easy knowing that some of the materials that can only be obtained through Exploratory Missions will be available through other means in Patch 3.5 Part 1. As there has been a lot of feedback from around the world, we will be splitting entry into two categories: hunting and gathering.

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One of the biggest changes is that objectives will be constantly displayed per party upon entry. Once an objective has been completed the next objective will be set, and the content will show how to play and what to do.

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Once you’re done with a mission, you’ll be rewarded with a new item, a lockbox, and by unlocking it you can obtain equipment and spoils. One thing we received a lot of feedback on was how there were many lotting battles going on when there were many of the same roles in a party. In response to this everyone will be rewarded individually upon finishing, so you’ll be able to obtain your equipment. Treasure chests will also appear when defeating monsters, but the rate for this happening is not set very high. Lockboxes can be obtained from these treasure chests as equipment will not drop directly from them.

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Island-wide battles will occur at random in each area using the FATE system. They have been designed to occur at a higher frequency than FATEs outside of the Diadem.

We’d like players to talk amongst their parties to decide whether or not to hop into these FATEs while they are tackling their objectives. Naturally, if you complete one of these FATEs you will earn a reward.

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Once certain requirements are fulfilled in the nine party Diadem area, a special raid battle will also take place. After the requirements are fulfilled you’ll see an area-wide announcement, and we’d like players to work together to find out the strategy for how to beat the boss. It has been made so that it cannot be beaten without at least four parties present, and as it is different from an alliance raid, you will have to shout in that area to gather the people required, so please cooperate with other parties in the area to defeat it.

*The video introduces images of seasonal event equipment and new emotes with live game play.


Movie director, illustrator, and character designer Keita Amemiya joined the show in the second half and made an announcement about the collaboration between Garo and FINAL FANTASY XIV.