19 Attachment(s)
Letter from the Producer LIVE Part LXXXI Digest (05/30/2024)
We are pleased to present the full digest of the Letter from the Producer LIVE Part LXXXI!
If you missed the live stream, or if you just want to watch it again (and again), check it out below!
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oh5piV-0MWQ?si=AQQF57VpzCXuJa60" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
* Don't forget to select the 1080p option to watch the video in HD!
DDoS Attacks, Follow-up on the Benchmark Update
(01:08:53)
Before discussing the latest Patch 7.0 news, we shared information regarding the recent DDoS attacks as well as the upcoming benchmark update.
DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) Attacks
(01:09:28)
At the time of the broadcast, our servers were under DDoS attacks—the largest and longest we’d seen since the launch of A Realm Reborn. Our Infrastructure team has been taking turns on a 24-hour shift and working with vendors around the globe to mitigate the effects of the attack as much as possible. Despite our efforts, however, there are times when the attacks manage to slip through our defenses and disconnect as many as 1,000 to 2,000 players at a time, for which we apologize to those affected.
The straightforward nature of overwhelming a server with packets from around the world makes DDoS attacks difficult to defend against, but the Infrastructure team and FFXIV team as a whole will continue doing our best to address the situation.
Latest News on the Benchmark Update
(01:13:53)
After the benchmark was released on April 14, we received a great deal of global feedback regarding the lighting and character models displayed in the character creation menu. The feedback and issues are currently being addressed, with Yoshida and the Character team carefully examining each and every point.
We shared a number of screenshots showcasing some of the updates.
Readjusting Environmental Parameters
Attachment 11836
(01:17:39)
After the benchmark was released, we reexamined the inner workings of character creation and found inconsistencies with the lighting, light sources, and parameters such as weather, which have since been adjusted. The screenshot above was taken with the environmental changes only, and the character assets are still the same as the original version of the Dawntrail benchmark.
The updated version of the benchmark will feature a closer replication of the in-game environment.
Keepers of the Moon’s Fangs
Attachment 11837 Attachment 11838
(01:20:50)
We received comments that the fangs, a cherished trait of Miqo’te Keepers of the Moon, were shorter than before. As such, we are working on making them a similar length to what they were in Patch 6.58, for both male and female Keepers of the Moon. In each of the comparisons above, the image on the far right shows what we are currently working on, and after our players expressed their opinions during the broadcast, those will be the versions we will be moving forward with.
Attachment 11839
Other feedback pointed out how the fangs were shorter on certain faces, but this was working as intended due to an internal setting which adjusts fang length based on certain combinations of face and mouth types. We are currently adjusting the fang lengths to be what they should be according to this setting.
Lalafell Teeth
Attachment 11840
(01:26:09)
We adjusted the teeth of Lalafell characters based on the feedback we received.
Other Points
(01:28:53)
We are also working on the “smile lines” on characters’ faces, which were also mentioned in a lot of comments.
The first phase of the graphical update brought about improved lighting, which made these smile lines more prominent. We remade the normal maps (a way of mimicking surface details) for all character races, and also made changes to the actual polygons for certain races.
Schedule for Updated Benchmark
(01:31:07)
Our tentative release dates for the updated benchmark are either Thursday, May 30 or Friday, May 31, but there’s still a chance of a delay, so we’ll inform you when we have a concrete date.
Patch 7.0 News
We went over job-related information for Patch 7.0 and other news in both Japanese and English.
Fantasia
(01:32:11)
In Patch 7.0, we’ll be adding a new quest which will be available in Ul’dah from an early level and will reward a phial of Fantasia upon completion. We decided to distribute the Fantasia through a quest so future players can also redeem it when they start playing after Patch 7.0.
With the changes made in the updated benchmark, as of Patch 7.0, the character creation menu will be almost an exact replica of the in-game environment. However, we understand that many of you would like to review any changes to your character in familiar areas, so the new functionality of Fantasia will allow you to re-edit your character as many times as you like for 60 minutes. The 60 minutes will be counted based on playtime and won’t count down when you’re logged out.
Job Adjustments
Attachment 11841 Attachment 11842
(01:39:10)
Job adjustments in 7.0 will focus on improving ease of play for each job and making changes based on the feedback we received during the 6.x series. We avoided making drastic changes in design direction, but certain jobs’ rotations will be changed, most notably with the addition of new actions.
The 7.x series will be our time to focus on organizing the control schemes of each job, as well as concentrate on improving gameplay satisfaction and creating more room for player ingenuity in our content; as such, enhancing each job’s identity is something we might focus on for the expansion after Dawntrail.
Action Change Settings
(01:42:29)
As a way for us to introduce new actions without taking up too much hotbar space, a number of jobs will feature specific actions which will be automatically replaced on the hotbar by a follow-up action when used.
In response to previous feedback about accidentally pressing a follow-up action when repeatedly mashing the buttons, Patch 7.0 will offer an option to disable this auto-replacement for individual actions. We hope you’ll try them out and pick whichever option feels better for you!
From here, we showed a brief overview of updates to each job in 7.0. As a reminder, not all changes and adjustments were showcased during this segment—the full details will be revealed in the 7.0 patch notes.
Tanks
Attachment 11843
(01:48:50)
We began by introducing the changes to tank jobs. Each tank job will gain different additional effects on their 30% damage reduction abilities.
Paladin
Attachment 11844
(01:53:00)
The second and third executions of Atonement will be replaced with new actions that have their own animations and graphical effects.
The combo beginning with Blade of Faith will be followed by a new action.
There will also be smaller changes, such as the execution of Fight or Flight granting access to Goring Blade.
Warrior
Attachment 11845
(01:55:30)
Warrior will receive a direct upgrade with the increased level cap.
Using Fell Cleave or Decimate three times during Inner Release will allow for the execution of a new action, which can be seen in the job action trailer.
Other changes include another new action which will unleash an even bigger burst of damage after Primal Rend, and an upgraded version of Inner Chaos with a new animation and graphical effect.
Similarly, a number of other jobs have received adjustments to the graphical effects of certain actions that you may have grown tired of after many years.
Dark Knight
Attachment 11846
(01:58:17)
The changes to dark knight will alleviate how busy their inputs can be during burst phases. Additionally, Living Shadow will no longer require Blood Gauge to execute.
Gunbreaker
Attachment 11847
(02:04:40)
Gunbreaker will also be undergoing a direct upgrade, in the form of new combos and actions. A new three-step combo, Lionheart, will be executable after using Bloodfest. Long action animations are difficult to implement under FFXIV’s global cooldown system, but our Motion and VFX teams worked hard to realize Lionheart as a three-step combo and we hope you’ll look forward to the fruits of their labor!
Additionally, to improve the flow of burst phases, activating No Mercy will be the new prerequisite for executing Sonic Break.
Melee DPS
Attachment 11848
(02:07:53)
The healing potency of Second Wind will be increased and the duration of Feint will be extended to 15 seconds for all melee DPS jobs. These changes are meant to improve ease of use so our developers can have more freedom in designing boss enemies with all sorts of unique actions.
Monk
Attachment 11849
(02:09:40)
Up until now, the core mechanic of monk’s basic combo involved maintaining buffs and Demolish’s damage-over-time (DoT). With the new system, using combo actions in a certain order will increase the potency of a subsequent action, much like how using Dragon Kick increases the potency of the next Bootshine. However, we tried to avoid making the combo too straightforward while preserving the feel of monk’s existing gameplay. The new HUD elements may seem complicated at first, but we hope they’ll help you spend less time staring at your buffs and debuffs once you get the hang of them.
Furthermore, Six-sided Star will now consume all accumulated chakra and increases its potency based on the number of chakra consumed. Where it’ll be used during your rotation will likely depend on the encounter.
Dragoon
Attachment 11850
(02:13:52)
We had originally planned a major overhaul for dragoon, but after deciding that direct upgrades would be our overall focus for 7.0 job adjustments, we focused on making improvements to dragoon as well. These changes include reducing the busyness of positionals and organizing its actions with the Change Action feature.
Vorpal Thrust and Disembowel will be upgraded into new actions with new animations and graphical effects. Spineshatter Dive, which existed to increase dragoon’s damage output, will be removed and replaced with an action used solely for movement.
Ninja
Attachment 11851
(02:18:55)
As seen in the job action trailer, the pinwheel gauge indicating Huton’s duration has been replaced with a HUD element for a new job mechanic. With this change, actions which previously extended the duration of Huton’s effect will be adjusted.
Samurai
Attachment 11852
(02:21:05)
Samurai will receive improvements to ease of play and new actions alongside the new level cap. Leveling up will unlock a trait which reduces the recast of Hissatsu: Guren and Hissatsu: Senei.
Reaper
Attachment 11853
(02:23:54)
Reaper will also primarily receive improvements to ease of play and new actions alongside the new level cap. As one of its smaller changes, using Harpe under the effect of Enhanced Harpe will reduce the recast of Hell’s Ingress and Hell’s Egress.
Viper
Attachment 11854
(02:45:50)
The fast-paced viper job is a master of fluid attacks, chaining its dual blade combo into combined weapon abilities, and its combined weapon combo into its dual blade abilities.
Viper will have a similar total number of actions compared to other jobs but is designed to have noticeably fewer actions that need to be placed on the hotbar. Our demonstration of the rotation may seem like it’s simply pressing the same buttons over and over, but it’s crucial to know which weaponskills to use based on the current state of your buffs and debuffs, which are shown on viper’s job gauge.
Check out the timestamp above for a sneak peek at viper’s stylish attacks, as well as how they’re automatically replaced on the hotbars!
The basic combo gradually fills a gauge, which is consumed to use Reawaken and enter a powered-up state. The weaponskills used during Reawaken have a quick recast, and your goal is to unleash the full combo and return to the standard rotation before you drop your buffs or debuffs.
We hope players will feel a rush of exhilaration with the rapid pace of viper’s rotation. It may seem complicated and intimidating when you’re starting out, but beginners can simply follow along by pressing whichever button is glowing.
On the other hand, with how few actions viper has on their hotbar, you may be worried that the job will get too easy once you get used to its overall flow. However, you’ll be juggling three major components in combat: a buff that decreases auto-attack delay, another buff that increases damage dealt, and a debuff that increases a target’s damage taken. You’ll need to quickly decide which combo to use based on the remaining duration of these three effects, making viper quite the technical job to master!
Under certain conditions, viper can use a ranged action with its own combo, so you’ll need to decide whether to use the action or forego the combo and return to the main rotation. Another option is a gap closer that allows you to close the distance between you and an enemy.
Additionally, the combined weapon combo branches into two weaponskills which can be used in either order, each followed by two abilities whose order is determined by the preceding weaponskill.
For those looking to dual-wield blades for a speedy and stylish fight, the viper job is for you!