The Feast - 4.2 Updates!

Hi, everyone!

To coincide with the end of the latest episode of Adrenaline Rush TV, the Japanese PvP stream, we have some new information about the Feast updates to share! Feel free to check out the stream here.

Allow me to share the updates with you!

New Map

The Crystal Tower Training Grounds, the new map that was unveiled during the last Letter from the Producer LIVE, will be the only map in the rotation for both solo and team ranked matches. However, it will actually have four different wall patterns that are decided randomly before the start of the match. A nice way to spice up your matches!

Attachment 4872 Attachment 4873

New UI Elements

The job icon will now be displayed next to a player's name plate!

Attachment 4874

Medal icons have also been adjusted to match the updated medal system!

1-25 Medals
Attachment 4877

26-50 Medals
Attachment 4878

51-75 Medals
Attachment 4879

76-100 Medals
Attachment 4880

Can't pick up*
Attachment 4881

* Since Patch 4.2 will add a role-based medal cap, there will be situations that prevent you from picking up medals.

For instance, a tank can carry up to 200 medals. Let's imagine a situation where the tank is currently carrying 150 medals, and 75 are dropped by an enemy player. This tank will be able to pick up 50 medals and 25 will remain on the ground. Either someone else from the team picks them up, or they will return to their initial carrier after a few seconds.

New Debuff Icons

Debuffs inflicted by Crowd Control actions (Bind, Stun, Heavy, Sleep, Silence) will now be easier to track thanks to the icons appearing above affected characters!

Attachment 4882

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That's it for now! If you have missed previous updates coming with Patch 4.2, have a look at this forum thread. You can also see some more images on the updated Patch 4.2 special site.

What do you think about these changes? Are you excited to create your team and compete with others? Let us your know your thoughts! :)

Looking forward to the next season.

Are those debuff icons feast exclusive or will that be across all pvp areas like frontlines and rival wings?

Thank you for the information, and the idea of 4 different configurations sounds interesting, but I'm a bit concerned with the part that mentions the new map will be the only map in the rotation for solo and ranked. Will this be for the preseason (I'm assuming with a new map, we'll have a preseason, yes?), or is this going to be a permanent thing? And what of the previous maps?

I hope they have a priority system for the display of the debuff effects. If a player is affected by 2 debuffs like slow and stun, which one will appear? The stun is way more important to know for the mch ability for example or when you want to limit break somebody.

Would be good if its something like this
Stun>Silence>Sleep> Bind=Heavy

but I fear the animation for the first debuff applied will stick for the whole duration until the next is shown.
So I think its nice to see that they want to remove the necessity to track debuffs even more, but lets see how reliable it is.

Lichenweed map looked really good even though the abundance of obstacles made the original feast map a better map. But I don't see a reason to ditch both. Maybe they are still there for training and 8vs8 atleast?

Instead of different map presets, dynamic map terrain changes or new walls appearing/old walls disappearing at specific map times could be interesting.

Now its good to see that we got JP PvP info at the same time in other languages. Last time with Rival Wings, info was really late compared to jp ...

Looking forward to trying this out.

Only one map? Boohoo, we need variety not more simplicity. The debuff is a good addition. I still hate the medal system but maybe it will be slightly better next season.

I hope you don't ditch the other maps completely and just rework them to be uniform (but taking place in different locations). Would help spice things up a bit. Love the randomness aspect.

I really like the new method of displaying debuffs - it's a really nice touch.

The aesthetics of the new map are interesting, too. Is there a possibility of new music tracks being added in the future for Feast?

Can we get more information on what is happening with the other maps? Cutting content is not something that should be lightly thrown around...

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Originally Posted by Kai_Lee

Only one map? Boohoo, we need variety

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??

I hope you're not serious. we've got like 4-5 maps now.

He's referring to the comment that the new Crystal Tower map (with its 4 different variations) will be the only one in the rotation for Solo and Ranked, which I find a little concerning.

Didn't they JUST add the Lichenweed map in 3.55?

So essentially very mild UI changes, with the normal feast maps replaced by a circle with two to four walls. Nothing about rank decay, so people play more than two weeks in the season, nothing about incentives for gold and below to get new people in the mode, still the same issues with healers being the key role, and the role hardest to fill, etc. I'm not even sure what the point of visible CC is, its not like you can esuna or remove it, and its duration currently is so short you don't have time to react to it.

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Originally Posted by RiyahArp

I'm not even sure what the point of visible CC is, its not like you can esuna or remove it, and its duration currently is so short you don't have time to react to it.

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It can help to set up the burst at the right moment, if you see the tank just cc the healer for whatever reason, the burst will most likely fail. It's to decrease the time you have to pay attention to the small debuff and buff icons, the same way boss battles in PvE get charging animations for tankbuster, you don't have to keep an eye on the castbar for that anymore.

But ye current cc effects wont last long and other than the person itself, nobody else can remove it with purify anymore.


I expect some more skill and potency adjustments maybe in the final patchnotes, but not really another major change that would alter the way healer work atm. Just tell you that there are always 2 sides... as a good healer you can get poor dps and still lose. There will always be some people in unranked who play their first feast match at lvl 30 as sprout, ofc it seems impossible to win that. But once you get higher, the carry potential of a healer will find it limits too.

Is the new debuff icons only applied in feast? It would be chaos if it's on 24/48 man with multiple targets. As much I like having a team who can burst single target, I don't like there some trolls who abuse target signs and the team goes "Oh look...squirrel!". At least with signs I can take it off the other targets.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by uvuvwevwevweonyetenyevweugwemu

some trolls who abuse target signs

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There are not signs/marks, they are effects if the debuff is active.

I can see people asking for this in PvE soon, as they did with the 1 button combos.

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Originally Posted by Commander_Justitia

There are not signs/marks, they are effects if the debuff is active.

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Yea I get it but tbh people aren't that smart figuring out who to hit. Just the presence of the icon can confuse them for target marks. Nothing big ofc, can always emphasize it on chat. Thinking it over, might be better to know when they're being distracted.

Two things.

1. I take it that The Feasting Grounds and Lichenweed will still be available with the Training queue and Custom Matches. Don't see a point in removing them from ranked matches but whatever. Shame, would have been great to have 6 maps (if you count each CT pattern as its own map) when you do ranked matches.

2. I read (not on this forum) that the new PvP gear will only be available with Wolf Collars and not Wolf Marks? Is this true?

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Originally Posted by OskarXCI

2. I read (not on this forum) that the new PvP gear will only be available with Wolf Collars and not Wolf Marks? Is this true?

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I highly doubt it's gonna be purchased with Wolf Collars. It takes atleast 2 seasons to get one Feast weapon which costs 10 Wolf Collars. Adding armors there makes np sense. They do the same like in ARR and HW and simply add more armors to the normal npc you get PvP armors from.

Will the old maps still be available in training and other modes? I wish we could get some answers to these simple questions...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Commander_Justitia

There are not signs/marks, they are effects if the debuff is active.

I can see people asking for this in PvE soon, as they did with the 1 button combos.

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While 1 button combos would over simplify the PvE, these debuff effects would actually help a lot.

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Originally Posted by ProtoPersona

While 1 button combos would over simplify the PvE

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I'd say that would be a quality of life change more than simplification. It also frees up space for additional abilities to be added in the future.

As long as they make it optional, and especially if they DON'T force that on Machinist. Taking our non-linear shot combo and making it linear in PvP was a step backward for the job, and it's only saved by the fact that it deals damage on par wiith a melee, but at range.

Hope they nerf Astro abit also because right now they are crazy good

I hope they rework healer abilities for a more aggressive play.

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your comments! While we can't answer everything - yet, here are a few additions to answer some questions :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Cabalabob

Are those debuff icons feast exclusive or will that be across all pvp areas like frontlines and rival wings?

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The debuff icons are note exclusive to the Feast. They will also be displayed in Frontlines and Rival Wings.

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Originally Posted by Belisaire

Can we get more information on what is happening with the other maps? Cutting content is not something that should be lightly thrown around...

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While the Crystal Tower Training Grounds will be the only map used for ranked matches, the Feasting Grounds and Lichenweed will not disappear. You will be able to keep playing on these 2 maps via custom matches.

That's sad, hearing only 1 map for rank feast.

I kind of wish those debuff animations would appear in PVE as well.

Will the other maps be considered for ranked matches in the future? It feels like a waste, and we were just starting to get some variety in what maps we get

There's some other Feast news that was released awhile back that I haven't seen mentioned since, namely the information about how rankings are calculated. There's going to be a shift having something to do with your personal output rather than on the team's output, but since the past Live Letter (I think), nothing else has been said.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stormfur

... how rankings are calculated...

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If implemented, a rank decay is welcome, it will ask you to keep somewhat active to keep your rank.
Without decay, whoever gets the aimed rank will stop playing to avoid any risk of losing it.

Then, there is the problem of throw away a match with alt or friends accounts. It can be mitigated with a rule that forbid the players of the two teams to meet again together for a given amount of time, enough time to discourage or make not productive this kind of cheating.

Hello fellow PvP enthusiasts!

Let me share yet another update regarding the new map, the Crystal Tower Training Grounds.

It so happens that it will be the only map in use for ranked matches... during pre-Season.

The dev. team will consider including the other two maps (Feasting Grounds, Lichenweed) once Season Seven starts, based on players' feedback. So please share your thoughts during pre-Season! :)

Thank you for that clarification! And double thanks for confirmation of a pre-season!

I can't speak for everyone, but having all maps in rotation in season 7 would be more than welcome. More variety wouldn't be a bad thing at all.

Thank you SE for listening to the player base, playing on the same map over and over would be visually boring and frustrating knowing we have other maps available. Pre-season is a plus!!!

Um...well keep in mind each pre-season will make trying to earn weapons longer, so its best if you kind of minimize those. It should only be a couple of weeks, not months. Also, I do recall the devs telling us about "not enough feedback" the last time they tried this, so that's a danger too, especially if people only play it for a few weeks.

I also think players are getting a little tired of beta testing changes. If you want us to do it, you have to kind of speed up the turnaround. If the single map doesn't work well, having to play it for 2 months is going to suck.

After the initial allure of the new maps has worn off...does anyone even DO the pre-season?

Pre-season is great to try out the new changes and get a feel for the new meta, plus it's a chance to play jobs you have never try out without worrying about losing rating.

Pre-season generally stays active much like the regular seasons do. As people battle and rank up, the queues follow them.

That said, If you are thinking of trying the Feast for the first time, or would like to take advantage of the pre-season to try a new job/role, or you just simply want to enjoy the Feast, NOW is the time. Don't wait. Yes, there's a new raid tier, new gear, new crafts, new items to gather, etc. . . . But those will be here and accessible through this patch and the next. This pre-season, and Season 7 of the Feast are limited time events; taking your time to try or play it will only lessen your chances of being able to later on. Season 7's rewards - whatever they may be - will only be available in Season 7 (and with a slightly altered version of it in S8). Don't hesitate if you want to participate.

On top of that, understand that the Feast is regarded as FFXIV's "serious" competitive mode. It's not the time or place to go hunting for XP. It is no place for giving up and quitting at the first sign of adversity. Yes, you may encounter tough opponents, or cheaters, or bots, but do not be overly concerned with them. Focus on learning or playing as best you can. Meet other players and make friends. Find rivals to challenge and push you higher. Ask questions of your fellow competitors. There are still some veteran PvPers that participate who are willing to offer help where and when they can - because better players = a better Feast experience overall.

This is the perfect time for new and experienced to get in at the same level and fight hard to advance. How much you're willing to try and learn, and how hard you're willing to fight means everything now. Do. Not. Wait.

Owners of PvP Discords: I encourage you to advertise your Discords once more here. Network, help each other, build this community back up and do our part to create a better experience for all who have the will to fight.

Please include all maps in the rotation. Playing the same map over and over would be so boring.

Cool updates, how about doing something about the massive bot problem?