Letter From the Producer Live Part LXXIX - 24 September 2023 - Summary and Discussion

Summary is now complete.

My source is the Reddit community's Discord #translations-and-liveletters channel:
https://discord.com/channels/1004639...58839005741056

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Patch 6.5 release date is 3 October 2023

There will be a 24-hour maintenance for this.

Patch note reading (JP audio only) will be on 2 October at 4am PDT / 11am GMT / 10pm AEDT.


Schedule of Fan Fests and patch releases

• 3 October - Patch 6.5
• 21-22 October - EU Fan Fest
• Late October - Patch 6.51
• 7-8 January - JP Fan Fest
• Mid January - Patch 6.55

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Patch 6.5 contains:

• Dungeon: The Lunar Subterrane
• Trial: The Abyssal Fracture
• Myths of the Realm 3: Thaleia
• Unreal Trial: The Singularity Reactor (Thordan), hoping for it to be "1.5th savage floor difficulty according to the Reddit translation
• Variant/Criterion dungeon: Aloalo Island
• Duty support for post-Stormblood MSQ dungeons (Skalla, The Burn, The Ghimlyt Dark), marking the completion of adding support to all MSQ dungeons.
• Job adjustments (PvE/PvP)
• PvP updates; Series Five begins
• Crystalline Conflict update
• Island Sanctuary update
• Custom Deliveries: Magrat
• Ability for consecutive aetherial reduction of collectables
• Green dot indicators on newly logged fish in the Fish Guide
• Ability to store optional items (ie. Mog Station purchases) in the armoire
• Option to sort teleport destinations by expansion instead of region
• New reward for collecting all trial mounts
• Level-based item level restrictions introduced for alliance raid roulette, and EXP and tomestone rewards for each raid adjusted according to the difficulty and timre required for completion.

Patch 6.51 contains:

• Splendorous Tools
• New Crystalline Conflict arena: The Red Sands

Patch 6.55 contains:

• Tataru's Grand Endeavour
• Tribal alliance (capstone) quests
• Hildibrand
• Manderville weapons

Patch "6.5x" contains:

• Fall Guys collaboration event at the Gold Saucer; date to be announced at the next Fan Fest.

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Island Sanctuary updates

• New ranks and visions
• New gathering area in the wilds
• New crops, crafts, animals, structures "and more"
• Felicitous Favors system

Screenshot shows a Morbol on the island - "yes it's an animal, not a plant"


Crystalline Conflict update

• Minimap and UI adjustments
• New arena: The Red Sands (releases in patch 6.51)
• New line on the field and UI marking the "comeback point" for the losing team (I guess for overtime?)
• Countdown to overtime displayed
• Progress gauge improved
• Timer during overtime for team to stay on the crystal
• Some indicators now coloured to indicate ally/enemy (for all PVP types) - examples shown are DRG jump and MCH turret

New arena looks Ahm Araeng-ish. Map gimmicks are a healing "oasis" area, "heat wave" hazard (not explained but I'm guessing it's a take damage while moving thing) and a "monster nest".


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Planned improvements to server structure (not directly related to 6.5) - direct copy from slide, image version below

Citation:

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In the interest of expanding our server infrastructure options in the future, the use of cloud data centers is under consideration.

A North American cloud data center will be temporarily implemented for the purposes of a public stress test, to be held during the 6.5x patch series. (The Data Center selection screen will display the cloud DC as an option upon 6.5's release, and it will be accessible once the test commences.)

Further details regarding the cloud data center stress test will be revealed at a later date on the Lodestone.

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https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...4_15-18-17.jpg

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Misc announcements

KFC x FFXIV collab is Japan-only and rewards an in-game "Eat Chicken" emote.

The Tabletop RPG starter set releases in May 2024.

Pre-orders are open for a live 10th anniversary event in Japan.

Gear reveals!

PvP rewards - a likely series reward and new trophy crystal gear (unique designs)

Looks like a series reward:
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...4_14-53-06.jpg

Trophy crystal gear:
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...4_14-53-23.jpg

Raid gear

Tank
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...4_15-02-27.jpg

Ranged
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...4_15-02-47.jpg

Scouting
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...4_15-03-07.jpg

Caster
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...4_15-03-23.jpg

Glamours

Presumably the crafted set
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...4_15-05-45.jpg

https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...4_15-06-00.jpg


"Might be related to Island Sanctuary"
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...4_15-06-13.jpg

Kappa suit - "a wish from Sakaguchi-san"
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...4_15-07-31.jpg

https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...4_15-07-47.jpg

Housing items

Indoor items - Elpis flower rug, clock-window, new fireplace style, new loft?, koporkkur bonsai, crystals, some kind of small bookshelf stand?

https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...4_15-04-00.jpg

Garden items - new gazebo style, stairs for accessing your roof, Garlean magitek armour parking

https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...4_15-04-43.jpg

https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...4_15-05-14.jpg

Mounts and minions

Mount featuring "a new fairy that will appear in some sort of content in 6.5x, no relation to other fairies" (still no simple wings)

https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...4_15-10-01.jpg

https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...4_15-11-06.png

Some kind of floating head thing

https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...4_15-11-18.jpg

https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...4_15-11-22.png

Construction mammet on holiday

https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...4_15-12-10.png

Lunatender piggyback

https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...4_15-12-33.png

https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...4_15-13-00.jpg

Another motorbike that Lalafells can't ride properly

https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...4_15-13-33.jpg

UFO

https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...4_15-14-35.png

Im suprised....nobody has complained about no English Translator...yet

Putting the increased rewards into the SAVAGE mode of criterion is a huge mistake imo. They should have just thrown twine/coatings into regular Criterion shop to entice more midcore/casual players to push themselves and complete it. Savage is just too far out of reach for most players.

Citation:

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Envoyé par LittleImp

Putting the increased rewards into the SAVAGE mode of criterion is a huge mistake imo. They should have just thrown twine/coatings into regular Criterion shop to entice more midcore/casual players to push themselves and complete it. Savage is just too far out of reach for most players.

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Well, people complained about no challenge or rewards to make you want to play the content....so...there you go!

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Envoyé par Zanarkand-Ronso

Well, people complained about no challenge or rewards to make you want to play the content....so...there you go!

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Nobody is going to do the savage version when the regular criterion offers zero rewards because you have a block half way through the progression of the difficulty

Plus there is just the general sentiment that nobody really wants the savage version, the savages version is basically a really boring 4 person ultimate, the savage version should be the current normal version and the normal version should be dropped to like the difficulty of the Zadnor duels

Citation:

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Envoyé par Zanarkand-Ronso

Well, people complained about no challenge or rewards to make you want to play the content....so...there you go!

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"can people please remember to feed the dog"

"well, people complained about the dog not being fed... so... i put eggs and broccoli in its bowl"

"..."

Well Done!

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Envoyé par Supersnow845

the savage version should be the current normal version

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You are insane, the current normal Criterion difficulty is already below the Mariana trench.

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Envoyé par Zanarkand-Ronso

Well, people complained about no challenge or rewards to make you want to play the content....so...there you go!

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If it's like that and they don't adjust the difficulty of the Normal Criterion to be on par with EX Trials and Savage Criterion to be equal to Savage Raiding, then just part of the issue is being solved.

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Envoyé par Raikai

If it's like that and they don't adjust the difficulty of the Normal Criterion to be on par with EX Trials and Savage Criterion to be equal to Savage Raiding, then just part of the issue is being solved.

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Yeah, I was definitely hoping that Criterion would be more mid-level difficulty - harder than the Variant battles and testing your knowledge from that, but not turning into an entirely different fight.

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Envoyé par LittleImp

Putting the increased rewards into the SAVAGE mode of criterion is a huge mistake imo. They should have just thrown twine/coatings into regular Criterion shop to entice more midcore/casual players to push themselves and complete it. Savage is just too far out of reach for most players.

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I agree with this point. Just criterion on its own is high-end content and they're lucky for anyone to even clear that with the current rewards.

Isn't that what people were asking for?

Rewards that would also do things like contribute to gearing?

It's only for the hard mode, but that's what the hard mode is for, right? I guess I'm a bit (genuinely) confused. Were there rewards for the Savage mode before? I thought the complaint was that there were not. So is the complaint now that they got it right by adding it but should ALSO add to the next difficulty down, or were people not talking about the hardest mode all this time when they referred to the rewards not being sufficient?

Citation:

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Envoyé par Supersnow845

Nobody is going to do the savage version when the regular criterion offers zero rewards because you have a block half way through the progression of the difficulty

Plus there is just the general sentiment that nobody really wants the savage version, the savages version is basically a really boring 4 person ultimate, the savage version should be the current normal version and the normal version should be dropped to like the difficulty of the Zadnor duels

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Citation:

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Envoyé par Raikai

If it's like that and they don't adjust the difficulty of the Normal Criterion to be on par with EX Trials and Savage Criterion to be equal to Savage Raiding, then just part of the issue is being solved.

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Welp, for whatever reason this is the play. Cant say I understand it myself but.....here we are.
Wonder if they will walk it back and give a better alternative.

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Envoyé par Noumenon

"can people please remember to feed the dog"

"well, people complained about the dog not being fed... so... i put eggs and broccoli in its bowl"

"..."

Well Done!

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Weird Reaction....I cant even. lol

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Envoyé par Renathras

Isn't that what people were asking for?

Rewards that would also do things like contribute to gearing?

It's only for the hard mode, but that's what the hard mode is for, right? I guess I'm a bit (genuinely) confused. Were there rewards for the Savage mode before? I thought the complaint was that there were not. So is the complaint now that they got it right by adding it but should ALSO add to the next difficulty down, or were people not talking about the hardest mode all this time when they referred to the rewards not being sufficient?

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I don’t think there was ever a real discussion about savage criterion rewards, people more just questioned why savage criterion even exists at all

The reward discussion has always been about normal criterion because that’s the difficulty most raiders would actually do if it had good rewards

Criterion savage is like a wonky boring ultimate

"Ability for consecutive aetherial reduction of collectables"

Probably the most hype thing for me aside from slogging through CC for that glam.

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Envoyé par Supersnow845

Criterion savage is like a wonky boring ultimate

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This is the most insane thing I've seen on the forums.

Criterion Savage is easier than P8S/P12S.

In no universe is it comparable to Ultimates.

Next Critierion is lalafell pandering garbage again, shame, Rokkon was good.

Cloud data center. And soon as well!

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Envoyé par Noumenon

This is the most insane thing I've seen on the forums.

Criterion Savage is easier than P8S/P12S.

In no universe is it comparable to Ultimates.

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Ultimate as in its a slog of multiple fights in a row with zero rezzes

It’s not as hard as DSR or TOP but I think you are overselling P12 here especially since she didn’t even have an enrage check week 1 (meanwhile P8 was basically just it’s wonky enrage)

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Envoyé par Jeeqbit

Cloud data center. And soon as well!

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I wonder how that would fare for ping. Currently 150ms is the best I can get from where I live, but I know nothing about how impactful cloud DCs could be.

Thordan Unreal?

Ok they've got my interest with that.

He addressed the yakisoba incident lmao.

The new CC PvP set looks great, and I will be getting a UFO mount. Overall, I guess I can't complain too much. I am very, very skeptical of the whole "cloud server" thing though. That could go one of two ways. Very well or very poorly.

I guess I was the only one excited at hearing Theme of the Red Wings in the trailer... (happy FFIV fangirl noises.)

And players were requesting the UFO mount so that request is now fulfiled. I'm more laughing at the pixie mount though - having to carry the likes of a burly roe or hrothgar in particular.... that poor fairy. ;)

If that caster top isn't separate from the skirt I'm gonna dieeeeeee >:C

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Envoyé par Enkidoh

I guess I was the only one excited at hearing Theme of the Red Wings in the trailer... (happy FFIV fangirl noises.)

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That was Redwings? Man Im not the Fan / Nerd I thought I was. Im not remembering my Stuff.
I hate that "Sounds Familiar, but cant put my finger on it" moment

I was pretty interested in what they've said.

I was expecting Criterion normal rewards, but I'm going to run the savage version either way since I have incentive to learn and do Criterion now. (If not for IL, for glamour)

I haven't done crystal conflict since it released, but the new map looks really fun to me

The tank gear from the alliance raid is sick, and if the first pvp set they showed is the Series Reward I'll be all over that like I was for the other 2 sets.

I'm holding out for patch release to have an opinions on the fights (Trial both normal and EX, the Alliance Raid, variant/criterion) themselves.

So with all the new glams I think it's time to adress the elephant in the room again. We need a glamour dresser expansion.

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Envoyé par Saraide

So with all the new glams I think it's time to adress the elephant in the room again. We need a glamour dresser expansion.

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We recently got one and such a solution doesn't really address the underlying problem of such an antiquated system anyway. They should move away from a "glamour dresser" system and instead allow you to have a glamour/appearances collection in the vein of WoW's transmog system.

Citation:

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Envoyé par Noumenon

This is the most insane thing I've seen on the forums.

Criterion Savage is easier than P8S/P12S.

In no universe is it comparable to Ultimates.

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Criterion Savage is absolutely harder than p8s/p12s. 20 minute near savage difficulty set of fights and mobs where you can't die unless at the very very end? No way does p8s or p12s match that lmao

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Envoyé par Saraide

So with all the new glams I think it's time to adress the elephant in the room again. We need a glamour dresser expansion.

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Well we're kinda sorta getting a small expansion by way of the Mog Station items becoming armoire-able. It's dependent on how many of those items are currently in your glamour dresser of course, but it's still going to free up at least a few spaces for a lot of people.

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Envoyé par Enkidoh

And players were requesting the UFO mount so that request is now fulfiled. I'm more laughing at the pixie mount though - having to carry the likes of a burly roe or hrothgar in particular.... that poor fairy. ;)

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Honestly the 1st time I laid eyes on that UFO beaming the lalafell in one of those goofy Hildibrand outro scenes, I knew instantly it was made like that to serve as a mount too lol.

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Envoyé par Jeeqbit

Cloud data center. And soon as well!

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I am not technically oriented.

Serious question why is this something to get excited about? I kinda don't know what it is really.

The Glamour looks 0815, PvP again only CC and nothing for FL, then KFC collab .... Fall Guys collab ... seems like SE is jumping on every Train now.

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Envoyé par Aneshda

The Glamour looks 0815, PvP again only CC and nothing for FL, then KFC collab .... Fall Guys collab ... seems like SE is jumping on every Train now.

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You gain battlepass exp by doing frontline aswell.

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Envoyé par Iscah

Well we're kinda sorta getting a small expansion by way of the Mog Station items becoming armoire-able. It's dependent on how many of those items are currently in your glamour dresser of course, but it's still going to free up at least a few spaces for a lot of people.

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That's gonna be an issue for me... many of the Mogstation items I own are stored in the dresser dyed in expensive colors like Pure White or Ruby Red, so I don't have to keep buying those. IIRC the armoire won't let you store dyed items.

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Envoyé par LittleImp

Putting the increased rewards into the SAVAGE mode of criterion is a huge mistake imo. They should have just thrown twine/coatings into regular Criterion shop to entice more midcore/casual players to push themselves and complete it. Savage is just too far out of reach for most players.

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The people who can't do savage criterion don't need the gear lol, this is for people who actually raid and use their high ilvl gear

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Envoyé par Reimmi

The people who can't do savage criterion don't need the gear lol, this is for people who actually raid and use their high ilvl gear

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Then you should get rid of the upgrade items from doing Hunt trains too ;P

Getting upgrade tokens already in Criterion Normal (not Variant the Story Mode) wouldnt harm anybody. It would be just a another option for people who dont want to waste their time with 7 other douchbags on the PF.

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Envoyé par Myrany

I am not technically oriented.

Serious question why is this something to get excited about? I kinda don't know what it is really.

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A cloud server is scalable. So let's say at the expansion launch they reach the maximum capacity. A cloud server uses virtual machines that can scale it to cope with the extra demand or add new virtual server machines, just like that. The virtual machines stretch across as many machines as needed on much bigger data centers hosted by places like Amazon and Google.

Currently this is not possible, because they have physical server racks like this
https://www.pcinvasion.com/wp-conten...size=360%2C261

They can't add or reduce these without actually taking the servers down and adjusting the racks and it takes time to physically receive the hardware and due to covid and the semiconductor shortage, nobody was selling what they needed.

Whereas somewhere like Amazon would have hundreds of times this many racks and allow a virtual server to scale up and down across them as needed. The drawback is it being slower.