Swimming and underwater content?

[Bayohne]

Hey gang! Yoshida was pretty active on the forum this weekend, and while this is kind of an old topic, his post seemed to fit pretty well in here so... He touches a bit on the discussion around 'free running' (or sprinting) as well as underwater/swimming-related content.

Hi, this is Yoshida, the producer/director.

Thank you for the discussion!
I’m sorry about any confusion that was caused due to my lack of input.

Regarding implementing the ability to move freely on the same level as an Assassin's Creed title, we have no plans of actually implementing this from a game design and cost standpoint. However, it would be possible to implement movements similar to other MMOs. For example, in other games it is possible to reach high places by jumping up against the terrain...

We would like to try to implement swimming by adding underwater areas in expansion packs, although this will require adding an incredible number of swimming animations to be created. Features built around the water in EverQuest were very fresh at the time. (Although I drowned so many times… I raised my skills safely at the fountain… Before that, I died so many times by starting as Wood Elf.) I think that underwater temple raids would be fun, so I would like to implement this concept along with the ability to swim.

[Leonesaurus]

Hey gang! Yoshida was pretty active on the forum this weekend, and while this is kind of an old topic, his post seemed to fit pretty well in here so... He touches a bit on the discussion around 'free running' (or sprinting) as well as underwater/swimming-related content.

Holy Chocobos, Batman! This sounds pretty freakin' awesome!! O___O I'll be honest... I didn't think I would ever hear the team give the green light on considering expanding the game to underwater or "swimming in water" scenarios and exploration.

Go FFXIV team!!!! (/cheer)

[Malakhim]

Hey gang! Yoshida was pretty active on the forum this weekend, and while this is kind of an old topic, his post seemed to fit pretty well in here so... He touches a bit on the discussion around 'free running' (or sprinting) as well as underwater/swimming-related content.

Kinda spoiled by the Japanese translations thread by Reinhart(good job with that as always), but nonetheless thanks Bayohne for the response and putting it back up ins. I'm honestly more excited about swimming and underwater content than I would be about jumping any day. It's great to see that our leading man and the dev team are also a fan.

Alright people, put your thinking caps on and lets get to idea tossing.

When I hear underwater and Final Fantasy, I think of:

Beyond the deep blue sea

Underwater Ruins

And of course DONT TEASE THE OCTOPUS, KIDS!

Ultros

Octomammoth

Granted they arent underwater at all times, and we wont be in a XIV underwater dungeon, but you cant have an underwater dungeon without some sort of aquatic boss. Not to mention i'd love to see an Ultros cameo boss appearance since he works like a Gilgamesh style character.

ACTUALLY, I posted an idea in the dungeon thread that resembles the force field idea in Crystal Chronicles. Maybe that field could actually be a bubble that produces oxygen for you in an underwater temple of sorts, and aquatic mobs are constantly trying to take out the field generator while you have to defend it and progress through the submerged ruins/dungeon/whaever.

BAM! Insta-idea.

...Or you know, aquatic races or submarines...

[Teknoman]

Kinda spoiled by the Japanese translations thread by Reinhart(good job with that as always), but nonetheless thanks Bayohne for the response and putting it back up ins. I'm honestly more excited about swimming and underwater content than I would be about jumping any day. It's great to see that our leading man and the dev team are also a fan.

Alright people, put your thinking caps on and lets get to idea tossing.



ACTUALLY, I posted an idea in the dungeon thread that resembles the force field idea in Crystal Chronicles. Maybe that field could actually be a bubble that produces oxygen for you in an underwater temple of sorts, and aquatic mobs are constantly trying to take out the field generator while you have to defend it and progress through the submerged ruins/dungeon/whaever.

BAM! Insta-idea.

...Or you know, aquatic races or submarines...

Bolded would make for an amazing scenario.

[Nakiamiie]

Hey gang! Yoshida was pretty active on the forum this weekend, and while this is kind of an old topic, his post seemed to fit pretty well in here so... He touches a bit on the discussion around 'free running' (or sprinting) as well as underwater/swimming-related content.

More awesome from Mr. Yoshida! Yay!!!
This will be awesome to be able to reach higher places with jumping... and swimming to the neat underwater adventures!

[giftforce]

Hey gang! Yoshida was pretty active on the forum this weekend, and while this is kind of an old topic, his post seemed to fit pretty well in here so... He touches a bit on the discussion around 'free running' (or sprinting) as well as underwater/swimming-related content.

Oh wow, they are considering adding interesting and new avenues of gameplay. I guess there is a chance for FFXIV after all.

But as I already mentioned in this thread (I think), some improvements to the water-rendering will be needed.

Currently the water isn't too great. I shudder to think what it would look like from a vantage point beneath the surface or floating on top. That seems to be a bigger hurdle from my perspective than the issue of creating new animations.

Also, did SE use an editive layer for their animations? If so, they can recycle some animations, I guess. Limiting the weapons useable under water would help alleviate some workload too.

[Airget]

Hey gang! Yoshida was pretty active on the forum this weekend, and while this is kind of an old topic, his post seemed to fit pretty well in here so... He touches a bit on the discussion around 'free running' (or sprinting) as well as underwater/swimming-related content.

I do have some suggestions for the ability to swim or even climb. For climbing while you can't make every spot with a rocky surface accessible you could make it where your gear determines where you can climb, but you have to be the right rank in order to use it. I mean you could try making it skill based but since this game actually lacks a skill base system it may be better to base your climbing ability on your gear.

You could however maybe make test that increase your climbing abilities where with the right gear and perception you can climb to certain areas. Basically the concept behind climbing could be to find hidden areas in dungeons as well as access new areas on the world map. If you wanted to add a bit of a challenge to it you could makea semi mini-game based on the challenge of the climb and add variables like rockslides or a mob trying to knock you off while clmbing. If you fail a climb there could be a recovery period before you try again but overall there is potential to make climbing an interesting concept that can add a lot of depth to the game.

As for swimming I would suggest you make sure you put "gear" guidelines into the system is people actually swim, however. Instead of swimming what if you compromise and make battle-submarines insteads which are created through the teamwork of many crafts. The battle-submarines could vary from party size from a 4-party based sub to an 8 party based one. You could also add 1 person subs however I think adding the option to allow for NPCs to control 4-8 could work also. Maybe you could do it where you only have the license to control a 1 person sub or a 4 person sub if you have 4 people controlling. However as you gain prestige you are given the opportunity to enroll NPCs to take the helm if others aren't around

After a certain rank you get certified to use an 8 person sub which gives you the ability to explore even more of the udnerwater land and possible ruins to be discovered.

The battle concept could work like this
1 person:Fragile, fast moving, "Exploration/Battle commands"
4 person:varied models, basic model focuses on seats for 1 explorer, 2 battles and 1 digger
8 person: varied models, basic model 1 radar, 2 explorers, 3 battle, 2 diggers

Basically each person is given a specific role based on what I gave above you have
Explorer
Battle
digger
radar

Now the abilities of these are based on ones current discipline. The way abilities are distributed are basically
Explorer:hand
Battle:war
digger:land
radar:magic

While you don't have to be those classes to use those positions, they are the prefered class for those seats which grant special abilities if you are the proper class.

Basically if you aren't the prefered discipline you'll get generic abilities based on your class rank up to whatever it is, however if you are the proper discipline you'll also gain abilities specific to that class based on your rank, so there will be room to actually fiddle around with what each class has to offer in terms of support on the submarine.

The main concept of the submarine overall would be to limit the overall stress of having to animated swimming animations. While swimming itself may sound nice let's be honest unless you plan to add combat to swimming what's the actual point of swimming when in the end you'll also have to add a breathing timer is you allow for underwater diving. It would be more logical to create submarines that allow you to explore rather then swimming. Plus you can't expect a discipline of warrior to swim in his heavy armor and risk getting it rusted lol. The safest method for an adventurer would be to go in a vehicle not swim and leave themselves defenseless to attacks by pirate ships.

But ya these are just suggestions, I hope they can be of help if you consider creating underwater exploration I do believe this concept will be a lot more fun then looking at the eye candy of how much time you took to make fluid swimming animation for each race in their gear.

[Onidemon]

Hey gang! Yoshida was pretty active on the forum this weekend, and while this is kind of an old topic, his post seemed to fit pretty well in here so... He touches a bit on the discussion around 'free running' (or sprinting) as well as underwater/swimming-related content.

This is great stuff. Now where are all the smart asses who kept saying the engine cannot render water or swimming animations as if they worked with crystal tools all their life?

[Nikita]

This is great stuff. Now where are all the smart asses who kept saying the engine cannot render water or swimming animations as if they worked with crystal tools all their life?

Probably away feeling stupid or trying to think of a semi-decent comeback~ :P Or coming up with a "but... swimming doesn't fit in FF, though!!" argument!!

[syntaxlies]

Hey gang! Yoshida was pretty active on the forum this weekend, and while this is kind of an old topic, his post seemed to fit pretty well in here so... He touches a bit on the discussion around 'free running' (or sprinting) as well as underwater/swimming-related content.

I had started a thread before on needing certain gear to reach certain areas. under water quest would be awesome if you had to acquire some sort of scuba gear on another quest that you have to equip to go underwater.(perhaps a simple mouth breather piece)