Letter from the Producer LIVE Part XXII Digest Thread

[Bayohne]

Early Access begins on Friday, June 19 at 2:00 a.m. (PDT) / 9:00 a.m. (GMT).

Please make sure to confirm the requirements to participate in Early Access.

• Have an active account during the Early Access period.
• Have registered Heavensward pre-order registration(PC)/promotion (PS3/PS4) code.

For those of you who have downloaded the PlayStation®3 and PlayStation®4 versions already, the Early Access rights have automatically been added, so you will not need to do anything but tie your entitlement to your SE account.

All of the details are on the official site (North America / Europe), so please be sure to look them over beforehand.

For those of you who wish to participate in Early Access from here on out, it is still possible. You will need to pre-order the game from brick and mortar stores that still have pre-order options, the Square Enix Online store, or pre-purchase and downloaded the PlayStation®3 and PlayStation®4 versions of the game.
*Note: For EU/PAL territories, the PlayStation®3 and PlayStation®4 digital versions are not yet available on the PlayStation Store. On Friday, 19th of June, the PlayStation Store will be updated to include special Heavensward Early Purchase versions. Further details can be found here: http://sqex.to/CpN

[Bayohne]

Field instances
For Worlds in which there are a lot of players, we will be preemptively implementing countermeasures to relieve congestion.

As we are expecting congestion in the beginning of Heavensward in Coerthas Central Highlands, Coerthas Western Highlands, and the Sea of Clouds we will be makin these areas into instances. Even though they will remain open field areas, we will separating them into different layers, such as Coerthas Western Highlands 1, 2, and 3. By doing so, we can disperse large amounts of players in a single area.

Using instanced dungeons as an example, similar to how there are a large amount of players undertaking the same instanced dungeon, you aren't able to see these other parties, and the same goes for the field instances; if you are in area 1 then you will not be able to see the players in area 2. You will be able to send tells, but there is a possibility you will not be able to see them.

When travelling via teleport, party members will automatically be distributed to the different areas, so even if you form a party there is a possibility that you are split up, and while this may be an inconvenience, we decided to implement this to ease congestion. When moving around areas by foot or on mounts, you’ll be able to select the layer yourself, so if you want to meet up with other players, please be sure to travel by these means.

We've already decided on which Worlds we will be applying this to, but there is a possibility that we extend this to other Worlds depending on what we see. Additionally, if congestion occurs in other areas besides the three mentioned, there is a possibility that we apply this countermeasure to those areas as well.

[Bayohne]

Company Crafting/Airship Voyages Part 1
*Explained while playing the game.

We've mentioned this during other Letter LIVEs, but this is content with tons of elements that I wouldn't have had enough time to show off.

The basement area where company crafting can be done is accessible through the same door as how you get to your private chambers.

It will cost less than 1 million gil to build this area. There will also be a new music created by Soken for this area.

The basement will have different facilities.
-Company Schematic Board
This is the place where new recipes can be developed.

-Flight Control Panel
This is the place where you can do airship voyages. You’ll be able to direct your airships and send them off to explore.

-Fabrication Station
This is the place where you can perform company crafting. It can be done via something that is similar to a crafting log for your free company. You’ll be able to craft various types of aetherial wheels, airships, and external housing items. In regards to the airships, you’ll be able to create four different parts: the hull, engine, mast, and stern. By putting these all together you will create your full airship. As you collect materials with your free company members you will progress through the crafting phases, and once you progress enough you will be able to assemble them. Since this is a huge crafting endeavor, you’ll need to form a party of four to do it. After building it and progressing to the next phase, you’ll have to collect more materials and continue the building process.

The difficulty for crafting is not very high, and you’ll be able to do it while leveling up your Disciples of the Hand classes. You’ll be able to confirm what in currently being made by the company fabrication station.

You can increase the amount of Company Crafting recipes by making schematics at the fabrication station. By gathering a set number of items needed for the schematics you can finish them. From the start, a certain number of recipes will be registered in the company crafting log, but to unlock other recipes you will need the schematics.