Echoes of Vana'diel FFXI Alliance Raid

[Fyrebrand]

Never played FFXI, but I'd be interested to learn about some of the stories/lore through the raids. I wonder if they'll integrate FFXI's locations into Etheirys, or have Vana'diel represented as another shard that we travel to? And will the characters we encounter be the races from XI, or will they be converted to XIV's equivalents?

Whatever the case, I hope the storyline stands on its own and makes sense to us non-XI players. The Nier raids are awesome, but I couldn't get into the story attached to them at all. I knew zero about Nier going in, and coming out I felt like I knew even less.

[Erinellza]

I've never played XI but I'm excited for this. Maybe the devs can learn some things from each other. Like, I heard the XI glam system has no job restrictions! I'm so envious!

[Enkidoh]

Never played FFXI, but I'd be interested to learn about some of the stories/lore through the raids. I wonder if they'll integrate FFXI's locations into Etheirys, or have Vana'diel represented as another shard that we travel to? And will the characters we encounter be the races from XI, or will they be converted to XIV's equivalents?

Whatever the case, I hope the storyline stands on its own and makes sense to us non-XI players. The Nier raids are awesome, but I couldn't get into the story attached to them at all. I knew zero about Nier going in, and coming out I felt like I knew even less.

We actually already have some FFXI areas in Hydaelyn, both thematically and literally (Gridania is basically Windurst with elves, the Aery references Dragon's Aery, part of the Ishgard residential area is called Rolanberry Field(s), Alzadaal's Legacy is literally the Alzadaal Undersea Remnants, also Dynamis was the name of an end-game content zone in FFXI (notorious for originally costing a million gil for the item required for a party to enter and you could only enter once a week - long since changed). Eureka was also meant to be a love-letter to FFXI in both environment and gameplay (even if it's name came from FFIII not XI). Even the Mothercrystal battlefield is technically the Empyreal Paradox (although inside the planet rather than out in space - for that matter the Mothercrystal itself originated with the five Mothercrystals in FFXI).

The previous two FFXI crossover special events featuring Shantotto and Iroha also took place in areas deliberately meant to reference their FFXI connections (Shantotto's event involved Gridania, due to it being very similar to the Federation of Windurst she is a Minister of Magic in, and Iroha's FATEs featured, in order: fighting robber crabs near Costa del Sol referenced infamous 'Dooms' parties in the Valkurm Dunes; fighting the scorpion Serkeht in the Sagoli Desert refrerenced it as a NM in Altepa Desert; fighting voidsent demons in the grounds of Haukke Manor referenced the Kindred demons that inhabited the similar gothic Castle Zvhal and the surrounding Xarcabard area, and finally, fighting the ahriman Spotter and a Dark Dragon referenced the famous rank 2.3 boss fight against those enemies in the three 'Burning Circles' near the three cities.

And to say nothing of many enemies in Hydaelyn are also originally from Vana'diel, such as goblins, mamool'ja, qiqirn, gigas/giants, mammets (as PUP automata), voidsent demons (aka the aforementioned Kindred), the Omicronions (in shape, they were based on a 'puppet' enemy from FFXI) - even the tonberries being the warped survivors of Nym references FFXI where tonberries there were also the twisted survivors of an ancient civilization (the kuluu as it turns out). Hell, even the Echo sort of kind of had an FFXI equivelant in the Zilart's 'Whisper of the Soul'...

So it will be interesting to see how this new raid will handle FFXI's references, but I still believe it's not going to be taking us directly to Vana'diel, but just a Hydaelyn-based area that has FFXI-referenced locations, enemies and NPCs, because the game has already established Vana'diel is a seperate world.

[Fawkes]

Never played FFXI, but I'd be interested to learn about some of the stories/lore through the raids. I wonder if they'll integrate FFXI's locations into Etheirys, or have Vana'diel represented as another shard that we travel to? And will the characters we encounter be the races from XI, or will they be converted to XIV's equivalents?

Whatever the case, I hope the storyline stands on its own and makes sense to us non-XI players. The Nier raids are awesome, but I couldn't get into the story attached to them at all. I knew zero about Nier going in, and coming out I felt like I knew even less.

We'll probably meet Prishe and maybe the other heroines (each FFXI expansion has its own "main character" NPC and it's always a girl). If they show us mithra and galkas that look at all different from miqo'te and roes then people will be clamoring for them to be made playable. Unless this whole raid is a tease for a FFXI remake, then maybe they could show them and say you gotta play XI for those races, but I doubt that.

[Fyrebrand]

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You're blowing my mind, right now! I had no idea there were so many FFXI references I'd been blind to this whole time! I only knew about a few of these, for example the goblin design is literally ripped straight from XI. I remember doing that Shantotto event way back when, and obviously the "Shatotto" NPC in FFXIV's BLM quests is referencing her. Even Tataru's name is obviously meant as a reference to XI's "Tarutaru" race.

I don't think going back and playing FFXI is in the cards for me, but I think I'll at least look up a Let's Play series or something and get the gist of the story.

If they show us mithra and galkas that look at all different from miqo'te and roes then people will be clamoring for them to be made playable. Unless this whole raid is a tease for a FFXI remake, then maybe they could show them and say you gotta play XI for those races, but I doubt that.

I was actually thinking, is it possible they'll add character customization options for those races to have traits that more resemble their FFXI counterparts... I think a lot of players would be interested in this, whether they played FFXI or not!

[DrWho2010]

you have to beat Maat to even enter the 24man lol

[Atelier-Bagur]

Im not going to be hopeful about it but I do hope they think about sharing sub for FFXI and FFXIV and release FFXI on modern consoles.

Both very high doubts it will ever happen. Like pretty much impossible, but I can dream.

[SannaR]

Never played FFXI, but I'd be interested to learn about some of the stories/lore through the raids. I wonder if they'll integrate FFXI's locations into Etheirys, or have Vana'diel represented as another shard that we travel to? And will the characters we encounter be the races from XI, or will they be converted to XIV's equivalents?

Whatever the case, I hope the storyline stands on its own and makes sense to us non-XI players. The Nier raids are awesome, but I couldn't get into the story attached to them at all. I knew zero about Nier going in, and coming out I felt like I knew even less.

Stop me if you've heard any of these before. In XI you had a Goddess aligned with Light that had fights with a God aligned with Darkness that ended up with the Goddess imprisoning the other God in the moon which may or may not be in space. An ancient race that wants to kill everyone else so they can return to paradise. That most of the beastmen aren't actually bad just misunderstood.

Most of the five starter races of XIV are the exact same as the races found in XI. Just the male Roegadyn had tails and there was no female half. It's why Elezen have the awkward necks and the lalafell have the underchin/cheeks issue they talked about during EU fan fest.

[SannaR]

you have to beat Maat to even enter the 24man lol

As long as I don't have to eat a soup that not only knocks me out but ends up with me head-first in some bushes and he doesn't get to use my move sets plus that of monks then sure why not. Also as long as I don't have to see XI's Cid's teeth or the back of his pants. Don't want to give anyone nightmares or emotional scars.

[Luluna]

you have to beat Maat to even enter the 24man lol

lol Good old Maat! I really hope he is in the mix somewhere. I always remember how tough that battle was..all the farming beforehand and then I was so stressed I ran straight passed him and my camera angle went to shit but somehow I managed it 2nd try on Paladin. That was my highest job at the time. Lots of fun and memories.

I really would love to see the dancer's set brought in for aiming it is iconic and I wore my blue etoile set for years. I love the black mage outfit also Igqira Weskit Set. It would be lovely to see and I am really looking forward to the raid.