Devin Gaughan

Alliteratively Announcing Additions Adjustments and Alterations - Final Fantasy XIV

2010-11-22T13:47:00.000-08:00

This Topics post will introduce some of the balancing adjustments coming to in-game movement and the guildleve system in the November 24 version update.

Anima Costs

The anima cost incurred by the Return and Teleport commands has been halved.

This reduction applies to teleportation to the aetheryte plaza within any of the three city-states, as well as to any aetheryte camp set as one of a player's Favored Destinations. Up to three camps may be saved as Favored Destinations.

The cost of the Return command has also been halved, and now requires only one anima.

* Aetheryte plazas within cities cannot be set as Favored Destinations.

Guildleves

The November version update will introduce an option that allows players to change the difficulty setting for levequests that are currently underway. This option will be available only with those levequests for which players were able to assign a difficulty level at the onset, and can only be used to lower the setting. Balancing adjustments have also been made to the strength of enemies targeted by levequests, and the minimap has been reworked to continue to display these enemies regardless of differences in elevation in relation to the player. Furthermore, changes to leve linking will result in larger skill and experience point awards, and give individual party members the option to participate in the link.

With the December version update will come a number of new guildleves, including those that will provide players with the opportunity to face off against notorious monsters.

Still more changes are in store for behests and the loot system. Details will be released in future Topics posts.

View original post here.

New! Final Fantasy XI Job Specific Emotes

2010-11-22T03:02:00.000-08:00

Video originally posted here.

A Beginner's Guide to Eorzea (Gathering) - Final Fantasy XIV

2010-11-22T02:53:00.000-08:00

This week's Q&A session seeks to assist newcomers to Eorzea by covering the differences between gathering activities when using primary tools and secondary tools. We will also the outline the basic flow of a gathering attempt.

Q. What is the difference between primary and secondary tools for a Disciple of the Land?

A. The nature of the location at which a gathering activity is being performed determines whether it is the primary tool or the secondary tool which is employed. This difference can be seen in the name of the options that are displayed in the Interactions menu. For example, in the case of miners, approaching a mineral deposit will yield the Mine command, which is associated with a primary tool. Approaching a rocky outcrop, however, will cause the Quarry command to be appear, and require use of a secondary tool.
Whenever a player draws near a gathering point, an icon representing the availability of a gathering command in the Interactions menu will be appear in the upper potion of the screen.

The types of gathering points of their associated commands as they appear in the Interactions menu are listed below.

Miner

Interactions Menu	Mine	Quarry
Tool Type	Primary (Main Hand)	Secondary (Off Hand)
Gathering Point*

* Though capable of appearing in similar rocks and crags, mineral deposits and rocky outcrops are distinguishable by the color of the shining light representing them.

Botanist

Interactions Menu	Log	Harvest
Tool Type	Primary (Main Hand)	Secondary (Off Hand)
Gathering Point*

* When a shining light is located on a tree, the Log command will appear. When the light is found amongst grasses on the ground, however, the Harvest command becomes available.

Fisher

Interactions Menu	Fish	Spearfish
Tool Type	Primary (Main Hand)	Secondary (Off Hand)
Gathering Point*

* The Fish command becomes available near any fishable water source. There are some bodies of water, however, that cannot be fished, for which no Interactions menu icon will appear. The Spearfish command can be used only at those locations where a shining light is visible in the water. As a testament to the gig's versatility, it may even be wielded effectively under seemingly impossible circumstances, such as in puddles of rainwater completely obscured from view by pesky shrubs, within the shallows of which aquatic life has taken a precarious and baffling foothold.

Q. How do I find gathering points?

A. Gathering points can be searched for by equipping a primary tool in the main hand and using the Disciple of the Land searching abilities that subsequently become available, such as Lay of the Land or Arbor Call. This will provide information such as the distance and direction to the nearest gathering point in the log. With a recast time of fifteen seconds, these search abilities can be used frequently to help determine the exact location of gathering points.
There are no search abilities that specifically target gathering points for secondary gathering activities. Finding them requires keeping an eye out when running about in the wild or in dungeon depths. Below is a list of gathering points that can be found in proximity to each of the major cities.

Secondary gathering points near Limsa Lominsa
		●Rocky Outcrop ●Lush Vegetation ●Shallow Waters

Secondary gathering points near Gridania
		●Rocky Outcrop ●Lush Vegetation ●Shallow Waters

Secondary gathering points near Ul'dah
		●Rocky Outcrop ●Lush Vegetation ●Shallow Waters

* Gathering points may also be located within caves.

Q. I'm not sure how to best go about the primary gathering actions of mining, logging, and fishing. What should I be doing?

A. When engaging in primary gathering, individual commands are repeated through use of various dynamic gauges, such as the circle for mining, or the arrow for logging. By stopping the oscillations of these gauges with the Select/Confirm button, a player determines which "part" of the gathering point they target. Discovering the "sweet" spots within a gathering point will yield varying rewards of items, experience points, and skill points. Though luck always plays a factor, the experienced Disciple of the Land knows that there are no substitutes for the ability to quickly locate gathering points, and a sure and steady hand to work them.

Below is a detailed step-by-step description of a typical gathering attempt.

■ Step 1: The Interactions Menu
The first step is to approach a either a mineral deposit, mature tree, or fishable waters, and select the gathering command that appears in the Interactions menu. For primary gathering actions, the option will be either Mine, Log, or Fish.

Mine	Log	Fish

Once the gathering command is selected from the Interactions menu, a window will appear such as the one pictured below. Relevant information, such as details of available commands and gathering results, is displayed within.

Mine	Log	Fish

■ Step 2：Taking Aim
Use the directional arrows on the keyboard to adjust the sliding gauges. The positioning of a slider represents what portion of the deposit, tree, or water is being targeted. This determines what items a player will be capable of obtaining. In the case of fishing, the Waitcommand is used following this step. Not until a player feels a bite on their line will they move on to Step 3.

Mine	Log	Fish

■Step 3：Finding the "Sweet Spot"
Pictured below from left to right are the three dynamic gauges used for mining, logging, and fishing. To determine an area of the gathering point on which to focus, press the Select/Confirm to stop the gauges' oscillations. If the area selected maps up with a "sweet spot" contained within the point, a player will be awarded with varying items, as well as experience and skill points. Should a sweet spot be missed, however, a hint will be given in the to improve a player's chances on the next attempt. Each time one of the below gauges is used to make a gathering attempt, the point's Remainder bar will decrease. When this bar is completely depleted, the point can no longer be the target of a gathering attempt. Even if no items are obtained by the time a point is depleted, skill points will still be awarded.

Mine	Log	Fish

■ Step 4: Success or Failure
When mining or logging, the number of attempts remaining before a resource is depleted are shown on-screen. When this figure reaches 0, the point can temporarily no longer be the target of a gathering action. In rare cases, inexplicable natural occurrences will cause a point to collapse or deteriorate, also resulting in an inability to gather from them. In such instances, the wise Disciple of the Land seeks out another point.

Mine	Log	Fish

View original post here.

Final Fantasy XIV Pros Versus Cons

2010-11-19T15:16:00.000-08:00

Final Fantasy XIV

Pros:
- Pretty
- Final Fantasy installment
- Aimed at balance between casual and hardcore players

Cons:
- Enmity is broken
- Accuracy is broken
- Menu system is terrible
- Targeting system is clumsy and difficult/slow
- Too much lag everywhere, both in the UI and in the game itself
- Classes are generally boring and lack anything to really make them unique
- Difficult to switch back and forth between single target and AoE mode for magic
- Few/no enemies in the majority of areas
- Quests are repetitive and boring
- Nothing to do other than grind when leves aren't refreshed (every 36 hours)
- Very difficult to find what you want to buy
- Gil is too easy to get, coupled with the previous con means you have an overabundance of gil
- Finding someone to fix accessories is very difficult
- Enemies flee during quests and you have to waste time chasing them across the zone just so they can spawn more enemies for you to kill

Add your own pros and cons to the list by posting a comment.

Tell the rest of us if you think the game is too badly broken that the November and December patches wont fix it, and if you think there are/will be enough pros to keep the game afloat and make it stand out from other MMOs in order to keep a solid player base.

Don't forget to include your character name and server if you'd like!

Balancing if Half the Battle - Final Fantasy XIV

2010-11-19T13:02:00.000-08:00

One area of focus for the November 24 version update is battle balancing. Among the many adjustments being made are changes to the accuracy of physical and magic attacks, enmity rates, actions for all classes, and reductions to the amount of skill points needed to rank up, and more.

Character Progression

Accuracy

The accuracy rates for actions in general, both physical and magic, have been increased, making it easier for players to land attacks. This will, subsequently, result in more skill points.

Skill Points in Parties

Skill points earned in battle are now awarded after an enemy is defeated. Additionally, discrepancies in the amount of skill points awarded to party members have been reduced. Together with these changes, the overall number of skill points awarded has also been increased, making progression easier even in smaller parties.

The above changes will serve to increase the tempo of battle, and also allow players to obtain more skill points than was previously possible. To further facilitate the process of ranking up, the amount of skill points required to attain ranks 11 through 31 has been reduced. The reductions are most significant for the rank range of 11 through 20, as we would like to enable players the ability to engage in more goal-oriented content, such as the hunting of notorious monsters, at an earlier stage of play. Further information regarding these changes will be released in the version update details Topics post of November 24.

Balancing Adjustments to Actions

In order to improve the uniqueness and flavor of each class in party battle, we have made a number of adjustments to the effects, durations, execution costs, and enmity generation rates of a number of actions. Below is a sampling of these changes.

Pugilist

Featherfoot

Active duration increased from 15 to 30 seconds.
Evasion rate increased.

Gladiator

Luminous Spire

MP cost reduced from 20 to 10.

Marauder

Foresight

Stamina cost reduced from 5 to 3.5.
Active duration increased from 15 to 30 seconds.
Parry rate increased.

Bloodbath

Stamina cost reduced from 6 to 3.5.

Archer

Trifurcate

MP cost reduced from 30 to 15.

Lancer

Speed Surge, Life Surge

Active duration increased from 120 to 180 seconds.

Conjurer

Cure, Cure II, Cure III

Enmity generation adjusted.

Thaumaturge

Scourge

Amount of damage dealt increased.

Sacrifice, Sacrifice II, Sacrifice III

Enmity generation adjusted.
Amount of HP healed increased.

See original source here.

Kiss Your Storage Woes Goodbye! - Final Fantasy XI

2010-11-19T12:58:00.000-08:00

Kiss Your Storage Woes Goodbye! (11/19/2010)

All out of space in your Mog Safe to accommodate that sorely needed panetiere? Mog satchel near to bursting at the seams? Fret no more, for the fast-approaching version update will usher in additional item storage features that will have adventurers kissing their storage woes goodbye!

Introducing the Mog Sack!

Humble in name but as equal to the task as its satchel counterpart, the mog sack will allow adventurers to stow and retrieve their personal belongings regardless of location. Sack capacity will correspond to a character's gobbiebag size, and may be expanded up to a maximum of 80 slots.

You can become the proud owner of your very own mog sack simply by purchasing it from the altruistic moogle posted at one of the locations listed below for the affordable price of 9,980 gil. Characters need not possess a mog satchel to qualify for mog sack ownership.

Southern San d'Oria (M-6)
Bastok Markets (H-7)
Windurst Woods (G-10)
Ru'Lude Gardens (I-9)

Introducing the Porter Moogle!

Ever showing concern for the storage plight of adventurers, the Mog House Management Union has decided to kick off its very own porter service. MHMU-certified Porter Moogles will soon be dispatched to the areas listed below to provide storage services for some of your most prized gear, such as those of the Artifact and Relic persuasions, as well as pieces acquired via Limbus and Salvage forays. But that's not where it ends! As Porter Moogles undergo constant and rigorous training, adventurers can expect the service to encompass an even greater range of gear in the future.

Porter Moogles will be happy to accept individual pieces and even upgraded items into their safekeeping. Adventurers wishing to store items may do so by purchasing corresponding storage slips from the moogle. Expected to cost approximately 1000 gil apiece, each slip can be reused to store and retrieve items an infinite number of times.

Northern San d'Oria (K-8)
Bastok Markets (I-9)
Port Windurst (L-6)
Lower Jeuno (I-6)
Tavnazian Safehold (F-8)
Aht Urhgan Whitegate (I-11)

View original source here.

Where the Wild Things Spawn - Final Fantasy XIV

2010-11-18T13:35:00.000-08:00

As part of the November 24 and mid-December version updates, adjustments will be made to the distribution of enemies in all areas.

In the first version update, scheduled for release on Wednesday, November 24, the processing of in-game areas will be spread out across multiple servers in order to mitigate latency issues. Together with this structural change, we have rethought the distribution of enemies, both old and new, while giving considerable consideration to players engaged in gathering activities or simply passing through.

Ex.:

Before		After

Balancing adjustments to enemy distribution will continue in the December version, which will also usher in the the first of many waves of new enemies to Eorzea, including several Notorious Monsters (NMs). Among their number are those so freakish and vile that even the legendary taxonomist Frandelont Raimdelle could scarcely find the words to describe them. Still others may prove more than a tad familiar to the eyes of adventuring veterans of Vana'diel. All in all, a myriad menagerie of malicious monstrosities will be making its way to Eorzea in the coming months. Precise profiles and daunting details of these new additions to the Eorzean bestiary, as well as the epic loot that can be pilfered from their fresh corpses, will be treated in future Topics posts.

Continuing in this vein, the version updates of 2011 will bring about further improvements and balancing to enemy distribution, as well as the addition of numerous new NMs and NM-related content. More information will be announced here as it becomes available, so be sure to check back regularly!

See the original post here.

New Features and User Interface Improvements - Final Fantasy XIV

2010-11-17T22:15:00.000-08:00

The large-scale version update tentatively scheduled for November 25 will bring about a number of changes to the user interface (UI). Among these will be improvements to controls on various menus and screens, an item-sorting feature, and further improvements to targeting and chat systems. In addition to reworking numerous facets of the UI, we will also be implementing a number of new features. This Topics post will introduce and detail a portion of these planned.

Menus

Under the main menu, the Attributes & Gear option will be split into two options, Attributes and Gear. There will also be a Lootoption that will be displayed under the Interactions menu whenever an item occupies a player's loot list. Improvements to menu navigation when using a gamepad or keyboard will be made. And finally, the experience and skill point bars currently displayed in the upper left portion while the main menu is open will now be visible on the screen at all times in the same manner as the HP bar.

Attributes

The general layout of the Attributes window is being redesigned.

Character information will be organized into General Attributes, Skills, and Key Items tabs.

Gear

Selecting a slot will restrict the items displayed in the gear list to only those that may be equipped in that slot.

Mousing over an item will display that item's icon, statistics, and other information.

Inventory

The number of items players and retainers may have in their inventory will be increased by twenty.

Currency and Loot tabs will be added.

The upper portion of the Inventory window will display a list of items in a player's possession. Highlighting an item will display its icon, statistics, and other information below.
* The Wear value for items can currently be viewed at the bottom of the Items tab by clicking on the arrow icon in the lower right, pressing left or right on the directional pad of a gamepad, or by pressing the left or right arrow keys on a keyboard. To eliminate this additional step, an item's Wear value will be incorporated into its details window in the December version update.

A sort feature will be added to player inventories.
* Enabling the sort feature will organize an inventory by item type. While disabled, items will be listed in the order in which they entered the inventory.
* Future version updates will bring additional sort options, both automated and manual.

Selecting an item will open a menu containing the Sell Item, Purchase Item, Seek Repairs, Repair, Discard, and Toggle Sortoptions.

Sale prices will be displayed next to items in player and retainer bazaars.

Icons representing Unit Price, Set Price, Purchase Item, and Seek Repairs will be added to player and retainer bazaars.

Journal

Area names will be displayed on the journal map screen.

A player's current location will be displayed on the journal map screen.

A history of completed quests will be added.

Retainers

Simply selecting an item will move that item to a retainer's inventory.

It will become possible to easily exchange gil with retainers from the new Currency tab.

Map

Zoom-in and zoom-out functionality will be added to the map screen.

Scrolling on the map screen will be possible by dragging the mouse.

The log will remain visible while the map screen is open.

A map menu will be added in the upper right of the map screen.

The location of party members will be displayed on the map screen in real-time.

Configuration

A Chat-specific Keyboard setting will be added for players using gamepads. When enabled, this setting allows text to be entered directly without first pressing the spacebar to open the chat prompt.

* Key mapping will not be possible while the Chat-specific Keyboard setting is enabled.

It will be possible to create new chat log tabs with unique filter settings from the Chat Filters screen. Tab display will be locked regardless of whether the log is active or inactive.

Chat filter options will be added for synthesis- and gathering-related messages.

Font colors for different chat modes will become selectable.

Other

Chat Feature

The input bar of the chat log will be displayed continuously.

Pressing Ctrl+R will open a /tell prompt addressed to the last player from whom a /tell was received.

Pressing Ctrl+S, Ctrl+T, Ctrl+H, Ctrl+P, and Ctrl+L will open /say, /tell, /shout, /party, and /linkshell chat prompts, respectively.

The text commands /s, /t (/t ), /p, and /l will be usable to set the chat mode to /say, /tell, /party, and /linkshell modes, respectively.

Text Commands

The command will be usable to display coordinates on the map.

The /equip and /item commands will accommodate high-quality items (i.e., items with names containing a +1, +2, etc.).

Simultaneously equipping multiple items of the same name to multiple slots with the /equip command will become possible.

Targeting

While engaging multiple enemies, a player's cursor will automatically move to the next target when the current target is defeated.

Players with no target who are attacked by an enemy will automatically target that enemy.

It will be possible to open treasure chests by targeting and selecting them, rather than via the Interactions menu.

See original source here.

Final Fantasy XIV Free Trial Period Extended (Again.)

2010-11-16T18:36:00.000-08:00

FINAL FANTASY XIV Free Trial Period

As always, we would like to express our gratitude to all players enjoying their adventures in Eorzea.

Today, we have decided to extend the free trial period an additional 30 days. Please refer to the following for more details.

We have also added a Topics post detailing a portion of the content heading your way in the two large-scale version updates slated for late November and mid-December. This month's version update, tentatively scheduled for November 25, marks the first step in bringing about significant improvement to FINAL FANTASY XIV, guided in large part by the feedback you, the players, have provided. We are adamant that you should be given the opportunity to experience these changes firsthand before deciding to fully commit to the game. We encourage everyone to view today's post, as well as the previous Topics post from November 11 outlining the development team's roadmap for the coming months. Further details regarding payment options and future version updates will be posted as they become available.

・Comprehensive Content of Upcoming Large-Scale Version Updates (11/11/2010)
http://lodestone.finalfantasyxiv.com/pl/topics/detail?id=cb4dc09784bc24b4fde2e45de9f018ec5fb504d2

[Free Trial Extension Details]

■Eligibility
All users who registered a FINAL FANTASY XIV service account and purchased a character by November 19, 2010.

* Character purchases must have been carried out no later than November 19, 2010 at 23:59 (PST).
* Accounts terminated due to User Agreement infractions are ineligible for extension.
* Holders of multiple service accounts may receive extensions on all accounts.
* Users who took advantage of the first free trial extension announced on October 15, 2010 are fully eligible for this extension.

■Extension Period
An additional thirty (30) days.

*Free trial period end dates and initial billing dates will be automatically extended. Users are not required to take any action.
*Extensions will be for a period of thirty days regardless of billing cycle length. Regular billing will begin upon conclusion of the extended free trial.
*Should automatic renewal of options be disabled, the free trial will still be extended.
*Users notified by automated mail of either the end of their free trial period or the beginning of their billing period will still receive the extension.
*Extensions will be processed by the Square Enix Account Management System on or around November 19, 2010. An official announcement will be made at that time.
*Information regarding new billing period dates will be available via the Square Enix Account Management System.

Original source can be found here.

New Items and Balances to Synthesis - Final Fantasy XIV

2010-11-16T18:33:00.000-08:00

The large-scale version updates planned for late November and mid-December will see a number of additions and adjustments to both items and synthesis recipes. This Topics post will detail the nature of these changes, and introduce a new feature designed to aid in the synthesis process.

Additional Items: November, December

The majority of items will be added in the December version update. We also will be introducing gear with all-new graphics for each class in order to provide something for all players.

Below are some of the items scheduled for release in the December patch.

Additions and Adjustments to Synthesis Recipes

Released Recipes: November, December

The following adjustments will be made in the November version update in order to balance the degree of difficulty for synthesis.

Reduction of rank requirement for several recipes

Changes to materials required for several recipes

Introduction of alternate recipes for several items

Adjustments to the effect of each synthesis action on durability and quality

Reduction in the number of crystals required for synthesis

Increase in the number of crystals obtained as rewards for local leves

These changes will be ongoing in the December version update as well, as we continue to focus on improving and balancing synthesis.

New Recipes: November, December

In addition to the balancing changes planned for existing recipes, we will also be introducing a number of new synthesis recipes.

Auto-Selection of Materials: December

To improve convenience while crafting, we will be adding a feature that allows players to select an item to synthesize from a list of previously used recipes. Doing so will automatically place the required materials into the appropriate slots.

As of the December update, these two synthesis histories, one for general synthesis and one for local leve synthesis, will each retain the eight most recent recipes made. The version update scheduled for this coming March will expand this feature to retain a player's entire synthesis history.

In addition to all of the above changes, the November version update will also see changes that allow for the stacking of certain items, as well as the removal of a Wear value for smallclothes.

Original source can be found here.

Couple Meets Through Final Fantasy XI - Gets Married

2010-11-16T18:11:00.000-08:00

Paul Turner, 27, and Vicky Teather, 29, of London and Southhampton, respectively, marry after meeting in Final Fantasy XI. After meeting outside Southampton station on Christmas Eve 2008, they eventually married in September 2009. The wedding come complete with a cake featuring their in-game characters in icing.

I take personal interest in this story, as I too, met my partner through Final Fantasy XI, and we have been together almost a year. Neither of us play that game any longer, but it helped us find each other, and we are good together. I can only hope every else could be as lucky as us, and I hope our story continues the same way Paul and Vicky's did.

You can read their full story here.

A Beginner's Guide to Eorzea - Final Fantasy XIV

2010-11-15T23:58:00.000-08:00

This week's Q&A session seeks to assist newcomers to Eorzea by covering some of the reasons why an enemy may not be a valid attack target. We will also introduce some "aggressive" enemies, which are enemies that will attack players unprovoked. And finally, we will be going over the differences between active mode and passive mode.

Battle

Q. There are times when I am unable to attack an enemy once engaging in combat. What causes this?

A. Below is a list of conditions that will result in a player's inability to attack an enemy target. Each of these has a corresponding system message that is displayed in the log.

Target belongs to another player
It is not possible to engage enemies that are part of another player's levequest, behest, or other such content. In these cases, players will simply have to seek out another enemy, or undertake the levequest or behest in question if they have their hearts set on fighting the same enemy.
[System message]
Target is claimed by another player
It is not possible to engage an enemy that has already been claimed, or engaged, by another player. In these cases, players will simply have to seek out another enemy, or join the party of the player already fighting the enemy.
* If the enemy is part of a levequest, behest, or other such content, joining a party with those engaging it will still not allow a player to engage it. To do so requires that a player undertake the same levequest or behest as the other players.
[System message]
Target is out of range
Every action in the game has an effective range. If the target of an action is beyond that action's range, the action will not be executed. Should this happen, draw nearer to the enemy and attempt to execute the action again.
[System Message]
Target is not facing the enemy
If a player is not facing an enemy when an action is selected, the action will not be executed. Should this happen, please face the monster and attempt to execute the action again.
[System message]

Q. How do I restore my HP and MP?

A. HP and MP can be replenished in the following ways:

	HP	MP
Remain in Passive Mode*	Yes	No
Attune with Aetheryte**	Yes	Yes
Initiate a Levequest	Yes	Yes
Complete a Levequest	Yes	Yes

In addition to the above methods, HP and MP can also be recovered by using certain actions and items.

* While under the effect of a status such as Poison, players will continue to lose HP even in passive mode. Current statuses are represented by icons in the upper portion of the screen. Mousing over these icons will reveal popup windows detailing their effects.

** Players may only restore their HP and MP by attuning to an aetheryte once every ten minutes (Earth time). Attuning to an aetheryte will not replenish HP and MP while on a levequest or similar content.

Q. An enemy I defeated dropped an item, but I don't see it in my inventory. Where is it?

A. Items dropped by defeated enemies can be found under main menu » Inventory » Loot. From this screen, select an item to acquire it. It will then be moved to the Items tab.

* A Loot List option will be added to the Interactions menu in the November version update.

Q. After defeating an enemy, I went up a level and was awarded bonus attribute and element points. How do I use these?

A. To distribute bonus points, open main menu » Point Allotment. This screen provides an interface for assigning bonus points to each attribute and element, allowing players to take an active role in their character's growth. Players are encouraged to view a list ofattribute and element effects if they are unsure of each value's individual role.

Q. A monster attacked me while I was strolling peacefully through the forest. I never did anything to provoke it. Why did it thirst for my lifeblood?

A. Among Eorzea's beasts and fiends, there are those that will attack nearby players without provocation. Below is a list of some of these "aggressive" enemies. We urge adventurers to practice utmost caution should they encounter any of these bloodthirsty nasties beyond the safety of city walls (or trees).

Antling Digger		Roseling

Mad Angler		Yarzon Feeder

Lone Wolf		Inferno Drake

Sandstone Peiste		Salamander

Passive & Active Modes

Q. I've heard a lot of talk about passive mode and active mode. What is the difference?

A. The primary difference between the two modes is the state of a player's weapon or tool. When a weapon or tool is sheathed or put away, the player is in passive mode. When a weapon or tool is drawn and at the ready, the player is in active mode.

Passive Mode		Active Mode

The following list further illustrates some of the differences between passive mode and active mode.

	Passive Mode	Active Mode
Speak with an NPC	Yes	No*
Change Equipment	Yes	No
Recover HP	Yes**	No
Initiate Action	No	Yes
Recover Stamina	No	Yes
Movement Speed	Fast	Slow
TP Reduction	Fast	Slow

* Speaking to an NPC while in active mode will automatically switch a player to passive mode.
** The gradual recovery of HP in passive mode is greater while stopped than while moving.

Click here to see the original source.

Onion Helm and Asuran Armbands In Testing (Final Fantasy XIV)

2010-09-15T16:34:00.000-07:00

Special in-game items are awarded to players in Final Fantasy XIV who have pre-ordered either edition of the game. Testing of these items has commenced, and they seem very useful already. More information and photos can be found at FF14news.com.

Final Fantasy XIV Opening Cinematic Cutscene

2010-09-15T08:22:00.000-07:00

Square-Enix posted a video on their YouTube channel yesterday displaying the gorgeous and epic opening cutscene of Final Fantasy XIV. Have a gander and leave you thoughts in the comments below!

Final Fantasy XIV Fatigue System Explained

2010-09-15T07:08:00.000-07:00

The Final Fantasy XIV fatigue system explained by the swell folks over at FFXIVtactics.com! The video speaks for itself, so enjoy!

New Final Fantasy XI Weaponskills Coming This September!

2010-08-30T12:59:00.000-07:00

Square-Enix posted a video early this morning of fourteen new weaponskills coming in next months version update for Final Fantasy XI. The weaponskills are only usable while equipped with arms upgraded via the Trial of Magians system, and were especially designed for the Empyrean weapons which requires an Abyssea add-on to obtain.

Have a gander, and enjoy!

Final Fantasy XIV Prerelease Trailer

2010-08-27T09:14:00.000-07:00

   Anxiously awaiting some new CGI scenes from the coming Square-Enix MMO, Final Fantasy XIV? Well today is your lucky day, because that wait is over! And that's not all. Square-Enix also tossed us the release dates for both Preorders and a vague date for the Official Launch for North America in the video embedded below. I've also listed the Open Beta start date at the bottom of this post.

   The video shows off the beautiful city states of Ul'dah and Gridania, as well as the incredible theme song for the game itself. But most of us wouldn't expect anything less from Square-Enix and Nobuo Uematsu when it comes to graphics and music, respectively.

   Enjoy the video below, and I recommend full screen on a high resolution, with the volume up if you can. You wont regret it!

Open Beta starts August 31st, 2010. Preorders start September 30th, 2010. Official release starts March 2011.

Final Fantasy XIV Screenshots Galore!

2010-08-17T10:07:00.000-07:00

Phase 3 Beta has begun and the screenshots flooding out of the Beta tester community is astounding. Many of the screenshots are absolutely beautiful. Some take place in the previous elusive and mysterious city-states of Gridania and Ul'dah, while others are in the field showing new skins of previous monsters and a few brand new monsters as well.

Personally, I've been looking forward to seeing Gridania rendered in-game for awhile now, and now that time as come. I'd like to throw many thanks out to everyone out there giving those not participating in the Beta a chance to see how gorgeous the game is already. You have to keep in mind that these are before official release, so some minor tweaks may still be in the works. Square-Enix has stated that the graphics are complete, but we all know they never say what they really mean. So we'll see!

Enjoy this gallery of new images courtesy of FF14news.com.

New Pokemon Revealed!

2010-08-06T20:47:00.000-07:00

With Pokemon Black Version and White Version set to be released in Japan in just around a month and a half from now, the new Pokemon floodgates have been pouring out creatures left and right.

Meet Darukka...

Emonga...

And Gigaiasu.

You can read more information and translations here, and the source of the new information here.

Final Fantasy XIV Behind-the-Scenes (Video)

2010-08-05T19:16:00.000-07:00

Check out this new Final Fantasy XIV behind-the-scenes video from Square-Enix. Do I see Titan's infamous thong still intact, or do my eyes deceive me?

New Pokemon Black and White Trailer (JP)

2010-08-05T08:23:00.000-07:00

Check out this Japanese Pokemon Black and White trailer. Quite a few of the features in the game look very interesting. I'll let you see for yourself. Post your thoughts in the comments below!

FFXIV Beta Giveaway!

2010-08-04T12:04:00.000-07:00

Early this morning, multiple Final Fantasy XIV community websites posted Beta key giveaway contests. As would be expected, the forum threads with flooded with discussion from excited members and even many forum lurkers who did not previously have an account--making one specifically to enter the contests.

Some of the contests are as easy as replying to a forum thread with your entry, while one requires you to be "gifted" lottery tickets by other members--more tickets resulting in more entries into the drawing.

You can read more about the contests on the sites they are taking place.

ZAM - Requirement: Post a reply to the contest thread with answers to predefined questions.
FFXIVcore - Requirement: Post a reply to the contest thread with answers to predefined questions.
Eorzeapedia - Requirement: Receive entry tickets as gifts from other forum-goers.

Enjoy and good luck to everyone entering!

Newest Pokemon Revealed!

2010-07-27T22:17:00.000-07:00

Nintendo has announced the newest pokemon from the upcoming Black version and White version games coming to the Nintendo DS. Oddly, this Pokemon is numbered as #000, which is a bit confusing and interesting at the same time. Sorry Bulbasaur, this cute little guy is probably taking your place at the top of the pokedex list.

Bright blue eyes, cute pointy ears, adorable little tooth buds, cherub-esque wings, and a possibly unintentional peace sign thrown in there; Victini is definitely the newest Pokemon unveiled by Nintendo this week. Chances are he doesn't evolve, given that his designated number is #000 in the Pokedex, and Bulbasaur still firmly holds his spot as #001. This could be a legendary similar to Mew, or it could just be a normal Pokemon you can catch in random tall grass, we wont know for sure until Nintendo dishes more details about this little cutie's origins and back story. Hopefully we don't have to wait until March 2011 after the games North American release to find out more about teeny little Victini.

Japanese Final Fantasy XIV Beta (Screenshots)

2010-07-10T13:28:00.000-07:00

FF14news.com has put up a huge gallery of well over 100 screenshots from the Japanese FFXIV Beta. The game has taken a huge leap in pretty much every area when transforming from Alpha version to Beta. You can check out the gallery of images for yourself by clicking here or visiting FF14news.com.

Apparently there are no translations as of this posting, but I'm sure our fantastic community is already hard at work on it. As translations pour in, make sure to visit FF14news.com for the latest details!

FFXIV Beta Article

2010-07-04T11:02:00.000-07:00

Some interesting new information about "retainers" in FFXIV has been posted in an article at gamewatch, where can be read here or you can find a translation of the article here. Retainers appear to be NPCs that a player calls with a call bell item. These NPCs are customizable with different looks and accessories, and their sole purpose is to act as a player's bazaar when the player is offline, or perhaps even just out adventuring.

The article also has quite a few of those beautiful Final Fantasy XIV screenshots. I have to say, the game does indeed scream "Square-Enix Masterpiece." Even if the company's latest additions to the franchise haven't quite been up to snuff when compared to the original PlayStation interations.

I'm excited to see what all this game has in store for us. Let's hope they bring all of the good things about Final Fantasy XI back, and drop the things that made that game almost unbearable (wait times... on everything. Literally.)

Anyhoo, read the article and enjoy the images. Less than three months until official launch! But if your machine can handle it, you can go ahead and download the beta client which was made available just the other day. However, you'll need to wait to actually play the open beta until they announce the beta dates.