Letter from the Producer, LIX

[Kage]

Letter from the Producer, LIX

 

Hello again to all of you FFXIVers out there!

Perhaps it’s because of all the recent LIVE letters, events, and the two recent fan festivals in Las Vegas and London, but I just haven’t had the opportunity to write one of my letters. Finally seizing a moment of free time in my schedule, I’ve managed to put virtual pen to paper and bring you my fifty-ninth letter from the producer!

 

First, I’d like to thank everyone who was able to attend the fan festivals in Las Vegas and London, as well as everyone who tuned in to the live streams. With numerous activities, presentations, and performances at each event, I’m sure everyone had an incredible time, as did the dev team, having the chance to meet fans the world over. It’s been four years since the original release of FINAL FANTASY XIV, and I don’t think it’s often that such events are held on an international scale for an MMORPG. Your ardent support of the game made this possible, and it feels like a dream come true. Your enthusiastic cheering and smiling faces are a memory I’ll cherish always. With that said, there’s still one more fan festival to go, right here in Tokyo, Japan. We have a lot planned, so you can be sure we’ll continue to put the FFXIV in 2014 during this year’s final two-day event.

 

Which reminds me, we finally announced our first expansion─FINAL FANTASY XIV: Heavensward at our two previous fan festival events (check out the teaser site). We’ve been making steady progress on the expansion while also releasing patches for A Realm Reborn, but now we’re really picking up the pace, doing everything we can to ensure that Heavensward brings you an all new FFXIV experience. Keep your eyes peeled as we continue to release more information in the future.

 

Speaking of patches, we’re finally getting to the climax of the main scenario as patch 2.4 was released October 28, 2014. When getting my fill of FFXIV, I’ve found there’s nothing sweeter than the sound of rogues and ninjas assassinating enemies at every turn. I can’t say it’s of great help to those leveling their ninjas, but I’ve been using my tank in low level roulettes, trying to help move the queues along.

 

Patch 2.4 also brought the final turns of the Coil of Bahamut, and the conclusion to its incredible story. Eorzea’s bravest hit the ground running, and in less than a week, on November 2, 2014 at 9:03 p.m. JST, the coil was cleared. The group to accomplish this amazing feat was Lucrezia, making them the first Japanese group to claim the title of world first. Congratulations on a job well done!

A number of free companies were competing to be the first to clear all four turns, and the dev team would check their logs daily, waiting to see who would be the first to finish. Following close on Lucrezia’s heels was Collision, who were actually first to clear the third floor. They put forth an incredible effort, clearing the final floor mere hours after Lucrezia. The third free company to overcome the final coil was Death and Taxes, a group well known across several MMORPGs.

 

The exceptional level of skill and teamwork they possess definitely deserves mention. They worked incredibly hard, making weekly runs through the Second Coil of Bahamut (Savage) in preparation for the Final Coil. In pushing their DPS and team coordination to its limits, I heard some teams also played through the normal Second Coil in item level 90 gear, and even the original Binding Coil in item level 55 gear after removing the Echo (with some teams clearing up to the final turn).

 

While there’s more to FFXIV than just end-game raiding, to those players who practice vigorously every day, aspiring to be the world's top players─as a gamer you have my utmost respect. I know how painstaking such an undertaking can be, and I thank you for taking such great interest in these challenging encounters. For those of you still making your way through, or preparing to step foot into the Final Coil─only about 50 teams have cleared the entirety of the Final Coil across all servers, so there’s no need to rush. Enjoy yourselves, and prepare to uncover the truth of the Calamity.

As I said, there’s more to FFXIV than just end game raiding, and starting in patch 2.45, coming in the first half of December, you can pledge your devotion to your significant other in a Ceremony of Eternal Bonding. We designed this system with roleplaying in mind, paying extra attention to customization and presentation, so that you can hold an amazing ceremony in the world of Eorzea.

If you should happen to receive an invitation, be sure to ready put on Sunday best!

 

Patch 2.45 also brings the continuation of the Zodiac weapon quest.

Just what shocking developments are coming this time?

 

In the meantime, I’ve been doing what I can to get the word out about FFXIV with my recent attendance at Korea’s largest game show event, G-Star. There’s also the F.A.T.E. in Fukuoka coming up soon, and in December, we’ll round out the year with the third fan festival event here in Tokyo, Japan. You can look forward to another glimpse of the first expansion, Heavensward.

 

It’s time for me to head back to work, but I’ll see you next time, at the F.A.T.E. in Fukuoka, at the fan festival in Tokyo, and in Eorzea!

[Warren Castille]

CONTINUATION. NOT CONCLUSION.

 

DAMMIT SE GIMME MY EXCALIBUR

[Kage]

Fuck that.

 

Who wants to marry me. Plox.

[Berrod Armstrong]

2.45 already...damn lol. I'm so not ready.

[Kage]

Yeah 2.45 in about a month? I think that means 2.5 is gonna be ~February?

[Sounsyy]

CONTINUATION. NOT CONCLUSION.

 

DAMMIT SE GIMME MY EXCALIBUR

 

Kinda saw that coming. Nexus is only i115, while Dreadwyrm is i135. So unless you make a 20 Item Level jump between Nexus and Zodiac, there had to be at least one more step. We likely won't get to complete our Zodiacs until 2.55 at the earliest.

 

So...

Nexus = i115

????? = i125(?)

Zodiac = i135

[Melodia]

But what about us that don't care to grind out the relic and can't get the coil weapon? What are our options? :cry:

[Gegenji]

CONTINUATION. NOT CONCLUSION.

 

DAMMIT SE GIMME MY EXCALIBUR

 

Kinda saw that coming. Nexus is only i115, while Dreadwyrm is i135. So unless you make a 20 Item Level jump between Nexus and Zodiac, there had to be at least one more step. We likely won't get to complete our Zodiacs until 2.55 at the earliest.

 

So...

Nexus = i115

????? = i125(?)

Zodiac = i135

 

Considering what we've had to go through thus far, I can only weep internally as to what I'm going to have to deal with once I get done with collecting "glow" (which I'll only be starting next week!).

 

I motion that the i125 version be tentatively just called "Acceptance." Because I think wearied acceptance is where I'm at with my Zodiac weapon. :blush:

[Warren Castille]

But what about us that don't care to grind out the relic and can't get the coil weapon? What are our options? :cry:

 

Wait for CT3 and presumably the new Tomestone to drop there as well. Pattern worked for 2.3/2.3 well enough.

 

I know it was dumb to think we'd get the end step here, but they already teased Excalibur's design. I'm of similar mind with Sounsyy: New step to i125 (as if they'd ever do that, it'll probably be 120 but we can dream) and then final design (glow?) in 2.5.

[Kage]

But what about us that don't care to grind out the relic and can't get the coil weapon? What are our options? :cry:

Tome weapon. The item to get it will be available in the next CT patch and will have the upgrade too most likely.

 

Or primals.

[Melodia]

But what about us that don't care to grind out the relic and can't get the coil weapon? What are our options? :cry:

Tome weapon. The item to get it will be available in the next CT patch and will have the upgrade too most likely.

 

Or primals.

Sweet.

 

And did you say Primals? LOL oh my lala friend I have no one to guide me through said "primals"

[Warren Castille]

There are/were plenty of learning groups and there's a ton of videos/write-ups available to become familiar with them. Don't be afraid of dying a couple of times in front of strangers while you get your feet under you.

[Aysun]

GOT MY HYPE ON.

[Berrod Armstrong]

There are/were plenty of learning groups and there's a ton of videos/write-ups available to become familiar with them. Don't be afraid of dying a couple of times in front of strangers while you get your feet under you.

^ This! Gotta put yourself out there a bit to reap the rewards! It's a fun and fulfilling experience, you won't regret it!

[Kage]

I haven't found them peoples in game recently for the LS I made but getting people to join them PVE type linkshells would help get them toes wet.

 

Shiva is super fun to do. And she yields pretty good stuffs but the ilvl only just reached the same ilvl of the unweathered soldiery weapons. You could have gotten a few unweathered weapons or just one.

 

i110 weapons are easy to get now. (I have the i110 WAR, PLD, SMN, SCH, BLM, WHM weapons without really farming for soldiery.)

 

Edit: Also Warren just for you. INB4 Demimateria required for next zodiac weapon continuations.

edit2: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE WEDDING OUTFITS??!!

[Miryn]

Edit: Also Warren just for you. INB4 Demimateria required for next zodiac weapon continuations.

I would curl into a ball and cry. Or suck it up and level my desynth anyway. But there would definitely be curling up and crying first.

 

The Nexus tier was a step in the right direction, methinks. Pretty much any content you run while wielding your relic gives you credit, it's just a question of how hard you want to grind it out. I would be very sad if post-Nexus locked down progress to just one little slice of content again.

 

Oh man those wedding outfits. (They are gonna be 4-star crafts, aren't they.)

[g0ne]

D'aww...

 

I was wondering about the marriage system, and there it is! 

 

The wedding outfits look so pwetty! :bouncy: (I hope they're not as expensive as they look!)

[Steel Wolf]

Yea....no....not a single bit of solo progression options out there.

 

Urgh.

 

"It's easy to get x item!" Right. Sure. I haven't seen a one of these "learning groups", and while guides and videos are a primer, they don't replace in-game experience.

 

Dammit...well, good for those moving along though.

[Warren Castille]

Demimateria would finally give me a reason to spend money!

 

ALSO DON'T YOU PUT THAT EVIL ON ME, KAGE.

 

Wedding outfits look spiffy. White tuxedos are enhh but the dress looks lovely. Warren's gonna look great as always in his!

[Gegenji]

Wedding outfits look spiffy. White tuxedos are enhh but the dress looks lovely. Warren's gonna look great as always in his!

 

In his... dress? Oh my, Warren, I never knew. :lol:

[Warren Castille]

Wedding outfits look spiffy. White tuxedos are enhh but the dress looks lovely. Warren's gonna look great as always in his!

 

In his... dress? Oh my, Warren, I never knew. :lol:

 

...welp, that'll teach me to stop posting to send texts.

 

I'M NOT EVEN GONNA EDIT IT. THAT'S HOW I ROLL.

[Steel Wolf]

Wedding outfits look spiffy. White tuxedos are enhh but the dress looks lovely. Warren's gonna look great as always in his!

 

In his... dress? Oh my, Warren, I never knew. :lol:

 

...welp, that'll teach me to stop posting to send texts.

 

I'M NOT EVEN GONNA EDIT IT. THAT'S HOW I ROLL.

 

Warren is prettiest princess.

[Warren Castille]

Wedding outfits look spiffy. White tuxedos are enhh but the dress looks lovely. Warren's gonna look great as always in his!

 

In his... dress? Oh my, Warren, I never knew. :lol:

 

...welp, that'll teach me to stop posting to send texts.

 

I'M NOT EVEN GONNA EDIT IT. THAT'S HOW I ROLL.

 

Warren is prettiest princess.

 

You're god damned right I am.

[Kage]

Male lala who is adorable is looking for someone to marry him.

 

Even FemRoes. Even though he has had the worst luck with them (BOTH HAVE TRIED KILLING HIM).

 

A house is available. Cliff-side view. Chocobo-stable and gardening.

 

He will also look spiffy by your side at any and all occasions. Even your shoulders.

[Berrod Armstrong]

Wedding outfits look spiffy. White tuxedos are enhh but the dress looks lovely. Warren's gonna look great as always in his!

 

In his... dress? Oh my, Warren, I never knew. :lol:

 

...welp, that'll teach me to stop posting to send texts.

 

I'M NOT EVEN GONNA EDIT IT. THAT'S HOW I ROLL.

oops my hand slipped

http://i.imgur.com/rWOSaWf.jpg[/img]