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**Medalink** · 10-07-2005, 03:44 PM

Re: Possibly answered, possibly dumb.

Not possible to change your name, Not possible to change aperance, Not possible to Modify .dat files on PS2.

Medalink

**Macht** · 10-07-2005, 04:36 PM

Re: Possibly answered, possibly dumb.

Well, changing .dat files and models like Medalink said is true. Changing name though he's wrong. It's possible to do but you're basically going to be charged $1.00 to do so.

What you do is purchase another Content ID ($1.00), then deactivate (not delete) the Content ID containing the name you want to change. Now create a new character on the new Content ID and you should be able to give it the name of the deactivated Content ID. After you've done that, Reactivate the Content ID that you had just deactivated.

When you reactivate the Content ID an error should kick in saying your characters old name has been taken and you must choose a new name. This is were you get to make a new name, just be aware though this trick was doable some months ago. I can't guarentee though if they had made a change to were this is not doable anymore, also be aware this trick will not alter other players Friendlists to were they can't identify you.

EDIT:

To further expand on too, when a person makes those .dat swaps and model changes it does not just effect their character specifically, it effects every other character they see of that same model or equipment.

**Medalink** · 10-07-2005, 04:49 PM

Re: Possibly answered, possibly dumb.

Are you sure that will change your in game name? You would have to start your Char over, It wont change your current Chars name will it?

Medalink

**Ghostraven** · 10-07-2005, 05:00 PM

Re: Possibly answered, possibly dumb.

I think you can swap ps2 dats but it takes a bit of work.
mount the ps2 drive on a pc, use a prog that lets you read the ps2 file system on the HDD and swap the files then reinsert the drive into PS2.. may work no?

But like it was said, changing your character appearance is futile for that reason, everyone else who picked your character model will have the same changes.

About that name changing, I remember Arvy posting about changing his name on Rag, said he asked a GM and they changed it for him... then again it was arvy who said it so ..............

**Macht** · 10-07-2005, 05:01 PM

Re: Possibly answered, possibly dumb.

It did before, it's taking advantage of the design of how it works with "World Shifts". If you signup for a world shift and a player on the new server exists with that name, when you log on it'll kick back an error saying you need to change your name.

Character that exists on a disabled Content ID is similar to as if they don't exist, you even have to relink them to a Handle ID when you reactivate again. I used that trick 1 time when I first heard about it, it worked then but I can't guarentee it now.

For the PS2 Ghostraven you are right, there is actually a mod program you can get that lets you rig a normal HDD to work with the PS2 as if it was partitioned for the PS2. That software also adds a few features to it's Game OS that the PS2 HDD does not have, such as a file manager which probably will let you do just what you said. I just don't suggest going to that extent, especially you don't have a broad enough knowledge of Computer technology and how it all works. Otherwise it'll be a real problem if something goes wrong and you don't have the technical know-how to correct it.

**Spazz** · 10-07-2005, 05:28 PM

Re: Possibly answered, possibly dumb.

Alrighty... well... I feel like adding my 2 cents on this.

ACTUALLY... Yes you can swap .dat files on PC AND !PS2!. That is correct, you can on PS2 but its extremely difficult to do so. It involves alot of knowledge about 3rd party HDDs - so I highly do NOT recommended attempting hooking it up to your CPU if you do not know what you are doing. HOWEVER, If you are interrested... there are threads on Allakazham and on killing ifrit about it.

And what Macht said is true... my friend did that like.. 3 months ago. But just like Macht I do not know if it still works. So... caution to anyone who attempts it.

**kuu** · 10-07-2005, 08:36 PM

Re: Possibly answered, possibly dumb.

If you have money (real money) to spend, you can test it out on mules and then change.

Be warned, you are playing with fire(in a sense) here, because it's the server side.

SE does do character recovery services for you if it's your first time happening. but who knows how often they backup.

Well with a patch coming on the 10th, there should be a backup of char database for each world then.

**Xellana** · 10-11-2005, 04:05 PM

Re: Possibly answered, possibly dumb.

Oops.. sorry I guess I wasn't too clear on changing appearances, but I think you guys gave me the answer anyways. I was referring to changing my character from say, the mithra with white hair to the mithra with pigtails or whatnot. I know how to change .dat files on the PC and I've been told how to do it on PS2 as well, just really don't want to as of the moment. You're right it takes a hella long time to accomplish that.

Thankyou for answering my questions though, it clears a few things up, maybe someday SE will lets me change my character, but til then meh.... I can always change the .dats.

**TheGrandMom** · 10-11-2005, 06:34 PM

Re: Possibly answered, possibly dumb.

Here is an interview from iGames in NY. I submitted a similar question about changing your name, sex, or race of your character. I put in bold the part that would pertain to that:

"One of the events planned at the iGames was a panel of discussion where WarCry and the crowd could ask questions to the FFXI Dev team. Although no new expansion information could get released people were pretty much opened to ask any given question or make suggestions. They did take the time to confirm that they do take in consideration player feedback and suggestions which are often discussed within meetings which we don't know about. To help improve the game, they suggested to take an active part in a community and discuss the game there. They make rounds and take a look of the Premier Community Sites gathering questions and feedback.

WarCry: Recently there have been many items added that increase "Magic Accuracy". There is also quite a bit of debate going around as to what exactly is meant by this, and its effectiveness. Could you clarify what is meant by "Magic Accuracy"?

Devs: Magic Accuracy lowers the resist rate of the monsters. The highest the skill is, the less chance you have of being resisted.

Crowd: Any chances of seeing some PvP regions?

Devs: Not yet but it has been noted several times as a suggestion.

WarCry: How much of an impact does the enfeebling skill help on "sticking" a spell. And what about its duration?

Devs: Well the higher your skill is the more chances it has to land and stay on the monster. Also as your skill goes up, the spell will become more efficient. The duration is pretty much random and is not influenced by your skill.

Crowd: How much of Vana'diel has been uncovered? Will the new expansion be on some new lands?

Devs: Although we cannot talk about the expansion, there will be new areas of Vana'diel with its released.

WarCry: Are there any plans to add 2nd tier enfeebling spells, such as Paralyze II, Slow II and Gravity II?

Devs: Most of those spells are based on the caster's casting skill. Therefore the higher your skill is, the stronger and more effective they become.

Crowd: Why are you so much against 3rd party applications such as in-game addition?

Devs: It's pretty much all about prevention. You might call us a little paranoid but we come to agree that the harder it is to develop or use 3rd party apps with FFXI, the safer it is. But of course there will always be a way to break it all and we cannot do anything about it except banning people doing so.

WarCry: Given the recent difficulties obtaining large updates every time they're released, are there any plans to allow PC users to download the update in another manner? Perhaps being able to download an .exe file or have the download available in another way to alleviate some of the traffic and congestion during the update process?

Devs: This is actually being talked about in our meetings. We are currently undergoing some changes into the billing system which, once done, will give us more freedom for such things. But there will most likely be another way for PC users.

Crowd: Any plans for the long lost and forgotten dragoons?

Devs: We figured dragoons would come up sooner or later. *laugh* We are currently on the look out for any good idea to tweak them. Feel free to suggest some. (There was also a mention about the dragoon's 2 hour being changed but nothing confirmed)

Crowd: It's great to see all the news things and have some nice event items, but can we please have some inventory space?

Devs: It's been taken in note and will be looking into it pretty soon.

Crowd: Does Charisma influence Provoke?

Devs: It's just a rumor and it doesn't.

WarCry: The current trend is for some linkshell to monopolize the HNM spawns making it very difficult for the other linkshells and players in general to obtain highly sought-after items like abjurations. Any thoughts on that?

Devs: GMs compile the data on kills on an every day basis. After a few weeks we sit down and discuss them. You've seen some recent changes to NMs and HNMs in the latest patch and we will keep improving it.

WarCry: Any possibilities of seeing other viable options for ninjas beside being tanks?

Devs: We might add some abilities but we're not sure about it yet. Another option is to add some merit points abilities to balance it into an attaquer.

WarCry: Some people, after leveling their job, decided they don't like their name/race/gender. How does having an event where, after doing a quest, you could permanently change one or more of these options?

Devs: This is not likely to see the light; it's their identity after all.

Crowd: Any plans for character transfers?

Devs: Plans are in but we still need to complete the billing system before making it possible. GMs already have the power to do so but we do not support it.

WarCry: Who do we talk to about problematic GMs?

Devs: Use the report function since the GMs cannot delete the coupons. We check all of them. The good way to do so is to go on Playonline.com, North America, support, Comments and suggestions.

Crowd: How does the exp. for the NPC friend works?

Devs: Without going too much into details, the number of xp the NPC gets upon a kill is 70% of the xp you would get if you would kill it at the NPC level. But their level curve is different from a PC. There are more NPC updates coming soon. The NPC also stays up to a define number of fight or maximum time allowed. The higher his level is, the longer it can stay around.

Crowd: Can we get a confirmation window to unsummon our NPC please?

Devs: It's been noted."