FINAL FANTASY XI Roadmap for October 2011 – March 2012

[Malacite]

FINAL FANTASY XI Roadmap for October 2011 – March 2012


Attention, adventurers of Vana'diel!

Today, we are pleased to present an updated FINAL FANTASY XI roadmap covering the months of October 2011 through March 2012.



*Dates noted on the roadmap indicate the time at which new content will be introduced on the test server.


October 2011-March 2012
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With the addition of the test server, the FINAL FANTASY XI development cycle will shift from the periodic large-scale version updates seen thus far to a more frequent introduction of specific content as it becomes ready for release. That content will be tested by you, the players, and refined by our development and quality assurance teams to ensure the most challenging and enjoyable playing experience possible.

New content will hereafter be implemented in the following manner:

1. Development of new content
2. Introduction on test server and announcement on official forums
3. Playtesting phase
   1. Feedback from test server participants received.
   2. Development and QA teams explore possible revisions.
4. Refinement phase
   Content is adjusted based on playtesting feedback and reintroduced on the test server.
   (*Cycle repeats from step two until content is deemed ready for release.)
5. Content released!

The following new content is scheduled to feature on the test server in the coming months:

2011

• October
  The next installment in the Voidwatch saga, new Walk of Echoes walks, additional BCNM battlefields, and upgrades for relic equipment are scheduled for introduction this month.
  
  A daily reward system is also under development for this month, along with adjustments to the warrior, thief, and scholar jobs.
  
  　
  　
• November
  An increase in the level cap from level 95 to 99 as well as additional adventures to embark upon, new job abilities and appropriate refinements for existing ones round out the planned focus for this month's content.
  
  For player convenience, monster placement will be adjusted and the porter moogle system expanded.
  
  　
  　
• December
  Features proposed for this month include a new battle system for level 99 players—tentatively named The Last Stand, a renewal of the Nyzul Isle Investigation battlefield, additional weapon skills, a level cap increase for adventuring fellows to 95, and further job adjustments.
  
  　
  　

2012

• January
  This month's test server update is scheduled to introduce the fourth chapter of Voidwatch, additional job adjustments aimed at level 99 characters, and refinements to merit point groups one and two. The scope of these job and merit point adjustments will likely exceed even those implemented with the level 99 cap increase.
• February
  Features planned for this month include: a new dungeon crawl system, the latter half of Voidwatch's fourth chapter, a further expansion of the porter moogle system, and adjustments to limit break quest difficulty.
  
  　
  　
• March
  Expansions to the Limbus and Einherjar battlefields, along with further job adjustments and two-hour abilities obtainable via merit points are set to be introduced this month.
  
  　
  　

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We thank you for your continued exploration of Vana'diel and wish you many more incredible discoveries in the future!

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The FINAL FANTASY XI Team

[cidbahamut]

Re: FINAL FANTASY XI Roadmap for October 2011 – March 2012

OMG! RED MAGE! WHINE WHINE WHINE.

On a more serious note, meritable two-hour abilities are an interesting idea but they also fill me with a sense of foreboding. I'm really ok with just having one 2-hour ability. They're not something you rely on, but a cool bonus feature to use when you're in trouble. I'd much rather we get a new category of merits in general, for useful stuff. It's been what, nine years and SE still hasn't sorted out the first batch of two-hour abilities to make them all worthwhile and they're thinking of adding a second batch? Call me a synic but I see it ending on a sour note.

More synicism: They're changing mob placement again. I wish they'd stop that.

[Romyro]

Re: FINAL FANTASY XI Roadmap for October 2011 – March 2012

Is it just me or does the 99 cap in Nov seem a little early

---------- Post added at 08:47 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:45 AM ----------

disregard...test server...got it

[Squiggs]

Re: FINAL FANTASY XI Roadmap for October 2011 – March 2012

OMG! RED MAGE! WHINE WHINE WHINE.

Yay it's an update thread.

Ahem, anyway. Some interesting stuff there, some stuff I'll just have to wait and see if it's interesting or not.

[Yellow Mage]

Re: FINAL FANTASY XI Roadmap for October 2011 – March 2012

New rule of update threads: the first post is always going to be whining about perceived (in this case, non-existent) Red Mage whining.

[Raydeus]

Re: FINAL FANTASY XI Roadmap for October 2011 – March 2012

FINAL FANTASY XI Roadmap for October 2011 – March 2012

I'm not seeing anything about Prishe here, so there must be some kind of mistake.

[Janay]

Re: FINAL FANTASY XI Roadmap for October 2011 – March 2012

I'm not seeing anything about Prishe here, so there must be some kind of mistake.

It's the future. She died when "Neo Dark Bahamut" arrived.

[Raydeus]

Re: FINAL FANTASY XI Roadmap for October 2011 – March 2012

o_O;

[Grizzlebeard]

Re: FINAL FANTASY XI Roadmap for October 2011 – March 2012

TL;DR Level 99, yet more Synergy to the exclusion of all other crafts, and reusing old content.

Okay, merit two hours and monster placement as well.

[Romyro]

Re: FINAL FANTASY XI Roadmap for October 2011 – March 2012

Am I one of the few that like synergy?

Maybe know too little about it but don’t you still need people who leveled the crafts to be successful?

[cidbahamut]

Re: FINAL FANTASY XI Roadmap for October 2011 – March 2012

Am I one of the few that like synergy?

Yes.

What little time I spent with it at the behest of a friend left me with a very bad impression.

[Malacite]

Re: FINAL FANTASY XI Roadmap for October 2011 – March 2012

Well, I'm annoyed now.

I was thoroughly upset with the last major update, and still think the 95 stage relic class upgrades are pure bullshit. However this new format is a lot better, with updates coming as they are ready. Less wait in between content is a really good move in a game this old.

I didn't expect 99 to come this soon either - I'm just glad SE offers that discount for playing XI & XIV together since XIV is starting it's billing in December. Can't freaking wait to see the new merits, particularly the 2 hour merits.

WILD SPECULATION!!!

WAR: Increased double attack rate
MNK: Longer duration (oh lawd please)
WHM: Recover MP & HP
RDM: Increased Magic Accuracy (permanent elemental seal lol?) or Enhanced Enfeebling Magic Effects?
BLM: Reduced casting/recast times and/or increased MAB
THF: Greatly increased chance to raise TH level
PLD: Immune to magic damage
NIN: Raise with full HP MP & TP & Reset all spell timers / Increased damage/aoe ?
DRK: Increased duration / souleater effectiveness
BST: Grant familiar potent Regain effect / reduce recast for charges
BRD: Increase songs duration / effect
RNG: Greatly reduced/cleared enmity / multiple hits (basically super barrage)
DRG: Increased weaponskill/jump damage
SAM: Potent Regain / Increased skillchain damage (also they really should make it so you can actually TP from regular swings... wtf)


and that's all I got for now. I wanna do other stuff

[Murphie]

Re: FINAL FANTASY XI Roadmap for October 2011 – March 2012

When you say "Wild Speculation,' don't you just mean "Normal Malacite speculation?"

[Raydeus]

Re: FINAL FANTASY XI Roadmap for October 2011 – March 2012

RDM 2HR merits will give him Ranged Acc. +50, of course.

[cidbahamut]

Re: FINAL FANTASY XI Roadmap for October 2011 – March 2012

RDM 2HR merits will give him Ranged Acc. +50, of course.

It really and truly would not surprise me at this point. It would just be supremely disappointing.