Final Fantasy XI

Square Enix is getting ready to unveil the fifth expansion for Final Fantasy XI. Called "Seekers of Adoulin", the new expansion will focus on exploration, cultivation, and pioneering and will give players the opportunity to create outposts that can have an impact on the world around them.

Seekers also introduces a new continent to the West, and the city of Adoulin, as well as the new class Geomancer an AoE buffer/debuffer. Another class will also be announced later today.

The new content has a Mediterranean-style influence, and has an emphasis on attracting players that may have lapsed subscriptions, as well as giving new angles on the games plot. SoA is mainly catering to high-end content.

Thanks to Adam Tingle for his research!

Find out more about the expansion on the Final Fantasy XI site.

The Final Fantasy XI team has posted a very short Q&A with regard to the December version update. The team answers questions about content adjustments, recipes, increased enemy damage, and PS2 issues.

Q: After the recent maintenance, the cost of augmented items increased from 1,000 Dominion notes to 2,500. I understand the need to control gil flow, but was it not possible to just lower resale prices instead?

A: Lowering the resale price of these items was an option we considered as well. As the items in question are augmented versions of equipment obtainable via Synergy, however, we came to the conclusion that such a measure would have undesirable effects on crafters. Raising the cost in Dominion notes was deemed to be the fairest solution.

Read more here.

Square Enix has announced that the Final Fantasy XI level cap will be rising with the next game update. The maximum character level will increase from 85 to 90. Players will also have new abilities, traits, and spells to play with once the update goes live. Devs have posted a laundry list of changes on the Play Online site so be sure to swing by for a look.

The following new job abilities will be added:

• Blood Rage (WAR Lv.87 Ability Delay: 5 min. Effect Duration: 30 sec.) Enhances critical hit rate and critical hit damage for party members within area of effect.
• Impetus (MNK Lv.88 Ability Delay: 5 min. Effect Duration: 3 min.) Enhances attack and critical hit rate with each successive melee attack you land.

Read more here.

Final Fantasy XI is one of the most enduring MMOs currently on the market. Developer Square Enix has not failed to deliver regular content and updates. Recently, MMORPG.com reporter Carolyn Koh had the opportunity to take a media tour of the latest area to be added: Abyssea, a new level 75+ zone with new armor, spells, skills, job adjustments and new areas to explore.

Square Enix has always conducted really excellent media tours and often the ensure personal attention with only one or two media attendees, and this tour was no different. Smooth transitions, no accidental training of zones when you pass through, waiting around while someone figures something out that they want to show you, etc. etc. It’s always a very smooth affair, exciting when you enter battles and raid zones, a critter or two snapping at your heels to show you the zone dangers, but no real dangers as you are conducted through.

Read the Vision of Abyssea zone preview.

Ah, summer in Vana’diel!

A season for sweltering days, starry nights, and the annual moogle-staged production of a timeless tale of star-crossed lovers that without the assistance of altruistic adventurers like you is doomed to end in disaster and disarray.

Read on to see how you can play your part in the festivities!

*Celestial Nights will twinkle into view at 1:00 a.m. (PDT) on Tuesday, June 29 and fade with dawn’s light on Tuesday, July 13 at the same hour.