Final Fantasy XI

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.

The June version update is here, marking the arrival of “Vision of Abyssea”, the first in the Abyssea series of battle add-ons set to offer epic new challenges to adventurers who would take up arms under the sunless skies of this forbidding realm.

But that’s not all! This update will feature the long-awaited lifting of the level cap, accompanied by a host of new weapon skills and job abilities. Adventurers can also venture into the newly unlocked Walk of Echoes and experience the climactic conclusions of the Wings of the Goddess nation quests. There’s bound to be something for everyone!

Players are also encouraged to revisit the Vision of Abyssea site, where the latest information on the formidable set of arms known as “Empyrean Weapons” has been revealed.

Visit the Final Fantasy XI official website for the full patch notes.