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Dengeki Translation Miracle Power, ON!
In this article we have more detailed information about some weapons and jobs from the armory system of Square-Enix’s still mysterious second MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV. Dengeki’s Guild (a group of Dengeki staff that works specifically on Final Fantasy XI strategy) brings their speculations to the table based on this new information.
In FFXIV, the armory system has been introduced in which you change your “class,” which are like “jobs” in FFXI, by changing your main weapons. For instance, you can be a marauder by having an axe, and you can be a magic user by equipping a staff. New information has been released for two classes belonging to the disciplines of war, and the names and properties of weapons that they can equip, along with their graphics. Dengeki Guild is going to check out these new facts!
Review of the four disciplines
Each class is part of one of the four disciplines:
Fighter (Disciple of War)
Weapons Expert
Adventurers who manipulate many kinds of weapons. They are good at using swords, arrows, or fighting with their own bodies.
Sorcerer (Disciple of Magic)
Professionals of magic
Scholars of magic who use magical tools. At this point all we know that there are two classes: thaumaturge and illusionist.
Gatherer (Disciple of Land)
Specialists of collecting
Gatherers collect, cut, fish and pick items from nature by using collecting tools. They are not cut out for battles, but are able to do the minimum in fights
Crafter (Disciple of Hand)
Artists of production
Crafters are good at blacksmithing and creating stuff by using producing tools. Also they can fix weapons. There are cooks and tailors, too.
New info on two fighter classes
(Info is most likely taken from the Square-Enix official information, so it’s the same as Famitsu. All repeated information is in quotes)
Quote
Gladiator, the swordsman
The freely attacking and defending tank
The gladiator is a melee fighter that brings sword and board to battle and boasts a great variety of one-handed swords to choose from: from short swords to long swords, double-edged straight blades to single-edged curved blades. The variety is not just in his selection of weapons, but also the way he uses them. A gladiator can take up his shield to protect his allies, or leave one hand open to focus on attack power, and this flexibility in battle is sure to become his strength. The gladiator can also throw daggers at his enemies, adding even more to this diverse fighter.
The freely attacking and defending tank
The gladiator is a melee fighter that brings sword and board to battle and boasts a great variety of one-handed swords to choose from: from short swords to long swords, double-edged straight blades to single-edged curved blades. The variety is not just in his selection of weapons, but also the way he uses them. A gladiator can take up his shield to protect his allies, or leave one hand open to focus on attack power, and this flexibility in battle is sure to become his strength. The gladiator can also throw daggers at his enemies, adding even more to this diverse fighter.
Dengeki’s speculation
This job will excel in both offense and defense with his sword and shield combination. While equipping a shield will most likely open up defensive abilities to the gladiator, equipping only a sword may allow the gladiator to wield the sword with two hands or increase his attack speed, which would probably be depicted by the difference in speed of how the gauge fills.
Gladius
Quote
The Ancient Gladius
This classic foot soldiers’ weapon is still used today in sword fighting. Though its reach is short, it makes up for it with a strong blade that is easy to swing.
This classic foot soldiers’ weapon is still used today in sword fighting. Though its reach is short, it makes up for it with a strong blade that is easy to swing.
It is classified as a short sword, but is actually about the length of a dagger.
CHECK: It’s likely that, because this is a short weapon, the gladiator will have to fight even closer to his opponent than usual. To make up for that, there will probably be some sort of bonus to attack delay. It looks like the gladiator will be able to throw this as a ranged attack, as well.
Hawktail
Quote
The Winged Blade, Hawktail
This sword has wing decorations on the hilt. Light, sharp, and elegant, this sword is popular among defensive swordsmen.
This sword has wing decorations on the hilt. Light, sharp, and elegant, this sword is popular among defensive swordsmen.
It’s not very powerful, but its battle strength lies in the way it is used.
CHECK: Though long and thin like rapier-style blades, the hawktail looks like a short sword designed for slashing attacks. Being a light sword, it will probably have less of an attack delay, as well. The opening and closing wings on the hilt may also be animated, as well.
Bastard Sword
Quote
The All-Purpose Bastard Sword
This long sword has both the slashing power of the Ul’daha swords and the thrusting power of Ishgard’s.
This long sword has both the slashing power of the Ul’daha swords and the thrusting power of Ishgard’s.
CHECK: Because of its long hilt, this seems like a sword the gladiator would be able to hold with both hands to use when focusing on attack power. The real bastard sword this was modeled after was also sometimes used as a two-handed sword, so there’s a good possibility this one could be, too.
Round Shield
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Round Shield
This widely used shield is often decorated with spiritually symbolic images.
This widely used shield is often decorated with spiritually symbolic images.
The imagery may even differ depending on the creator of the shield.
CHECK: The round shield is a very general design for a shield and doesn’t seem to serve much of a purpose other than blocking and parrying enemies’ attacks. The real round shields had many different designs on them, but will players also be able to create their own design to place on the shield?
Lantern Shield
Quote
The Mechanical Shield, Lantern Shield
This is a mechanical-type shield with a built-in lantern. The picture shows two swords built into the shield, but these are incredibly difficult to use.
This is a mechanical-type shield with a built-in lantern. The picture shows two swords built into the shield, but these are incredibly difficult to use.
Will players be able to illuminate their surroundings with the lantern in-game?
CHECK: The design is rather unique, but shields like this existed in real life. These swords in these shields could also be used to attack while still attached, but will players be able to do so in the game? If so, will they also be able to attack with the weapon in their main hand at the same time?
Pugilist, the brawler
The Martial Arts Punisher
Quote
This hand-to-hand fighter is a master in traditional arts of self-defense. Although his fists alone could be considered weapons, the pugilist specializes is using hand-to-hand weapons to increase their power in battle. However, the pugilist must stay in close to make his he lands his blows aimed at his opponent’s vitals. Some pugilists use chakrams to gain their opponents’ attention.
Himantes
Leather weapon dipped into oil which is used for official fists fight in Ul’dah. Very efficient to protect your fists. Used like gloves in boxing.
CHECK: Himantes were originally invented to protect fists, so their ability to attack is not that high. However, since they are quite light, you can use them to fight with many attacks.
Hora
Weapon made curved from horns, bones and carapace. It is not ever-lasting, but they say that Hora has the beast it is taken from lives within the weapon. It may be fragile but it must have strong power to attack.
CHECK: How much demerit it can be that Hora is fragile in FFXIV, a game in which all weapons have a rate of degeneration? And what does it mean that the beast will live in the Hora? Will it just have more strength to attack or something else?
Metal Knuckles
Metal ring-shaped weapons. It is heavier but have stronger power to attack. Metal Knuckles can damageable attacks with its metal hardness and weight.
CHECK: Metal Knuckles are like brass knuckles. Like knuckles in FFXI, they may have stronger ability attack, but they may not be able to attack as successively.
Cesti
Heavy weapons for death matches against demons. Cesti is a steel ring-shaped fists weapon wrapped with many layers of leather and have spikes on top. They have stronger attacks due to its weight and its spikes.
CHECK: Cesti in FFXI could make attacks in short intervals though they had less power in damaging things. However, as a heavy weapon, cesti may have stronger power in attacking. Moreover, it appears that there are fist-fights against demons.
Baghnakhs
Inspired by tiger’s claws. Baghnakhs are an Asian secret weapon specialized in tearing things up. Its power in attacks and the interval to make another attack are quite well balanced.
CHECK: Since it is well balanced, it would be easy to handle and also deal big damage. Also there are extra effects like poisoning, but will there be anything else?
Discussion Table! What will the other classes and weapons be like?
Guild Leader (GL): Hi! I’m the Dengeki Guild leader, Peaberry!
Kitty (K): I’m Kitty, I’m also in the guild.
GL: Looks like the gladiator specializes in short (one-handed) swords. Do you think he’ll have other job-specific abilities?
K: Don’t forget, the bastard sword appears to be useable as a two-handed sword as well.
GL: And, like the lancer introduced before, it appears that even melee attackers will have long-ranged weapons.
K: Woah, so axe-wielders might even have tomahawk boomerangs?!
GL: Speaking of axe-wielders, there were both one-handed and two-handed axes in FFXI, but do you think the marauder will specialize in using only two-handed axes, like the picture we saw before?
K: Who can be sure? The gladiator seems to use only short swords, so we can’t really tell at this point.
GL: Also, gladiators can take off their shields, so do you think they’d be able to dual wield short swords?
K: Oh! That sounds possible, on the condition that they were both the same type of sword, of course.
GL: Of course. Dual-wielding a kitchen knife and a frying pan doesn’t seem like it would be possible (he laughs).
This post has been edited by SteveManly: 13 November 2009 - 06:17 AM
