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Two magazines recently released, Dengeki Playstation and Famitsu's Connect!On, have a few more things to say about the new information. Dengeki has some more to say straight from some of the creators, and Famitsu's Connect!On has once again gathered the opinions of the Japanese gaming community along with expert speculation from their journalists.
We'd like to start things off with the Dengeki translation, and the Connect!On translation will make its way up anytime from later tonight until next year (depending on where you are geographically)! Things may take some time: it is New Year's Day here, and there's a LOT of good television on.
This is from the bottom section about the world.
World; Three State Nations, Bases for Adventurers
The three capital state nations are starting places for adventurers in Eorzea. From those pictures, you can see that they have different features. It seems like they have different settings for races to live for each state nation.
The State of Eorzea and Adventurers’ Starting Point
Eorzea, one of the continents of Hydaelyn, is the stage of FFXIV. 15 years ago, when the Garlean Empire invaded, one of the six capitals of Eorzea fell. Adventurers travel to Eorzea to find word at guilds started by ex-mercenaries that settled in the other five cities.
Limsa Lominsa; Ocean Capital
Limsa Lominsa is a sea state nation floating on the Rhotano Sea, guarded by the Goddess of navigation, Llymlaen. They are famous for shipbuilding, fishery and their strong navy, the Knights of the Barracuda.
Caption: Pirates are said to appear in the Rhotano Sea. Could this picture be…?! There are rumors that there could be some fishy relations between the navy and the pirates…
Ul'dah; Sand Capital
Ul'dah is a gigantic fortess against invaders. The area around Ul'dah
is more like a savanna than a desert.
Gridania: Forest Capital
Gridania is a bit different from other state nations in that they have a lot of wooden buildings. It looks like they are surrounded by dim forests that they might be like natural labyrinth for Adventurers.
Creator's Check
The location of FFXIV is Eorzea, a region comprising of the Aldenard continent and the surrounding islands. The Garlean Empire, which has done a number of invasions, originated not in Eorzea but in a territorial state in an eastern continent. Therefore, that nation has invaded groups of state nations in Eorzean civilization. The battle scene on the official site trailer shows the fights with the Garlean Empire. We cannot tell you what that battle is yet, but it does have something to do with the Adventurers' ability to "change the World." This power is to relive the past events does not mean to come and go the past and the present like in FFXI's Wings of the Goddess. Plus, we cannot tell anything about the origin and nature of this power, for it is deeply connected to the main part of the story. You have to play and figure out the truth by yourself
New Factor: Character
Creator Check
Character customization is much freer than in FFXI, but the creation process is done in such a way to bring out the special characteristics of the different tribes, like they hyur mid-landers and high-landers or the miqo’te Sun Seekers and Moon Keepers. Furthermore, depending on the class you choose there will be a few things you can change about your starting armor.
New Factor: Magic
As this game is one of Final Fantasy series, the system of magic in FFXIV should not be that different from other ones. However, from the new pictures and trailers in the official site, there are some scenes which could be assumed to be using "magic." Though it is hard to say if they are just some special effects in pre-rendered cut scenes or if they have something to do with the game system, they are important for sure.
Creators Check
Magic in FFXIV has two properties: "directional property" and "school of magic." This means, even HP curative magic spells can be different in the amount, area, time and MP cost for the spell. As for new magics, there are famous spells from the FF series which are not used in FFXI since they were not suitable for MMOs. Those spells are difficult to apply in FFXIV, also, but we won’t yet say that we are not going to use them. Moreover, even if they have same names as FFXI, there are some spells which have been dramatically changed in FFXIV. Please check them out.
This time, weapons make adventurers’ classes, but in FFXI, characters with swords, such as paladins and red magicians, could also use magic. In FFXIV, it is not class that will define this, but it is possible to use both swords and magic depending on the character’s growth. There are still a lot of parts being discussed, so please look forward to it.
New Factor: Dungeon
Caption: Ant’s nest!? Here, adventurers are fighting ant-shaped monsters. From the ladders and bridges, we can assume this used to be a mine or something along those lines.
The word “dungeon” can make any adventurer’s heart skip a beat. We’d love to be able to give you a feel of the dark, dank dungeons, but from the few pictures provided we’re presented with some interesting looking fighting scenes, as well. From their equipment we can guess what their classes are.
Creators Check
In FFXIV, each area is very wide. Moving between the sunlit fields and the dim dungeons is seamless with no area change. There are pictures with really dark dungeons that may make you think of exploring dungeons with a torch, but the dungeons are made in such a way that torches will not be needed.
Caption: The dungeons in Limsa Lominsa are crawling with water monsters. There are crabs(?) bigger than roegadyn!
New Factor: Monsters
Caption: Quell the beast tribe uprising! The beast tribesmen in this picture look similar to the trolls of FFXI. They don’t even flinch from the miqo’te lancer’s attack from behind. From the intricate designs carved into their armor, we can tell that this beast tribe has excellent craftsmen.
Creators Check
“Beast tribe” is a name given to these people from the government. They look different from the people living in the cities and have different philosophies and religions, but they have their own culture and knowledge. Eorzea is now a three-way deadlock between the “people” of the empire and the “people” of the beast tribes, and adventurers sometimes get caught in the crossfire. According to the setting, the two are irreconcilable, but they do say the enemy of an enemy is a friend… not to mention, not all beast tribes view humans as enemies, and there may be those that live peacefully, those that betray, and even those that try to make deals with humans.
As for the normal monsters, their behavior in the field has also evolved. In FFXIV, as in FFXI, monsters can be categorized as passive, aggressive, and linked, but in FFXIV there are also monsters that are in packs or monsters that prefer to live alone. There’s also a food-chain sort of relationship planned.
Lastly, the “summons” existent in other games in the FF series also make their appearance in FFXIV. However, unlike FFXI, these summons are closer to god-like existences, and in order to gain their help, even higher hurdles must be overcome.
Stay tuned!
This post has been edited by SteveManly: 03 February 2010 - 08:08 PM
