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Update 5th (6th) August, 6.21pm EST/00.21am CET - Added 8 new FFXIV images from the magazine article.
Update 5th August, 4pm EST/10pm CET - Added a new image from the magazine article.
Update 5th August, 9am EST/3pm CET - Added information about the armory system, areas, battles, guild system, time, weather and more of the interview has been translated.
Update 7th August, 10pm EST/4pm CET- Redesigned topic and updated content with more accurate information, added history to races.
As more information are discovered and verified, this news post will be updated.
Eorzea, Our Beautiful Land
Eorzea is a region within the world of Hydaelyn, which includes the continent of Aldenard and its neighboring islands. The region has great diversity in flora, fauna and climate. According to Director Nobuaki Komoto, the game will reflect this diversity. Rains will fall, winds will blow and there will be transitions between day and night. They are planning to have different regions exhibit their own specific weather patterns. In Eorzea, one day will equal one hour in Earth time. Currency will remain consistent with Final Fanatasy XI, as Producer Hiromichi Tanaka has confirmed residents will use gil.
The game will be set within Eorzea, as it appears a great migration has focused the people of Hydaelyn in the mysterious region. The reason is stated to be the presence of magical Crystals - another Final Fantasy mainstay. One use of Crystals that has been revealed is facilitating teleportation. This is accomplished using Aetheryte, which are crystalline constructs shaped from solidified aetheric mist. Aetheryte will be located in each city-state, and allow players to teleport to destinations throughout the world. This sounds like a most welcome change, and a common complaint amongst players of Final Fantasy XI was the unnecessarily long travel time between events. However, there will be limitation imposed, as the developers indicate excessive teleportation can have harmful effects on characters.
Along with the abundance of crystals, the world of Final Fantasy XIV will also be filled with stories big and small. As a Final Fantasy title, Komoto wanted to create an epic tale worthy of the current generation of gaming. However, one overarching tale is not enough for an MMO, and players can expect smaller, yet no less impressive, stories within every town and city. The people who live within Eorzea will each have their own story to tell in Final Fantasy XIV. For adventurers, they will build their own tale by first choosing a city-state to call home. There will also be organizations within each city-state where players can further classify themselves. Here are the three main city-states of Eorzea:
Bustling Port City, Limsa Lominsa
An expansive city on the sea, blessed with the divine protection of the Goddess Llymlaen.
The Desert City, Ul'dah
A city "rich with mineral wealth," surrounded by massive walls and a desert spanning into the distance.
City of the Ancient Wood, Gridania
Enclosed by dense forest, Gridania is a city that appears to hold many secrets.
The Weather and Time
- The weather in Final Fantasy XIV is subject to change
- One day in Eorzea is equal to one hour of real-life time
- Day and Night cycle
Time Flow of Battles
The developers have stated that battles will occur in realtime, but will not focus on fast-paced action and timing. Instead, strategy will play a much larger role. It seems the Armoury system will play into this, allowing players to actively change jobs on the fly, and adapt to many different situations. Unlike Final Fantasy XI, players will not be stuck in an infinite loop of pulling and fighting. This time, the developers have put more thought into creating battle situations with more variety.
The Mithra casting a barrier is an example of how the flow of battle could change. Instead of simply pulling and provoking, placement of characters and using abilities to assist each other could have much more impact. Developers have confirmed there will be battles where you face groups of monsters at a time, and the opportunities to effectively employ strategy will increase as well.
Guildleve
Director Komoto has expressed on mutiple occassions his desire to promote natural growth through freedom and variety. The quest system - Guildleve - is the realization of this dream. The system will serve as a way for players to customize their own quests, much like the Moblin Maze Monger event in Final Fantasy XI. Adventurers seeking to improve their skills can visit a Guild and choose from a number of jobs that are currently available.
Guildleve uses a set of cards, called Leves, that are combined to define mission parameters. These can include goals, locations and required jobs. A Garderner may have a task to complete, but require the protection of a Gladiator. There will be consideration paid to variety of jobs, so that many people can undertake quests together. Also, players within a single party can be using different Leves, helping each other to complete their various duties while each reaping their own individual rewards.
Quests accepted through Guildleve will not be demanding with some taking 30 minutes or less to complete. Players can carry multiple Leves and blow through a number of objectives in one run. Again, it is up to what the player wishes to do within the time they have available. Guildleve is literally a way for users to customize the gaming experience to their liking.
The Armoury System
In Final Fantasy XIV, players will be able to change between jobs utilizing the Armoury System, wherein equipping different weapons and tools will instantly change your class. Classes will be organized into several "Disciplines," broader categories that contain multiple classes that appropriately represent your chosen path. There will be four disciplines, each with a number of classes, and a variety of skills for each class. The developers are still unsure whether players will be able to master every class, of if they will impose a "see-saw" effect, similar to crafting in Final Fantasy XI.
Instead of levels, a player's "main job" will be comprised of their highest level skills. The idea was for players to naturally define their own job, instead of the game locking them into a label. Even though there are named classes, anyone can change by swapping weapons, so there will be much more variety amongst players through the sets of skills they wish to focus upon.
The official site gives an example using a fictional character named "Leeroy." Leeroy begins as a Gladiator, but upon receiving an invitation to party with his friends, he realizes they already have enough melee power in their party. Therefore, Leeroy equips his staff, changing his class to Thaumaturge, a class under the Discipline of Magic. It does not seem like there has been any official confirmation of class names outside of that description, so the Japanese translations below are approximations based on previous Final Fantasy titles and are subject to change:
Fighters, Disciples of War
Fighters are weapon-masters who live for battle. In English, they will be called "Disciples of War" and have open to them various classes that excel at physical damage. Disciples of War will be able to equip a broad range of weapons, such as swords, spears, axes, katana, daggers, bows and more.
Classes include: (Gladiator), (Archer)
Sorcerers, Disciples of Magic
Sorcerers wield vessels of magic imbued with great power and harness sorcery to harm and heal. These "Disciples of Magic" will be adept at striking foes with destructive spells and assisting their allies with soothing cantrips. One vessel of magical power that has been revealed is the Staff, with others expected to follow. The way the articles refer to these "weapons" makes it seem that magical weapons will play much less of a physically offensive role, and rather boost the user's powers.
Classes include:(Thaumaturge), (Illusionist)
Gatherers, Disciples of the Land
Gatherers will cover most of the HELM activities of Final Fantasy XI. These include, but may not be limited to, Hunting, Excavating, Lumbering, Mining and Fishing. By taking a tool in hand, players can improve their skills in a variety of professions.
Classes include: (Gardener), (Fisherman)
Crafters, Disciples of the Hand
Crafters drive the manufacturing and production side of Eorzea. By equipping various tools, one can enter a number of trades. So far, only two have been revealed, but it is expected they will include many more. Final Fantasy XI, for example, allowed players to practice woodworking, blacksmithing, goldsmithing, clothcrafting, leathercrafting, boneworking, alchemy and cooking.
Classes include: (Blacksmith), (Chef)
Additional Information to Armoury System
When changing your weapon, you are basically changing jobs and you can do this in almost all locations and all times. Getting invited to a group which has too many of your current class? No problem, switch to the necessary job they lack numbers in. After the adventure is over, switch back to your previous class, gardener for instance.
Weapons and your equipment has their own "levels". You need to coordinate your equipment to reach whatever goal and power you're aiming at.
- In Final Fantasy XIV there is a larger focus on the level of the item you're using, instead of your own levels and abilities.
- You're able to switch from warrior to a white mage on your own, when solo playing - soloing becomes a whole lot more fun and easier
- Changing your "job" is as simple as switching your weapon, you can relax and not feel a lot of stress
- The "holy trinity" type of jobs have been avoided, the jobs of FFXIV are more neutral
- Square Soft promises a lot of freedom in Eorzea. Almost unrestricted.
An example is the following: Let's say you join a group of adventurers and you're fighting enemies, if you wear the corresponding equipment to become a warrior you are ready. When said group has disbanded, you can change gears and you'll return to becoming a fisherman or a gardener.
This will allow for a lot more freedom and it'll make FFXIV quite solo friendly. A warrior who wants to be cured of poison can easily change into a White Mage himself. So, having plenty of inventory room is far more important than it was in Final Fantasy XI.
In order to increase in specific areas, Square Soft recommend to balance your equipment parts between the inventory slots. The level of your equipment is essential in Final Fantasy XIV, its more important than your character's "level" itself. Square Enix mention the freedom of the system yet again and that it becomes a lot more flexible and fun having such a system in place. The team behind FFXIV has deliberately chosen to avoid the usual job classes, instead chosing much more neutral names.
Playable Races:
Hume: Hyuran (NA) Hyu-ran (JP) (pronounced "Hyoo rawn")
"Boasting the largest population in Eorzea, the Hyur came from neighboring continents and islands in three great migratory waves. With them they brought a sophisticated technology and complex ethos tempered by the breadth of the outside world. They rapidly became a driving force behind cultural progress, and are now widely attributed with spearheading advances in Eorzean civilization.
One of the Hyur's strengths is the staggering variety of languages and social institutions they exhibit. This is said to account for their firm conviction in individual freedoms, though it also results in a relative lack of solidarity and group cohesion.
Two distinct groups now exist among the Hyur - Highlanders, denizens of mountainous areas, and Midlanders, who reside in lower elevations."
Lalafell
"The Lalafell were originally a group of agriculturalists inhabiting the fertile islands of the south seas. With the introduction of transmarine commerce, they soon found their way to Eorzea via trade routes. They are now one of the more populous races and are well established throughout the region, though they remain averse to cold climates.
The short, rotund builds of the Lalafell belie an incredible agility, and their seemingly feeble legs are capable of carrying them long distances over any terrain. Many among them are also known for possessing highly developed and cunning intellects.
The Lalafell place a great deal of significance on familial bonds, but are by no means unfriendly to outsiders. This is evidenced by the fact that they continue to share prosperous relations with all of the other races of Eorzea."
Galka: Roegadyn (NA)Rugadein (JP) (pronounced "Roo ga deen")
"The Roegadyn are a maritime people whose largest concentrations are found in the northern seas, by way of which they came to Eorzea.
They possess enormous, muscular builds and are known for the cultural emphasis they place on competition and unflinching courage, though tender, introspective individuals can also be found.
Roegadyn in and around the Limsa Lominsa area are typically seamen putting in at port, but many have also settled permanently, becoming mercenaries, bodyguards, or even pirates by trade. Far away, deep in the mountains of Ul'dah, live mountain clans of reclusive Roegadyn known as the Hellsguard, said to have mastered the magical arts."
Elezen
"The Elezen are a traditionally nomadic people who in former times claimed sole dominion over Eorzea, their presence predating that of the other races. Believing this prominence to be ordained by the gods, they came to develop an esteemed sense of honor and pride.
Their characteristically tall, slim physiques and elongated limbs are part of a successful adaptation to the land's various environments. Indeed, it is said that their highly sensitive ears can discern the squeak of a field mouse at a distance of up to several malms.
The Elezen perceived the immigration of the Hyur as tantamount to invasion, and as a result the two share a past plagued by warfare. At present, however, they can be seen coexisting peacefully, the exception being the reclusive Duskwight Elezen."
Miqo'te
"During the Age of Endless Frost, as the seas turned to ice and passage over them became possible, Eorzea saw an influx of foreign fauna to her shores. This in turn brought the hunting tribes which subsisted upon them, the modern descendants of whom are today known as the Miqo'te.
Since then, the Miqo'te have diverged into two physically distinguishable groups--the diurnal Seekers of the Sun and the nocturnal Keepers of the Moon. Both groups share a superb olfactory sense and powerful leg musculature, results of a long evolution geared towards hunting and predation.
Comparatively few in number, they maintain an insular group mentality, tending to avoid contact with the other races. Many individuals lead isolated lifestyles, even when residing in the more populous cities."
