Twelves journey through Eorzea

WTF happened?

2010-11-30T23:18:00.000Z

So the blog, forum and LS died.

If anyone is reading this then I guess I should explain what happened. FFXIV turned out to be utter shit and I won't be going back to it until the PS3 version is out and I'll give the game a second chance.
As far as I'm concerned, the game is a mess and I have far better things to do with my time than play this joke of a game.

Back very soon.

2010-10-25T18:31:00.001+01:00

My house sitting time is almost up now (ends Wednesday), so I'll be back in-game then. See you all soon!

FFXIV, Free for longer and big changes are coming!

2010-10-16T09:00:00.000+01:00

Source: Kotaku

Looks like Square-Enix are a bit concerned about FFXIV following the heavy criticism the game has received. First of all they are extending the free trial from 30 days to 60 days. Also they are addressing the targeting system, lack of mobs to grind and the all important user sold item search.

Hey! It's been a while, wheres the updates?

2010-10-13T20:49:00.000+01:00

I guess your wondering why I have not updated the blog in almost a week, and LS members will wonder why I have not been online very much, well I'm house sitting for someone right now so I don't have any time to do much really.
But I will be back in about a week and a half and normal viewing will resume then. Also by that time I should have my uber GFX card installed in my PC so FFXIV will run a whole lot better then too.

See you soon!

It's that feeling again

2010-10-07T22:43:00.000+01:00

So I started playing today not long after I got back from work. I decided that I would put good use to the new Armoursmith and Blacksmith tools that I got last night and get some Local Leves done. While doing the Blacksmith missions I started thinking about the game as it painfully took its time to change from one synth menu to the next. I was thinking that I was not actually even having fun doing what I was doing and that I was just playing the game just becuase I felt I should, and thats not really a good feeling to have playing playing a game that should be fun. So I turned it off, made some food, then watched some internet TV until I felt like giving it a another stab.
And a few hours later I gave FFXIV another shot.

I picked up some more Local Leves becuase they are a good way to skill up fast.

I completed and handed in four Local Leve's before I'd had enough of the s-l-o-w menu interface for today and quit again in frustration.

Quiet day

2010-10-06T23:26:00.000+01:00

I don't really have much to post about today as I didn't get up to very much apart from grind through the main storyline quests, so I didn't really feel the need to take many screenshots today. Although saying that I did think the image below would make a nice screenshot.

Anyway, while running around different areas to progress the storyline I found a double mining point which i also thought was worth a screenshot.

I also had another blogger guy incident, where I ended up saying to the guy that I would take a screen with him in and post it here, but the whole area around the repair NPC where I met him was ultra lag so I have just these two screens to post on that, and it's all in the text boxes.

I am an Auction House Fanboy!

2010-10-05T20:48:00.000+01:00

You read that title right! I was called an Auction House fanboy! After doing a quick shout telling people about the online web bazaar thing yg are doing (see last post), one guy called Soi Fon started getting upset and telling me that I shouldn't promote online Auction/Bazaar sites becuase the changes that SE are making to the ward system in 1-2 weeks will fix everything.
I said back that I don't think people will use more than one retainer still and that everything will still get bunged into one retainer and put in a random ward because peole are lazy, but if it does work and what I think doesn't happen then online Auction/bazaar site will die anyway so he shouldn't worry.
What he called me was a Auction House Fanboy, honestly, you couldn't make it up!

FFXIV Aution house now online......kinda!

2010-10-05T19:12:00.001+01:00

Those crazy guys over at the YG FFXIV Database have made a web-based semi-live Auction house Bazaar cross-over type of thing! They sent me an email a yesterday and I forgot the mention it until now!
Anyway it is actually quite good, as they seem to be building quite a following because considering how new the feature is I found over 400 items listed under the Besaid server.
It says the persons name, when they added the item to the list, where they are if its on their retainer and price.
I've added a screen below so you can so what it's all about. So tell everyone about this, becuase it beats the crap out of any system already in the actual game!

Ugh, what a weekend!

2010-10-05T13:46:00.006+01:00

I didn't update the blog at all over the weekend because I went out with my friends Friday night and I wasn't sober until Monday night! Anyway that leaves me with a bigger update today though!

I found a mine far north of Uldah called the Nanawa Mine which looks like a nice place to grind once I get up to about Rank 30, you can use the screen below to see the location of the mine.

Here is what the outside of the mine look like, really I should of taken one inside but I was too concerned with running towards the Aetherial Gate I spotted on the map of the mine. I made it to the gate but was dead seconds after.

I had a go at eating some of the raw meat I had picked up from mobs I had killed. Roegadyn are really the only race that can do this, just like Galka in Final Fantasy XI. Anyway I had a go at eating Marmot Meat +1 to see what effect it would have.

The effect was a HP increase. I went from 995, (in the above picture) to 1028 as seen in the below picture.

Just so I could document the full effects of this food, you can even see how long it lasted by looking at the times on the desktop clock. It was 14:54 when I ate the meat, and 14:59 when the effect wore off. So to all those unable to work that out, the effect was 5 minutes long.

I even did the same test with some Dodo Tenderloin +1 to see what effect that would have on me.

The same sort of thing really. Again I started at 995 HP and after eating the food I had 1028 HP

So what's been going on?

2010-09-30T19:37:00.000+01:00

I've got a little back log of screens from the last few days that I haven't put up so here we go.

I got another 'Blogger Guy' /tell from the guy in the screen shot below. It's nice to know that even in full retail fame is still strong!

I took part in a lovely large leve group which earned me quite a lot of exp and Gil

Remember when I found this thing back in the Beta and I thought it might be used for Airships or something? Well it looks like it's still not being used for anything although to be fair I didn't stick around for longer than around 10 minutes, but it still looks like it's not being used yet.

Here's another blast from the past. back in the Beta I managed to get past the locked gates of Wineport and have a look around. The place was pretty empty although their looked like there was two shops that were just not open yet. I went back to Wineport now retail is out and nothing at all has changed apart from the gates are no longer locked. I was very disappointed!

We have Team Speak

2010-09-30T18:08:00.000+01:00

Yes, thats right we have a Team Speak 3 server for everyone on the Linkshell to use.
Now I have had a few people say that they would contribute to the costs via paypal, but I a better idea, one which will mean it won't cost anyone a penny.
All I ask is that each of you once a day click on the google advert thing lower down in the side bar once a day. No more than that becuase it doesn't count, but just one click a day from each of you will cover the costs of the Team Speak server.

Are you American? This post is for you!

2010-09-28T17:50:00.000+01:00

American voting time is coming up soon and video games need you to stop crazy old people from ruining your hobby. I live in England where we have far less mental people running the place it seems, although that could well be a clever disguise. Either way The Video Game Voters Network wants your help and you probably should take a look at their site and sign up now. Comic book legend Stan Lee has got behind their cause and so has Zero Punctuation's Ben "Yahtzee" Crowshaw, so at least they are a credible group and worthy of your time. So any American readers should check out the special Zero Punctuation video below and go and check out what good you can do in the upcoming vote.

Don't drink from the cup!

2010-09-27T10:00:00.000+01:00

If you got the drinking cup with the FFXIV Collectors edition, don't use it! Well apart from drinking water from it, anything else is bad news.
If you read the piece of paper that comes with it, it says the following:
"Do not fill the product with the following materials as they may cause damage: Items including salt and solid materials, carbonated beverages, milk or other dairy beverages, fruit juices, etc."

Source: Kotaku

Fun times in Eorzea

2010-09-26T14:48:00.000+01:00

Today I set off from Camp Black Brush to complete from Local leves I had, there was no dust storm today so it was a nice peaceful walk.

After handing in the the Leves I needed to, I felt like a spot of minign was the order of the day.

After a little bit of mining I took on another few Leves and has luck would have it, I found another chest on my journey.

After finding the chest I went on to attempt to kill the mob for the Guild Leve. It didn't work out so well.

After getting my arse kicked I went on the complete the Guild Leve, but only just!

I went back to camp and I found a Behest just about to start. I joined up to it, as did many other people so the amount of mobs that we had to kill was quite a few. being the level I was I found that there was not a lot I could do to help the group.

After finishing the Behest I took the reward money and went back to town and travelled to the market wards andspent my money on the materails needed for creating a Bronze Dagger. After getting the bits I needed I went to the Blacksmith Guild in Limsa and created my new weapon. I also got a new option after I had got to 100% to touch up the item. I selected it a few times although I'm not too sure what it done.

I want you!

2010-09-25T07:49:00.000+01:00

I am looking for more people to post about their own adventures on the blog. This offer is only open to Linkshell members so either contact me in-game or on the forum via PM.
I think you all know how I like to layout the blog posts, so just follow the same sort of template.

Also, once I get home from work today I shall be sorting out a Teamspeak server and I'll give you the details soon.

My Article is online!

2010-09-23T00:09:00.000+01:00

CVG.co.uk has published my article HERE about Final Fantasy XIV! They link to this blog from the article and you can read it online right now HERE.
Yeah, ok I linked it twice, but I don't care I'm just so damn happy!

Group boat ride

2010-09-23T00:05:00.000+01:00

Here's a few pictures of todays group boat trip to Limsa, I would write more but it's late, I've been playing all day and I want to go to sleep. So I'll leave you with some pictures.

I found the hookers!

2010-09-22T21:31:00.000+01:00

The Miners Guild looks like it'll be a fairly normal place to go, but once I got there I found out its actually a secret whore house! This is what I found

1) First of all this lady says I might what to stay sober, pah! What does she know!

2) Hold on, maybe she was right! Whats going on here?!

3) No way! Its actually full of hookers! Heicko is going to go wild!

4) You have got to be kidding me! Damn it, why did I just spend my money on a pickaxe?!

Day one

2010-09-22T20:31:00.000+01:00

As expected with day one, not everyone is in yet but here is a few pictures of who did make it in.

It's here!

2010-09-22T13:41:00.001+01:00

I have it! It came in the post today, so I have run home from work at lunch time to install it and while I'm waiting I'm posting this message with some nice pictures!
The book is nice, not sure what I'm going to write in it though, the map is made from cloth which I didn't expect and the Cup needs to be washed out first because there was some strange white powder stuff inside it.

Heroes of the realm unite!

2010-09-22T07:41:00.000+01:00

The time has finally come, Final Fantasy XIV is now here! Ladies and Gentleman of the Twelve, it's time to travel Eorzea and face a great evil. So grab your bows, wands and swords, saddle up that Chocobo and get ready to fight because now is the time.
The age of Twelve has now begun!

Getting FFXIV? Better find out how to pay for it first....

2010-09-21T19:09:00.004+01:00

Want to play FFXIV? Of course you do, thats why your here! Anyway you'll be buying Crysta tomorrow so you can play.

What is Crysta? Well its like MS points that you use on Xbox Live but these points are used for paying for FFXIV sub and security tokens. Being an English man myself, I am going to quote the exchange rate for proper money here, £1 = 100 Crysta Points. You can convert that into whatever funny money you have in your place of residence!
Either way buy points to play game, thats the bottom line.
Why not read what CVG had to say about the issue here.

Best of the forum

2010-09-21T17:59:00.000+01:00

In what I think I'll start making a regular feature on here, I'm going to cover the interesting, funny and down right crazy things that have been posted on the forum.

Arkadian wrote:
"2 days left!!!! aaahhhbwabwahwhah!"

- Looks like Ark is really foward to Wednesday then!

Skotia posted:

Looks like some how Skotia found his way out of FFXIV and ended up at the hatch from Lost!

Arkadian Posted:

Ark manges to lead everyone to an early grave!

Delete the Beta

2010-09-21T12:58:00.002+01:00

Well done to Arkadian for making this known to everyone on the forum, but I think its so important I'm posting it here too.

Make sure you delete the Beta version BEFORE you install the retail version. Square-Enix had this to say:

"Installing the release version of “FINAL FANTASY XIV” or other software developed by our company while “FINAL FANTASY XIV Beta Version” remains installed may cause certain issues."

Linkshell List

2010-09-20T13:41:00.001+01:00

I'm putting this image of our Linkshell list online here so it is easy for everyone to quickly add the names back to their friends list on Wednesday. Also it's easier for me to invite you all again if I have a copy of everyones names in one handy place (and if everyone uses the same names!)

2 days left!

2010-09-20T08:24:00.000+01:00

This is the week! I'm sure you all know that we'll be playing on the BESAID server at launch and you all know my characters name (Jeffery McWild), but if anyone does forget for any reason then you can find the details just on the right hand side.
It seems most Linkshell members are going to start in U'ldah, but seeing as it is quite easy to travel to the different citys it should not be such a big issue.

6 days to go

2010-09-16T13:32:00.000+01:00

Under a week to go now and I'll let you all know here that I shall be making some changes to the forum very soon. Nothing too major, but I'll be adding a few new areas for Linkshell members, like an area to post what items you have for sale and an area to arrange Linkshell group Leves.

Next on the agender, I shall be continuing where I left off last time and looking back at an event that has happened over the development time of Final Fantasy XIV.
I think one of the biggest news stories was when an Alpha tester named Pookypoo smashed the NDA and started broadcasting videos across the Internet.

I'm sure most of you will remember how his videos and screens spread round the Internet like wild fire and this very blog was no exception! Look HERE to see just how crazy April was when Pookypoo decided to show the world Final Fantasy XIV in it's Alpha state.

One week of waiting left.

2010-09-15T10:53:00.000+01:00

This time next week Final Fantasy XIV collectors edition will be out and any of you, that like me have pre-ordered the game will be holding it in your sweaty hands.
So to aid with the excitement I'll be doing some posts from now until then, I'm going to post big news items that have happened during the development of Final Fantasy XIV, and what better way to kick off a week of looking back than the place it all began. The Sony 2009 E3 show, where FFXIV was shown to the public for the first time. It's fair to say that the audience was quite surprised!

New graphic settings.

2010-09-13T18:52:00.001+01:00

I didn't see this the other day when i was changing from windowed to full screen mode but it's there now. You can put the resolution to any setting you like, which is nice.

I'm on a boat!

2010-09-13T18:48:00.001+01:00

Today I travelled back from Limsa Lominsa to Camp Port near U'ldah on the boat. It's an easy trip to make, quite useful as once you have seen the Crystals in the citys, you can teleport there anytime you wish.

To make the trip yourself you'll need to go to the ferry port and walk up to the gate, bring up the menu and an option will be at the top which you will need to select to pass through. It doesn't seem to cost any money which is nice.

Once through all you have to do is wait for the boat to show up and it'll put you on board by itself.

Although that can take, perhaps I should of asked an NPC just how long it would be until the boat arived.

But when the boat does show up you get a little cut scene show people getting on the boat. Looks like it going to be busy.

Turns out that all the people that got on during the cut scene didn't want to go on the deck of the boat. Make me wish I brought a fishing rod with me though.

Well god knows where these people from that cut scene went, because they sure as hell are no downstairs either. perhaps they have locked themselves away in some cupboard I don't know about beucase they are still in fear of the FFXI boat attacks. I have been on two boat rides now and I have not seen an attack yet, maybe I have been lucky.

I arive at Camp Port after a boat ride that seemed to last about 10 minutes although it felt longer. I really reget not bring a fishing rod now.

Anyway Camp Port is not too far away from U'ldah. You can walk it in about 15-20 minutes, which is about the same sort of time that it takes to walk south out of Gridania and arive at U'ldah. So really the three citys are quite close to each other in that resepct.

Draiko's journey from Gridania to Ul'dah (Part 2)

2010-09-11T08:54:00.020+01:00

So! continuing from where we last left off. I had just made it into Mor Dhona. The map was the first thing I just had to check right now.

My best bet was to make my way west to Camp Revenant's Toll and work my way down from there.

As I started to step out into the unknown my map was picking up a mob, I thought "Oh great, it's going to be some huge beast blocking my path". I turned the corner and low and behold!

A Toadstool, yep that's right! Well atleast it put me at ease, and I simply snuck passed it in peace.

The deeper I stepped into this land the more beautiful it became. I came across this very mysterious tower and wondered what could be inside it!

My first encounter with an Headrip Ogre, just taken one look at this guy I knew I had to stay well clear. But temptation got the best of me and I had to get a closer look of one.

Ok, so I think we all knew this guy was going to hit hard right? but maybe I took it a little too far when I drew my sword on him!

One word, ouch!. Well I'm not afraid to say I did not regret this action. I got what I wanted, A better look at this cool guy, and an ass whooping!

He claims he's kill, and oh look! he had back up encase he could'nt take me on! ha!

Moving on swiftly, I had finally made it down to the bottom. I had now reached the south part of the lake. I was even closer to this mysterious tower. One day, I will find a way into that place, oh yes!

Another check on my map was needed, I could see the exit to Thanalan. But I needed to save my progress at another checkpoint. Who knew how far the next one would be in Thanalan!? So I took a lot of risk and decided to take a detour.

With a lot of dipping, ducking and diving I made it to Camp Brittlebark. Now I just had to work my way back. I drew up another route and decided it looked promising.

No encounters with mobs down the norrow route and I was almost home free!

North Thanalan, This was the hardest part to get passed. I had already died 4 times trying to creep through. In the end I called for back up. Luckly a friend from the LS had already been here. He was able to teleport me to a camp nearest to the City of Ul'dah.

In the end, I was told that there was another route I could of taken....., I will spare myself the epic embarrassment and just say that I enjoyed the journey I had. I saw some really nice scenary and mobs.

I will now leave you with the rest of my pictures of the amazing lands of Thanalan. Enjoy!

In the end, I finally got to Ul'dah and I took in the great site of the city.
This calls for a rest underneath the stars with my fellow Twelves!

Open Beta set to end on September 19th

2010-09-10T15:29:00.004+01:00

Open beta has been announced to close September the 19th at 5pm PDT. Servers set to close down at 1am on the 20th GMT. Remember you will have your name reserved on the server you create your character on. This is three days before the collectors edition of the game.

So with just over a week left of open beta for those of you playing in beta enjoy yourself and look forward to the real thing in little over a weeks time.

We will organize the setup of the linkshell nearer to the launch day to make sure we are all in the shell from as early as possible.

Here are a few screen shots from my brief open beta sessions.

Draiko's journey from Gridania to Ul'dah

2010-09-10T08:47:00.015+01:00

First off! I would like to introduce myself, My name is Draiko Arkadies. I'm a new blogger and I will be sharing my experience with you guys!

Last night I decided to travel from Gridania to Ul'dah. I had heard you could buy a new shield there and an opportunity to take on some extra leves! But never did I know the journey was going to be a long and hard one!

My first steps were into the region of Corethas, I was taken back by the scene.

One of my first encounters was with a Maned Wyrmhound, kind of like a dragon/lizard type mob! As I ventured further in land I noticed a lot more! soon it just turned into a dragon fest!

I had finally made it to one of the first checkpoints, seeing these were like a God send!

After this I had ran into a lot of trouble, many mobs were blocking routes I needed to pass! and they were really everywhere you looked!

I was stupid enough to approach these Antelope Stags, I mean.....they looked friendly enough right? But anyway! it was a one hit kill and I ended back at the last checkpoint. We all learn our lesson!

As I moved on I came across a very funny site, Toad in Hole! These guys looked like they were having the time of their lives! But I just had to take a screenshot of this.

With much running and many deaths, I had finally made it through!.....If only I knew what waited for me on the other side of those rocks......

My first impressions of Mor Dhona, this place did not look friendly! The music kind of adding that effect. One of the first things I did was take a look at my map. It looked simple enough, two ways around and the exit to Thanalan was just down the bottom.

To be continued!..............

Most epic name so far.

2010-09-09T20:32:00.000+01:00

That's one epic name. But I think it's an epic fail because sending that guy a /tell is going to be a nightmare if you want to be quick. It's like those people that have those obscure Japanese names because they think they look cool but you keep having to look how it is spelt. I'm waiting to run into John Smith, I'll give anyone called John Smith a Linkshell invite!

Doing a Local Leve

2010-09-09T20:26:00.000+01:00

Today I decided to take on a Local Leve quest that involved creating a new knife for a chief in the town. If you have not tried the Local Leves yet, then this post should act as a guide on how they are done.

So I went and found the person that was going to supply me with the materials I needed to create this knife. I found the NPC at Camp Bentbranch just like it said in the Leve description.

As with all these things I selected the NPC and selected the chat option for the Local Leve quest.

The the NPC starts to jabber on about some crap before handing over the items I'll need to make the knife.

Finally after giving me the stuff I need I can actually get to work on getting the job done. I bring up the crafting menu and select the 'Requested Items' option. I missed this the first time I tried to do a Local Leve and was puzzled why the NPC wouldn't take the items I had made.

Anyway next I get asked which Leve I am creating the items for, so I select the knife one.

After selecting 'OK' in a few more windows I selected the item I am making and get to work.

I made the knife on my third attempt and then the game decided to tell me that actually I had to make more than one knife, i had to make two to pass the Leve. So I failed, but I did mange to get to rank 2 on Blacksmith so it's not all bad.

Guild Leve cool downs changed?

2010-09-09T13:27:00.000+01:00

As anyone noticed that they are able to take on more Guild Leves since the last patch? I'm going to have a good go tonight when I get back from work and then post my findings on it.

These nice people have actually made a nice site.

2010-09-08T20:31:00.002+01:00

I got an email from the guy that is running a FFXIV database website asking for a little bit of promotion for their cause. Normally I would delete such emails but I checked their site out and its actually rather nice. No adverts, clean style, good content and actually a site I'll probably use when playing FFXIV. They are small and just starting out but I like what they are doing so I told them I'll give them a shout on here and help them out, so here we go.

http://ffxiv.yg.com/ - Go there for all the information you need for FFXIV like recipes, items, maps, etc. I'm gonna stick a link on the side so yuo can always find it should you not bookmark it for some reason.

Azarus Nova's Trip

2010-09-08T18:19:00.002+01:00

Azarus Nova (aka anubismedia from the forum) sent me some pictures and a story of his epic trip. Here is his story in his own words.

So yesterday I teamed up with this random guy and we couldn't find any mobs so we decided to try a zone we saw. This zone led us to another and to another and 3 hours later we where in "Ul'Dah" lol now this was no easy trek and I died so so so many times lol, but it is possible.

The things I saw was amazing and the graphics really are amazing. I can tell you that all mobs are WAY high they all hit for about 5K so cant fight anything and lots argo.

The most interesting thing I found was that in the town of Ul'Dah the economy is another world! Lighting shards there are 20gil - 100gil and wind goes from 600 - 1000 gil.

Also the weavers guild is there so most everyone has leveled cloth craft and sells armor way cheep. You can also to leves there that have nothing to do with the ones in Gridania.

So you can do 4 leves there then warp to Ul'Dah and do 4 more. Im not sure if they will fix this in the final release. For the time being I would keep this under wraps with only trusted members because it is a real good way to make money. Buy lighting low in UlDah and sale high in Gridania vis versa with wind and earth.

I plan to make the trek to both towns first thing when the final release comes out and just do this; Can also buy armor and resale. Oh and your retainer can be called there as well. ^^ again not sure if they will fix this later

EDIT - anubismedia sent me a follow up email.

Either they changed this or I was just wrong about the leves. I did 3 leves in one town then traveled to another and did 3 there. I then took a ferry across to the 3rd town and tried to do those. They popped up but when i tried to except it said i had none to exchange. I went back to the 1st city the next day and tried and the same thing happened. They pop up but I can't except. So my guess is the last ones I did in the 2nd city have to reset. This still works out good though because you can pick out the 1 good one with armor and gill from each city as long as they do not exceed 4 in 48 hours I guess. Anyways just thought id tell you before I get a bad rep as a liar lol. It did let me do 6 in a row though. But it could be a glitch like the NPC saying in all three cities 'here is a hundred gill' like in closed beta but they really give you a thousand. Or when you Finnish the main quest and it says you get 10k only to find you have 20k but eh i need to go back to work. Lol

Here come the mainstream, GET READY!

2010-09-07T22:33:00.001+01:00

As you may remember I posted that I was writing a FFXIV article for CVG who are the biggest British video games website. Well I sent my finished document over to their editor on Monday night and today I received this:

"Hey Simon,

Thanks so much for the piece – it’s great. I’m going to stick it up when our Forums have returned (!) so we can kick off a bit of conversation.
Some great insight in here – really appreciate it.
As promised, we’ll prominently link over to your site.
Cheers,
Tim"

I'll link to the article once they publish it which I think maybe be around Thursday/Friday.

Windhurst all over again.

2010-09-07T22:25:00.000+01:00

I havent updated in a few days so I thought I'd put something up today. First of all a screenshot from the new menu in the open beta showing the friends list and helpdesk options.

I done a few Guild Leves today to start leveling Jeffery. The early ones seem to focus around killing fungus monsters for different reasons. The forest music started to sound kind of freaky after a while so I headed back into Gridania. While I was there I couldn't shake the feeling that this was Windhurst all over again, not a bad thing I suppose though, but the lack of a blacksmith guild is frustrating.

I saw Ark while in the town and I asked is he had seen Kylep online at all,or I had just missed him when I have been on. Maybe because of the time difference, but either way I created a Twelve LS myself becuase it seems that no one but kyle could invite people which is not much use when he is not around!

I'm back baby!

2010-09-04T16:20:00.000+01:00

That's right! Jeffery McWild is back in FFXIV, and here is how I started.

I start at the character selection screen. It appears that now different races and clans have different stats right off the bat.

You can see the different clan stats just by looking at this and the last screen shot. Same race, different clan, different stats.

Now we can start in any of the three main cites, I choose Gridania on Besaid server.

Jeffery McWild is born! The opening cut scene is pretty cool, so lets see it.

Looks like some flying ship is in trouble, I had better go and check that out.

I find two NPC's on the floor, they seem to be hurt. I speak to the Lalafella twice and the game keeps rolling.

The Lalafella has a really strange voice for such a tiny guy.

Oh crap! A crazy tree monster is pissed off with me, run Jeffery, RUN!

The crazy tree monster knocks everyone up into the air, this looks bad for everyone involved.

Suddenly Moogles everywhere! It looks like we could be okay after all.

Turns out the Moogles are working with these guys. They are some sot of forest protection gang, looks like I lucked out. These guys say they are going to take me to Gridania, which is nice.

Looks like the people in Gridania can't spell. Thats not how you spell "Should".

Anyway, I turn up at the adventures guild and it looks rather nice here. Although one look at the map and I think I'd rather be back in Limsa.

Well it does look a lot nicer than Limsa, but I don't have any more time to play really. It's Saturday, I'm going out the drink bye bye!

Linkshell created!

2010-09-04T03:13:00.004+01:00

If you have created you character on the Besaid server along with the rest of us, feel free to /tell me (Kitty Cat) to get a linkpearl for "Twelve". And be sure to wish Only777 a happy birthday! Happy Birthday, yay!

Open Beta and busy weekend.

2010-09-02T17:44:00.002+01:00

I've had real troubles getting an open account (the server keeps crashing, see the picture below), so everyone follow Kylep to the Besaid server and the forum poll pointed that most people would liek to start next in Gridania, so I'll see you there!

The next thing is I might not be online at all this weekend (I will try!), but that's because it's my 30th Birthday on Friday and I probably won't even be able to see for a few days!

Also the last thing is that the editor of CVG has asked me to write a 500 word article about FFXIV! if they publish it I'll put a link here so you all can go and see it. I have not wrote it yet, I'll do some tonight and the rest Sunday when I am not as drunk from my birthday!

:3

2010-09-02T05:05:00.004+01:00

By the way, Garland wasn't on the server list. So I'm on Besaid with a character in each of the 3 cities.

Open Beta is On Again!

2010-09-01T22:38:00.004+01:00

[Edit: I'm in, on Besaid server.]

"Along with the completion on investigation and correction of the critical issue, we have decided to begin FINAL FANTASY XIV Open Beta Test on Sep. 1, 2010 at 19:00 (PDT).

Starting on Sep. 1, 2010 at 19:00 (PDT), acquisition of registration code required for FINAL FANTASY XIV Open Beta Test will be available.

We are looking forward to your participation in FINAL FANTASY XIV Open Beta Test!"

Taken from http://entry.ffxiv.com/na/index.html - go to http://entry.ffxiv.com/ and select your region for relevant information.

Open beta NOT about to start.

2010-08-31T17:49:00.000+01:00

Source: Kotaku

The FFXIV open beta is 'postponed due to a confirmation of critical bugs'. Opps! Lets hope that by 'bugs' they mean they are getting rid of the surplus exp system and bringing in auction houses. We shall see...

Surplus EXP: the reason.

2010-08-26T17:59:00.000+01:00

Remember playing in the beta and wondering what surplus exp was? Well Square-Enix has printed the answer for you.

"Once again, we would like to thank you all for your participation and support during the Closed Beta. We will continue to take your valuable feedback into consideration as we develop the game during Open Beta and even beyond the official release.

Now I would like to take a moment to respond to the many questions and opinions regarding the manner in and rates at which experience and skill points are obtained in Beta 3.

Firstly, the concept for FINAL FANTASY XIV was to design a system of character progression that offers meaningful advancement for those with limited time to dedicate to playing. We did not want to create a game that forced people to play for hours on end to see their efforts rewarded. To that end, in addition to the Guardian's Aspect and guildleve systems, we introduced a means of apportioning swifter advancement to shorter periods of play.

In order to achieve this balance, we calculated a value for the amount of skill or experience points that could be earned in a one-hour period. This theoretical value represents an hour spent engaged solely in combat, levequests, or any other activities that earn skill or experience points, and sets a threshold delimiting how many of these points can be earned in a period of play.

Based on this, we have implemented a “threshold value” concept. These thresholds are regulated by a one-week timer that begins counting down the instant you earn skill/experience points. After a week has passed, the thresholds will reset, and the moment skill/experience points are earned again, the timer begins counting down anew.

For the first eight thresholds during this week-long period, players will receive skill/experience points at the maximum rate possible. The actual amount of time spent reaching these thresholds is not significant. That is to say, a player who exceeds eight hours of gameplay will still be rewarded the maximum amount of skill/experience points, so long as the total amount earned is below the eighth threshold value. For the subsequent seven thresholds, players will earn skill/experience points at a gradually decreasing rate, eventually reaching a rate of zero.

It is worth noting, however, that the reduced rate will also gradually recover while players are engaged in activities that do not yield skill/experience points. In this manner, it is possible for the threshold value to reset completely, even before the completion of the one-week timer.

Any skill points earned in excess of the threshold maximum—that is, at a rate of zero—will be stored as "bonus skill points." These are specific to each class, so players limited to earning bonus skill points still have the freedom to change classes and begin earning skill points again at the maximum rate, allowing their reduced skill rates to recover in the meantime.

The experience point threshold, however, is unrelated to class, and switching classes will have no effect on the decreasing rate of earnable experience.

This is how the progression system currently works.

This system was not introduced in Beta 3, but has been in place since the beginning of beta testing. There are several reasons why many people believe that these features were only recently implemented:

- Leading into Beta 3, operation hours were extended, making it possible to play more often during the span of a week.
- To encourage players to form guidleve parties in Beta 3, skill and experience point rewards for guildleves were significantly increased.
- The process that reduced the amount of skill/experience points awarded for weak enemies attacking in groups was unintentionally removed at the start of Beta 3. (This issue has been addressed.)

That last reason in particular was the biggest cause for players running up against the threshold penalty, with characters earning far more skill/experience points than we anticipated. We also faced an issue where we were simultaneously unable to adjust the amount earned for guildleves as well as the effects of crossing each threshold.

We sincerely apologize for the lack of explanation and our failure to make the necessary adjustments in the game.

The threshold values are being reexamined, and we plan to further adjust the different rates of earnable points based on feedback from our testers. One of the top issues we are looking at right now is fixing the excessively rapid drop after crossing the eighth threshold. We also plan to improve experience point reduction rates, even more so than for skill points, considering the threshold is unaffected when changing class.

At the very least, we can promise that players won't be running into the threshold penalty in the same short time span as they did in the beginning of Beta 3.

We would like to take this opportunity to also explain the following issues.

The diminishing results experienced during gathering are a function related to that class alone, and have no connection to this progression system. We are in the process of adjusting this system, and plan to make changes based on tester feedback.

We are currently in the process of considering the means in which bonus skill points can be used. There have been suggestions for various types of incentives, but as encouraging people to play with that in mind defeats the purpose of this threshold system, we will be examining this issue very carefully.

These are not the only adjustments we have planned for Open Beta. As mentioned previously, we are looking into increasing the amount of skill points earned when fighting in a party, and we look forward to seeing your input on these changes.

Last of all, I would like to apologize for the delay in releasing a developer's comment due to my recent attendance to Gamescom. The article based on my interview during that trip, coupled with conjecture, outdated information, and some misunderstandings on overseas websites, only added to the confusion. In the future, I hope to avoid similar problems by responding directly through official developer's comments as often as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

See you in the Open Beta Testing!

FINAL FANTASY XIV Director
Nobuaki Komoto"

The most awful idea in MMO history

2010-08-24T20:40:00.000+01:00

Market wards. WTF is the point? I'm so angry that Square-Enix are not going to put in an Auction house at launch it's unreal.

Those with beta test accounts can see my rant on the test site here:
https://dev-eu.ffxiv.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Main=821&Number=67047#Post67047

But for those that do not have access this is what I wrote:

"The whole idea of Market wards of flawed, and it should be scrapped.

Example:
I decide I want a new pair of gloves so I go to the market wards to see whats on offer.

After a while I find a pair on sale for 6,000 Gil. I want to compair the prices to see if I'm being ripped off or not, so I search longer. As no one can really see what other people are selling the same items for prices are different from seller to seller so to get a good price you have to spend AGES looking. By that time someone else already has brought the ones I saw 10 minutes ago because I've had to spend so long checking the price.

How do you fix that?
Easy, you make a search function that searches all the wards and compairs the price. That way I can see the best deal right away.

Ah but the sellers can't see it as they are giving the stuff to their retainers to the prices still vary wildly.

How do you fix that?
You make it so when you are giving the stuff to the retainer you can see what other people are selling it for.

You know what you have then? A f**king auction house! So stop messing around and get one in before the games economy goes into melt-down."

The Only good thing that happened while I was in a Market Ward today was another 'blogger guy' incident. You can see it pictured below, but I had to use my digital camera as I was playing while in full screen mode.

Two days left

2010-08-23T20:34:00.000+01:00

Enjoy your last two days in the Closed beta becuase in September it goes public. Yep, we'll all lose all our Charactors and have to start again.

That means I'll have to create the Linkshell again, and have to invite everyone again. Although this time I will promote more members so they can invite the other forum users while myself or Heicko are away.

Square-Enix had this to say:

"Thank you for participating in the FINAL FANTASY XIV Beta Test.

The current Beta Test Phase 3 (Beta 3) will end on August 25 at 5:00pm (PDT), and we plan to start the Open Beta Test in early September.
We look forward to your continued help and support.

*After Beta 3 ends, all character data will be deleted.
*For the period during which a beta test is not being conducted, players will not be able to access the Players’ Site.
*Once the test’s character data have been deleted, all blogs and images on the Players’ Site will also be deleted."

Damn them all! also remember at 8:00 to 9:30 (GMT) on Aug. 24, 2010, Square-Enix will be performing maintenance on all Worlds. During this period, FINAL FANTASY XIV will be unavailable.

(Small) Group picture

2010-08-23T20:28:00.000+01:00

Today vader from the forum joined the Twelve, I took this picture while Draiko was AFK, so this will be the first he hears about this!

Yep, it's that blogger guy again!

2010-08-23T20:24:00.001+01:00

Fame knows no boundaries for the Twelve! Once again I was spotted in FFXIV!

I also recived a message via the forum of another blogger guy incident:

Linkshell list & Market Wards.

2010-08-21T14:04:00.000+01:00

So far the following members are in the Linkshell, I'm not going to bother typing them all out when I can just take an easy screenshot of it!

Also I actually found where the Market Wards are! It's basically rooms filled up with players retainers selling all their ~~junk~~ items. Here is how to find them if you don't know already.

First of all you'll need to go to this point in Limsa.

Then in the side menu you'll see that there is now a option to teleport. Select it and you'll be greated with this menu to ask you which Market Ward you would like to visit. I recomend selecting from high up in the list as those are the wards that have the most retainers in.

And here we are, a Market Ward. You can probably get any sort of ~~crap~~ item here. Still not as good as an auction house but still better than millions of people crowding outside Jeuno and causing ultra lag.

Alter Walters (aka anubismedia) picture collection

2010-08-21T13:47:00.000+01:00

Anubismedia from the forum sent me some of his beta version pictures that he took while playing on his character Alter Walter.

Earth and Wind Element monsters that he found.

The strange underground water area that he found via the caves.

Moving Northward

2010-08-19T10:32:00.009+01:00

A few screen shots for you, almost all of them from last nights session in which we ventured further north whilst grinding.

After doing a few leves the two of us were offered to join these two on a goat grind. First time for me doing a heavy grind in this game and even though we had no healer it was decent exp with minimum downtime and good kill speed.

We moved northward and since we were right by Wineport we went in using that glitch to get past the gate to take another look inside Wineport. From closer inspection it seems to be a wine distillery and a pub. The main building has a sign which I'm assuming represents pub, don't think I have seen a building with this sign in Limsa. Other npc's hinted that the armorer craft was also big in Wineport. One NPC spoke of kobolds and there exceptional armorer crafting skills, and that if somehow you could get one to tell you some of there secrets you could craft special things. You can see from the chat in this screen that one of our party bugged out upon talking to this npc.

Upon leaving Wineport, three of us remained and we decided to venture much further north, killing goats, jellyfish and a few bandits on the way. After moving a good deal northward we suddenly hit a wall of very strong monsters. Clipper crabs (Grown 3 to 5 times the size since the dunes), Goobbue's, Salamanders and Storm Blast's. Unsure which ones aggro'd we decided to test. As you can see Only777 didn't have much success with the Storm blast.

We then spotted a nearby cave and decided to go in. After making our way into the cave we were halted by a bridge with a few more new monsters infront of us. The familiar Qiqirin stood with what was called a Smolenk, winged one eye creatures which had a bit of a resemblance to the Ahriman's in FFXI though not as tubby. Curiosity got the better of us and we decided to try run in as far as we could. The eye's aggro'd immediately and hit really hard. I got hit first and the other two were eventually chased down.

After taking enough deaths for one night we had one last look around before logging. Just as it moved into morning I snapped a view from the cliff looking out into the ocean. The mainland far away over the horizon.

It's that Blogger guy! (Again!)

2010-08-18T23:18:00.000+01:00

Another person in Limsa recognised me today, Twelves fame is spreading!

After selling a load of stuff and meeting anubismedia (from the forum) in-game I bumped into this chap who knew who I was.

Thank you for your kind words sir! Also Alter Walter you can see in the chat box is anubismedia.

Reporting LIVE from Aleport

2010-08-18T23:10:00.000+01:00

Today I used the same trick I used yesterday but this time to get into Aleport. This is what I found.

This is where Aleport is on the map, sort of on the west side really.

Once again the people on the gate had no intrest in letting me and and have a look around the place.

Not a problem! Just used the log glitch to pass through and I'm in!

Looks like a food guild building.

What looked like dead crab remains had sparkles comes off them.

I trid to fish on this pier but the fishing icon didn't appear. Although it did let me fish on the beach, and it was classed as a grade 2 fishing zone.

According to this Lalafell the sparkly crab remains are treasure. Nothing happened for me when I took a second look at them, but if I could dig in that spot I guess it might be a different story.

Here is me trying out a spot of fishing.

FFXI players rewarded! But is this the first signal that FFXIV is being delayed?

2010-08-18T13:31:00.000+01:00

If you are a player of FFXI then you can recive a discount on the FFXIV sub, and you can read all about that here: http://www.playonline.com/ff11eu/topics/ffxiv/

SE have given this handy chart to show how the discount would work if your FFXIV sub started in lat October.

Hang on, late October? Why would it start then? Why not September 22nd? Are SE using this to sneak the news through the back door that the game is being delayed by a month? A lot of people on the Beta test think that next months release date is too soon so it would not suprise me. Plus I think they could do with an extra month.
Oh well, also FFXI players will get a new in-game item which boosts player movment speed.

Wineport Glitch!

2010-08-17T22:45:00.000+01:00

Thanks to drnahog who pointed out a glitch to me. It is possable to enter Wineport (and some others) through a glitch in the game. I wrote that the gates were locked to Wineport, well if you stand very close and face the gate, then log out then back in again, but hold foward while you are logging in you can get through!

So here is what Wineport looks like, not a lot really. I guess it's not finshed really.

Todays adventure fun.

2010-08-17T21:52:00.000+01:00

Today I had did quite a lot on FFXIV, heres what I got up to.

Look how tough these guys are suppost to be, they are orange and I thought I'd be dead for sure.

But I kicked their arses into next week, GO MCWILD!

Then I had a Guild Leve to go and kill some Opo-Opo's. I remember them from FFXI, and like the Rebels in the higher pictures they got the smack down too.

Also while I was walking around I spotted an Airship in the sky so I waited around to get a better look as it appeared to be flying towards me.

Thats about as good a picture as I could get of the Airship. It is quite high in the air I suppose, after all it is an Airship.

I spotted on the map that I was not very far away from a place called "Wineport". I'd never heard of it before and it has got Limsa's logo on the map so I thought it might be worth a look and I started walking to where it was on the map.

As I started to get closer to it, I saw what looked like a castle in the distance. It matched the area on the map marked as Wineport. I started to dream of an NPC that could sell em the much needed Fire Crystals I needed for Blacksmithing that seem to be in very short supply right now.

I arrived at the entrance of Wineport only to be confronted by two very unhelpful Roegadyn who would not let me past the gate. One Roegadyn seemed intent on telling me a story that Wineport used to be next to the sea but over the ages the amount of sea around it had gone back up into the sky so now Wineport is just on a cliff. The other Roegadyn didn't seem to think that story was true and used Limsa as an example on how the water depth in the region has always stayed the same.
Although myself I'm not sure. I mean if you walk around Limsa, everything is quite high up and everything is in tall towers, so maybe the first Roegadyn's story is true.

After a while I went back to Limsa and tried fishing again. My first attempt the other was was an utter non-event as I didn't catch a thing and got annoyed and sold the fishing rod to an NPC. This time I spent a lot longer trying, and after a very long time of not catching a thing and swearing that the fishing system was broken I think I started getting the hang of it and after a while I actually did catch a fish. It was a Tiger Cod +3, which I thought was quite good for my first ever fish.

It's that Blogger guy!

2010-08-16T20:06:00.000+01:00

Today on FFXIV has been quite fun. First of all I logged on only to notice Hankypants standing at the Guild Leve desk. I knew he got a beta key from the File Planet key give away and I just happened to see him when I logged in!

So Hankeypants is now in the Beta linkshell and so is Malveux Dalranth who spotted me walking by and asked "Your that guy with the blog right?". I'm sure we'll be seeing him on the Forum soon! I thought that would be a great screen shot, so here it is below.

Woohoo! I'm famous!

Free money!

2010-08-15T19:01:00.000+01:00

When you are on your adventures around the land, keep your eye peeled for treasure chests laying around.

Oh look, there's one. Get it quick!

Stand next to it and open the menu up and you'll see an option that says "Examine", just select that.

Now I'm 10 whole Gil richer and the chest fades away. I have picked up amounts like 300 Gil in a chest so it is worth looking inside when you see one.

Sisipu lies!

2010-08-15T17:57:00.000+01:00

On the story arc "Legends Adrift", there is a point when Sisipu invite you to her fishing hole (Spicey!) and she tells you she'll mark its location on your map. Thats a lie becuase I looked on the map and there is no mark anywhere.

Anyway so I headed back to the lighthouse that I escorted Sisipu to the first time we met, and just before you get there you'll see an underpass in the rock.

To find the fishing hole head down there and a cut scene will start when your through to the other side.

You cheeky little monky Sisipu! Now show me your fishing hole!

Are these Airship waiting areas?

2010-08-15T15:24:00.000+01:00

Me and Heicko found a strange looking construction while we were grinding monsters out in the fields the other day. Today I ran back to it to take a couple of pictures of it.

We both think it might be some sort of Airship drop-off/pick-up thing as its quite tall and has a gate that looks like it opens and shuts. As you might know Airships are not available in the Beta version, although you can see them flying in the sky sometimes. So if this really is something to do with Airships, chances are we wont find out until the full release.
Anyway, feel free to guess away!

(Childish) Fun with screenshots

2010-08-15T14:58:00.000+01:00

Giggerdy gidderdy goo, ah right!

I bet you are!
---------------------------------------------------------

Today I decided to hire a retainer to keep all my blacksmith gear, so it would free up a lot of bag space. I named her slapper.

Anyway I'll upload some proper screens later.

It's fine, Square-Enix said its ok!

2010-08-13T23:12:00.000+01:00

SE has lifted the NDA on screen shots from the FFXIV beta so I can now bring you the sort of updates on FFXIV that I actually planned to to when I opened this blog back in March!

There I am, Jeffery McWild. Grrrrrr!

Me and Heicko gain the help of a passer by as we plan to start some guild leves

Here you can see my level and some other fun stuff about the rank I was when I took this screen shot!

Thats the equipment screen, I only just got the boots and they seem pretty good. I could do with a new robe though.

Me, Heicko and passer by get invited to join a bigger group for fun and frollics. Well just Guild Leve's actually. Also you can see in this screen the mask Heicko brought from a guy we saw seeing stuff he had made at the camp we were at. I wanted the shield he was selling but it was 30,000 Gill (which is well over priced!) and I didn't have enough money :(

Almost the same screen again, but this time showing that we are on vent!

I'm selecting one of my Guild Leve's for the group to do. I selected 4 star difficulty which turned out to be just right as we were getting our arse's kicked on 5 star.

Running to the Guild Leve target. It's the orange area in the mini map. Once we get there then the targets appear as red dots so we know where to go.

Woohoo! We done it! Well done us!

And thats what i got for completing the group Guild leve, I had that item already :(

I selected another Guild Leve, this time it says I'll get a better robe out of it so I'm looking foward to completing this Leve.

This is what happened when I though that selecting 5 stars would be a good idea. I died.

And after you die you are weakened for a little while (about 5 minutes). It's no where near as bad as FFXI when you used to lose exp points.

I got the robe! This is us on the next Guild Leve after we completed the 5 star one. The new robe looks much better.

You can see it much better there. I am really proud of that robe, even thoug I'll probably sell it in about 5 days when I get an even better version made out of Dodo skin or something.

ITS ON!

2010-08-13T18:09:00.001+01:00

The servers are back up now! I'm going out for about three hours but I'll be online after that. See you there!

New FFXIV Beta update online now

2010-08-13T17:50:00.001+01:00

SE has released another update the FFXIV Beta today, hopefully they have fixed that damn fanfare music bug that made me want to rip my ears off from the sides of my head!

Anyway you should download the update now, as it means beta servers will probably be back online tomorrow.

We're up, we're down

2010-08-12T18:11:00.000+01:00

The Beta test servers are offline right now so thats ruined my evening tonight! Oh well, why not check out some of these new videos.

Linkshell for the Twelve is now!

2010-08-11T07:24:00.000+01:00

I woke up early today so I could get a quick hour of FFXIV in before work, I have created the Linkshell already, so if you are in the Beta remeber it's GARLAND server and my character name is Jeffery McWild.

See you soon!

Beta Phase 3 update now online

2010-08-10T17:34:00.001+01:00

For those of you already in the beta test, the update for the new version went live today just after mid-day (UK time), so update your client program now!

Bored? Have a game of Doom!

2010-08-09T19:42:00.001+01:00

I know what it's like, your sitting there at work bored out of your mind thinking 'Man, I wish I could play a browser version of Doom'.
I think it all the time, so make sure your Adobe Flash is up to date and have a trip down memory lane on me!
Space bar = Shoot
A,W,S,D = Move
Q,E = Side Step
Shift = Run
Ctrl = Use door/button
(Where it says 'Play' on the first screen you have to click there)

Beta Phase 3 date, linkshells and command line details.

2010-08-09T17:39:00.001+01:00

Beta Phase 3

Beta Test phase 3 (Beta 3) will start from 02:00 (GMT) on Wednesday August 11, 2010, so all players with keys should email or PM me in the forum with your character names so I can add you to the Linkshell that will be created on Wednesday.

Linkshell Information

Linkshells are community groups that can be created by any player using an item also known as a linkshell, which can be purchased from various NPCs. To join a linkshell, you must first be invited.
While your linkshell is equipped, you will be able to converse with other members of your linkshell over the “Linkshell” chat mode, regardless of where you are. When you have equipped a linkshell, that linkshell’s crest will be displayed beside your display name.

A single character can join up to eight linkshells.
A single linkshell can have a maximum of 128 members.
A linkshell’s name can be up to 31 alphanumeric characters long.

-Linkshell Administration
Linkshells are made up of masters, leaders, and members. Linkshell administration is only handled by masters and leaders.

Powers allotted to masters:

Disbanding the linkshell
Altering the linkshell’s crest
Inviting new members
Promoting members to leaders, demoting leaders to members
Exiling members and leaders from the linkshell

Powers allotted to leaders:

Inviting new members
Exiling members from the linkshell

Command Line Information

Entering a text command starting with the “/” key allows players to change equipment, use abilities, and perform other various actions.
*During the Beta Test, the following text commands can be used.

/?
Displays the help message associated with that command. Works with abbreviated commands as well.

Format:
/? [text command]

Example:
/? action
Will display the help message for the /action command in the log window.

/chatmode
Sets the default chat mode.
When setting the chat mode to “Tell,” you will also need to designate the PC with whom to chat.
If you do not enter the chat mode to use, the currently set chat mode will be displayed.

Format:
/chatmode [chat mode]

Example:
/chatmode party
Will set the default chat mode to “Party.”

/action (/ac)
Performs a designated action on a designated character.
Cannot be used in areas where certain actions cannot be performed, or if you cannot remember the name of the action to perform.

Format:
/action [action name] [sub-command [target]

Sub-commands:
Main Hand (main)　Performs an action equipped to the main hand.
Off Hand (sub) Performs an action equipped to the off hand.
Nothing Performs an action equipped to the main hand.

Example:
/action cure main me or /action cure me
Cures yourself with a Cure spell equipped to your main hand.

Note:
If you want to use an action equipped to your off hand, you will need to designate so with a sub-command.

Example:
/action shield bash sub [target]
If you want to use the action equipped to your off hand and you enter /action shield bash [target], the command will end in an error.

/equipaction (/eaction)
Equip an action to a slot.
If an action name is not entered, the action equipped to that slot will be unequipped. However, you cannot unequip class-specific actions.
You can designate any slot from 1 to 30.

Format:
/equipaction [slot number] [action name] [sub-command]

Sub-commands:
Main Hand (main)　Performs an action equipped to the main hand.
Off Hand (sub) Performs an action equipped to the off hand.
Nothing Performs an action equipped to the main hand.

Example:
/equipaction 10 cure main or /equipaction 10 cure
Equips the Cure spell to the main hand and sets it to slot number 10.

Note:
If you want to equip an action to your off hand, you will need to designate so with a sub-command.

Example:
/equipaction 10 shield bash sub
If you need to equip the action to your off hand and you enter /equipaction 10 shield bash, the command will end in an error.

/equip
Equip an item to a gear slot. If an item name is not entered, the item equipped to that gear slot will be unequipped.

Format:
/equip [gear slot] [item name]

Gear Slots:
Main Hand (main)
Off Hand (sub)
Throwing weapon (throwing)
Pack (pack)
Pouch (pouch)
Head (head)
Body (body)
Body (clothing) (shirt)
Legs (legs)
Legs (clothing) (garment)
Hands (hands)
Feet (feet)
Waist (waist)
Neck (neck)
Right Ear (R.ear)
Left Ear (L.ear)
Right Wrist (R.wrist)
Left Wrist (L.wrist)
Right Index Finger (R.index)
Left Index Finger (L.index)
Right Ring Finger (R.ring)
Left Ring Finger (L.ring)

Example:
/equip main gladius
Equips a gladius to your main hand.

*During the Beta Test, performing the /equip and /equipaction commands multiple times in row may result in the actions’ performance being delayed.

Beta Key Giveaway!

2010-08-08T11:00:00.000+01:00

Go here if you need a FFXIV Beta key:

http://www.ffxivcore.com/topic/10020-german-ffxiv-beta-key-giveaways-again/

But do it NOW! It's first come, first served!

Beta phase 2 has ended and phase 3 begins later this month.

2010-08-05T18:27:00.001+01:00

Ok now everyone who is in the beta test must PM me in the forums with your new character name when phase 3 starts (your old character is now deleted) becuase when the beta phase 3 starts, LINKSHELLS will now be online!

I shall be creating the Twelve linkshell in the beta phase 3 so all members with beta accounts should contact me at the time. Hopfully as many more keys are to be given out between now and then more of you will gain access.

This is what Square posted on the tester site:
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you for your continued participation in the FINAL FANTASY XIV Beta Test.

Phase 2 of beta testing will come to a close at 0:00 (GMT) on Thursday, August 5th, with phase 3 (Beta 3) scheduled to begin mid-August.

In Beta 3, we will be adding new classes, new features such as linkshells, and a host of other adjustments and changes based on the feedback we've received thus far. The following is just a selection of what's in store for the next phase of testing.

[System-related]
- Significant adjustments to mouse controls
- Changes to the item menu display and controls for equipping gear
- The implementation of the following features:

Linkshells
Text commands
Auto-complete/auto-translation dictionary
Player macros

[Event-related]

- Local levequests will once again be available

- A sound effect and on-screen message will accompany the completion of a quest
- Completed quests will be recorded in the quest journal

[Battle-related]

- Changes to animations, effects, and combat speed

- Passive /Active mode will be toggled automatically when speaking to an NPC or locking on to a monster
- Players will be able to select either a single target or an area effect when casting spells
- Adjustments to balance guildleve rewards versus monster strength
- Various adjustments to overall battle balance

Full details will be announced in the Version Update Details section of the Beta Test Site on the day Beta 3 commences. Related updates to the manual will also be posted on the Beta Test Site.

We look forward to your continuing feedback and support.

NOTE: All character data will be deleted at the end of Beta 2.

All character profiles, images, and blogs on the Players' Site will also be deleted at this time.
Testers can continue to provide feedback on the Beta.
07/31/10 04:16 AM FINAL FANTASY XIV Emergency Maintenance (Jul. 31)
Starting on Jul. 31, 2010 from 06:00 to 08:00 (GMT), we will be performing emergency maintenance on FINAL FANTASY XIV. During this period, FINAL FANTASY XIV will be unavailable.

* The Beta Test Site will still be available.

Information video updates

2010-08-05T18:12:00.000+01:00

For the people that like to see FFXIV videos that explain more of the game rather than just lots of random fights, today is a nice update for you. Enjoy!

Synthesis Information

2010-08-02T18:23:00.000+01:00

You might have noticed that the later end of last week we pretty quiet as far as new posts went. Well I was playing FFXIV and kinda lost track of the days!
Anyway never mind as here we go with a nice chunk to keep you going.

First all here is an updated list of reciepes for crafting, this covers much more than the last one I posted.

Blacksmith

Item	Materials
Bronze Nugget	3 chunks of copper ore, 1 chunk of tin ore
Bronze Ingot	6 bronze nuggets
Copper Nugget	4 chunks of copper ore
Copper Ingot	4 chunks of yellow copper ores
Copper Ingot	6 copper nuggets
Bronze Spear Butt	1 bronze square
Bronze Needle	1 bronze nugget
Bronze Nails	2 bronze nuggets
Bronze Pickaxe Head	1 bronze ingot, 2 bronze nuggets
Brass Hatchet Head	1 brass ingot, 3 brass nuggets
Bronze Spatha	1 bronze spatha blade, 1 aldgoat horn sword grip, 1 slate-grey sheep leather-bound swordguard, 1 handful of brass rivets, 1 block of animal glue
Bronze Gladius	1 bronze gladius blade, 1 aldgoat horn sword grip, 1 sheep leather-bound swordguard, 1 handful of brass rivets, 1 block of animal glue
Bronze Labrys	1 bronze labrys head, 1 ash axe haft, 1 bronze axe butt, 1 red ochre buffalo leather strap, 1 handful of brass rivets, 1 block of animal glue
Iron Labrys	1 iron labrys head, 1 elm axe haft, 1 bronze axe butt, 1 red ochre buffalo leather strap, 1 handful of iron rivets, 1 block of animal glue
Bronze Knuckles	1 bronze ingot, 1 circle of buffalo leather, 1 buffalo leather strap
Bronze Chakram	1 bronze ingot, 1 soot-black buffalo leather strap
Birdsbeak Hammer	1 birdsbeak hammer head, 1 ash hammer grip, 1 bronze ingot, 1 bolt of undyed canvas
Brass Head Knife	1 brass head knife blade, 1 maple head knife grip, 1 block of animal glue
Iron Saw	1 iron saw blade, 1 elm saw grip, 1 handful of iron rivets

Weaver

Item	Materials
Hempen Yarn	2 clumps of moko grass
Undyed Hempen Cloth	3 spindle of hempen yarn
Hempen Fent	1 bolt of undyed hempen cloth
Mole-brown Hempen Cloth	3 spindles of hempen yarn, 1 pot of mole-brown hemp dye
Cotton Yarn	2 cotton bolls
Sepia-brown Canvas	4 spindles of cotton yarn, 1 pot of sepia-brown canvas dye
Crow Fletchings	3 crow feathers
Hempen Socks	1 bolt of undyed hempen cloth, 1 spindle of hempen yarn
Cotton Socks	1 bolt of olive-green cotton cloth, 1 spindle of cotton yarn
Hempen Inner Dalmatica	2 bolts of undyed hempen cloth, 1 spindle of hempen yarn
Hempen Coif	2 bolts of hempen of undyed hempen cloth, 1 sheep leather strap, 1 spindle of hempen yarn
Cotton Coif	1 bolt of undyed hemen cloth, 1 circle of sheepskin leather, 1 sheep leather strap, 1 spindle of cotton yarn
Hempen Dalmatica	hempen inner dalmatica, 2 bolts of sand-brown hempen cloth, 1 circle of sheepskin leather, 1 pair of sand-brown hempen sleeves, 1 spindle of hempen yarn
Cotton Trousers	2 bolts of undyed cotton cloth, 1 circle of dodo leather, 1 dodo leather strap, 1 handful of brass rivets, 1 spindle of cotton yarn
Hempen Chausses	2 bolts of sand-brown hempen cloth, 2 bolts of mole-brown hempen cloth, 1 bolt of lead-grey hempen cloth, 1 spindle of hempen yarn
Cotton Slops	2 bolts of undyed cotton cloth, 1 midnight-black dodo leather strap, 1 spindle of cotton yarn
Hempen Beret	1 bolt of lead-grey hempen cloth, 1 bolt of sand-brown hempen cloth, 1 basket of apkallu down, 1 spindle of hempen yarn
Canvas Hat	1 circle of sheepskin leather, 2 bolts of undyed canvas, 1 spindle of cotton yarn
Plumed Bronze Pickaxe	1 bronze pickaxe, 1 iron buckle, 1 bolt of undyed cotton yarn, 1 cock feather

Leatherworker

Item	Materials
Sheep Leather	1 sheepskin, 1 handful of oak chips
Sheep Leather Spetch	1 circle of sheepskin leather
Sheep Leather Strap	1 circle of sheepskin leather
Sheepskin Outsoles	2 circles of sheepskin leather, 1 block of animal glue
Leather-bound Swordguard	1 circle of slate-grey sheep leather, 1 antelope sinew cord
Slate-grey Sheep Leather	1 sheepskin, 1 handful of oak chips, 1 pot of slate-grey sheep leather dye
Hempen Breeches	1 circle of taupe sheep leather, 1 taupe-sheep leather strap, 2bolts of mole-brown hempen cloth, 1 spindle of hempen yarn
Cotton Breeches	1 circle of sheepskin leather, 1 sheep leather strap, 2 bolts of dull vermilion cotton cloth,1 spindle of cotton yarn
Sheepskin Duckbills	1 circle of sheepskin leather, 1 sheep leather strap, 1 pair of sand-brown hempen socks, 1 pair of sheepskin outsoles, 1 antelope sinew cord, 1 handful of brass nails
Padded Sheepskin Duckbills	1 circle of dodo leather, 1 sheep leather strap, 1 pair of maize-yellow cotton socks, 1 pair of sheepskin outsoles, 1 antelope sinew cord, 1 handful of brass nails
Leather Satchel Belt	2 circles of moss-green buffalo leather, 1 iron buckle, 1 antelope sinew cord
Smithy's Gloves	2 circles of sheepskin leather, 1 sheep leather strap, 1 antelope sinew cord
Sheepskin Targe	1 circle of sheepskin leather, 1 sheep leather strap, 1 lauan plank, 1 handful of copper rivets, 1 antelope sinew cord, 1 lump of beeswax
Wrapped Maple Longbow	1 maple longbow, 1 circle of soot-black buffalo leather, 1 soot-black buffalo leather strap,1 sheet of silver plate, 1 handful of silver rivets, 1 pinch of brimstone
Leather Himantes	1 pair of leather knuckle guards , 1 pair of bronze himantes grips, 1 bolt of undyed canvas, 1 block of animal glue, 1 antelope sinew cord

Carpenter

Item	Materials
Oak Chips	1 oak log
Willow Lumber	1 willow log
Elm Saw Grip	1 piece of elm lumber, 1 sheet of brass plate, 1 handful of iron nails
Bronze Arrow	1 handful of bronze arrowheads, 1 handful of cock fletchings, 1 bundle of cedar arrow shafts, block of animal glue, 1 spindle of hempen yarn
Maple Wand	1 maple branch, 1 bottle of growth formula alpha
Pine Crook	1 pine branch, 1 pot of viscous secretions, 1 bottle of beastkin blood
Bronze Spear	1 bronze spearhead, 1 maple spear shaft, 1 bronze spear butt, iron spear clasp, 1 block of animal glue
Harpoon	2 bone harpoon heads, 1 maple spear shaft, 1 bronze spear clasp, 1 block of animal glue
Maple Longbow	1 maple branch, 2 pieces of maple lumber, 1 linen bowstring, 1 circle of sheepskin leather, 1 block of animal glue
Lauan Pattens	1 pair of slate-grey sheepskin vamps, 1 pair of undyed hempen socks, 1 lauan plank, 1 slate-grey sheep leather strap, 1 antelope sinew cord, 1 handful of brass nails
Maple Pattens	1 pair of uncolored leather vamps, 1 pair of undyed cotton socks, 1 maple plank, 1 uncolored buffalo leather strap, 1 antelope sinew cord, 1 handful of brass nails
Square Maple Shield	2 maple planks, 1 sheet of bronze plate, 1 uncolored sheep leather strap, 1 handful of bronze nails, 1 handful of bronze rivets
Round Chestnut Shield	1 sheet of bronze plate, 2 chestnut planks, 1 circle of buffalo leather, 1 uncolored buffalo leather strap, 1 handful of bronze nails
Bronze Pickaxe	1 bronze pickaxe head, 1 maple pickaxe shaft, 1 handful of bronze nails, 1 bolt of undyed hempen cloth
Brass Hatchet	1 brass hatchet head, 1 ash hatchet haft, 1 sheet of brass plate, 1 block of animal glue

Apart from mining/farming items needed for crafts you probably will also need to go the shops to buy bits that you need. Most stuff can be brought from Hawkers Ally, although some you will need to go to the craft guild building s to get. These images should help:

I'll post a bit more later on!

Ah! Now I get it!

2010-08-02T08:01:00.000+01:00

Now I've had a good amount of time on the beta there are somethings that I thought should of been straight forward but I found a little bit puzzling. If you are a tester then this post might be of some interest to you.

It says I have new moves but they are not on the hot bar!

When you learn new class moves they are not automaticly added to the hot bar, you must add them yourself. Go to ablities and traights and then select a empty slot on the hot bar menu on the left. Then you can select from the drop down box new moves that have been learnt.
Remember you'll need to do this everytime you change class.

Mining seems random!

It does seem a little strange at first, but look at it like a game of hot or cold where you are using the reactions to see if you are getting warmer.
When I start to mine I start in the dead centre of the circle and work outwards, and if you get the message saying you can feel something but can't quite get to it, then hit it in the same place again and you'll get it to work.

Where is the main story quests?

I forgot about what the story was almost right away and went off to do guild leves! If you go to the Journel then look at 'Class Quests' then you can pick up the story quests again.

Beta set to go Online 24/7

2010-07-28T17:08:00.004+01:00

Via the Final Fantasy twitter accounts, it has been confirmed that after Wednesdays successful beta window they will be making the beta online 24/7. They are announcing this as the start of beta phase 2, so knew features and changes could be expected. After finally resolving server load issues and allowing people to enjoy the beta this is a welcome announcement.

Nothing has been said in regards to handing out more keys to coincide with this move to 24/7 accessibility.

-Heicko

Post number 99, Beta test is on!

2010-07-27T14:07:00.000+01:00

The beta test is on right now, so if you are at home you might want to check our vent server, as our testers might be there now!
Anyway I have to wait another 3 hours bfore I can play becuase I am at work at the moment. I get in at 5pm but then at 7:30pm I have to go out and fix my mates laptop. Damn it!
Anyway the test should last until midnight, so if you are on Garland server, we'll see you there!

FFXIV - stick yer manhood in the forge.

2010-07-26T22:22:00.003+01:00

You might have already seen this on the forums but the American age ratings board (ESRB) have just giving FFXIV a teen rating.

Ok so thats not such big news but the description is so funny it deserves a read!

Rating:

Teen
Content descriptors:
Alcohol Reference, Animated Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence

Rating summary:
This is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) in which players navigate a large cast of characters that engage in missions and fight the forces of evil. Players explore environments (e.g., cities, plains, caves) and battle human and fantasy creatures. Players use swords, spears, axes, firearms, and magic spells (e.g., fire balls, energy beams) to defeat enemies in real-time combat. Cutscenes depict a man being stabbed from behind, and creatures emitting splashes of purple or yellow blood when struck. Some female characters are depicted from low camera angles, with lingering camera views of their buttocks (i.e., up-skirt shots). Dialogue contains suggestive references; for example, "The netmaster's probably up in his office polishing the mast just thinking about her," "stick yer manhood in the forge," and "You cheating little whore!" Several characters are referred to as drunk or drunken, while others sometimes talk about wine, rum, and grog. The word "sh*t" can be heard in the dialogue.

Pure comedy at its greatest, from: http://www.esrb.org/ratings/synopsis.jsp?Certificate=29479

Monday video update.

2010-07-26T18:04:00.000+01:00

Woohoo! We have a fair few new videos today, and they are pretty cool as well. Enjoy!

The day after the night before.

2010-07-25T15:39:00.000+01:00

Well yesterdays beta test was fun and I hope those of you testing it had a great time.
Anyway as to be expected more videos can now be found on the 'net, so here are some for you to see. Also I should be getting a working microphone next week so I can actually use vent during play. I have found that I can't play full screen FFXIV and use vent text chat because once I change windows FFXIV crashes. Anyway should be sorted before the next test starts.

Plus if you check the forums there are plenty of streaming sites where you can see FFXIV in action too.

Client update now online

2010-07-23T18:11:00.000+01:00

There is an update of the FFXIV client now online ahead of tomorrows Beta test, so boot up FFXIV and update now.

Final Fanasty XIV Recommended System Requirements

2010-07-22T21:22:00.000+01:00

Here they are, the specs for FFXIV, so you can now see what your system should be aiming for.

Ok if you want to run the game under these conditions:

Window Size and Display Mode		1280×720 (Windowed)
Ambient Occlusion		OFF
Depth of Field		ON
Shadow Detail		Standard
Multisampling		4x MSAA
Buffer Size		Window Size
Texture Quality		High
Texture Filtering		High

Then you are going to have to match these specs:

OS	Windows® 7 32bit / 64bit *
Processor	Intel® Core™ i7 (2.66GHz) or faster
Memory	4GB or more
Storage	Install: 15GB or more
Storage	Download: 6GB or more
Video	NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 460 with 768MB VRAM or equivalent
Sound	DirectSound compatible sound card (DirectX 9.0c or higher)
Internet	Broadband Internet connection
Resolution	1280 x 720 or higher; 32bit
DirectX	DirectX 9.0c
Controls	Mouse, Keyboard, Gamepad

* 64bit OS will run in WOW64 (Windows on Windows 64) mode

So there you have it, now you know!

See, it didn't take long!

2010-07-22T13:30:00.000+01:00

Day after the slighty short Beta test, and the Internet is filled with videos again. If you are intrested, Beta servers should be open again on Saturday. Also while I am here, if you found the controls a bit heavy in the Beta (I'm sure this will be changed yet), try using a 360 wired pad (Example: Link). As I found it was a lot easier to move around using it.

Tomorrow, it all starts again...

2010-07-20T18:21:00.001+01:00

Tomorrow the Beta servers are open again as from 2pm (UK time). I have tomorrow booked as hoilday from work so if you are also a beta/forum user join us on Ventrillo. Forum users can PM me via the forum for the vent details.
Also if you are expecting me to start leaking my own screen shots and videos, sorry but that is not going to happen. But don't worry! There are plenty of idiots who are more than happy to break the NDA and I'll post their stuff here so you don't miss a thing!

Lets take a video apart and see what we can learn from it.

2010-07-19T23:55:00.006+01:00

Watch this video, I shall take it apart in this post and write about what we can see in it.

Ok, good now I'm going to take it apart and look into what we have just seen in a bit more detail.

1) Rank and Power.

One of the first things we get to see on the video is the players Rank and Physical level. Now Physical Level gives you stats. Rank level gives you proficiency and skills, Gear is limited by your skill rank. In other words, same thing as weapon proficiency's in FFXI in essence, except that you have an actual level meter to measure how much time between skill levels.

2) The Secrets of the Stone.

Accessing the stone brings up this menu. The first two options should really explain themselves. By using 'guardian favor' during a quest, you can receive a buff. View faction standings should also be pretty clear to anyone that played FFXI (Go on the Bastok!). The last option will tell you about certain stats in the game, for example Fire melts ice, but is extinguished by wind and Ice obstructs wind, but is melted by fire.

It gives the low down on all the element and player stats in the game so it's something to read if you are unsure of anything stat related.

3) Pick a quest, any quest.

After initiating a guild leve, this menu pops up. Put bluntley, this is a list of all the quests that are available at this time in this area.

Pick one and be on your way! Although it looks like the translation dept at Square-Enix has not lost its sense of humour. You have a reference to a retro game, a Prince song, an old poem, a 1950 British Play and the Flintstones.

Oh those pranksters at Square-Enix, they are just too much!

Anyway once you select which quest that you would like to do then another window pops up with some more information on it.

This box has more setails about the quest that you have just selected.
How much Gill you will earn from the quest, who gave you the quest, what class the game recomends that you should be to undertake the quest, where the quest will take place, what you have to do to complete the quest and how long you have to do the quest.

All pretty useful information really, but once you commence the quest you get another window appear, and this is something that I think really sets FFXIV apart from other MMORPG's on the market and thst is this.

You now choose the size of the group that shall be undertaking the quest. You can pary from 1-15 people, two stars is 2-4 people, three is 5-6, four is 6-11, five is 12-15.
Clearly a harder difficulty level will bring you a better reward. For the question shown here on solo level you will be rewarded with Guardian points.

Which as I wrote eariler, will allow buffs to be cast upon you as you do the quest that you have selected.
Maybe harder settings will give more points or even better items.

4) Thats an Airship!

The more eagle eyed viewer may of spotted this the first time around, but if not look again in this cut down video.
See that in the sky? Look at the way it moves across the sky. You know what that is? Thats an Airship! The prefered mode of transport from FFXI makes its return in FFXIV.

5) Marked Mobs.

Just in case you didn't read whjat you had to do in the guild leve, thje mobs you have to kill are marked with a special icon by there name. The little icon means that they are the prey for the quest that you are on. Simples!

6) I've got the skills.

I have writetn aleady about Rank skill an physical skill, well killing mobs will give you points towards these, as you can see in this picture. To be honest, being an MMORPG that was really a given but it is intresting to see just how many points are awarded for killing mobs

Ok well that is the end of this post, I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed the beer I drank while I was writting it. Bye bye!