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Final Fantasy XI Roadmap for 2011 Link
Essentially it boils down to 3 large updates and 1 mini update. And over the year-long span it focuses on these main things:
- -Implementing the final level cap increases to 99
- -Job adjustments
- -Voidwatch system
- -Grounds of Valor system.
- -New battlefields
- -"Dungeon crawling"
- -"The Last Stand"
- -Adventurer Growth elements.
- -Implementing a daily reward system
- -Reworking Dynamis and Walk of Echoes
- -Implementing final Fellowship additions
- -Additions to Magian Trials
- -Monster and NM distribution and respawn adjustments
- -Additions and adjustments to synthing and synergy.
- -Enhancing the game via tweaks like AH merges and congestion relief.
- -Increasing treasure-casket areas.
- -Opening the test server to player testing.
So the vast majority of this stuff is basically cleaning house and reworking all the old stuff that has had a new asshole rendered thanks to level increases and Abyssea. The general focus is on original game areas in the middlelands. Things like Dynamis, magians, and Voidwatch which appear to send you out to far-flung forgotten zones to fight new NMs say that you're going to be firmly planted in the same old areas for 2011. "Dungeon crawling" is new and mysterious. My only guess is it may have something to do with reworking Nyzul/Salvage or introduce those new Nyzul floors mentioned long ago.
The level increase to 99 will finally occur two years after its announcement, and fellow NPC's to go along with it. "Adventurer growth elements" is also mysterious and vague, but most people seem to suspect this will be the new magian outgrowth level 99 merit type system mentioned long ago. Not much else is known about it.
Grounds of Valor is yet another unknown. From pure speculation this could be a new method for easier skilling up, or some kind of Fields of Valor for levels 80+.
"New battlefields" I suppose is going to be the new Kindred Crest BCs. Hopefully they're fun and interesting and worth saving up for.
Yet another surprise note, some kind of "daily reward system" is listed. My only guess is that this will be similar to "dailies" in other MMO's like WoW where players get small incentives once a day that accrue toward something better.
The final surprise dropped with no other explanation is some kind of event called "The Last Stand". I've written about this in my first blog post long ago. It has an interesting history and is assumed to have been Square's testing zone used to test new battle events like VNM and Shinryuu. However there seems to be more to it, and Square may have had some other final plan for it in FFXI all along. Now it will probably be made into a proper endgame event, perhaps using a new zone shown in the concept-art.
Some interesting stuff in there. But overall I feel rather disappointed. No new expansions or addons feels ominously sterile at this point in the game's life. It feels like they just want to focus on cleaning up and remaking what exists. Part of me understands this and sees the need to do so. After all old things like the "Colissuem" and Fellowship have been hanging around forever not receiving their final touches. It's nice stuff, it just doesn't get me very excited at all.
The way things look right now is that 2011 will resemble 2009. Potentially mediocre content that just gets through another year; nothing more and nothing less. I guess we shall just have to see. At least there is some new stuff. My worst fears were that the entire year would be nothing but cleaning up old endgame events. Voidwatch, Kindred BCs, Grounds of Valor, Dungeon Crawling, and the Last Stand are clearly the biggest features this year. Hopefully they turn out to be fun, interesting, and useful. I can't promise my subscription will see a full year with a less than inspiring lineup like this.
