Final Fantasy XI - Journal!

[Ramza]

Curious to what you think of WOTG's story so far. I'm unimpressed, myself. Heh.

I wonder what it takes to impress you then. Maybe it just hasn't sunk in for you since you haven't finished CoP, but the stuff going on with

Code:

Nag'molada

is awesome.

If I had to rank plots (thus far) in FFXI, it would look like this (best to worst):

1. CoP
2. WotG (may move up or down depending on how it continues)
3. ToAU
4. RoZ
5. Original missions (ranks 1 - 6, Shadow Lord stuff).

And ToAU and RoZ are nearly tied.

Pat

[Shiguma]

If I had to rank plots (thus far) in FFXI, it would look like this (best to worst):

1. CoP
2. WotG (may move up or down depending on how it continues)
3. ToAU
4. RoZ
5. Original missions (ranks 1 - 6, Shadow Lord stuff).

I agree completely.

[skoreanime]

http://www.sankakucomplex.com/2009/01/25/550-ffxi-dupers-banned-including-top-50000-account/

Wow.  S-E is really laying down the hammer.  Blizzard usually just hands out a few days ban for offenses like that in Warcrack.

One reason why I regret leaving FFXI.  S-E has a personal vendetta against any and all types of cheating in their game.

[Hathen]

Duping items has always been met with bans in this game, starting back with the delivery box dupe that was used many years ago.

As for story, I guess I should rewatch that section to see if there was anything in particular he was alluding to. The problem I have with WOTG is, we're about 15 missions in, and there's still not a single thing telling us what the hell is going on. It's just a bunch of characters running around doing nothing. The only real "goal" I've seen being worked on is

Code:

Lilisette trying to save her father

And that's getting stretched real thin as it is. Thing is, even the stuff with

Code:

Nag'Molada

is stuff I should be able to understand without needing to have done other parts of the game. Each expansion is supposed to stand on its own, and right now WOTG is either wasting lots of time with exposition, or just being mysterious about everything so it doesn't have to actually have anything make any sense. If I did CoP without doing RoZ, I'd still be able to understand what is going on, even though CoP is actually a really expanded backstory of RoZ.

I'm not sure if I would tie RoZ and ToAU though. ToAU had some effort put into the characters, and it started out pretty well only to conclude with such a predictable and uneventful ending. RoZ on the other hand, had is palmost nothing interesting in it.

[Ramza]

If I did CoP without doing RoZ, I'd still be able to understand what is going on, even though CoP is actually a really expanded backstory of RoZ.

well um...no...

you can understand WotG without having any CoP backstory, but there's a lot of depth, foreshadowing, and subtlety you'll MISS if you're not familiar with CoP.

you can understand CoP without having any RoZ backstory, but there's a lot of depth, foreshadowing, and subtlety you'll MISS if you're not familiar with RoZ.

Agreed?

[Hathen]

I'm not sure there's a lot to understand in WOTG without having done other parts of the game, while I've enjoyed CoP thoroughly and I know I would even if I didn't do RoZ (Mostly because RoZ didn't have much plot to speak of, and they were able to imply most of it in CoP- even the "twist" of

Code:

The Archduke brothers being Zilart

was not held back in CoP.)

I will agree there's plenty ot enjoy in CoP having done RoZ. My calls here, of course, are still preliminary because WOTG isn't finished yet, but it feels like WOTG is just not really going anywhere, and they're just stalling a bunch of time because they really don't have any good ideas (I got this feeling from ToAU as well).

When I say that though, that's referring to the mainline plot of the Cavernous Maws and Cait Sith. As far as each individual city plots go, the Windurst one has me really interested, while the Sandy one is hackneyed and pointless while the Bastok one bores me to tears with its pseudo-politics.

I guess I should go rewatch a lot of the CSes at some point though- I will admit I rushed through some of them the first time around.

[ShiningHero]

My non spoiler ranking descriptions:
1. WotG- Great story and pushes FFXI to it's limit in the technical department (PS2)
2. CoP -Also a great story with the only flaw (when I completed them) being all the level cap battles. :/
3. Zilart-Decent story with some memorable moments, could of been a bit longer.
4. Rank-Missions The story isn't fleshed out as much as the top 3, but it still manages to be enjoyable to the point of completion.
5. ToAU-Main turnoffs being mission cool downs and sub par story when compared to my top three.{Thanks for the offer, but I'll have to pass} :| 

*Rocks out with the ratings*

As for the bannings

/cheer

[Alisha]

Curious to what you think of WOTG's story so far. I'm unimpressed, myself. Heh.

If I had to rank plots (thus far) in FFXI, it would look like this (best to worst):

1. CoP
2. WotG (may move up or down depending on how it continues)
3. ToAU
4. RoZ
5. Original missions (ranks 1 - 6, Shadow Lord stuff).

And ToAU and RoZ are nearly tied.

Pat

i might agree with this expect i stopped playing CoP when i got to the three paths. needing help to see a cutscene in pso'xja was the last straw for me. possibly the only way i would finish CoP is if they removed the level caps. i play at night when most east coasters are asleep so its rare i get to do anything besides meriting and ls events. i think i was stuck on that one earth dragon for like a year and diablolos was equally painful. a few times i considered leveling jobs for cop but my pride got in the way =P so all my cop progress was as monk,however i gotta say promyvyon vahzl was a blast. god it was fun blasting memory recepticles for 1k with raging fists.

[Shiguma]

Meh, CoP in its current state is pathetically easy.  Remember all the nerfs?

- Exp loss was removed.

- Exp gain was introduced, 1000-2000 depending on the battle's difficulty, to provide players an incentive to help out their friends.

- Level Sync and Scaling Gear eliminated the need to carry around 4 extra sets for the 30/40/50/60 capped battles.

- CCB Polymer Pumps, Shu'Meyo Salts, Yellow Liquids etc. can be purchased on the AH.

Compared to 2004-2005 when most players were wrestling w/ CoP, it's a cake walk - and everyone, their grandmother, and their grandmother's dog has a Rajas/Tamas Ring at this point, if not an Ethereal/Magnetic Earring from Apocalypse Nigh to boot.  Grab a few friends and apply a bit of elbow grease, and anyone can have sea access in a week or two tops.  It's all about motivation.

[Alisha]

still i find it funny that i cant get people to help me with CoP, but when i asked for help with ToAU missions people lined up to help me until i gained salvage access. gee i wonder why =(

[Hathen]

Nyzul Climb continues slowly, having a bit of trouble finding people to advance with at this point.


Got some random stuff from Dynamis runs.


I lost twice in a row on Mirage Jubbah, which had only 3 people lotting it. But later on I had that repaid, and then some...read on to find out. :P

CoP continues, and we've done 8-2 plus the first half of 8-3.




With floor 80 in my hands, I managed to finish off my Swordbreaker and unlock Mandalic Stab on my THF.


Progressing at a relatively godd speed through assaults. I'm current 27/50 on assaults.




The quests for the rank ups are pretty amusing.

Also got a few rare ??? items from assault- they're decent, but nothing amazing.



And now for the ever exciting Salvage report. But unlike before, I have actually obtained something now.

Of course that comes along with a few crappy 25 and 15 pieces.


With the 15 and 35 pieces on my hand, I see a Zhayolm shout and take it, hoping to get a 25 Usukane Head piece to finish off my first Salvage armor. While the 25 piece didn't drop, I think I got something that means a lot more in the long run:

This dropped, with no TH (I was dead) and it was on Freelot, and I won against 3 other people lotting it. Absolutely incredible- two 35 pieces in one day. I'm happy as hell.

Current progress:
Head: 15, 35 + Synth
Body: None
Hands: 35
Legs: 15 + Synth
Feet: 15 + Synth

Come on, Tsukikazu Jinpachi! :P

[Hathen]

GWRAR DOUBLE POSTAGE



Joined a Limbus Shell and fought this guy:


Took a while for me to get it, but I can finally get red of that bright red harness I wear on my THF for a even gayer purple harness.






lolAF2:






As you can see, Zhayolm Remnants is not being nice to me. I haven't gotten the Tsukikazu Jinpachi in maybe...7 or 8 runs of Zhayolm, which is pretty lame. Then of course, this had to happen on an Arrapgo run:

It was definately the piece I wanted to finish the least, but to me finishing any piece is pretty damn crazy- I remember a couple months ago I always looked at Usukane and said I'd never get any of it because it's too goddamn annoying to get. :P

This is one thing I'm glad I'm proving myself wrong on.

[Ramza]

grats on more Usu my friend! :)

[tebian]

still i find it funny that i cant get people to help me with CoP, but when i asked for help with ToAU missions people lined up to help me until i gained salvage access. gee i wonder why =(

I have run a linkshell now for few years and I can do rush thru zilarts plus get people to try Tau/WoTG but when it comes to COP they stop dead in there tracks. Do not ask my why people fear this expansion. The promy's are so simple at this point you could do it with mules in half the party. You dont lose experience on all the missions, so you could sit all day and do over until you win. At this point I think there has to be more to it. The story is great and Sea is a blast when you get there, but to get people to do them is like pulling teeth. Personally I think it goes to the heart of whats up with FFXI. Most people dont adventure anymore and you "must" do that for COP.  You have to go to far off zones that have nothing in them but quest and adventures (except for the blues). You cant see the zone where you going to get to in the end nor can you just walk around there once you get there. Maybe i am wrong but give me another reason why people wont do missions they cant lose anything on but are just challenge. Good of example of what I mean is that I know people who sit and dont "climb the hill" in Attohwa Chasm... cause they dont know how to even find it.

Get COP done and come fight this guy !! I think he is the coolest.

[Alisha]

yeah its a bit of a problem for me since i play blue mage also. so i'm missing out on those spells obtained from sea.