spend 1 1/2 hrs with the checking, and downloaded to about 75% so i went to get dinner, figuring it would be installed, nope POL-1160. Isn't that nice of them

So I read through alot of the posts and even took a look at the graph on POL. So here is my opinion:

I have a lvl 65 RDM that I spent many hours over the past year getting that job up to 65. I also have gotten burned out playing as a RDM and switched over to SMN, WHM, DRG, and THF just to break up the monotony. Like many of you, I feel like alot of noobs will make the jump pretty quickly with help from power level friends. I have been encountering more people helping to power level parties recently then a year ago. Not that the change is a bad thing but there should be a better "learning curve" to slow everyone down and make the game more enjoyable like make Genkai quests cap level.

The old system was very strange with the way it flattened out and then picked right up. Changing it to a curve was a good idea. They could have put the curve a little higher and respected those who have at least one job at lvl 75.

Some one also mentioned "end game" in this thread yet I do not recall what "end game" would be for Final Fantasy. Maybe SE should start exploring raising the level cap to 80 or 85 which would add 2 more Genkai quests. I'm happy I can get more of my jobs closer to 75 quicker since there is a few missions I would like to do. As far as I can tell, there is truly no "end game" but there needs something put in place so those who play for only a few months are not running around like they are pros at the game.

Finally, get rid of the "M" master thing or whatever it is. Only morons have been getting it because "it looks so cool." Please. If people need help, they will find it. No one is a complete jerk, unless you are a gilseller.

Look people, you have millions of people trying to connect to download the update at the same time. If you can't connect now, try again later. I can't download the update at this time (get timeout messages) and I know it's because of the overload on the servers. It just happens, deal with it. Try later, I'm gonna do some RL stuff now since I can't connect at this time.

Downloaded update a while ago, took me about 2 hours total time to check, d/l and install. Not too shabby imo.

The reason it's taking you lot longer is because you're more than likely in the US and you're all coming on at the same time, trying to download the exact same thing. Giver it time and don't be so impatient.

I just can't wait to get back to Windy to see what I can harvest in W.Saruta and Giddeus now. ^^

I been downloading for 30 minutes now and got 2 hours and 40 minutes left....
Boy was POL way off on them download times...And I'm on hi speed DSL

I'm slightly dissapointed that the "more details" on the XP changes are nowhere to be found and the "official" chart was taken down before I could ever lay eyes on it...

Also I doubt this will be the end of the world. The XP grind in this game is insane, and is now slightly less insane. People here are acting like once you hit level 51 they just hand you a Get To Level 75 Free pass. It still takes a TON of XP to get to 75, and as others mentioned, there are things like rank missions and genkai that keep you more busy than xping.

Personally, I find I spend most of my time in the game heping people, doing events, synthing, questing, and missioning... I'm not in XP parties a ton. There is MUCH more to the game than XP parties, and taking out a few thousand XP to gain levels at 51+ I doubt will change much, or create "lv 75 n3wbs". It will just be, say, 8 hours of parties to gain a level past 70 instead of 10.

While I feel a little bad for those that got to 75 "the hard way" I don't think this is the end of the world like everyone here seems to think it is...

Rentwokay's Official Patch Post, Volume 1

I've decided I'm going to make a point of replying to each portion of the update individually, so I don't need to worry about posting in 5000 different threads on 5000 different issues.


The following two areas are now open for exploration: The Grand Palace of Hu’Xzoi The Garden of Ru’Hmet.

I'm a big fan of new areas, but from the looks of the mobs in these places, it's going to be a very long time before I can set foot here. It's good that they're helping people get the most out of that expansion pack we paid for a while back.


Several new Chains of Promathia area quests have been added.

Awesome, for the same reason as above, but I'm a little disappointed that they didn't add any new missions to continue the storyline.


A special new Ballista area has been added.

I wish more people would do Ballista. Looks like they finally realized that the draw to compete needs to be more enticing than a small gil reward, and they finally decided to give us a little experience. The Diorama region is as close to a private linkshell meeting area as we may ever see, but it's still a very thoughtful addition.


New sets of low-level equipment have been added to the list of armor that can be stored by certain NPCs located around Vana’diel. After trading a full set (4-5 pieces) of armor, a player will receive a “claim slip.” This claim slip and a small fee are required when having a set of armor returned.

Unacceptable. I like that they expanded the idea, but the fact that we can't store HQ items makes the system next-to-useless.


The clamming mini-game on Purgonorgo Isle has been expanded.

I've never tried clamming, but they're giving people more of a reason to try with the bigger bucket and expanded items listing. How long until we start referring to it as CHELM? Or MELCH? Or... never mind.


New items are available for harvesting/mining.

Considering I just started harvesting earlier this week and fell in love with it, I'm extremely excited about this. Though it's just speculation, I imagine that Square-Enix is added more silk-based items in hopes of dropping the prices to more managable levels. A stack of thread is up to 25k on Seraph right now.


A new key item that will automatically inform players whether they have access to the Marble Bridge Tavern is now available (a message will appear upon entry into Upper Jeuno).

Never been there, but I think it's cute.


A new key item that will automatically inform players if a volunteer is needed for the “Community Service” quest is now available.

Never done the quest, but I don't feel this is necessary. Part of the difficulty of the quest is the competition factor, and they're eliminating that.


Under certain conditions, Tarnotik (located in Oldton Movalpolos) will now accept snow lilies as payment for teleportation to Mine Shaft #2716.

Never been there, but flowers are pretty.


The number of items accepted by Yurim in the Tavnazian quest "In the Name of Science," as well as the types of rewards granted in exchange, have been increased.

Allakhazam doesn't even have information on this quest, so I don't have a comment.


Several new varieties of fish are now being accepted by Zaldon in the “Inside the Belly” quest.

If this eliminates some of the so-called "useless fish" (like tricolored and gold carp), then I'll be happy.


The amount of EXP required for leveling up after lv.51, and the amount of EXP lost when KO’d after level 25, has been greatly reduced.

Hell. F*cking. Yes.


Several new types of ENM quests have been added. In addition, many of the existing quests have also been adjusted. Some of these adjustments include allowing larger parties and/or alliances to enter the battlefields (however, depending on the size of the parties, there may be a cut in the amount of EXP received when completing the quest).

I love ENM battles, but I find these to be incredibly cool because of the new alliance-size limits. And one of them is a solo battle. I can't even express how awesome I think that is. We need more hardcore solo experiences in this game.


New notorious monsters have been added to the Chains of Promathia areas.

Campers ahoy!


The bard song Army's Paeon V (Lv. 65) has been added.

Sounds tasty. How potent was Army's Paeon IV, just out of curiosity?


New mannequin poses have been introduced. After obtaining a mannequin and a certain key item, Mhauran goldsmith Fyi Chalmwoh will change the pose of your simulacrum upon request.

Unless the mannequins are animated, and I can set my Tarutaru to do the /panic motion over and over, I don't think this is such a big deal.


Select guilds are now offering new key items available for purchase with guild points.

I just started turning in items for guild points. This could be cool, but if they're all high-level items, I'm going to be disappointed. Still, I can imagine many people would enjoy having advanced smithing support while they're out mining.


Adjustments and additions have been made to the types of items requested in exchange for guild points.

No more garbage items, please.


The Alchemists’ Guild will now accept poison baghnakhs +1 in exchange for guild points.

...Anything else?


Several new fishing rods have been introduced.

NICE!!!


New relic-type equipment has been added.

The question is... are these items going to be easier or more difficult to obtain than the currently-implemented items?


Numerous other types of items are also now available.

Well, I would certainly hope so.


New synthesis and desynthesis recipes have been added.

Again, this should be a given for every update.


The graphics displayed when a Galka equips the following shields...

What an obscure thing to update. Maybe the thing won't be the size of a paper plate anymore.


A new synthesis recipe for black ink has been introduced. In conjunction with this addition, the item's buying price has also been adjusted.

I imagine this was to drop the price of shihei somewhat, considering all the recipes for making black ink are on the pricy side.


The following item names have been changed.

I liked the old names better, personally.


The Handle Name screen that would appear during login has been removed. In its place, a simple confirmation message has been introduced.

Anything that can get me to log in faster is well-appreciated.


Group Messages can now be viewed while logged in to FINAL FANTASY XI. However, players must return to PlayOnline to respond to them.

Always a frustrating feature. I hate how certain features of PlayOnline are completely ignored or hinted at when you're playing FFXI.


Several unused buttons within the Friend List menu, as well as the "Busy" and “Away Mess.” options under Online Status, have been removed. In conjunction with the removal of the corresponding button, a player’s “Privacy Level” will now automatically be set to level 2 (all players on your Friend List).

Why not just enable all the buttons that you grayed out?


The "Accept" button originally used during Friend List registration has been removed. The current options are "Accept & Add" and "Decline." Also, when "Accept & Add" is selected by the invitee, both players will be automatically registered on each other's Friend List.

I always thought this was quite redundant. I'm glad they changed it.


"/busy" has been removed from the Auto-Translate feature.

LOL


A confirmation message will now appear when purchasing goods from another player’s bazaar.

NO MORE STACK SCAMS! NO MORE STACK SCAMS! HOORAY!


Fishing locations in the following areas have been adjusted.

The word "adjusted" is never a good thing. I hate to think of what they've done to the ferry.


The more “tired” a player becomes after repeated fishing, the longer it will now take to recast his or her line.

So let me get this straight... not only is there a limit to the number of fish that we can catch, but you're slowing down how fast we can catch them?!


Players will be “tired” for a short period of time after being raised.

I imagine this is to hinder people that got killed after fishing up a monster, but it doesn't seem like a big deal to me.


New BGM is now played when battling it out with a bite.

I can't wait to hear this... I want it to sound like pirate music. I hope it plays in towns as well.


New types of salt and freshwater fish, as well as rare “legendary” fish, have been added.

Excellent.


When a monster is caught, only the player who reeled it in (and his/her party or alliance) will be able to attack it (the monster's name will be displayed in red/purple).

Again, a very important addition that has been overdue for quite some time.

For all the people out there that are upset about the exp change. This also effects you indirectly. I have a few ppl in my ls that in the upper 60s lower 70s who all have 4-8 jobs above 40. They don't just lvl 1 job, and a few have multiple jobs in the 50s or 60. This effects how long you work on these jobs, and I suppose if you have time to get all your jobs to 75 or have all the ones you want that high, then yeah, it really doesn't effect you. Also, people like me, who have played the game for over a year and don't have a single job over 50, this doesn't really effect. Maybe someday I will, but I have no great push to lvl, and well, I guess I am ok with it. I had to take the guild point hit when they dropped the cost of the anima synthesis Item, and I was upset for about 10 minutes... If I would have chosen to wait I could have gotten it for cheaper, but I wanted it when I did, and I paid for it. Plain and simple. Prices fluxuate. That is part of the game. That means any thing you pay for, exp, guild points, conquest points, AH price, whatever. Yeah, sometimes you pay more sometimes you pay less. But one thing is for certain, that is the way things are and they are going to change. So, I am not really sorry you are upset, because well, I can't do anything about it, and well, it doesn't effect me... my only real question is what are the new items and crafts:P AND YAY SHIHEI IS GONNA DROP IN PRICE FAST!!! No more Black ink exploitation... I hope...

With all the focus on "exp" changes, no one seems to have noticed the best part of this update:



The only group of ppl on my list worse than gilsellers - scammers. oh yeah! Hey utsusemi and crystal bazaar scammers - that ones for you =P

They mentioned something about more armor set storage like the artifact gear. Remember, you need the full set (body, head, hands, legs, and feet). HQ items are not accepted and any signitures will be erased. I'm taking this directly from the game, so here it is (listed by body piece):

Level 24-30
Iron Chainmail
Shade Harness
Brass Scale Armor
Wool Robe
Eisenplatte Armor
Soil Gi
Seer's Tunic
Studded Armor
Centurion's Scale Mail
Mercenary Captain's Doublet
Garish Tunic
Noct Doublet

Level 31-40
All RSE
Linen Cloak
Padded Armor
Silver Chainmail
Gambison
Iron Scale Mail
Cuir Armor
Velvet Robe
Opaline Dress
Royal Squire's Chainmail
Plate Armor
Combat Caster's Cloak

Level 41-50
Alumine Haubert
Carapace Armor
Banded Mail
Hara-Ate
Raptor Armor
Steel Scale Armor
Wool Gambison
Shinobi Gi
Iron Musketeer's Cuirass
Tactician Magician's Coat
White Cloak
Austere Robe

Artifact armor
Fighter's Armor
Temple Attire
Healer's Attire
Wizard's Attire
Warlock's Armor
Rogue's Attire
Gallant Armor
Chaos Armor
Beast Armor
Choral Attire
Myochin Armor
Ninja Garb
Drachen Armor
Evoker's Attire

I like how once you receive a connection and it starts checking your files it releases that connection for someone else to have. This allows your computer to spend time wastefully checking your files since it will more then likely fail to restablish the connection again when it goes to download the files it needs. Why doesn't SE just let us keep the connection. I mean we already fought however long trying to get that far. Then we have to sit through a file check again the next time with crap shoot odds at being able to start the download part of the process....

I am not sure I can think of many things more irritating then that

Gasp! Downloading the update...

>.>

At first it said 6 hours.... then 5 hours...

Now it says 3 hours. -.-

/joyous day.

It can't seem to make up it's mind <.< Now I'm 6% in and it tells me 4 hours... Oh well... Morrowind time.

Edited, Wed Apr 20 18:31:25 2005

Enless you have every job leveled to 75...why complain? Those that have a lv75 job, I'm sure they go on to level another job if they're still playing the game, and it will be easier for them to level to lv75 with that new job.

One pointed out that there's going to be too many lv75's. You might be right, I'm not even at lv50 so I wouldn't know, but maybe they should make it hard to level from 70-75. That way, people atleast can get a high level but not the max level.

Edited, Wed Apr 20 18:27:29 2005