And it's about damn time!

I'm not sure many people would care too much about this, but anyway.

After piss-farting around for so long with the stupid 'add-on' packs and ruining the game with Abyssea, SE finally is planning a new full expansion pack for FFXI (the fifth), and, finally, this time, it's even set on a completely new continent (the elvaan homeland of the far western continent Ulbaka). Also interesting in this expansion is that two new Jobs are also planned for introduction with the game - Geomancer and Rune Fencer (Rune Knight from FF TA).

A new site on the subject has gone up on the main FFXI website complete with trailer at Seekers of Adoulin (http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/adoulin/index.php)

Although the jury is still out on the Geomancer's appearance shown in the artwork (mushroom hats??), I must admit, this is a very interesting development for the game (and well overdue), plus, anything that pulls the emphasis of gameplay away from the travesty that is Abyssea is definitely a good thing. ;)

Couldn't Try the 14 day trial because the file with the data package that comes with the installer is corrupted. -.- And I made myself damn bloody sure that I downloaded it properly.

What the Hell Squeenix?

Have you tried downloading the file again? I've heard sometimes the download can become corrupted (it's why I much prefer physical copies of games).

Also, SE has ruffled a few chocobo feathers with this new expansion, as it now seems basically they're finally dropping support for the PS2 version - at least outside Japan, in that the new expansion will not be available on PS2: FINAL FANTASY XI� Seekers of Adoulin - Page 3 (http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/24596-FINAL-FANTASY-XI%C2%AE-Seekers-of-Adoulin?p=330245#post330245)

Not that it worries me anyway, as I play the PC version. Still, ouch to all those PS2 fans holding onto their outdated hardware (as it is, I've heard a lot of PS2 FFXI players are suffering from failing PS2 HDDs, so this is even more of an incentive for SE to finally cut ties to that version).

Honestly Enk... don't know why you posted that here. No one on this board gives a fuck about FFXI or FFXIV... too much in love with the garbage that is XIII.

Meh, I thought I'd post it anyway in an attempt to stimulate some life in this site. No harm done either way.

I actually am excited about this.

I've been playing with a few friends on a Zilart server, but this news coupled with the fact it's only $12 on Steam makes me wanna come back to retail.....again lol.

EDIT: I keep hearing horror stories though about how much has changed and been dumbed down. Maybe I'm better off staying on the Zilart server.

I agree with Enki, I'm sure that among the many people visiting these forums there are some interested.
And indeed, this forum needs some new things on it every now and then to keep the heart beating.

*browses FFXI* *see's new EP*

What the.... WELL THANK GOD. Maybe I'll renew my account this week like I planned and find some groups to actually level up with that doesn't involve using some sort of exploit. *Cough* Abyssea *cough* Get myself ready to enjoy it if it does come out soon. Time to do some google searching, hopefully lots of information has been released. I still love FFXI lots. FFXIV is all right by me now that it's been getting alotta work done on it.

Edit: Screw it I miss my FFXI Characters now... time to reinstall. First thing I'm told about FFXI is that I can now hide my helmet. I'VE WANTED THIS OPTION FOR YEARS. *runs victory laps* *cries on floor*

Well, the latest trailer is up on the main FFXI website... and to be honest, I'm somewhat underwhelmed. Is one single city that just looks like a cross between San d'Oria and Bastok and one main woodland zone all this expansion is? Where's the terrible ancient enemies threatening Vana'diel's safety again? The only beastman race shown just looked like mamool'ja crossbred with orcs. Even the underground region wasn't anything to write home about - I kept thinking of the Black Shroud from FFXIV when I watched that (it wouldn't surprise me if the early designs for it were done by Tanaka before he resigned).

Not to mention apparently PC users will be stuck with digital download only for this upon it's release - the only disc version will be the 360 version, which sucks even more (because the Square Enix Account Management System does not recognize direct credit card/debit card billing for 'one time' purchases, it means I'll have to use stupid ClicknBuy to buy this. Lately sadly I've been finding my once obsessive interest in FFXI waning, and this doesn't help it either. *sighs*

The Square Enix account Management system needs a 'Client Download' option.

Companies of MMOs have been doing this for years, and it's annoying that if I want to reinstall FFXI on my PC, I need to pirate it.

The game is still available in stores to purchase new Purrr... don't be a cheapskate and pirate it.. or better yet, look for your older copies and use them.

Yeah I had to grab it from some dodgy UK site that I used before.

But the download speed was horrendous, would've been quicker to torrent it.

I'm super excited for the OST. I can't find anywhere if it's gonna be Mizuta, or not..

Presumably so - he's become effectively sole composer for FFXI and it's expansions/add-ons since Rise of the Zilart (other than Uematsu returning for variations of the Chocobo theme used in chocobo breeding and chocobo racing which were added in later patches, the variations of Distant Worlds used in Chains of Promathia, and the traditional Final Fantasy theme which was the 'ending theme' to the Crystalline Prophecy add-on pack.).

There's three teaser tracks from the Seekers of Adoulin OST already available on the SoA page linked in my earlier post, and, quite frankly, they're nice, but hardly amazing. Kind of sums up the rest of the expansion - interesting but nothing particularly groundbreaking.

Ah well, at least I have FFXIV ARR to fall back on now. ;)

Is Adoulin any good?

It's not bad - the mission line to get access to the city is convoluted though, plus even though there's a building labelled 'airship dock' in Adoulin, there are actually no airships running there. Instead, you have to make use of a pseudo-teleportation system called a 'waypoint' which uses a consumable gauge called 'kinetic units' - which seems to me to be very much like aetherytes and anima in FFXIV 1.0. Still, the city of Adoulin itself is nice. The trouble is, the whole thing is pretty much a case of 'this land is a blank slate and we'll fill it all in as the player goes along' - you have to do local quests in the wilds to open up 'colonization' which allow outpost camps to be established and also make the city of Adoulin more prosperous, or something.

I haven't really done much in it to be honest - I just unlocked the city to gain the RUN and GEO Jobs (Rune Fencer and Geomancer), which are... so so. GEO's lore reminds me a lot of CNJ (Conjurer) from FFXIV, right down to using the 'powers of nature to cast spells', even though it works more like SCH in a sense, and RUN is... DRK with COR's skill set. It's obvious SE are scraping the bottom of the barrel trying to think up new Job ability systems which aren't just a rehash of earlier Jobs, and you can see they're clearly reaching the limit.

It's a shame, as like so many other FFXI players I had been looking forward to a new expansion for so long. I guess it's just indicative of what many are now thinking - that FFXI is fast approaching it's Indian Summer. Ah well, if the worst does happen and FFXI is shut down, I have FFXIV A Realm Reborn to fall back on. ;)

You forgot to mention that the only physical copy is on the Xbox 360 and only available in America (Athough PC users can purchase it electronically, similar to how Abyssea and the mini expansions were, so I've been told). Only way to get it outside the US, is to purchase it off of SE's online store... by the time you do that though, FFXIV ARR will be out. I've given up on FFXI... the whole community in it is full of arrogant, 1337 players who think they're superior because of what they have, and refuse to help out with expansion missions etc, because all they want is endgame content.

You forgot to mention that the only physical copy is on the Xbox 360 and only available in America (Athough PC users can purchase it electronically, similar to how Abyssea and the mini expansions were, so I've been told). Only way to get it outside the US, is to purchase it off of SE's online store... by the time you do that though, FFXIV ARR will be out. I've given up on FFXI... the whole community in it is full of arrogant, 1337 players who think they're superior because of what they have, and refuse to help out with expansion missions etc, because all they want is endgame content.

Yeah I hear ya. I'm thoroughly enjoying the FFXIV beta though and phase 3 is just blowing me away. That being said I'm a bit torn over which server to choose come launch, as I would like to play with you guys again, but I would also like to be able to play with several Aussies (which are primarily going on Masamune) It's a conflict that I still don't know the answer to...

I have also noticed lag with NA servers. I recently played on Ultros (NA server) and the lag from the Ifrit fight wasn't registering me escaping his AoE damage ; ;

Ah, FFXI, probably my favorite time spent with any FF game.
Sanctuary of Zi'Tah, so relaxing..

I have thought about getting back to it to finish Wings of the Goddess missions and for Seekers of Adoulin, but with A Realm Reborn on the horizon..no go.