Going between two languages, it is easy for things to get lost in translation.  Not only that, but for Final Fantasy XIV, the sites for each region are also presented in entirely different ways.  That means sometimes there can be pictures or text in one that doesn’t show up in the either.

At the moment, we have extensive text on the NA site about some of the monster families like Aldgoats and Antelopes.  However, the Japanese site does not contain any additional text, just the pictures that were released to the Japanese media.  For those in Japan, they have to get their information from the magazines released this weekend or one of the several gaming news websites like GAME Watch or 4Gamer.

Let’s check out what was in the magazines that isn’t on the NA site as well as what things may have been lost along the way.

WEEKLY FAMITSU
FFXIV is down in the Weekly Famitsu ratings, from 12 to 21.  It seems to follow a pattern though.  The week or two after new info it rises, but after a lull it falls back down.  That’s to be expected at this stage in the game.

In this issue, there are seven pages dedicated to the new information released by SE as well as some short Q&As as well.  Let’s start with the Q&As first.  For the most part, I will only cover things that haven’t already been discussed in other articles.

World Overview
There will be a tavern-like places in the game similar to what we saw in the Tokyo Game Show trailer.  These places will be an important part of the game.  Also in previous trailers as well as the TGS trailer, there have been scenes of a group of adventurers taking on a large number of enemies.  SE says that this kind of giant battle will not be the norm but this will happen on occasion and is one of the new game play features for FFXIV.  The GAME Watch interview also confirmed this but the music in the second half of the trailer is one of the many battle themes as well.

Weapons and Tools
Each weapon will vary in what the best attacking range for it will be.  Some may be closer than others, or farther than others.  One example is the polearm mentioned in the official text for Lancer.  Confirmed in the Q&A as well, polearms allow you to attack outside of the melee attacking range of your opponent.  They also confirm that Lancers will be able to use both the two-handed polearms and the throwing javelins.  The javelins will be treated as throwing weapons rather than as the main weapon you walk around with.  This was how throwing weapons worked in FFXI as well.  They would like to add other throwing weapons to other classes as well.

The Q&A talks about the weapon degradation as well.  As your weapon wears down, its functional ability will decrease, requiring you to get it repaired.  Tools will also need to be repaired from time to time too.

There are some interesting responses to the Q&A about crafting.  The interviewer asks if the ability to use a particular tool or use particular materials could be limited to a set race.  The nameless respondent from SE replies this could happen.  However, they will strive for balance so that no race is dominant over the others.  They also ask what will be needed to craft things.  You will need the proper tool or tools.  Preparing good tools and proper armor will be key.  You will also need the proper materials and a crystal.  Many times you will need to choose the right equipment as well.  We can see one example of that in the Lifestyle report on the Culinarian talking about how she could use the equipment at the Culinarian’s Guild.  To craft some things, you might also need to meet certain additional requirements as well.  They mention the possibility of needing assistance or having to wait for a particular type of weather or other natural phenomena.

Finally, eating food will have an effect on player’s stats.  They don’t want your party to be affected too much by what you eat.  Instead, they want to make it so that people are free to eat what they want and have the ability to eat lots of different things.  It sounds like they are still in the planning stages for how food will work in game.

After you have crafted a lot of things, it’s only natural to sell them.  In previous interviews, they said they were working on a new system different from the Auction House used in FFXI.  SE has now given us a name for this new system, the Market.  However, I’ll talk more about what we know about the Market later.

Famitsu Ideas
As part of the Japanese media kit, sites were given a story to go with the pictures that describe the crafting process from the point of view of a Culinarian.  You can see examples on GAME Watch or Gpara.  Weekly Famitsu decided to write their own speculation based on the story instead of running the original text.  Here’s what they came away with:

• The tool you use will have a large effect on your results.  For example, the same ingredients prepared with the skillet or with the kitchen knife could result in different dishes.  The amount could change as well.
• Guilds will have equipment available to assist your crafting efforts.  Sometimes it will be necessary to use them.
• You need a crystal to craft.
• After making a recipe once, it will appear in a personal recipe book.
• There is a chance that the amount will increase.  (This is similar to HQ’ing in FFXI for some recipes.)
• There will be a way for crafters to set prices for something they want to sell.

DENGEKI PLAYSTATION
This week FFXIV comes in at 5th in Dengeki PlayStation’s Anticipated Titles poll.  Last issue it made it all the way up to 3rd.

Dengeki PlayStation also ran the newly released information and pictures, however, they kept it to a short 4 pages.  1/3 of one of those pages was dedicated to their own speculations:

• There will be multiple markets.  Each market will have a different name.
• They feel the stands will be player-run as well as named by players.
• Food will spoil over time.  Because of this, you will be able to check on the status of an item when you look at it.  Another option would be to have a skill or ability that lets you check the status of items/armor/food/etc.
• It will be fairly costly to use equipment at the various guilds.
• The various aetheryte points will be named Camp ________.  This is actually the second time we’ve seen “Camp _______” used at the aetheryte points.
• The Miqo’te Kabobs will increase attack power.
• Gil is the currency of Eorzea.

DIFFERENCES
The speculations we make are completely based on what we can read.  In general, the Japanese versions are very straight-forward.  The English versions are much more colorful.  It makes for great reading in English but harder to tell what is important.

For starters, the picture of the kabobs.  In the English version of the site, they are only referred to as “crispy kabobs”.  However, they have an actual name in the Japanese version.  ミコッテ風山の幸串焼　Literally translates as “Miqo’te style Mountain Foods Grilled on Sticks”.  This is nearly identical to what is used in FFXI for Meat Mithkabobs, swapping Mithra for Miqo’te.

How about the names of places?  In the English version, the market is named Glutton’s Alley and the stand is called The Scratching Post.  In Japanese, they have がつがつ横丁 which can easily turn into Glutton’s Alley.  However, the name of the stand is completely different.  The Japanese “Totoya” doesn’t turn into anything specifically outside of “Fish Store”.  In fact, there are some seafood restaurants named Totoya.  However, the people at Dengeki PlayStation took it to mean that maybe the stand was run by a person named Toto (with the ya part meaning store).  Thus, from their point of view, the stands could be named after the player or perhaps even freely named.  In the English version, with “The Scratching Post”, it is clearly not a player’s name.  However, it fits the player, a Miqo’te, that was selling their goods.  The speculations we can make are very dependent on the version we are reading.  The words “Market” and “Stand” are also highlighted in the Japanese version to make it clear these are important keywords to be remembered.  The English version is much more casual about how they are used and requires people to read into things a bit more.

Finally, there are a few pictures not used on the NA site.  These food items don’t have names yet but their shapes are very familiar to foods used in FFXI.  Perhaps we will be seeing a lot of old favorites?  Only time will tell.

That’s it for this week.  See ya later!

Now that we have all digested the new information released by Square Enix on Wednesday, it is about time we took a look at exactly what information was released – both explicitly and implicitly.  While some implications are obviously, some might be better labeled as speculation.  Remember, while SE loves lore, they are very strict on what information they release and what they don’t.  So we can assume (right?) that the information they chose to release was intended to serve a purpose.  Either way, let’s jump right in.

Beastiary Page

Beastiary

Now let’s start with where SE started – the Beastiary.  Square has unveiled 10 families – some new and some old – but has provided some in-depth information about certain of these families.  The mob families identified are: Ahriman, Aldgoats, Antelopes, Cactuar, Mammet, Morbol, Ogres, Opo-Opo, Puks and Raptors.  For whatever reason, SE did not list some other mobs we’ve seen – such as the Dodo.

The Beastiary overview is pretty straightforward.  We learn that we will fight beasts in order to farm crafting ingredients.  SE implicitly separates the concept of fighting the Eorzean wildlife from fighting battles (“taking up a blade against the realm’s wildlife can be no less dangerous than standing in a shield wall on the frontlines of battle, or defending a fortress against a bloody siege”).  While this is again not surprising, it suggests that the larger scale fights between sentient humanoid mobs (i.e. beastmen) will of course play a part in FFXIV.

From within the Beastiary we get official lore on three of the families Aldgoats, Antelopes and Raptors.  What do we learn?

Aldgoat

We learn from both the Aldgoat and Antelope information that there are male and female varieties of these mobs.  While FFXI had rams and sheep – so this is not entirely new – it is intriguing that SE chose to highlight this distinction in two of the three summaries we were given.

Antelope

We learn from Aldgoats that they can be “domesticated and raised as livestock.”  This just background information or are we getting hints about another Disciple of the Land – the Farmer? Rancher? Breeder?  (See below speculation on Disciples).

Raptor

We glean a bit more from the Antelope and Raptors about the way mobs will travel in groups and link.  Male antelope are “ne’er alone” and will travel with a herd of females – and “the entire herd will attack should any of their members come to harm or danger.”  Similarly, raptors travel and hunt in pair, with one acting as a decoy.  This is consistent with what SE has previously said about being forced at times to engage groups of mobs (or at least having to be more precise with pulls and engagement) and with an significantly increased mob AI which will have to be learned and accounted for by the playerbase.

Most notably from all three descriptions we learn that – surprise – mobs will drop crafting items.  Sure we all knew this would be the case – but now it is confirmed with 2 drops from each family.  We see the standard fare – skins, furs, horns, meat and claws.  We are expressly told of uses of raptor fangs (did they mean claws?) in alchemy, but we can pretty much be assured that meats will be used by Culinarians and hides and skins by Tanners.

Disciplines

Next on SE’s update were the Disciplines.  As with the beastiary, we are provided with a ton of new information.  Obviously the most significant news is that Square Enix has confirmed five Disciples of War and five Disciples of the Hand.  Disciples of War are – Archer, Lancer, Gladiator, Marauder, Pugilist and the Disciples of the Hand are – Alchemist, Blacksmith, Culinarian, Tanner, Weaver.

So the first bit of speculation is that we’ll get five Disciples of Magic and five Disciples of the Land.  There have been reports of Shaman, Druids and Illusionists for additional Magic disciplines, but only Thurmaturge is listed.  Botanist is revealed as a Disciple of the Land (formerly speculated to be called “Horticulturist”) and previously SE has confirmed a Fisherman class (although the name has yet to be confirmed).

Lancer

As before, we get some in-depth information about two of the Disciples of War (Archer and Lancer) and all five Disciples of the Hand.  What can we glean from this new information?

Archer

We learn that Archers are skilled with not only bows (including short-bows) and arrows, but with rocks from range.  There is language about battle tactics of “sharpshooting and high-angle fire” – likely references to weapon skills or battle stances from which players must choose when setting their abilities.  Lancers are also ranged attackers, using various kinds of lances and polearms (“myriad other polearms designed for slashing or bludgeoning”), but also using throwing javelins from longer range.

While no information was provided for Gladiators, Marauders or Pugalists, the focus on the attack range for Archers and Lancers, as compared to the presumptive semi-close range needed for a Gladiator (sword) and Marauder (Axe) and extremely close range needed for the Pugalist (hand-to-hand), suggests again that battle strategy will be more pronounced in FFXIV than in FFXI.

On the Disciples of the Hand side we gain a lot of valuable (and new) insight.  Like the Disciples of War and their weapons of choice, each Disciples of the Hand has an associated with a particular tool.

We also learn a few more interesting, and not so interesting things:

• The Alchemist deals in both “curative concoctions” and “potent potables” – perhaps not so surprising.
• Smithing seems to encompass both the creation of new items or ingredients (“smelting an ingot”) to repairing armor (and presumably weapons) out in the field (“hammering the dents from an adventurer’s breastplate”) – perhaps already known.
• Culinarians “help adventurers maintain their strength on the battlefield.”  Not much information here, coupled with the interview report that food plays a different role in XIV than in XI, we can speculate that the word “maintaining” and “strength” were intentionally chosen.  Perhaps food is more for restoring health in between battles than increasing stats during battles.
• Tanners deal with pelts (fur) and skins as “armourer and clothier”.  So Tanners appear to be – again not surprisingly – crafting (and repairing) leather armor.   Notably however, tanners also are known to “dabble in hunting and trapping” – suggesting a possible additional Disciple of the Land class.
• Weavers are the crafters of cloth.  Not much of note here, there is a lot of talk about fashion and trends.  Could it be that there will be more to one’s clothes than simple battle utility?

So while not a whole lot here, we get a glimpse at two possible Disciple of the Land classes (the rancher/breeder and the hunter/trapper).  Presumably there will need to be someone able to gather fiber for the weaver (i.e. harvester – unless it the announced Botanist) and ores for the blacksmith (i.e. miner).  Notably, there is no suggestion of a woodworking class yet.

Lifestyle

Culinarian wielding a knife

The final updated section is called “Lifestyle” and focuses on the story of Aeleyora the Culinarian.  This is a worthwhile read for the story itself, but let’s focus on what’s revealed and speculate a little about its meaning – there are five parts to the story – broadly speaking – ingredients, location, kitchenware, improvement and sale.  The story focuses on cooking, but I think we can safely assume that the other Disciple of the Hand classes will work in a similar fashion.

Aeleyora goes to a market to purchase raw materials to cook.  That’s a good start.  We have another reference to harvesting of materials, a reference to a “stand” and to a sale.  Well while we’d expect gathering places and NPC vendors, the suggestion of a sale is curious (although prices vary in FFXI as well).  But even more curious is the next line which indicates that she bargained for an even lower price or an inferior cut of meat.  Might all this be simple story?  Sure.  But if you accept the premise that Square Enix reveals information for a reason – we are left to wonder why they would add this otherwise totally unnecessary piece of information unless it was at least somewhat meaningful.  Can we bargain with NPCs?  Will there be quality grades on goods – including not just a +1 type of product, but a -1 counterpart?  The ability to haggle and bargain with NPCs suggests an elaborate and sophisticated market mechanism whereby the prices for raw goods (and hence finished products) can vary greatly.  This is a find balancing point for SE – who knows full well that even small variations in prices can lead to unintended consequences and allow for RMT activity.

Culinarian with a skillet

The location tab reveals that cooking in a city guild will require the payment of a surcharge, but will improve the chances of cooking higher quality, or quantity, goods.  The story reveals that in addition to cooking in the guild, cooking can be done anywhere in the field.

The kitchenware tab reveals something interesting – there will be multiple skillets that a culinarian can use and which is used will affect the outcome.  This is inline with the statements made by SE that these crafting classes will play a more prominent role than similar crafts in FFXI.  There could be the same number of Bows to obtain by the Archer as their are skillets for the Culinarian.  Also of note is that despite the skillet being the “tool of the trade,” it also talks about her use of a knives (again plural), suggesting again that the system will be decidedly more complex than anything we’ve seen.

There is some standard information revealed about skilling up, insofar as a recipe that produced 3 kabobs will produce 12 after you’ve mastered the recipe.  We are told that, like XI, a crystal will be needed to cook.  There is some suggestion that such increased skill is on a per-recipe basis, as the text talks about making “these kabobs countless times”.  There is also a reference to “her recipe compendium”.  It could be that recipes are more difficult to come by this time around – and the knowledge of a particular recipe is one factor that can set apart one culinarian from another.

The final page speaks of the economy, but provides little useful information.  Aeleyora sells the kabobs back to the same Lancer from whom she bought the aldgoat meat (nb. so they tell us we can make Aldgoat kabobs).  The economy is obviously something that takes time to develop, but SE knows that a fully functional and realistic economy is a necessity.  What is perhaps most interesting is what was not mentioned in this whole story – an auction house.  She bought from NPC vendors and sold directly to players.  SE has stated that there will be some sort of auction house, but has thus far provided no details.

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That’s it.   Hope we fleshed out some of the shinny new digs provided by Square Enix.  Did we miss anything?  Did we simply report the obvious?  Was there something you had missed when you looked at the official site?  Drop us a line and let us know!

While we wait for our trusty translator Corinth to get her hands on the full spread, here is the scan to keep the chatter alive.  Looks like we have a new class confirmed – Lancer and two new beastiary entries – Raptors and Aldgoats.  See anything else?

Famitsu Scan