Patch Review (November 2010)

After downloading the patch (250~MB) I was some what apprehensive, how much can change in such a small patch.

Macros

First off, if you use macros to change equipment you now need to include the HQ suffix. Naturally this makes perfect sense, and is what I tried to do after creating my first HQ items back at first launch.

/equip main "Bronze Dagger +1"

You also get a nice friendly warning that your equipment is damaged, if indeed it is. Although this message does trigger when your durability is around 70%, maybe even higher.

Disciples of the Land: Fishing

There have been some tweaks to fishing, in that once you have caught or lost your first fish (on cast). You are presented with a message "Your senses tell you that there are [fish name] above/below your position". Although I only tested this for about two hours, it does come true most of the time, and ignoring the suggested position may allow you to catch another type of fish.

Disciples of the Land: Mining / Logging

As you might expect the other Disciples of the Land action follow a similar flow, informing the player that if they change their depth or angle they might harvest that particular item.

UI Improvements

If you are playing Final Fantasy XIV like me, on what is called the bare minimum specification you will now find that the over all user interface is much more responsive. The game no longer freezes (between 5-10 seconds) when trying to: run into and new area, perform any crafting, view inventory, transfer items to your retainer, buy/sell items from shops, browse other players bazaars, view the world map, attempt to repair your items and change your equipment by the character page. Good Job :)

Synthesis

If you have not already checked out the Lodestone web site, I suggest you do. There are a flurry of changes to recipes which in my opinion should have been there are the start. Lesser rank items now require lower level materials, making them easier to make and source. As far as I am aware there have been no changes to how synthesis is performed. You still have a choice of Normal, Fast and Quality, whilst trying to keep the elements in harmony.

Retainers

Your retainer will still appear in the Market Ward, unless there is some server maintenance; where they seem to disappear. Unless I have missed it, there is no global search for items, although viewing items for sale on other retainers has improved in speed, as mentioned above in the general UI update.

Disciples of the War

Pretty much all classes that like to go out, and help keep the local aggressive monster population down, will now notice that you actually receive skill points / experience based on your class rank not your physical level. This certainly helps out when you have spent most of your time playing Disciples of the Land classes, and your physical is far higher than your chosen rank two class job. You also seem to get the skill points / experience after defeating the monster not during. You also seem to get shield skill points even if you do not actually use your shield in battle. So my tip, equip that shield or buy a very cheap one, if your job allows it.

Final Fantasy XIV Bugs: Spawning in the Market Wards

The other day I was to tired to exit the Market Wards and subsequently logged off there and then. However after rejoining the game, and checking my Retainer (which was still next to me) I headed out into the big old world of Eorzea; only to find that UI (User Interface) still thought that I was in the market wards or more acculturate Ironmongers Row. Somehow playing the game with a giant blue billboard on screen informing me that I should be in another zone made navigating around a little tough.

Update: I have since found that the only way to remove this helpful message is to zone into the market wards area and visit another ward. The do stack on top of each other but remove themselves after a little while.

Ps.  Beta testing maybe over, but don't let that stop you from reporting those bugs; call it Gamma Testing.