A Realm Awoken

It's about time for Patch 2.1! Though we do have a couple weeks to go. This is going to be the first major patch to the game and it's going to be adding a bunch of neat stuff! Check out the video above!

Some of the main installments will be The Crystal Tower, PvP, and Housing, there there will be much more!

The Crystal Tower

The Crystal Tower will is a new dungeon that will be added to the game. The Crystal Tower was originally a dungeon in Final Fantasy III. In FFXIV you will need three full parties (24 total) to complete this high-level dungeon! This dungeon will be very challenging. You will come across the same bosses as in Final Fantasy III but they will be very strong so you will need to be prepared.

King Behemoth

Bone Dragon

Thanatos

Acheron

Here are a few screenshots of the Crystal Tower!

PvP (Player vs. Player)

The Wolves' Den is a PvP Arena where you can battle it up with your friends to see who is the best warrior! The arena will be located in Limsa Lominsa and will allow 4x4 battles (with 8x8 to come in the future).

Housing

The housing system will allow you to have homes that you can share with people in you free company. Much of the estate can be customized and should be quite enjoyable!

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy all the new features to be added in Patch 2.1!

FFXIV: Lightning Strikes Event Guide

I realize this is pretty late and that we have less than a week until the event ends and that most of you have already completed the event quests anyway; I promised my brother that I would make this guide for him. Either way, I hope you guys can find some use of it! If you miss out on the event, it will return next year in February for the launch of Lightning Returns.

Chapter I: For The Winsome

Required Level: 12 or above
Quest Prerequisites: None

First you want to talk to Petyr Winsome. You can find him on the Lower Decks of Limsa Lominsa.

This is where you will find Petyr.

The first FATE takes you to Middle La Noscea. Teleport to Summerford Farms to save yourself the trouble. It will be in the northern section of the zone (where all the people are).

This is the location of the first FATE option.

The second FATE is located in Western La Noscea, east of Aleport. There, you're waiting for the dodo Gertrude to spawn. If you're unsure of your location, look for the big group of people.

This is the location of the second FATE option.

The point of these FATEs is get Otherwordly Parcels. This really depends on Lightning. If she doesn't appear then you will not get any Parcels. It may take some time to clear this chapter if you're unlucky. Once you get one Parcel, you can turn it in to Petyr to finish the chapter. Extra Parcels are used for acquiring the weapons from the NPC next to Petyr.

Chapter II: Seeking The Scoop

Required Level: 26 or above
Quest Prerequisites: Complete "For the Winsome"

Seeking The Scoop takes you to Uldah's Steps of Nald. The NPC reporter, Dural Thural, that starts the chapter can be found at the north exit out-of-town.

This is where you will find Thural Dural.

Thural will tell you that he is looking for more information on Lightning and that ever since Petyr Winsome's report, she has been the hottest topic in Ul'dah. He informs you that there have been sightings of her in Thanalan and that he needs you to confirm the sightings. Dural then gives you two options on where to go. Either Eastern Thanalan by Highbridge or Southern Thanalan near little Ala Mihgo. Both locations have a FATE that is calle Lightning Strike - Armored Beast. These FATEs have not been FATEs prior to this event.

This is where you will find the Eastern Thanalan FATE.

This is where you will find the Southern Thanalan FATE.

The monster in both FATEs is a Behemoth from Final Fantasy XIII. Once finished with either of the FATEs, return to Dural and complete the quest.

Chapter III: A Knight's Passage

Required Level: 38 or above
Quest Prerequisites: Complete "Seeking the Scoop"

The NPC that you are looking for this time is Kipih Jakkya, located in the Old Gridania amphitheater. Kipih talks about how the other two nations have had their articles about the happenings of Lightning, and how Gridania's The Raven needs its own.

This is where Kipih can be found.

The last place Lightning has been seen was Coerthas Central Highlands. This is where Kipih will send you. The FATEs are called Lightning Strikes - Dead On Arrival. Yet another FATE that was not there before this event.

These are the two locations that you can find the FATEs.

The monster that is fought in this FATE is another familiar one. It's The Clockwork Dreadnaught, also from Final Fantasy XIII. This is a pretty easy fight.

The Clockwork Dreadnought.

After completing the FATE, return to Kipih you will receive a cutscene that may (or may not) hint towards the story of the new FFXIII game.

Chapter IV: Wonder and Lightning

Required Level: 45 or above
Quest Prerequisites: Complete "The Knight's Passage"

The fourth and final chapter to this FFXIV and Lightning Returns mash-up! Once again, you will return to Kipih in Old Gridania. Kipih is in the same locations as before.

Location of Kipih.

During the dialogue you get an explanation of why a Miqo'te outfit will be in Lightning Returns. Kipih also informs you that demons are attacking Lightning. She says that Lightning was last seen in Mor Dhona.

The location of the FATE.

The FATE is in two parts. After completing the first wave of monsters, called Anubys, wait for a short delay before the next FATE begins, which is the fight with Chaos.

Aspect of Chaos.

Upon completing the FATEs, return to Old Gridania to speak with Kipih. Then you will receive a final cutscene with Lightning.

I hope you enjoyed the guide, those of you who viewed it! Remember, you only have until December 9 to complete the event, but it will return in February!

A Moment of Remeberance

Before I start delving into this blog I want to to pay my respects to a place that warmed my heart. A place I called home. Vana'diel. Now I realize that this may seem cheesy but Final Fantasy XI holds a special place in my heart. It was my very first MMORPG, granted I still haven't played very many, but you get the point!

I'm sort of speaking as if it has died--as if Square Enix has pulled the plug. This is not the case. The reason I'm writing this is because most of us have moved on. We have entered a new world of fancy graphics and HD televisions. As much as some may want to go back and play FFXI again, or start playing it for the first time, it's hard to return to such a nostalgic homefront that can't really satisfy our needs. Not enough people play the game anymore to make it worth the $11.95 a month. 

At this point you may be arguing that "it will never die" and that "plenty of people still play and make it enjoyable!" I get it. I understand. Heck, I'm still probably going to go back and the game because I love it so much! But that isn't the point I'm trying to get across. The purpose of this entry is to point out that Vana'diel has long lived it's glory days and is now a dying breed.

With A Realm Reborn here and still going hard, we still have an MMO Final Fantasy to cope with. Though the game play is much different and it's much shinier than FFXI, in the back of our minds we can still remember the glory days. We still have a sense of the classic feel. And hopefully we won't forget what games used to be about. Now go enjoy Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn!