Updates and Maintenance Notice

[Andromeda]

The Fellowship system was created to be enjoyable to players of a wide range of levels in response to player comments regarding features such as garrison and escort quests in past version updates. Whether adventuring with your fellow for the first time or the fiftieth, there is a Fellowship quest suited for you.

In the first stages of development, we had to carefully test how the player was affected in the presence of player-dependent NPCs such as avatars, wyverns, and chocobos. VRAM (memory used for the game's display) is not infinite, and there is a limit to the number of characters that can be shown on screen. After an assessment of the difficulties to surmount, the adventuring fellow was created.

Several additions and adjustments have been made to the Fellowship system after its introduction in July 2005, including a series of quests involving a story about legendary mirrors. The next version update will bring a new quest that will conclude the first part of the series' main story. A quest designed to further raise the adventuring fellow's level cap is also in the works.

Refinements to the balance of fighting styles and an increase in wearable equipment are also among the new content planned for adventuring fellows in the upcoming version update.

Information about changes to the Fellowship system is released on the FINAL FANTASY XI main page on a regular basis.

FINAL FANTASY XI Development Team (11/18/2005)

[Andromeda]

In the next version update, major changes are scheduled for the dragoon two-hour ability.

The development team does not consider the dragoon to be particularly weak when compared to other jobs, but we are aware that a large part of a dragoon's strength depends on the presence of his or her wyvern. After taking into account the wyvern's tendency to be quickly defeated in heated battles, and the dragoon's lack of a powerful special ability for use in missions and other critical situations, it was decided that improvements were necessary.

Simply raising the wyvern's HP and defense to increase its survivability would cause balance issues in other parts of the game. However, it was judged that improving the dragoon's two-hour ability would have less of an impact on overall balance, and so the following changes have been planned for the upcoming version update:

-New two-hour ability
The dragoon will be imbued with the strength of his or her wyvern for a fixed length of time, increasing the dragoon's power and adding special effects to "Jump" abilities.

-Call Wyvern
The recast time for this ability will be reduced to twenty minutes. This ability will only be available when the main job is set to dragoon.

-Wyvern
Wyverns will now have the equivalent of the job trait "Subtle Blow," reducing the amount of TP gained by opponents from the wyvern's attacks.

More details will be announced at the time of the version update.

FINAL FANTASY XI Development Team (11/22/2005)

[Andromeda]

Originally Posted by Square Enix Development Team

Xbox Live System Maintenance (Oct. 17)

At the following time Microsoft will be performing maintenance on the Xbox Live service.

For more information please see the Xbox Live official homepage (http://www.xbox.com/live).

The PlayOnline Viewer will be unavailable to Xbox 360 users during this time. Players already logged into PlayOnline will be able to continue to use PlayOnline services. However once logged out, PlayOnline will not be accessible until the maintenance period is over.

[Date&Time]
Oct. 17, 0:00 to Oct. 18, 0:00 (PDT)

[Affected Services]
Users of the Xbox 360 edition of the PlayOnline Viewer

*Users of the "Playstation 2" and "Windows" edition of PlayOnline will not be affected by this maintenance.

I've been out of this for far too long. I will am going to try to resume keeping this up to date on the last things happening for FFXI.

[Andromeda]

Originally Posted by Square Enix Development Team

Oct. 18, 2006 08:10 [PDT] From: PlayOnline http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/imgs/spacer.gif
Xbox Live Login Difficulties (Oct. 18) http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/imgs/spacer.gif
Currently we are experiencing login difficulties with Xbox Live. The issue is currently being addressed, and new updates will follow as additional information becomes available.

[Date & Time]
From Oct. 18, 2006 2:35(PDT)

[Details]
-Login difficulties with Xbox Live.

[Cause]
Under investigation

[Affected Services]
PlayOnline Viewer (Xbox 360 Version)

Originally Posted by Square Enix Development Team

At the following time we experienced login difficulties with Xbox Live. The issue is now addressed.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

[Date&Time]
Oct. 18, 2006 from 2:35 to 11:45 (PDT)

[Details]
Unable to log into Xbox Live.

[Cause]
Server program issues.

[Affected Services]
PlayOnline (Xbox 360 Version)

Originally Posted by Square Enix Development Team

In regards to the Xbox Live system maintenance, completion time is still unavailable at this moment. More information will be posted as it becomes available.

Players already logged into PlayOnline are able to continue to use PlayOnline services. However once logged out, PlayOnline will not be accessible until the maintenance is completed.

We thank you for your understanding.


[Date & Time]
Oct. 18, 2006 0:00 (PDT)

[Details]
Xbox 360 users are unable to log into PlayOnline.

[Cause]
Xbox Live network maintenance extention.

[Affected Services]
PlayOnline (Xbox 360 version)
* PlayStation 2 and Windows versions are not affected.

Originally Posted by Square Enix Development Team

The Xbox Live system maintenance is now complete.

We thank you for your patience.


[Date & Time]
From Oct. 17, 2006 0:00 to Oct. 18, 2006 2:35 (PDT)

[Details]
Xbox 360 users were unable to log into PlayOnline.

[Cause]
Xbox Live network maintenance extention.

[Affected Services]
Users of the Xbox 360 edition of the PlayOnline Viewer

Originally Posted by Square Enix Development Team

At the following time, the GM petition service will be unavailable due to network maintenance. All calls in queue during this time will be unanswered. If you still need assistance, we ask that you resend your petition after the maintenance is complete.

Thank you for your patience.

*This maintenance will not interrupt FINAL FANTASY XI or other PlayOnline services.

[Date & Time]
Oct. 18, 2006 19:30 to 21:30 (PDT)
* Maintenance completion time may be subject to change.

[Details]
All European and North American GM Services will be unavailable.

[Affected Services]
PlayOnline

Most just a X-Box Live thing. Update today as well.