Initial Impresssions on new Synergy system in Final Fantasy XI
Wow, its been awhile since I updated this blog, so just a few updates before the meat of this post!
- I got a new computer which FFXI and Wow now occupy, and I’m loving it! Just need a new bigger monitor now, to better appreciate the imagery!
- The final part(s) of the Eewok story is still in development. I’m still having issues with how to end the story in a dramatic enough fashion, without being too cheesy.
Now on to the post!
Okay, so at the beginning of November, the notes for the next update was released, and the best thing that I saw coming out was the Synergy crafting system, which I will include the Evolith stuff in, since they go hand in hand. Crafting was just one of those activities that I could really enjoy, because I could do it whenever I wanted, just as long as I had farmed the materials, or bought them. On Monday, the newest part of the update was implemented, which included the Synergy and Evolith stuff, so I had to get back on.
So what is Synergy? Essentially, it is a crafting system that can be done by 1-6 people, and can create items that normal crafts can, as well as a bunch of new Synergy-specific things. In addition, you can add 1 to 3 slots to certain pieces of equipment, which you can then add evolith too!
So why would you need up to 6 people doing this? Synergy is not the normal crafting we have grown accustomed too. Synergy is basically a crafting mini-game, where you are adding elemental fewels, adjusting safety and pressure levers, repairing the furnace, and trying to recover fewel pieces after an explosion. So each person in your party could be given a task to look after, plus the skill sets required may need more than one person with the right skill ranks. I will not go into too much detail about what you actually have to do, so just follow one of the synergy links above.
So here’s my initial impressions of this system: cool! While it seems the majority of the player base is rather “meh” about this, I am really excited to see what they are going to do with future updates. The only downside that I have really noticed, is that the interface to access functions and readouts is clunky. I would’ve preferred an icon based window, than the menus. Something like what I came up with on the right here. If it was easy enough to understand, then I think it would be easier to use. As it stands, you have to carefully monitor the chat log to see what the heck is going on with the process, and its rather annoying, especially if you are trying to talk to people to get them to do certain things in regards to the process!
Since I am a Master Carpenter, I have not really found that many recipes which require Woodworking, and I have not seen any recipes that will do weapons, one of the carpenters primary outputs! So while I am ticked off about this, I have noticed several recipes that I can still do with my Journeyman level Clothcraft, Smithing, and Goldsmithing. In addition, I will probably be leveling my Cooking up to Journeyman level (60), so I can do the Cooking-based synergy recipes for leveling. And in order to level cooking, I will probably working on Fishing, so I can do those recipes for skill-ups! So I’ve got alot to do, and its all revolving around synergy!
So far, not that much equipment has been found that can be etched for evolith, however, I believe that most of the equipment that will be etchable, will come from synergy itself, ie. the ebon, ebur, and furia equipment. This will allow SquareEnix more control over what can be slotted for evolith, without ruining the balance of most of the other equipment found in the game. For example, I tried trading my elemental staves to the Synergy Engineer last night to see if they could be etched, and she said “no.” Which makes sense, because not only do these things have hidden stats, but also normal attribute based adjustments. Allowing these items to be etched, would more than likely cause some major balance issues in my opinion.
As far as the equipment goes, I have been searching for those items which form the basis for the rest of the items, which can be synthed using normal crafts. For example, Ebon Mitts are a Clothcraft 92/Goldsmith ? recipe, which requires a Scintillant Ingot, a piece of Ruszor Leather, a Gargouille Shank, and two pieces of Cambric. Using the ebur and furia pigments, you can change the color from black to white and red respectively. In addition, you can desynergize the more specialized versions, Ebon Gages, Ebon Cuffs, and Ebon Gants, into the Ebon Mitts so you can start from scratch with how you want them to look. So for me, the relationships among the equipment based items is complex, and searching for the base materials can be time-consuming, but the rewards are also cool. Theres no pictures up yet, but I wouldn’t mind walking around in the red Furia Frock set on my white mage, or maybe the more specialized Furia Bliaut set (WHM/SMN)! Plus, if these items are etchable, being able to customize them so that for example, I add the Enhancing Magic: Conserve MP+4 evolith to 1 or more pieces, or the Divine Magic: Recast -1~4% to one or more pieces, or maybe make a set that will allow for some better attack percentages against certain monster types, or whatever. The possibilities as I them are almost endless, and although you will still have people walking around looking the same, its what they have etched on to that equipment, that will make them more unique than the guy standing next to them!
I have also noticed that there are some new craft specific equipment, that will lower the damage taken from a synergy explosion, which will be cool. For example, the Carpenter’s Cuffs will reduce the damge taken by 20%! There are new smocks as well, which require the user to use their existing craft apron to upgrade, which reduces the explosion damage by 25%. The good thing about synergy, is that if you fail to make the item for whatever reason, the materials are not lost! You just have to click on the furnace again to regain your materials. I will be pursuing these items as soon as I can!
So thats it for my initial impressions. It was fun Tuesday night, being in a Synergy party with Mel, Skeeterbaggins, and Tazzer, trying to figure out the little nuances with the system. I got to level 3.5 last night, after getting cooking up to level 10, so I could do the Orange Juice recipe solo. I also participated in a NM Hunt in Giddeus, to take down the vile Quu Xijo the Illusory, to get a piece of evolith that is Ninjutsu: Magic Accuracy +1, which I hope to etch on one of my katanas! Looking forward to whatever I can do tonight, including new NM hunts!
So until next time, this is Ceciltaru signing off from Vanadiel!
