After Patch 3.1: As Goes Light, So Goes Darkness went live in November, it seems Yoshi-P and his team are indeed honouring a return to the standard 3-months interval between major content patches. For next month, Patch 3.2 will arrive, under the label of The Gears of Change, promising Materia melding for raid gear, a new mentor system, a new tier of Alexander raids, a continuation of the main story scenario, and more.
___1. Job Adjustments___
Paladin
- There will be changes made to the Oaths. These changes have yet to be finalised, but the final write-up will be present come the full patch notes just days prior to the patch's launch next month.
- They are being vague about what kind of adjustments the Paladins will receive, but apparently they will be overall changes and not simply improvements to their DPS aspects.
- They are being vague about what kind of adjustments the Paladins will receive, but apparently they will be overall changes and not simply improvements to their DPS aspects.
Astrologian
Because it's impossible to go through a single patch without having to adjust Astrologians, they will have a couple of changes:
- The RNG algorithm for "Shuffle" will be tweaked, so that presumably the absolute horror of constantly drawing the same card (*cough* constant Spires in parties that consist of you, a Dark Knight, a Black Mage and a Summoner) can be minimalised.
- It would appear that Astrologians will have aspects related to enmity reduced, whatever that means. Presumably it means having something like a White Mage's Shroud of Saints' enmity reduction effect?
Machinist
- Little concrete was actually said about Machinist, but some changes will be made to help them maintain sustained DPS.
Vitality vs Strength Accessories for Tanks
The method for calculating the potency of physical attacks for tank roles in Patch 3.2 shall be changed.
- Vitality will soon affect the potency of physical attacks.
- Consequentially the effect of strength on physical attack potency shall be reduced.
- If tanks wish to stack everything to vitality going forth from Patch 3.2, this will be a viable raiding strategy. For anyone currently decked out in strength accessories, their overall damage will be lowered, so prepare to grab a horde of vitality accessories and see those HP values shoot up.
___2. New Ways to Train and Practise Your Skills___
Mentor System
To quote the Square community rep's own words: "The mentor system is a system which will allow players to assist beginners. In order to become a mentor, players must earn specific achievements and talk to a specific NPC"
There are three requirements:
- Must have one job from each role (Tank/DPS/Healer) at level 60.
- It’s set up in a way so that the player can offer advice for each role.
- Must have completed 1,000 or more instanced dungeons or trials.
- You may feel this is a large amount of number; however, we believe a lot of players have this completed already.
- Have earned over 300 commendations.
Additionally, there are requirements for those who don’t play battle-related classes/jobs. Or people who just don't like combat anywhere near as much as crafting and gathering! Mitsuki
Instead of the above requirements, players can also become mentors by completing the following:
- Have at least one class from both Disciples of Hand and Land at level 60.
- Have crafted over 100 collectables.
- Have gathered over 300 collectables.
This does seem to mean that if someone wishes to be a gatherer or crafter mentor rather than a combat mentor, they can.
Once you’re a mentor...
You’ll be able to invite beginners to special chat channel. As a countermeasure against RMT, we will be allowing mentors to invite beginners to the channel as they see fit.
In addition, there will be a Duty Roulette: Mentor.
Though there won’t be a ton of rewards, you’ll have priority matching for the content that has not been cleared yet by the person you are queuing with. Completing this a certain amount of times will yield achievements and rewards. Additionally, you’ll have a crown mark added next to your name, and you can turn this off and on as you like.
This roulette will not grant Tomestones, but it will give you a sense of satisfaction that you are helping these wee little green sprouts make their way through the realm. There are also achievements and glamour too, for those who aren't feeling quite as naturally egalitarian.
This roulette will not grant Tomestones, but it will give you a sense of satisfaction that you are helping these wee little green sprouts make their way through the realm. There are also achievements and glamour too, for those who aren't feeling quite as naturally egalitarian.
Stone, Sky, Sea
Your opponents here will be training dummies. Your task is to defeat them, while also learning a passably optimal way to do your job, as well as your role.
- Time trial fights
- Multiple difficulties will be available, suitable for different players who have different goals in mind. This can help you practise for things ranging from how to tank effectively in any dungeon, to getting past that DPS check to get your rotation into shape for Alexander.
- This will be solo only.
- There are different challenges for different jobs, though we don't yet know what sort of challenge the healers will face, or whether there will even be any healing dummies.
- Multiple difficulties will be available, suitable for different players who have different goals in mind. This can help you practise for things ranging from how to tank effectively in any dungeon, to getting past that DPS check to get your rotation into shape for Alexander.
- This will be solo only.
- There are different challenges for different jobs, though we don't yet know what sort of challenge the healers will face, or whether there will even be any healing dummies.
___3. New Primal___
Sephirot!
No, not him.
Sephirot the Fiend of the Warring Triad, not the familiar Masamune-wielding crazed psychopathic murderer who wishes to bring down a meteor onto the planet.
- This particular trial is called Containment Bay ST17, locating in the heart of Azys Lla.
- This is NOT part of the main story. It is a side story, much like Odin's trial.
- There will unsurprisingly be two modes of difficulty. One is the standard difficulty that should be easily cleared in any Duty Finder queue, and the other is an inevitable EX difficulty for masochists.
- The same madman who came up with the Titan fights has also sat down to make the Sephirot trial, so look forward to more suffering and jump rope mechanics! \o/
- This is NOT part of the main story. It is a side story, much like Odin's trial.
- There will unsurprisingly be two modes of difficulty. One is the standard difficulty that should be easily cleared in any Duty Finder queue, and the other is an inevitable EX difficulty for masochists.
- The same madman who came up with the Titan fights has also sat down to make the Sephirot trial, so look forward to more suffering and jump rope mechanics! \o/
___4. New Dungeons ___
The Antitower (the "Reversed Tower" in Japan) is part of the main story scenario.
To accompany it (presumably into the new refreshed Expert Roulette) will be The Lost City of Amdapor (Hard).
___5. New Raid Tier: Alexander Midas___
Everyone's either sick of Gordias, or has PTSD from it, so let's talk about the next tier: Midas.
In 3.0 Heavensward, Alexander: Gordias saw a stacked release, with the normal difficulty for A1 to A4 releasing two weeks before the Savage difficulty was released. This time, both difficulties of the Midas tier will be available at launch.
The same token-reward system from Alexander: Gordias will apply in Midas, for those tackling the normal difficulty with intent to gear up your characters.
When it comes to the Savage difficulty, equipment this time will be available straight from treasure chests, as well as the usual tokens to exchange for goods in Idyllshire. Depending on the number of players that have already completed a certain area, the number of treasure chests that appear will vary.
The team seeks to create another challenging raid that will test statics, but it will not be as catastrophically punishing as A3S and A4S have been. Word will be to expect something on the lines of The Second Coil of Bahamut when it was the top-of-the-tier raid.
Oh yes, there is an actual city within the giant Primal, as well as two Fausts at the entrance to ensure you don't pass. People will have to seriously sharpen up their DPS!
___6. Diadem Changes___
The time limit shall be reduced based on the difficulty:
- Hard: 90 minutes --> 60 minutes
- Normal: 90 minutes --> 45 minutes
- Easy: 90 minutes --> 30 minutes
- Normal: 90 minutes --> 45 minutes
- Easy: 90 minutes --> 30 minutes
The waiting time before re-entry has been reduced from 45 minutes to half an hour. The team would rather abolish this re-entry wait time, but given the inclusion of the new Allagan Tomestone of Lore currency and the ability to receive some from the Diadem, the team decided to keep it in for the time being.
Along with the adjustments to the content duration, the required amount of aether turbulences will be changed as well.
- Required amount of aether turbulences
- Hard: 4 to 3
- Normal: 4 to 2
- Easy 3 to 1
Fresh Tracks
Players who spawn the Fresh Tracks will earn the rights for first attack. There’s a theory floating around that players need to take away 30% of the enemy’s HP in order to receive the reward; however, in hard mode this is much lower.
Furthermore in order to avoid mistakes that could happen when exchanging items obtained from exploratory missions, they have added a filtering feature at the exchange window. What will also be changed will be the amount of spoils required for exchanging for materia, so it may be a good idea to hold onto the spoils you have right now until Patch 3.2 is released.
___7. New Tomestones (yaaaaaaay...)___
The new currency will be called Allagan Tomestones of Lore.
The old Soldiery tomes will be abolished entirely, so you better exchange them all away for Poetics in Revenant's Toll now while you still have the chance.
The Allagan Tomestones of Law will also cease to be distributed. Predictably, this means Esoterics will replace it as the first port of call for fresh level 60 players. Any spare Law tomes can be exchanged for Esoterics, and we will see the despised weekly cap for the latter lifted.
Oh, but don't worry! We'll be seeing a fresh new weekly cap for Lore tomes instead!
Allagan Tomestones of Poetics will not be abolished and will remain as the first endgame currency for players to accrue when they hit level 50 on a combat job.
___8. PvP (The Feast)___
This is the PvP content the team has been referring to as “The Wolves’ Den 2.”
- Rules:
- Need to be level 60.
- Item level syncs to 150.
- Party composition
- 4v4: 1 tank, 1 melee DPS, 1 ranged DPS, 1 healer
- 8v8: 2 tanks, 2 melee DPS, 2 ranged DPS, 2 healers.
You will not be able to queue if you have a different party composition.
There will be a concept of ratings, and there is a mode where you can be matched against people with similar skill.
- 8 vs 8 (Win/loss rating does not apply)
Rating does not apply for this mode. We want players to enjoy with this mode, so first please try this and have fun.
- 4 vs 4 (Solo, Win/loss rate applies)
Players will only be able to queue for this mode while solo. Your rating will change depending on your wins/losses.
- 4 vs 4 (Light party, win/loss rate applies)
Players will only be able to queue to this mode as a light party, and the win/loss rate will apply.
*There are practice modes available for both solo and static parties. Additionally, the rating for party and solo will be different.
Deciding the Victor
Different than the previous Wolves’ Den content, instead of completely wiping out the opposing team, the objective is to steal your opponent’s medals, and the team that has the most at the end of the match will win. Each team’s members will start the battle with 100 medals.
When defeating an opponent, they will drop their medals. Your team can pick these up, and once you reach a certain number of medals, your team will win.
If you’re worried about dragging a team down because you feel like you’re going to get killed over and over--have no fear! The amount of medals you drop will become fewer and fewer the more you are defeated, so there is no benefit to defeating the same person continuously. Depending on the amount of medals your opponent drops, there will be various effects.
Also, you won’t be able to collect medals off of your teammates.
There are several elements that will change the flow of battle.
- Adrenaline Rush
Players who have experienced Frontline may be aware of this system, but this is limit break-like action which can be used by individual players.. - Supply Box
There are supply boxes which are available from the beginning, and those that will become available at a later time. By attacking this box, it will break, and give an item called Supply Kit. Item will be given to the team that dealt the most damage to the box.- Offense Kit - Increased attack
- Defense Kit - Increased defense
- Medical Kit - Heals
- Adrenalin Kit - Increases the Adrenalin Rush gauge
- Culling Time
This time occurs when a player isn’t defeated for certain amount of time. If no one is defeated the debuff will continue to accumulate, but once an enemy or ally is defeated the debuff is removed. This will also affect the background and sound. - Heavy Medal
Depending on amount of medals held, players will receive physical damage up debuff. If one player collects too much medals, they will receive that much more debuff, so please be careful.
Result screen
The result screen will show the number of knockouts (K), the number of times you were knocked out (D), and the number of assists (A). Assists can be earned through heals, buffs, and other actions. It’s pretty easy to get assists, so try to get a lot of them.
Ranks
- There are six tiers of ranks for both solo and pre-formed parties: no rank, bronze, silver, gold, platinum, and diamond. Once you reach 1000 rating points, you’ll start promotion battles. Winning 3 out of 5 promotion battles will allow you to be promoted to the next rank.
Ranking
- The Feast has its own specialized ranking. It will be tallied for each Data Centre.
- There will be a ranking list for each rank, so it is recommended trying your best in the rank that suits your skill level.
Ranks and Reset
- With the change of every season (3.5 months), both rank and your ranking will reset.
- Those at the top will be given special rewards.
- There will also be special rewards particular for a season only for players at the top of the diamond rank. There will be rewards for each of the ranks. The top players will also be able to receive the prizes that those below them receive.
- The special reward for diamond rank is equipment with a completely new design, and diamond ranked players can earn the entire set. There will also be trophy furnishings.
___9. Materia Changes___
Hands up. Who was thinking of pentamelding their raid armour with STR, DEX, VIT, INT, MIND, PIE, etc? Nooooope. There will only be certain available Materia slots.
The amount of Tier IV and V materia output, exchange, and method to obtain these will be adjusted, so look forward to seeing how the Marketboard will fluctuate in terms of Materia values. The availability of the higher tiers of Materia won't be as strenuously rare as they were before, so players do not have to worry if they’ll require a lot of gil since due to increase in demand.
___10. Gnath Beast Tribe Dailies___
Well, we had the Vanu Vanu last patch. The only one left now would be the Gnath.
The dynamic quest sync system will also be featured here, so players can up the level difficulty in exchange for greater EXP rewards.
The mount reward will be a weird giant insect creature, which is allegedly a mount that the Gnath use. The base of operations for the Gnath dailies will be near the Vath Storyteller NPC in the Dravanian Forelands.
___11. Adjustments to DoL/DoH___
Raiding gear recipes
Crafters will be able to make high-quality raiding gear this time round that can give raiders that extra little edge they need in item level and stats boost to take on Alexander: Midas. Thus there will be an abundance of new recipes next month, so omnicrafters are prepared to make an absolute killing, especially on Gilgamesh.
It won’t be difficult to craft these items; however, you need a new item known as a “blueprint,” and how to obtain these is a secret for now.
If you want even more unhelpful vagueness, they are making it so that the usual problems of being unable to collect the necessary mats to create these items will be less of a problem than it currently is.
There will also be recipes for equipment that looks like Allagan and High Allagan equipment, except they can be dyed. If you want to craft these, look for mats to drop in the old Coil raids.
___12. Orchestrion__
The Orchestrion is a house furnishing to change the background music of the inside of FC and player homes.
In order to acquire tunes, you will need sheet music. These will be dropped from various dungeons, Primals, vendors and other places that will be subsequently available in later patches.
Depending on the content, there may be cases where it’s easier to obtain rewards when you complete it with the minimum item level.
___13. Other Miscellaneous Changes___
- It will be possible to remain gathering when the duty party participation window appears.
- Sword and shield rewards will be obtained at the same time.
- It will be possible to queue for Duty Roulette as a party for the following roulettes:
- Duty Roulette: Expert
- Duty Roulette: Level 60 Dungeons
- Duty Roulette: Level 50 Dungeons
- Duty Roulette: Leveling
- Duty Roulette: Trials
- Duty Roulette: Main Scenario
- Duty Roulette: Guildhest
- A history tab will be added, and the recent places you’ve visited will appear.
Expansion to the idling camera and group pose features
- Various features will be added, so stayed tuned for details!
Hotbar improvements
- Revamped recast animation display
- A setting will be added to the configuration for displaying the recast time in numbers.
___14. And Finally...___
HILDIBRAND MANDERVILLE SHALL RETURN IN PATCH 3.2! \o/
And in less important news, Minfilia is featured in Patch 3.2's main art. There's something about changes, hence the name of the patch. Hopefully, if she returns, she won't be a useless boss who just sits on her arse.
Lodestone
Imagine all the potential recruits...