[dev1141] Monstrosity (Play-as-a-Monster)

If they'd given us this years ago, they would have never needed the Goblin Bounty Hunters.

It mentions fighting other players. It does not specify in what capacity. If it's some ill-conceived system like Ballista that caters to a niche crowd of players, fine. I generally spend my days not even acknowledging Ballista as a thing because frankly I think it's just terrible. (I know there are people who really love it and I'm happy someone does. I, however, do not.)

But if it's a game-wide free-for-all, fight-anywhere-you-want-attacking-who-you-want deal, it's going to cause a lot of headaches.

I very much doubt SE is going to release an MPK free for all(as much fun as it would be.) There will likely be some kinda of participation flag that you set, to allow player mobs to fight you.

Hopefully, if there is such a thing switching it on/off will be a simple config setting rather than having to go to a specific NPC to set it.

My guess is that it would be something like how you can currently set your mentor flag.

You have to turn PvP on, so you won't be swarmed.

If you turn into a monster you automatically turn PvP on, but even if you die you don't lose any exp.

I can see kali going on a rampage as a mandy just like she rampages us thru chess. :D

Mandy will be my first pick, even if its the worst one to choose from.

I have some free time so I'm going to properly format the OP.

I see your Mandy and raise you a Courrier Carrie.

Added one sentence I missed into the original translation:

"As you get accustomed to your life as a monster, you may choose to have a playoff with your monster buddies to determine who is the strongest mandragora, or decide which type of monster is number one: you're free to play as you choose."

lol.

NNNNNNNNNNOO! NO, Iwakami. no.

The PvP aspect is going to be quite boring if it's going to be a flag toggle IMO. It's going to be very hard to find people who are willing to have you MPK them while they're doing something else.

I'd take a idea from other MMOs and just make it so that there's certain areas that allow global PvP at all times...but then, given the game's track record, that might just make said areas ghost towns. Ah well.

I finished updating the OP.

If you've missed any of the recent updates and are interested in this then you should read it! I'll maintain it from now on ;x

[jaykay]monsters with broken triple attack rates and crit hit ratings...SHUN THAT IDEA SIR! SHUN IT![/jaykay]

How is rewarding you for playing the content a bad thing?

I don't think SE is going to leave this completely open. I'm sure it will be limited in some way. But as to how much or how little, that will be the deciding factor.

seems like most areas are already ghost towns, not much to lose....


it's not, nessicarily. give you access to more monsters, sure, but let's not go down the road of needing to "buff" everything to make it fun.

Actually I love that idea of monster PVP being more a team battle rather than just some random dueling system since that'd get boring quick without rewards and if its just dueling me and my friends would just throw games to eachother to assist in acquiring the lewts if any were attached to a simple dueling system.

Players sign up for a team, become monsters and battle for checkpoints against eachother and earn w/e PVP points would be alotted to buy gear for their normal selves based on who has what checkpoints. You could even have rank being obtained that would unlock new things outside of evolutions giving a sense of progression and breathe some life into the economy if they tied it back to lowbie gear.

Naturally the levels wouldn't give stats to maintain a casual ability to jump in or out but it'd allow people to differentiate themselves and make it all the more exciting you compete against sides.

Rank 10 Rabbit - Scale Mail - WAR - Mandragora TP set.
Rank 13 Pugil - Lizard Jerkin - RNG - Pugil TP set.
Rank 20 Naraka - Iron Scale Mail - BLM - Naraka TP set.

Entry would be voluntary via an NPC to prevent griefing but considering the number of zones FFXI has that are just completely useless it could be a fun mechanic to keep people in eternal combat between updates for rewards.

Fort Karugo-Narugo would be one such zone that seems primed for this type of 'capture the flag' / 'hold the fort' style play but there are a ton of empty zones that could be used to spread the population out like Lufaise or even certain maps in Arrapago Reef.

They could make Mandy so much better if they took it back to the good old days of skillchaining with rabbits and having ghosts magic burst. Sadly though, the game has done nothing but turn into a mindless zerg-fest of meat headed tigers and cockatrices.

What I'd give for a good 3 hour long fight of doing nothing but cure spam a good, old fashioned crab-tank while trying to keep my MP up.

Hope you get to evolve it to Chloris pink mandy version and huge.

I hate you so much, but this made me chuckle. That'll do pig, that'll do.

I wish we could be high enough level mobs to maybe get more information about their stats, but I don't think Gallus or Botuli(?) in the Ronfaure would be very fair.

If you field a crab you're a gimp hiding behind Scissor Guard when you could be using Bionic Boost and spamming Heavy Whisk. Jagils are useful in kited battles but they don't benefit from haste so they're gimpy and garbage.

Gnoles are great group support though, I use Phenilune Embrace to buff my pt and drop curesupport. If you aren't running a 2 legs Gnole with Asuran Claws stacked on Phenilune you're a gimp.

lolFafnir though. So many maneuvers to get Spike Flail to work, it's just not worth it.

too bad we can't make monster parties

Wolfpack denied.

12-05-2012 02:06 PM [source]
Iwakami Dev Team		Hello, Iwakami here, the "Play as a Monster" lead. We have been creating the system in a way so that regardless of how much experience you have, you'll be able to enjoy the content right away. With that said, I would like to take this opportunity to talk a bit about the basic plan. Please keep in mind that this is based on what we've worked on so far, and there is a possibility that things may change. So you may see a lot of vague words like, "planning," "intending," and "considering" popping up, but I will be very careful to not stray away from the aspects that we are placing heavy emphasis on and aspects that we would like to pay careful attention to. I'd really like to convey to you all what this content will be like. Basic Plan Being able to play the same as everyone else Fundamentally, all players will be beginning from the same starting point, and elements such as job levels, the gear you have, and the magic you have learned will not play a part. Because of this, players that have fulfilled the minimum requirements to participate will be able to step into the same ring as veteran players. However, we would like to add some achievement elements similar to synthetic atma, while making it so they are not an essential aspect. Being able to play comfortably We will be paying careful attention to ensure the below points are realized: Unlocking new elements at a good pace The timing of when new elements are unlocked is comprehensive and exciting Regardless of the time and place, you will be able to pick up and start playing when you like Possible to stop playing immediately when you'd like a break Possible to play without limitation on play time or content cool down timers The core system revolves around living the life of a monster. We would like to do our best to expand the playing possibilities of FFXI through living the life of a monster, making it possible to become a monster and traverse the fields or fight with other monsters and adventurers. Once you get used to life as a monster, you can battle with your friends to see who the ultimate mandragora is, or see which monster is the strongest. The way you play is up to you. Additionally, system-wise, we would like to provide a wide array content that contains elements where you can play casually, hardcore, by yourself, and with others. We won't be creating this content saying that certain elements are for certain kinds of players. The idea is to make it so there are a wide variety of ways you can enjoy play as a monster regardless of your situation or what's going on. As a future step, we are considering to create content utilizing the play as a monster system, such as group battles or battlefield fights with multiple players, but first and foremost we are striving to make the basic system so that it can be enjoyed fully on its own. I apologize for making you wait so long, but I would like to release more information periodically from here on out. Thank you all very much.
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that ***i like

Part of me wishes this was open world PvP just for the silliness of being attacked by a player running around as Mandragora yelling "uh oh" repeatedly.

Official Forum title: WTF I JUST GOT JUMPED BY SOME *** IN YHOAT JUNGLE

I want to be a Morbol I guess that would be one of evolution s from a mandy if its in there. Bad Breath all the things woooooo.

So umm will blus be able to use this to learn the hard to get spells like say from behemoth and some the other high level spells?


Also I can just see it now. Armys of rabs and mandys marching across Vana destroying everything in their path. going right up to partys and towns surrounding them leaving the people to tremble with fear in their boots.

LOL Im so gonna turn into a Crab!