Final Fantasy XI: Chains of Promathia (plus European release details)
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With the game coming fresh to European audiences, plus the Japanese/American release of the latest expansion pack, Chains of Promathia, it seemed sensible to give a general lowdown on what’s coming up in the series for players on both continents.
In ages past, a sentient jewel, enormous and beautiful, banished the darkness. Its many-coloured light filled the world with life, and brought forth mighty gods. Bathed in that light, the world entered an age of bliss, until, after a time, the gods fell into slumber.
That world was called Vana’diel.
In the 863rd year of the Crystal Era, Vana’Diel was in the midst of a great war. Faced with invasion by the Shadowlord and his hordes of Beastmen, the leaders of the enlightened peoples united their forces in desperate alliance. They were the Kingdom of San’Doria; the Republic of Bastok; the Federation of Windurst; and the Grand Duchy of Jeuno.
Together they struggled for survival in battle after battle as chaos engulfed the land.
Twenty Years later, and evil has been defeated. The Shadowlord has been slain, and his Beastmen armies scattered to the corners of the two continents of Vana’dial. Recently, however, rumours have reached the ears of the victors of a re-emergence; a rising in the north and a regrouping of the Beastmen races. You, as a newly inducted adventurer to your nation of choice, must learn the truth, and take your place among the peoples of the world in order to defend it.
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From there, you’re pretty much free to do whatever you want. Your character will be placed into your city of choice on a random server (unless you enter a WorldPass; a 10-digit code swapped between friends so they can start on the same server: see the FAQ link at the bottom of this article), and from there you can do whatever takes your fancy. You can explore the vast cities and world, head outside to gain experience to level your job, buy/trade armour and weapons, learn to synthesise goods or undertake missions/quests to further your progress through the storyline. Vana’diel offers something for everyone.
And now, two years following the initial Japanese release, Vana’diel is finally coming to Europe, with Square-Enix hoping to expand on the many thousands (500,000+) of subscribers.
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As with America, Square-Enix are offering your first month of gameplay absolutely free. You can create as many Content IDs (used to create characters) as you want, for both Final Fantasy XI and Tetra Master; an online version of Final Fantasy IX’s card-based mini-game, and you won’t be charged until your first month of subscription expires. This gives ample time for people unsure about the game to test it out with no commitment. If you choose to continue playing, then you will be required to pay $12.95 (USD) a month, along with $1 (USD) extra for each additional Content ID you purchase. Presumably, the prices are remaining in American currency so everyone worldwide is paying the same amount.
The required PC systems specs for the game are as follows:
Minimum Specifications:
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 98 / 98SE / ME / 2000 / XP
CPU: Intel Pentium III / AMD Athlon 800mhz or faster processor.
Memory: 128MB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce series graphics processing unit with 32MB or ATI RADEON 9000 series graphics card
Sound: DirectX 8.1 compatible sound card
Hard Drive Space: 6GB
Internet Connection: 56kps or better
CD-ROM Speed: 4x CD-ROM (only required at installation)
Other: Keyboard, mouse
Recommended Specifications:
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 98 / 98SE / ME / 2000 / XP
CPU: Intel Pentium 4/ AMD-equivalent processor.
Memory: 256MB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForceFX series graphics processing unit (AGP) with 64MB of VRAM
Sound: DirectX 8.1 compatible sound card
Hard Drive Space: 6GB
Internet Connection: Always-on Internet connection
CD-ROM Speed: 32x CD-ROM (only required at installation)
Other: Keyboard with 10-key numeric pad, mouse with scroll wheel
Despite what Square-Enix officially say though, the game supports a far wider range of graphics cards than those suggested (both AGP and PCI/PCI-Express). It runs perfectly on a 56kb/s modem - a faster connection only helps you download updates faster; the game itself is designed for lower-end speeds - and there are various settings you can change to ease any burden your PC may feel, such as disabling the FPS-dropping weather effects on a lower-end system.
Chains of Promathia is the second Final Fantasy XI expansion pack to be released since the game’s original Japanese launch in May 2002. Filled with numerous additions to the online world of Vana’diel - armour, weaponry, quests and locations being prominent in many adventurer’s minds - Chains of Promathia is winging its way to a simultaneous release in both Japan and America, while in Europe the expansion will have already been included in the FFXI bundle debuting on the 16th. A series of patch downloads will be made available on the PlayOnline Viewer a week before the release of the pack, allowing players who don’t possess the expansion to still access certain elements of it. What exactly this download includes is yet to be announced, but more information will be released closer to the time.
Square-Enix aren’t releasing Chains of Promanthia outside of the all-in-one bundle within European/Australian territories. In order to play the expansion pack, you will be required to import it upon its release just as you did the original PC game. All future expansion packs, however, should be available separately.
As for Chains of Promathia itself, the additions are vast and numerous. Most important of all, many feel, is the luxury of new locations being added to the world; opportunities to explore, find alternate levelling areas and generally see the world are large on adventurer’s minds, and Square-Enix certainly don’t disappoint.
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This set of tiny islands off the west coast of Quon was once home to the proud nation of Tavnazia. Before the Great War, this region was actually a peninsula connected with the mainland. However, a devastating explosion caused by a secret weapon of the Beastmen resulted in the disintegration of a large portion of the surrounding landscape. This explosion also sent the nation’s capital, a city built on the profits of its thriving trade business, into ruin. The Beastmen still remain in control of the area.
Notes:- The capital city looks very much like the city seen in Final Fantasy XI’s introduction FMV.
- Based on its description, Tavnazia is most likely located south of Selbina. Presumably, a ferry service will be available?
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Movolpolos is populated by the Goblin tribe known as the Moblins, who’re known for their exceptional smithing and alchemy skills. In the past, as the Moblin’s subterranean drilling activities take them deeper into Vana’diel’s crust, their city has moved, making it incredibly difficult to locate. While some Moblins have ventured into the outside world, most stay within their city, and information about them is sparse, even amongst other Goblins
Notes:- A location hasn’t been specified for Movolpolos. It could be anywhere, but it’s definitely underground.
- A Black/Goldsmithing Guild and Alchemy Guild are clearly going to be in the area. Members of those Guilds, rejoice!
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A underground set of ruins controlled by the Tenshodo, very little is known about Pso’Xja. Only a few men know of its secrets.
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“Attohwa”, meaning “arid” in ancient Mithran, is the name given to the huge chasm that traverses the eastern part of Aragoneu. It is a harsh land, water-deprived and full of poisonous gases released through the cracked earth. Previous access to this region was stopped by a huge range of unclimbable and forbidden mountains, but recently a tunnel has been discovered that goes beneath them, making the area open to explorers. A hill named Parradamo Tor is rumoured to be in the region.
Notes:
- Aragonue is the region containing Meriphataud Mountains and Castle Oztroja, among others. Presumably, Attohwa Chasm will be located east of there, south of the Sanctuary of Zi'tah in the Li’Telor region.
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A mountainous region, Uleguerand is the highest area above sea level on the Quon continent. During the Great War, San d’Orian troops often clashed with Orcs as they crossed over the range in their desire to reach the Shadowlord’s throne at Xarcabard.
Notes:- Uleguerand Range is located to the south of Xarcabard, north of the city of San d’Oria.
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An extension of the underground complex that served as haven for the survivors of war-torn Tavnazia Marquisate, this settlement is unknown to the Beastmen occupying the surface above.
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Located in an inlet on south-east Mindartia (the eastern of Vana’diel’s two continents), Bibiki Bay used to be a thriving fishing area for the local Tarutaru populace. After the Great War, it was all but abandoned as the Mithra brought their expertise of fishing to the mainland. Recently, the Fishermen’s Guild have paid for the right to being fishing in the area. They intend to make their small fishing vessels, “manaclippers”, available to all adventurers in the near future.
Notes:
- A Fishermen’s Guild will obviously be located here to supplement the ones already in both Windurst and Selbina.
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For the Marquisate known as the “City of Water”, these expansive aqueducks are a fitting architectural accomplishment, used before the war to supply the city. Now, with the fall of Tavnazia, only a small percentage of the canals remain. There are rumours of a holy artefact enshrined within…
While the above locations offer levelling, exploration and relaxation possibilities for the average traveller, the following two areas of the new expansion pack are certainly for the more adventurous among Vana’diel’s population…
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But tales tell of an opposite to the loving deity who watches over us - a divinity known as the God of Twilight, Promathia.
While Altana soars on wings of freedom, Promathia is bound in chains; his confinement is said to be a limitation he has placed upon himself.
Can this legend be true?
And do rumours of the frightening phenomenon occurring in faraway lands have any relation to Promathia?
The unfolding mystery of “Chains of Promathia” will bring adventurers even closer to the astonishing truth behind Vana’diel’s origin.
-Taken from the Chains of Promathia site
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This menace, first disregarded as a distant threat, is drawing heroes of every nation into a race to uncover its true nature.
Is this “emptiness” a tear in the fabric of Vana’diel?
Or is it the birth of an entirely new world?
-Taken from the Chains of Promathia site
Also included are various new NPCs, enemies, quests and, of course, the next series of kingdom-based missions. Overall, it looks like Vana’diel will continue to draw in adventurers for a long time to come
Credits:
Article written by Pulsar for Final Fantasy: Worlds Apart
Images by Pulsar and from the Chains of Promathia website
Related Links:
Official:
Final Fantasy XI Official Site (North America)
Final Fantasy XI Official Site (Europe)
Final Fantasy XI: Chains of Promathia Official Site (English language)
Final Fantasy: Worlds Apart:
News Article - Final Fantasy XI featuring in Leipzig Games Convention
Forum Board - Final Fantasy XI Forum
Forum Thread - Final Fantasy XI FAQ