At the following time, we have performed a version update of FINAL FANTASY XI.

* This update consists of a version upgrade of the client program. When you press the play button after the time stated below, the version upgrade will begin automatically. Please follow the instructions on the screen.

[Date]
Feb. 2, 2007 at 11:00 (PST)

[Affected Services]
FINAL FANTASY XI

[Important Update Details]
- The fishing yield of the following areas has been adjusted:
Batallia Downs, Valkurm Dunes, Buburimu Peninsula, Labyrinth of Onzozo

- Recipes for the following items have been temporarily removed from the game and will be modified in the future version updates:
Rusty Cap, Rusty Greatsword, Rusty Pick

- An issue has been addressed wherein the game would freeze under certain circumstances. ("PlayStation 2" and Windows versions only)

We have experienced several technical difficulties in some areas on the Cerberus World, but the recovery process is now complete. Thank you for your patience.

[Date & Time]
Feb. 2, 2007 from 7:01 to 7:13 (PST)

[Issue Details]
Unable to access to the following areas.

[Cause]
Technical issues with the servers.

[Affected World]
Cerberus

[Affected Areas]
- La Theine Plateau
- Qufim Island
- Middle Delkfutt's Tower
- Gusgen Mines
- Chateau d'Oraguille
- The Celestial Nexus
- Ro'Maeve
- Manaclipper
- Spire of Dem
- Temenos

[Affected Services]
FINAL FANTASY XI

The PlayOnline registration server will be unavailable due to maintenance at the following time. During this time, users will be unable to register or unsubscribe PlayOnline accounts, review or update their member information, or review, purchase, cancel, or reactivate Content IDs.

Also if there is a problem with your payment method, then you may be automatically disconnected from gameplay during the maintenance period. To avoid this, please complete all necessary billing changes in advance.

Thank you for your patience.

[Date & Time]
Phase 1
Feb. 1, 2007 0:00 to 6:00 (PST)

Phase 2
Feb. 2, 2007 0:00 to 8:00 (PST)
* Maintenance completion time may be subject to change.

URL Listing
Previously, the various pages within a linkshell community could not be linked directly from other pages. This will now be possible in the next version update. Using this feature, you can point your friends directly to your linkshell, link to events on the World Portal board, collaborate with your friends, and use URLs in a variety of other useful situations.

Session Expiration Time Extended
In order to limit server-side resource consumption, and for security reasons, linkshell community login sessions are set to automatically expire after a specific period of inactivity. Ever since the linkshell community beta, we have received a number of comments on this feature, and we have been hard at work on a way to extend login periods. We have found technical means to improve this, and with this update the session expiration time has been extended.

Login Screen Changes
Using the new login page, if users already have a character in the linkshell community, they will be able to access their community just by selecting that character from a list on the page.

Regarding a February update: The Valentine content was included in last December’s update that’s why there isn’t a “major patch” associated with the event. The date of the next major patch hasn’t been announced yet, so I can’t give you any more details just yet!

-Jack of all Trades, Red Mage- These mages can use black and white magic, wear some decent armor, perform some sword play, and even have their own set of specialized spells. Statistically, Red Mages are middle of the road, with slight emphasis on magical attributes. This allows them to cast a wide range of spells, although they aren’t quite capable of mastering the stronger black and white spells. However, Red Mages also have En- spells that add elemental damage to their weapon attacks. They have Refresh to regenerate MP, Phalanx to basically nullify magic damage, self only Bar- spells to protect against various elements, and Convert to swap out HP and MP when magic runs dry. To top it off, Red Mages have Fast Cast to increase casting time. So where do they fit in? Damage? Healer? Tank? Actually, Red Mages are best for either Support or Backup. I say Support because of the wide range and high skill Red Mages have in enhancing and enfeebling magic. Plus, the Refresh ability keeps the casters going so they can do their job. Beyond that role, Red Mages can Backup Damage via sword or spell, and Backup heal if necessary. They can even take a few hits, mainly if Stoneskin and Phalanx is cast, just to allow the Tank time to recover enmity. A competent Red Mage could also pull via spells if she felt so inclined to do so. What it comes down to though is that Red Mages are strictly Support, and depending on the situation, they can adapt to Backup roles. Chainspell allows the Red Mage to cast spells by removing the casting time. This is great as a quick-save-everyone’s-butt cure fest, a nuke-nuke-nuke-nuke-nuke fest, or (my favorite) quick raise everyone in the party after a wipeout!!

-Holy Defender, Paladin-These hunks of armor have one purpose and that is Tank. Their stats, abilities, and equipment all focus on defending themselves, their allies, and maintaining the monster’s attention until it is dead. The use of white magic is to protect the paladin when protection is unavailable, and to create enmity outside of the use of Provoke, via the warrior support job. Various skills increase the paladin’s defense or mitigate damage altogether. The armor selection is all about defense, vitality, mind, HP, and MP. With sword in one hand to deal light or HP based damage, and a shield in the other to stun and acquire TP faster, Paladins have little to no other role besides Tank. Technically, paladins could also be categorized as Support as well because of their Cover and Rampart abilities. Cover enables the paladin to step between an ally and an attacking monster and take the damage instead of the ally. Rampart increases the defense of all party members and recently has the additional effect of Magic Shield that mitigates magic damage. If you are fighting undead, Paladins can also take on a Damage role. Their Holy Circle grants all allies undead killer, which is an innate ability of paladins to intimidate undead. Plus, those cure spells, when used on undead, are changed from healing to straight up damage!! No matter what you decide to fight as a paladin, Invincible allows you to completely mitigate all physical damage for a few seconds. As a nice little side effect, Invincible also generates a lot of enmity for the paladin much like the White Mage’s Benediction.

-Distant Threat, Ranger-Rangers play a Damage and Puller role. As one of the most accurate jobs that can fully utilize ranged weapons effectively, rangers dish out their strongest damage from a distance. However, the weapons they use only inflict piercing damage, but their weapon skills mitigate that by ignoring defense and dishing out multiples of damage. Because of their ranged abilities, rangers are also capable pullers. Alertness, Camouflage, and Wide Scan assist in the hunting process. Of course all this requires ammunition. Scavenge and Unlimited Shot help lighten this burden a bit by finding ammo scattered in the field or allowing “freebies” when using a ranged attack. Like Black Mages, Rangers have to gauge how much and how quickly they are dishing out damage, especially if they are taking full advantage of Barrage and Sidewinder/Slug Shot weapon skills, which deal multiples of damage if they land on the enemy. How far back to stand when delivering ranged attacks varies by the weapon being used, but the general rule of thumb is about eight steps. When in doubt, Eagle Eye Shot launches a strong ranged attack that will finish off most near death enemies. It does require the use of one unit of ammunition.

The PlayOnline registration server will be unavailable due to maintenance at the following time. During this time, users will be unable to register or unsubscribe PlayOnline accounts, review or update their member information, or review, purchase, cancel, or reactivate Content IDs.

Also if there is a problem with your payment method, then you may be automatically disconnected from gameplay during the maintenance period. To avoid this, please complete all necessary billing changes in advance.

Users with credit cards expiring in January 2007 who updated their payment method during the following time may have received an error saying "Your credit card is about to expire", even though the update was successfully processed.

This problem has been addressed, and we are now able to process payments for those users who updated their payment method during this time.

Thank you for your understanding.

It's here again! It's here again! The day we've all been waiting for is finally here...again, kupo!
What day is that, you ask? Why, Valentione's Day, of course! The moogles down at the MHMU have been working overtime to make this year's festivities at least as entrancing, if not more, than last year's, kupo! We have a heartwarming event all prepared to bring together desperate singles in an explosion of hot-pink affection, but it seems a lot of them are inflicted with a case of cold feet. I guess we're going to need your help on this one, adventurers!

For more information, click here!

*Valentione's Day festivities are scheduled for February 1 to February 15.

Winning Entry:

FFXI: Pause Anyone?
Playing FFXI and other online games can be fun, except for when you quickly need to get something done :P.

Take for example pizza last night. I ordered a pizza, and the delivery guy knocks at the door. Stating "Hold on, I'm battling right now" would seem like an odd excuse, but the enemy didn't seem all to tough, so I went in and answered the door.

After signing for the food and brining some napkins, I find my character happily laying on the floor, dead. Well that sucked :P. Luckily I knew people and could get the risen to battle again, but still :S.

Then there's party battles, where you have some annoying kid named Nick that wants you to vote for him for some random crap while you're taking on monster from hell. I mean, it wasn't even valid, it was like some video president or something! Beh.

So in conclusion, give me a pause button :P. How would it work? You basically get unlimited defense (God mode maybe?) to take any hits without a problem. Of course, you'd only be able to use this ability a few times a day (so no one would abuse it). When you came back, you'd be given a minute to run for your life or just regroup with party members.

Yah, that should work.