Introduction
These launch patch notes (the “Patch Notes”) will provide an overview of what players can expect from HorizonXI’s launch version of the game. The Patch Notes are designed to give a broad overview of what changes have been made to the game from level 75 cap era Chains of Promathia, while still leaving room for players to discover and explore.
Server Settings
- Launch Expansion: Chains of Promathia ("CoP")
- Level Cap: 75
- Launch Patch Date: April 17, 2006
- Accounts/Characters: 1 account (single box) and 3 characters per IP address
- Movement Speed: 40 - Level 75 cap era default movement speed
- Experience Rates: 1.0 - Wings of the Goddess (“WoTG”) EXP rates
- Crafting Rates: 1.0
- Level Sync: Launch System - Unlimited Sync with scaling penalty (see “System: Level Sync” section below)
- Equipment Scaling (Level Sync): Disabled
- Auction House: Stocked by players - 21 item limit per character
- Fishing: Enabled
- Gardening: Enabled
- Chocobo Digging: Enabled
- Dynamis: CoP era with 71 hour lockout (reduced from 72)
- Claim Shield: Added to prominent NMs to provide a fair playing experience for all players. HorizonXI uses a lottery based claim shield system where each person has the opportunity to act on the mob once for a chance to claim the monster. After all players have acted and the claim window has closed, the monster will randomly select one person who acted on it and give them the claim. Multiple actions taken on a monster during the lottery do not increase your chances at claiming - each person can only enter the claim lottery once before the lottery window ends.
- Inventory Expansions: Mog Wardrobes 1 and 2 to be unlocked by completing certain objectives (see “System: Inventory Expansion” section below)
- Treasure Hunter: Era accurate (we used SE's official Treasure Hunter chart to build our system)
- Era accurate drop rates: Drop rates for all items have been adjusted to reflect the era experience more accurately
General HorizonXI Design Philosophy
Adventurers on HorizonXI will have the opportunity to engage in an experience that allows them to relive the magic and mystery of FFXI, like when it was first released over two decades ago. We have designed our server to include new and exciting things that keep the spirit of discovery alive, including new experience point camps, slight modifications to previously underutilized equipment, and more to be uncovered in-game. Adventurers are also free to pursue the in-game path that best fits their interests and play styles rather than feeling forced into playing jobs and strategies most aligned to the “META” (most effective tactics available) that existed in the past and continues to exist on most current FFXI private servers. Through a light touch to jobs and content that we refer to as our Era+ approach, we have designed a server that will excite and support a variety of players.
Our dedicated balance team has ensured that none of our balancing has drastically altered the identity of the level 75 cap era experience we all know and love. More specifically, we have accomplished the goal of re-imagining discovery and job viability through slight job tweaks to provide better overall class balance, minor adjustments to key encounters and content, and minor gameplay tweaks. As a result, our version of FFXI still feels familiar while providing an experience where all jobs can participate. Some encounters may even feel a bit tougher than adventures are used to, meaning they may have to rely more heavily on their friends to defeat key encounters.
Active Content
All content that existed in Chains of Promathia is active on Horizon outside of the following:
- All forms of PVP
- Dynamis-Tavnazia
- Absolute Virtue
- Adventuring Fellows
- Some niche quests
- Expeditionary Force
These items will be added at a later date.
In Game Event: Starlight Celebration
“The Starlight Celebration is almost upon us! And with the beginning of the festival close at hand, the ‘smilebringers’ have appeared in cities all over Vana'diel."
Who are these enigmatic smilebringers and what is their connection to the celebration? Join your friends for this magical event amidst the brilliant decorations and visit the smilebringers for some holiday fun.”
Adventurers have the opportunity to engage in various quests and mini-games available during the event. Complete the objectives and you may find yourself the owner of some fantastic holiday items! Please refer to Starlight Celebration 2021 guides for more information on completing these objectives (note: event related teleportation has been disabled due to the event being active at launch).
Event Schedule
Saturday, December 17, 2022 7:00 AM PST - Saturday, January 7, 2023 7:00 AM PST.
Festive Goods for Sale!
Moogles in the following locations will be selling various festive items such as Dream Hats and Snowman Caps, as well as other Starlight Celebration-themed items throughout the event.
- Northern San d'Oria (D-8)
- Bastok Mines (H-9)
- Windurst Waters North (G-10)
Battle System Changes
Job Balancing
The core pillar of job balancing for HorizonXI has been that all jobs must retain their level 75 cap identity. The era balance experience has been preserved by only making minimal adjustments to some jobs.
Any adjustments directly solve an existing balance problem in era, and all solutions carry the mandates of: (a) feeling appropriate for the level 75 cap era; and (b) pushing a job closer to its core identity in the 75 cap era. Any balancing will be monitored by the developers and actively adjusted as needed once the server has launched.
Our job previews provide an overview of how jobs have been adjusted on Horizon. We want players to explore and find what has been changed and share it with each other, but these previews are designed to give players an idea of how each class will play.
Tactical Points
The amount of Tactical Points (“TP”) monsters receive from player auto-attacks has been changed from an additive formula to a multiplicative one in order to provide more consistent TP usage by monsters regardless of the weapon type equipped by the player.
Weapon Skills
The formulas for some weapon skills have been adjusted.
New Spells and Abilities
Some new spells and abilities have been added to jobs.
Level Requirements of Combat Actions and Traits
Some existing spells, abilities, and traits have had their level requirements adjusted.
New Effects
Some era spells and abilities have had additional effects added to them.
Enmity Values
The cumulative and volatile enmity values of some spells and abilities have been adjusted.
Monster Ability Usage
Monsters now gain TP from certain spells and abilities. The amount of TP monsters gain from certain spells and abilities have also been increased.
One Handed Weapons
The combat formula for one handed weapons (hand-to-hand weapons included) has been updated to keep one handed weapons competitive with two handed weapons.
Two Handed Weapons
The Wings of the Goddess two handed weapon formula has been implemented.
Ranged Attacks
Players will need to find the optimal distance from their target to maximize ranged attack damage. This is also known as the “sweet spot”. The sweet spot ranges have been increased from the retail implementation of this mechanic.
Magic Bursts
The damage bonus for magic bursted spells has been increased, and the enmity generated by magic bursting spells has been decreased. This does not apply to Notorious Monsters.
Game System Changes
New Character Starting Items
The starting items for new characters have been adjusted.
Items Mailable Between Characters on Same Account
The types of items which are mailable between characters on the same account have been adjusted.
Tutorial Quests
The tutorial quest line for new players has been enabled. Please visit the tutorial NPCs at the following locations to begin the quest line:
- Alaune - Southern San d'Oria (G-10)
- Gulldago - Bastok Markets (D-11)
- Selele - Windurst Woods (K-10)
Level Sync
Please see the below video discussing our launch level sync system. We debated a lot on how to put this system together. We felt strongly that the game should evolve over time, and we want players to keep in mind that the sync is more restrictive early on because we want players to explore the game. A more restrictive level sync helps us accomplish this, and players must expand and explore to progress their characters. The EXP penalty to us was a better route than a hard cut off sync, often referred to as a “dynamic sync”, like a hard 10 level sync gap. Dynamic Sync restricts players from playing together or oftentimes causes parties to break. Using our system, players are both encouraged to seek out level appropriate zones, but can always choose to do what they want - and they can always level with friends.
We will take all metrics and feedback into account once we launch to see if the system needs to be adjusted 30-60 days after launch.
Level capped zones also use a unique system outside of the normal level sync rules.
Signet and Conquest EXP Bonuses
As discussed in the level sync video, we are adding the following benefits to defeating monsters while under the effect of Signet at level 50 or above. Please note that the signet bonus and conquest bonus stack when a player is eligible for both.
Auction House
- The Auction House will only display items that have previously been listed for sale.
- Each character may place twenty one (21) items on the Auction House.
- Auction House listings expire after seven (7) earth days.
- All Auction Houses have been linked.
Bazaar Tax
- Bazaar Taxes have been implemented in the following zones:
- A ten percent (10%) tax will be present in: (i) all Windurst city zones; (ii) all San d’Oria city zones; (iii) all Bastok city zones; (iv) North and South Gustaberg; (v) East and West Ronfaure; and (vi) East and West Sarutabaruta.
- A five percent (5%) tax will be present in all Jeuno city zones. No bazaar tax will be present in: (i) Sauromugue Champaign; (ii) Rolanberry Fields; and (iii) Batallia Downs.
Outpost Warps
Outpost warp teleportation level requirements and costs in home nations are set to CoP era. Outpost warp NPCs in home nations can be found at the following locations:
- Conrad - Metalworks (K-7)
- Jeanvirguard - Northern San d’Oria (D-9)
- Rottato - Port Windurst (D-6)
Quests
New quests have been added. Please go explore and find them! Some quests have also had their rewards adjusted.
Monster Audit
Original 75 cap era monsters have been audited to ensure they have era accurate spawn conditions, spawn points, and stats (this includes hit points). The respawn times of monsters in some dungeons and the overworld have been adjusted. The level range of some monster groups with disparate level ranges have been adjusted, resulting in a wider variety of leveling options.
Increased Starter Zone Respawns on Launch
Beginner zones (Ronfaure, Sarutabaruta, Gustaberg) will have a reduction in monster spawn time at launch. Not only will they have reduced spawn time, there will also be more level one (1) monsters present. Other zones may be affected by this. This is a temporary measure to alleviate launch congestion in starter zones. Accordingly, the drop rates of certain items in these zones have been reduced to avoid exploitation.
New Era+ EXP Camps
New monsters and EXP camps have been added all over the world. Some monsters may have unique mechanics, and we recommend trying everything you can think of within the game’s existing combat system to defeat them.
HP Recovered While Resting
The amount of HP recovered while resting has been increased.
Inventory Expansion
Gobbiebag quests will allow players to achieve a maximum of 60 base inventory slots (CoP era). Mog Wardrobes 1 and 2 have been made available, but players will need to complete certain objectives to unlock them.
Hyper Notorious Monsters (“HNMs”)
The respawn time and spawn mechanics of certain HNMs have been adjusted.
Claim Shield
A claim shield has been added to prominent NMs to provide a fair playing experience for all players. HorizonXI uses a lottery based claim shield system where each person has the opportunity to act on the mob once for a chance to claim the monster. After all players have acted and the claim window has closed, the monster will randomly select one person who acted on it and give them the claim. Multiple actions taken on a monster during the lottery do not increase your chances at claiming - each person can only enter the claim lottery once before the lottery window ends.
Lockstyle
Lockstyle has been implemented. Equipment that can be utilized through lockstyle has been restricted to your current main job.
Hardcore Mode
Hardcore Mode has been added. Please visit the following NPCs on a level one (1) character to begin hardcore mode:
- Franklin - Bastok Markets (G-9)
- Francine Tuft - Windurst Woods (H-11)
- Francois - Southern San d’Oria (G-10)
The Hardcore Adventuring system provides rewards for maintaining Hardcore status at different levels. Rewards are obtained at the following level based milestones (more rewards may be added at a later date):
- Level 18
- Level 30
- Level 51
- Level 56
- Level 61
- Level 66
- Level 71
- Level 75
- Obtaining Level 75 x2
- Obtaining Level 75 x3
- Obtaining Level 75 x5
- Obtaining Level 75 x15
Custom Music
Custom music has been added to various zones. Players can toggle this music on/off in the HorizonXI launcher.
New Character Face Options
All playable races have had a new character face option added to the original eight faces. Each race now has twenty four (24) face options as opposed to the original sixteen (16). All faces and what they look like in game are viewable during the character creation process on our website.
Item Changes
EXP Ring Rework
- As discussed in the level sync video, EXP rings have been reworked to provide more EXP and suit a wider variety of play styles.
Elemental Magic Scrolls
The price of elemental magic scrolls sold by vendors have been reduced.
Vendor Prices and Sellable Items
Many items have had their vendor prices adjusted. Some NPCs now offer an expanded assortment of items for sale.
Drop Rates of Certain Items
The drop rates of some items which relate to character leveling progression have been adjusted.
Food Effects
Some existing food effects have been adjusted.
Adjustments to Existing Items
The stats of some existing items, including weapons and armor, have been adjusted.
New Items
Many new items have been added.
Loot Pools Adjusted
The loot available in some battle content has been adjusted.
Notorious Monster Loot Pools
Some NMs and HNMs have had their loot pools adjusted.
