Ryooshi
New Member
Apart from having some gameplay issues such as horrible lag, graphical lag, and stuttering/chugging gameplay, I really like FFXIV. I can't say for sure that I'll be getting it though. Other than money being extremely tight right now, I'm a bit confused as to how to play. I are noob.
I'll get to my tech issues in a moment, but first:
Questleves- When I complete a battle leve and use the aetheryte rift, what do I do next? I can't accept any more battle leves from the Adventurer's guild, and I know there's a 24-48 hour CD on leves, but does that mean I'm done for the time being? Obviously, the beta isn't the full game, so there's going to be more content in the release -- just curious if this is beta only or the mechanic of questing in XIV?
Classes- I understand that I just swap weapons to change, but I'm not sure where to get any. Can someone who started as an archer go fishing, mining, or smithing, or must I stick with pugilist, gladiator, etc? Or is this not implemented in the beta?
Gear Repair- Is there durability on gear? If so, where do I repair? Speaking of gear, how do I obtain more? Or is this another example of limited beta test content?
Ability Training- I completed Color of Sins in Gridania, and along the way I was told I learned a new ability and to move it to my action bars via the menu. I checked the Traits and Abilities submenu, but nothing was there. Beta bug, or not implemented in beta?
I think that's about it for gameplay questions. I'm having a blast otherwise. As for tech issues:
Chugging/Stuttering/Choppiness- Not sure what the technical term is for this, but as I'm running the game seems to be skipping forward a few frames, almost like a constant Mage mini-Blink if you're familiar with WoW. It's extremely hard on my eyes. Beta client issue, or hardware (see specs below)?
Lag/Latency- It's hard to tell exactly what my ping is, because I'm not familiar with how packets are supposed to be handled via S and R. But I'm R(receiving?) anywhere between 200-300+ and S(sending) less than or around 50. When I'm in combat or typically interacting with something via menu such as NPC menus or Aetheryte Crystals, it takes 10-30+ seconds to show up. Selected actions like Initiate Levequest, and even combat abilities and target/self HP are severely out of sync. Beta client issue, server side issue, or possibly firewall or physical location?
Graphical lag- Pretty annoying to say the least. It takes upwards of a minute to two minutes to load NPCs and players when entering a new area. I can run out of the Adventurer's Guild and not load people running by for a few seconds as well. And for instance, I ran to Camp Bentbranch in Gridania from the forest path, and it took around six minutes to load players and the NPCs. Sometimes I can turn my camera and lose sight of players, then stop and wait a second and they load back. Beta client issue, or tech issue (see specs below).
My setup:
I've tried fullscreen and windowed mode, and no AA/2xAA/4xAA. I always have low shadow, no AO, no DoF, low texture quality, lowest texture filtering, no shadows, no dust, no physics, and no extended drawing.
Intel Core 2 Processor Q6600 (2.40Ghz 1066FSB) w/ Quad Core Technology & 8MB Cache
3GB DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz
500GB Serial ATA II Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
ATI RADEON HD3650 256MB
Dell 0FM586 266 Megahertz Bus Clock Motherboard
Vista Home Premium, no desktop window effects
Anyhow, I know beta is beta and not a demo of the final product. Right now it's just hard to play with my lag and the chugging/stuttering. I think the main two things that will keep me from purchasing at launch will be my hardware (feedback please? ) and money. $13 a month isn't too bad, and $50 for standard edition isn't either; however, I've already made my pre-order for WoW's Cataclysm CE, and look forward to that immensely. I wanted to be able to play FFXIV during WoW breaks and boring days. So far, it's awesome though.
Any help or advice would be appreciated. Also, does anyone have word on gametime cards? Or is subbing via debit/credit the only option? Thanks!
I'll get to my tech issues in a moment, but first:
Questleves- When I complete a battle leve and use the aetheryte rift, what do I do next? I can't accept any more battle leves from the Adventurer's guild, and I know there's a 24-48 hour CD on leves, but does that mean I'm done for the time being? Obviously, the beta isn't the full game, so there's going to be more content in the release -- just curious if this is beta only or the mechanic of questing in XIV?
Classes- I understand that I just swap weapons to change, but I'm not sure where to get any. Can someone who started as an archer go fishing, mining, or smithing, or must I stick with pugilist, gladiator, etc? Or is this not implemented in the beta?
Gear Repair- Is there durability on gear? If so, where do I repair? Speaking of gear, how do I obtain more? Or is this another example of limited beta test content?
Ability Training- I completed Color of Sins in Gridania, and along the way I was told I learned a new ability and to move it to my action bars via the menu. I checked the Traits and Abilities submenu, but nothing was there. Beta bug, or not implemented in beta?
I think that's about it for gameplay questions. I'm having a blast otherwise. As for tech issues:
Chugging/Stuttering/Choppiness- Not sure what the technical term is for this, but as I'm running the game seems to be skipping forward a few frames, almost like a constant Mage mini-Blink if you're familiar with WoW. It's extremely hard on my eyes. Beta client issue, or hardware (see specs below)?
Lag/Latency- It's hard to tell exactly what my ping is, because I'm not familiar with how packets are supposed to be handled via S and R. But I'm R(receiving?) anywhere between 200-300+ and S(sending) less than or around 50. When I'm in combat or typically interacting with something via menu such as NPC menus or Aetheryte Crystals, it takes 10-30+ seconds to show up. Selected actions like Initiate Levequest, and even combat abilities and target/self HP are severely out of sync. Beta client issue, server side issue, or possibly firewall or physical location?
Graphical lag- Pretty annoying to say the least. It takes upwards of a minute to two minutes to load NPCs and players when entering a new area. I can run out of the Adventurer's Guild and not load people running by for a few seconds as well. And for instance, I ran to Camp Bentbranch in Gridania from the forest path, and it took around six minutes to load players and the NPCs. Sometimes I can turn my camera and lose sight of players, then stop and wait a second and they load back. Beta client issue, or tech issue (see specs below).
My setup:
I've tried fullscreen and windowed mode, and no AA/2xAA/4xAA. I always have low shadow, no AO, no DoF, low texture quality, lowest texture filtering, no shadows, no dust, no physics, and no extended drawing.
Intel Core 2 Processor Q6600 (2.40Ghz 1066FSB) w/ Quad Core Technology & 8MB Cache
3GB DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz
500GB Serial ATA II Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
ATI RADEON HD3650 256MB
Dell 0FM586 266 Megahertz Bus Clock Motherboard
Vista Home Premium, no desktop window effects
Anyhow, I know beta is beta and not a demo of the final product. Right now it's just hard to play with my lag and the chugging/stuttering. I think the main two things that will keep me from purchasing at launch will be my hardware (feedback please? ) and money. $13 a month isn't too bad, and $50 for standard edition isn't either; however, I've already made my pre-order for WoW's Cataclysm CE, and look forward to that immensely. I wanted to be able to play FFXIV during WoW breaks and boring days. So far, it's awesome though.
Any help or advice would be appreciated. Also, does anyone have word on gametime cards? Or is subbing via debit/credit the only option? Thanks!