The Celestia Citizen (“Patch My Game” Edition – Part 1)

Hello, fellow Celestians! Welcome to another edition of the Celestia Citizen newsletter! Fresh off of the beginning of summer is the anticipation of the next major patch for the game. However, before such an endeavor could be met, it required one remaining patch to be implemented to complete the 6.1x series. Information on this is available in the next major section of the newsletter.

Now, what is the theme we’re going for this month? With the realization that we were due to not only receive the last of the 6.1x patches this month, with 6.2 slated for late August, and the sheer amount of content we have received, it seemed as if the game was being gradually and continuously ‘pimped’. This is when I had the bright idea to use a classic meme for this month’s theme.

Pimp My Ride is an MTV (Music Television) channel television series that ran for 6 seasons from 2004 to 2007. Starring the rapper Xzibit, the theme was that every episode would deliver a car in poor condition to be restored & customized. The success of the show led to many international series being developed (within the UK, the Baltic States, Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia, France and others), as well as spinoffs such as Trick my Truck on the CMT (Country Music Television) channel.

Despite the show falling out before the end of the 2000s, it lives on through meme material with the infamous Xzibit meme being commonplace on the internet.

In addition to discussing the current patch in-game, and the upcoming one, we also have some Free Company specific content to discuss. Let us get to it!

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Final Fantasy XIV News

First, the last 6.1x patch, Patch 6.18, released on Tuesday, July 5th. Details are listed here: https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodestone/topics/detail/aa641701b181ebf66aaf3264896b65acdbd23850

The patch featued mainly PvP action adjustments, addition of a new Japanese data center (Meteor), new worlds within the European Data Center, implementation of the Data Center Travel System, and adjustments to the latest game raid.

The next patch, Patch 6.2, has no official details listed on Lodestone for what is to come. Instead, we will go off of the notes from the prior Live Letter that aired on July 1st. Credit for the capture of notes goes to Harliqyn Mave, as well as Scura and Blessed Darkangel.

Here are some bullet points captured from the July 1st Live Letter:

1. Buried Memory is the name of the 6.2 Patch
2. New Main Scenario Quests are coming
3. Continuation of side quests “Tataru’s Grand Endeavor”
4. “Somehow Further Hildibrand Adventures” is scheduled for patch 6.25
5. New Weapon Enhancement Quests are scheduled for patch 6.25 (these will be relevant to the latest Hildibrand content!!!)
6. New Tribal Questline is scheduled for patch 6.25 (this will focus on Disciples of the Land aka Gathering)
7. New dungeon – The Fell Court of Troia
8. New trials (Normal, Extreme, and Unreal) – The Unreal trial will focus on Containment Bay S1T7
9. New raids (Normal and Savage) – the next wing of Pandaemonium, consisting of four raids. Note that the Savage raid will be delayed by 1 week following 6.2 release, and is subject to change based on developer & community feedback
10. Job adjustments (PvE, PvP, postponing of targeted adjustments to Dragoon and Astrologian)
11. Stat adjustments to Critical and Direct Hit stats
12. PvP content updates (Series Two begins, Season 3 of Crystalline Conflict begins, return of Rival Wings)
13. MSQ duty adjustments for NPC parties (Snowcloak, The Keeper of the Lake, Sohm Al, The Aery, The Vault)
14. MSQ quest readjustment to solo duty (The Steps of Faith)
15. MSQ duty difficulty readjustment (Thornmarch)
16. Variant Dungeons introduction
17. Variant Dungeon 1 introduced “The Sil’dihn Subterrane”
18. Another Path – Criterion Dungeons introduction
19. Criterion Dungeon 1 introduced “Another Sil’dihn Subterrane” and “Another Sil’dihn Subterrane (Savage)”
20. Island Sanctuary introduction
21. Adventurer Plate and Portrait Updates
22. Allagan Tomestones of Causality release
23. New high item level crafted gear release
24. Can request repairs from other players IN and OUTSIDE OF duty
25. Combo Action Map display – This will show action progression to resolve a full combo (i.e. which button to push in order)
26. Rare materials added to aetherial reductions for Disciples of the Land
27. Glamour Dresser Capacity increased from 400 to 800
28. Adjustments to “Return to Ivalice” quests (specifically, “Makin’ Bacon (Bread)” and “Wok on By”)

To read up on the specifics of each major bullet point, please refer to the FC’s Discord server and to the #ffxiv-updates channel for the July 1st notes.

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Free Company Updates and Social Events

The first topic of discussion is the introduction of new Officers to Celestia. Jerilith Alrin and Rekilic Renatus will now cover PvP Content in a central fashion for the Free Company. Please be sure to welcome them, and defer to them for any PvP related questions.

The second topic of discussion is the introduction of new Artisans to Celestia: Brownie Bites, Elhana Greenwood, and Floki Seidhr. Celestia Artisans provide assistance to all members of the FC for anything crafting or gathering related. Please be sure to welcome them, and use their services for any of your DOL/DOH needs. In addition, we are always interested in recruiting additional Artisans if that aspect of the game appeals to you. For more details, inquire with Simera Yeep, or review the “Becoming an Artisan” post under our #crafting-requests channel.

The next topic of discussion for the Free Company is Officer recruitment advertisements. Currently, the Free Company is seeking interested members willing & wanting to apply for overseeing the following content:

1. Primal Farming (mount or misc items)
2. Hunts
3. Blue Mage Content

All interested parties may apply on the FC Discord server via the Officer Application in #officer-directory channel.

The next topic of discussion is adjustment to the Primal Learning channel on the FC Discord server. It has been revised to Endgame Learning, and will now include learning for all endgame-related content (including Primals). There is also a demand for new recruits wanting & willing to participate in this content when scheduled.

On the Social Event front, there are two upcoming Social Events occurring during the month of July.

On Saturday, July 23rd, there will be a Lalaball tournament. It will involve a bracket based roster, with teams participating in a Best of 3 format. Requirements for this social event are to have a Blue Mage leveled to 70, and to have the Blue Mage spell “Malediction of Water” unlocked (it is spell #98, and acquired from the Swallow’s Compass duty). The FC will provide assistance to interested members in powerleveling Blue Mages, and in procuring the required spell. Please refer to the #social-events channel for details & sign up.

On Saturday, July 30th, there will be a PvP tournament. It will be a one-on-one format, and further details will be made available as the deadline approaches. Please refer to the #pvp-events channel for details & sign up.

On the Miscellaneous Business front, please keep the following in mind for FC business.

If there is a general issue that arises, requiring an Officer or Officers to intervene and assist, please be sure to capture evidence (including screenshots) and document it on a ticket that can be opened in the FC Discord server. Proceed to the #?help channel to create a ticket when needed.

Celestia also has a streaming platform available for all interested FC members. If you wish to advertise your streaming platform & channel for the Free Company, reach out to Kaladin Stormblessed to have specifics added to the FC site for your platform.

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Beyond the Light

Good news, everyone! This month, Beyond the Light will be finalized for capturing interviews from our various FC members. Expect the form to be available with a formal announcement made on the FC Discord server as early as mid July. The objective will be for all interested FC members to participate in the form, answer some fundamental questions about themselves and their FFXIV experience, provide pictures if desired, and to be entered in for a raffle. This raffle will result in one random member having their interview picked and given a dedicated section for the monthly newsletter. More details to come.

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The “Coming Soon” Section

This is a bit of an informal section. I have tapped into my profound love for video games, but moreso into the upcoming games that others may be interested in that are not of a FFXIV nature.

Here are upcoming major games that may interest you (for these are also ones I myself am interested in):

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Discord Server “Community” Update & 2 Factor Authentication/Multi Factor Authentication

As of July 8th, the Free Company’s Discord Server switched to a Community format. A couple of benefits therein:

1. Channels are moderated automatically – If a channel is created, certain settings (including name of channel) will be restricted normally
2. To make adjustments via moderation, this now requires 2FA/MFA enabling on your Discord account.

Please ensure that you safeguard your Final Fantasy XIV account, and your Discord account. Below is a copy-and-paste of my prior announcement made on our Discord server:

I am making a general awareness announcement to the FC in regards to security and safety for both your FFXIV accounts and your Discord accounts. With all of the rampant account hijackings occurring in the Discord world, you may have seen other servers stressing to avoid clicking on ‘sus’ (suspicious) links and downloads, especially from fellow server-mates. We are encouraging the same behavior in Discord so nobody has their Discord accounts hijacked and endangers others. If a member from the FC here does provide suspicious links or downloads directly to you, please reach out to one of our Magistrates ASAP. But what of the FFXIV front?

It turns out that ‘Yes’, you CAN have your FFXIV account get hacked. If a hacker gets your SQEX login that has a XIV account and sub attached to it, they could log in and give you a bad day. Do your diligence and safeguard yourself through the glory of 2-Factor Authentication in both Discord AND in FFXIV.

In Discord: Follow the safe link listed here for how to setup 2FA for your Discord account (this will just require you to download a free authenticator such as Google Authenticator, or Authy): https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/219576828-Setting-up-Two-Factor-Authentication

In FFXIV: Go to your Mog Station page (where you can manage your licenses, go to the shop for buying stuff, etc) > Square Enix Account Settings > “One-Time Password” > Select your choice of “token” or authenticator (per the image attached):

Security Token (key ring type, physical token): Retails for $14.99, no software on phone to juggle

Software Token (smartphone app): No cost, and uses Square Enix’s official Software Token app

Software Authenticator (smartphone app): No cost, offers flexibility on choice of authenticator app (Google, Microsoft, IBM, Authy, etc)

As always, be safe and keep yourselves secure for full enjoyment of these wonderful services, everyone!

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Conclusion

So, here we are. At the beginning of yet another month, where we have peaked into summer for the year, we look onward to the next half of the year with great anticipation. Anticipation on what, you may ask? The anticipation that things will get better in the world. That as we continue to improve our living, our happiness, and our love, that we realize that we have overcome trials to get here. Those who have been anticipating major content from Square Enix for Final Fantasy XIV have it to look forward to in the coming weeks. There is a saying: All good things to those who wait. The knowledge that a feature is coming, or a new piece of content is coming, always plants that little seed in one’s mind and thoughts. As it germinates, and grows, we look to it to fully blossom when it has reached its peak. We want it to come quick, and we want it to come when our anticipation is at its greatest. Anticipation can diminish, but the time to reach the end of waiting can too.

As we get closer to the next major patch, it is all a question of what else could come to our favorite MMORPG to encourage us to continue sticking with it for the foreseeable future. Personally, I just want to live out my Harvest Moon fantasies and see what Island Sanctuary has to offer.

Until the patch comes in late August, please keep your patience and your wits about you. And stay safe, healthy, and happy in the meantime. Until next time, see you space cowboys Warriors of Light!