Some info about combat system

At Gamescom, Hiromichi Tanaka held and interview with staff from Famitsu. We posted translations of his and Sage Sundi's interviews earlier today, but now footage of the discussion is available on Famitsu.com.

While the information is the same, we now can see everything Tanaka was doing while explaining the battle and Guildleve systems, plus get a demonstration of how adjustable the interface will be. Read on to see the key points revealed in each video!

Episode 1

Tanaka ventures out into the plains of Eorzea in search of Puks to exterminate, but runs a-fowl of an infamous clan of Dodos wreaking havoc. Revealed in this episode:

* There is no auto-battle, commands must be selected every time the character attacks.
* Depending on the combination of commands chosen, the player can activate a variety of techniques.
* You can draw and sheathe your weapon freely, even outside of battle.
* The monsters you must defeat for a particular quest will appear on your map during Guildleve.
* There are two command gauges, one for your right hand and one for your left hand.
* The player chooses which commands they wish to register to the command gauge from the action icons lined along the bottom of the screen.
* There will be and Action gauge and Power gauge that increase over time. You must build these up in order to unleash special techniques.
* A TP gauge is also present, which increases by attacking or being attacked. A full TP gauge will alter your techniques in a variety of ways.
* Red Lotus Blade is hilarious. (レッドロータス can be truncated to レタス, which became an amusing way to refer to the Weaponskill in FFXI due to it's dual meaning of lettuce, the vegetable.)

Episode 2

Having toppled the mighty Dodos of the eastern plains and bringing peace once more to the land, Tanaka bravely charges forth to wipe out an infestation of Puks. Revealed in this episode:

* The action icons you have at your disposal will change based on your equipped weapon. If Tanaka chose to wield a Staff, he would have access to magic.
* As the player increases their skill in a particular weapon, their character will acquire more abilities. However, the action menu at the bottom is limited to 10 icons at a time.
* The action menu can be customized to match a player's individual style.
* The status of party members will appear in the center of the right edge of the screen. Tanaka waves his hand to indicate their rough position around 0:55 seconds.
* The interface can be freely adjusted by the player. Window placement, chat box size and more will be customizable.
* There will be three different camera views: over-the-shoulder, overhead, and first person.
* The aim of the battle system is to deliver a more aggressive, engaging experience. The player will constantly be selecting commands, evolving their strategy and adapting to the flow of battle.
* The focus has been taken off the strict roles jobs had in Final Fantasy XI to allow players to easily play alone, with a friend or with a group of people.
* Warp points will mainly be provided for travelling back after completing a Guildleve quest.

The mini-series then closes with some words from Hiromichi Tanaka and Sage Sundi. Here is a rough translation:

Tanaka: "The fruits of our labor are finally coming to bear, and the development team is working hard to get the game ready. We're planning to let everyone get a shot at a playable version like we have done here in Germany, so please look forward to it."

Sundi: "I know many Final Fantasy XI users are quite worried about what kind of experience they can have in our upcoming MMO. Making Final Fantasy XIV enjoyable for all users, including Final Fantasy XI players, is our number one priority. We cannot build a community without considering that. First we address how to satisfy Final Fantasy fans. From there, we will attract other MMO players and develop a community like never before. I believe Final Fantasy Xi players will find their time in Eorzea to be an enjoyable and fulfilling experience, and I hope you look forward to it."