Unveiling the New Synergy System! (11/05/2009)

Ladies and gentlemen! Coming to you in a version update scheduled for as early as late November is "Synergy"—the new in-game system that will add a whole new dimension to synthesis!

What Is Synergy?

Synergy is an advanced form of synthesis wherein up to six players, each with unique skills, cooperate to create a single item via an apparatus called the "synergy furnace."

There are numerous differences to be noted between synergy and traditional single-player synthesis, one of them being the maintenance of elemental balance within the abovementioned synergy furnace. Synergists-to-be, take heed! Being a new field of science with numerous theories yet unverified, synergy is not a risk-free undertaking, and practitioners are advised to steel themselves for the occasional mishap.

Communal synergy furnaces will be made available in certain cities, and "synergy engineers"—your guides into the fascinating world of synergy—will be posted beside them to teach beginners the ropes. Furthermore, by completing a new quest, players will gain access to a handy new item that will allow them to summon their very own private furnace for use in field areas, eliminating the need to wait in line to use a public one.

Synergy Skill

Synergy skill determines your ability to safely handle synergy furnaces, and can be raised by applying synergy techniques used to manipulate elemental concentration levels inside the furnace. Proficiency in these techniques, too, can be raised to a degree corresponding to your synergy skill level. We recommend all players prioritize improving their skill, because when it comes to synergy, experience is synonymous with safety.

Certain synergy recipes demand expertise in specific synthesis disciplines, but synergy will be possible so long as a participating party member possesses the requisite skill in question. No single character needs to have all skill sets, and the supplier of ingredients is not required to possess any whatsoever. Each participant in synergy plays an equally significant role in the process.

Synergizing via a Communal Furnace

1) Obtain the "synergy crucible" key item.
The synergy crucible serves as the receptacle for different varieties of elemental "fewell," the source of power for furnaces. Characters need only acquire the crucible once by completing a new quest.

2) Prepare ingredients for the recipe.
Recipes corresponding to a character's synergy skill level can be learned by talking to a synergy engineer.

3) Recruit party members.
Synergy is a joint activity that requires the cooperation of other players. The party leader should seek fellow synergists with the right skills needed for a particular recipe and invite them to join a party.

4) Fill up on fewell.
Synergy engineers can inform you regarding your crucible's current supply of fewell and, if required, also provide you with a top-up in exchange for gil. Alternatively, it is also possible to directly replenish the crucible using either crystals or the new synthesizable item version of fewell (alchemy skill required).

5) Claim usage over a synergy furnace.
To use a communal synergy furnace, you must first lay claim by examining it. At this point, you will be allocated a period of time to deposit the ingredients and commence the synergy process. When this has been done, your group will have exclusive access to the furnace until the synergy process is complete.
*Private synergy furnaces summoned using the aforementioned item can be used only by you and your party members.

6) Deposit the ingredients.
Only the claim-holding character may deposit ingredients into the furnace. Similarly, at the conclusion of synergy, the resultant product will be obtainable only by that character.

7) Operate the furnace.
Now comes the most invigorating and rewarding part of the process: the operation of the synergy furnace itself. Throughout the course of synergy, players must keep a close eye on the balance of elemental concentration, internal pressure, the build-up of impurities, and furnace durability. Seamless teamwork and timely application of synergy techniques is the key to success.

Potential Complications

In the hands of the untrained, synergy may prove to be a painful exercise. For instance, if left unchecked, the swelling of elemental forces and the accumulation of impurities inside the furnace are surefire recipes for explosions and leakages. Synergy participants should not be surprised if the furnace literally detonates in their faces. As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure, and the best way to prevent is to improve your synergy prowess.

Success!

The successfully synergized product will be entrusted to the supplier of ingredients, while all participants will be awarded with "cinders," a synergy by-product. Cinders act as points that can be accumulated and traded to synergy engineers in exchange for items that will aid you in your synergistic endeavors.

The Joys of Synergy

Synergy will play a central role in the recently announced Evolith system by allowing players to add and remove slots on, as well as attach evolith to weapons and armor. There will also be a host of new items that can be had exclusively through synergy.

Prepare yourself for a synthesis revolution when the Synergy system arrives!

Synergy will play a central role in the recently announced Evolith system by allowing players to add and remove slots on, as well as attach evolith to weapons and armor. There will also be a host of new items that can be had exclusively through synergy.

Pokeblocks ftw.

@#%^ POFFINS WITH AN ELECTRIC ROD

3) Recruit party members.
Synergy is a joint activity that requires the cooperation of other players. The party leader should seek fellow synergists with the right skills needed for a particular recipe and invite them to join a party.

Player 1: Ok, looks like the synth is going well...
Player 2: *touches the furnace* Are you sure? The heat feels kinda low...I'm gonna toss this fire cluster in here!
Party: NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO
*furnace goes boom and the party goes flying in multiple directions*

Well, people have been shouting for a more interactive form of crafting for awhile now, guess this is what we get.

I thought the great part about FFXI was the forced grouping that creates such a powerful community compared to almost any other MMO where you can solo to the level cap in a week or two.

Now suddenly everyone is pissed about forced grouping? Can someone explain this to me? If you don't like the idea of having to play with other people then maybe stick to offline games. It's not as if you're being forced into pickup groups with players you don't know.

I thought the great part about FFXI was the forced grouping that creates

Isn't there enough content in this game already where you have to get 5-17 other people with more than half a brain between them together, so that only one person can walk away with anything to show for their time and trouble and the rest just have to wait for their turn and hope that said person doesn't suddenly remember he has to walk his dog once he gets what he wanted?

Obviously not, that's why SE is adding more!

Honestly, I'm indifferent about this. Whoever wants to play around with this new craft, more power to them. I'm just joking around a little to try to counteract the feelings of DDOOOOOOMMMM and FFAAAAIILLLL so prevalent on this forum right now.

Everyone says that this is a group game and not a solo friendly game. I say they have it backwards: Group content is content you group for because you WANT to not because you HAVE to. There's a difference between being inefficiant and being impossible. You can solo a job to 75 but partying will be (with few exceptions along the way) faster. If there is any solo possibility to all with synergy (doesn't sound like it - sounds like 6 or gtfo) you won't have any shot at all at "the good stuff" as in not just harder, impossible.

Just what we all need, more shouting up crap because the people we know either do not have what we need or are not available. Yeah sounds like loads of fun, its totally our fault and we are impossible to please despite spelling out exactly whats wrong every time they pull this crap.

Like I said earlier, if it's so horrible to get friends and LS mates together for a quick event (and by the way, you can apparently do synergy ANYWHERE in the field, probably even while you're waiting for Fafnir pop windows and such), just go play FFXII and you wont have to be bothered to work together with anyone but yourself.

5) Claim usage over a synergy furnace.
To use a communal synergy furnace, you must first lay claim by examining it. At this point, you will be allocated a period of time to deposit the ingredients and commence the synergy process. When this has been done, your group will have exclusive access to the furnace until the synergy process is complete.
*Private synergy furnaces summoned using the aforementioned item can be used only by you and your party members.

Fail. Better luck next time SE. So far theirs what? One decent thing in the update I can recall...SMN stuff?

How hard did this need to be really?

Was that so hard!? Quick and painless for players while still a timesink since you need to head back to the NPC. Jesus Christ! This game just becomes a pay per month chat program more and more every update. -.-

You are going to need access to the synergy furnace and those are not going to be "ANYWHERE".

Furthermore, by completing a new quest, players will gain access to a handy new item that will allow them to summon their very own private furnace for use in field areas, eliminating the need to wait in line to use a public one.