Ballista

Feeling a little bit down and want to take some aggression out on some poor soul? Then perhaps Ballista is what you're looking for. Ballista is Final Fantasy XI small version of PvP (Player vs Player) game mode that allows players from different nations to compete against one another in a sporting event. A killing event is more correct than a sporting event but one that is fun and can be quite addictive. This page will provide you with some of the basic of ballista. However note that the face of Ballista is constantly changing with each new updates from SquareEnix. New rules, new areas, and new items are constantly being introduce to Ballista. Check out in-game for more detail or at Playonline.com.

Ballista License

In order to complete in a Ballista match, a player must have a Ballista license first. Acquiring a license is as follows: Requirements: Rank 3 Starting NPC Title Location Area Invincible Shield Bastok Conflict Director Metalworks J-8 Excenmille San D'Oria Conflict Director North Sandoria D-9 Mhabi Molkot Windurst Conflict Director Heavens Tower Clerical Chamber Beginning of Quest      You will need to talk to your Nation Conflict Director listed above to start the Ballista License cut scene. Once that's done, you'll be sent to the other two nations to deliver a letter to their Conflict Director. Again listed above. Then you need to speak to the leaders of those nations after delivering the letter to the Conflict Directors. The leader of each nations are King Derstin in Chateau d' Oraguille, President Karst in Bastok Metalworks, and Star Sibyl in Heaven Tower. Once you are done delivering the letter to the other Nation's Conflict Director and talking to their leaders, you'll need to make your way home and talk to your Nation Conflict Director again. He'll then send you to talk to your Nation leader for the last time. After this you should have a Ballista License and ready for a Ballista match.

The Basic of Ballista

Here are the basics of Ballista. Remember to make a note that there are new COP areas, items, and matches introduce to Ballista from SquareEnix with each new update. The fundalmental basic is still there but for new additions and features to Ballista, see Playonline.com and in-game for more details. Schedule Ballista matches will begin as limited events until the following schedule is gradually implemented. Matches will be played on even days of the Vana'diel calendar in each of the three areas listed above. The schedule below is the same for every month: 1 2 3 4 5 6       7 8 9 10 11 12       13 14 15 16 17 18       19 20 21 22 23 24       25 26 27 28 29 30       (These dates are based on the Vana'dielian calendar.) Level restrictions are based on the month of the match. 1st month 2nd month 3rd month 4th month 5th month 6th month -Lv30 -Lv40 No restrictions -Lv50 -Lv60 No restrictions 7th month 8th month 9th month 10th month 11th month 12th month -Lv30 -Lv40 No restrictions -Lv50 -Lv60 No restrictions (These dates are based on the Vana'dielian calendar.) Participation fees are based on the level restriction of the match. Level 30 Level 40 Level 50 Level 60 No level restriction 600gil 1600gil 3000gil 4800gil 7500gil * Level restrictions are carried out in much the same way as a boss battle. Once the match commences, a player's level will be lowered to the cap determined by the month. Players with levels lower than the cap will not be affected. Entries will be accepted from 12:00 (Vana'diel time) on the day before the match. Matches will start at 12:00 midnight (Vana'diel time) and last either one or one-half Vana'diel day (approx. 30 or 60 minutes Earth time). The maximum number of participants for one team is 36. While Ballista is still being performed as a limited event, the match time, level restriction, number of participants allowed, etc. are subject to change. Please check PlayOnline as well as in-game system messages for further details. Ballista Areas Jugner Forest Pashhow Marshlands Meriphataud Mountains *Note: Not including the COP areas* Entry To participate in Ballista, a player must first speak with a Herald in one of the three areas mentioned above, and then pay the participation fee. The entry period is approximately one half of a day (Vana'diel time) before the commencement of the match. If the difference in number of players on each team grows too large, there will be a temporary stop on the acceptance of applications for the larger team. The application process for that team will recommence when more players have joined the smaller team. If a player requests a discharge from his or her nation's forces before the match begins, the participation fee will be refunded in full. At the end of the entry period, if either team has less than six members, the match will be cancelled. If a match is cancelled, the participation fee will be refunded in full. Opening Ceremony At the close of the entry period, if both teams have met the minimum player number requirements, the opening ceremony will begin. Take caution, as monsters will remain active until the match is underway. The ceremony consists of: -A speech by the Herald -An oath read by a representative from both teams -The level restriction -The casting of Invisible and Sneak onto players During the Match Once the match begins, Invisible and Sneak will wear off. In addition, any TP stored will reset to zero. Each nation's Pursuivant will appear near the camps after the starting signal. No entries will be accepted after the start of the match. By talking to the Herald, a player can request discharges from his or her nation's forces after the match has started; however, the participation fee will not be refunded. End of the Match All matches will conclude after 12:00 Vana'diel time (after one Vana'diel day). At this time, the Herald will conduct a closing ceremony. After the ceremony, members from the victorious forces can receive their reward* from the Herald. After the match is over, the Herald will return to the Conflict headquarters in Jeuno. All rewards must be collected immediately before the referee's departure. Also, in the case of a draw, the participation fees collected will be refunded in full to members from both forces. This reimbursement must also be carried out before the Herald leaves. Basic Rules Matches are played by teams, and each team is comprised of adventurers representing a certain nation. The team with the most points at the end of the allotted time period is declared the winner. Experience is neither lost nor gained during Ballista. Also, skill levels will not rise. Players are free to use items during Ballista. However, these items will not be reimbursed. Interaction with monsters and adventurers not participating in Ballista will be restricted. Functions such as magic, trading, bazaars, etc. cannot be used. During Ballista, a player's linkshell will be disengaged and replaced with a special one used by his/her nation's forces. The words spoken on this linkshell channel can only be heard by that player's team. Say, Shout, Tell, etc. will function as normal. Players can also form parties while participating in Ballista. These parties are not restricted to nations, making it possible to form a party with members of the opposing team. However, in such cases, only the Party chat mode can be used. The following actions cannot be performed during Ballista: Fishing Riding a chocobo Utilizing the bazaar of anyone besides the members of your nation's forces Trading with anyone besides the members of your nation's forces Currently, the following do not affect the Conquest: The result of a match Being knocked out during a match The number of Petras a player scores NPCs unassociated with Ballista will not respond to players participating in the games. Onscreen Interfaces With the start of the match, the following information will appear in the upper left corner of the screen: The number of members in each nation's force The number of Petras a player is carrying Gate Breach status (indicated by a star-shaped mark located by the Petra counter) Also, the following buttons will appear in the action command menu: "Quarry" "Sprint" or "Scout" Finally, the color of the participant's name will change and an icon representing the player's nationality will be displayed to the left of his/her name. Quarry This command (/quarry) allows a player to dig up the area at his or her feet and search for buried Petras. However, an attempt may not always be successful. The further a player is from a Rook, the easier it is to find Petras. Once a Petra has been obtained, a player cannot dispose of away. A player will lose his/her Petras by making an area change or returning to camp after being knocked out. Sometimes, items can be found by using the Quarry command. However, the rules of Ballista require a player to use those items immediately. The Quarry command cannot be repeated in quick succession. Sprint Sprint (/sprint) temporarily increases a player's movement speed. Sprint can only be used when a player does not possess any Petras. The Sprint command cannot be repeated in quick succession. Scout Scout (/scout) informs the player of the location (distance and direction) of the nearest Rook. Scout can only be used when a player possesses a Petra. The Scout command cannot be repeated in quick succession. Penalty A penalty is incurred to players who change equipment during a match. After equipping new armor or weapons in any slot other than "ammo," a player will be penalized for a set number of seconds. During this period the player will be "stunned" and unable to move or act. Concerning the ammo slot, a penalty will only be incurred if a weapon or item is unequipped and a new one is not equipped in its place. Also, further equipment changes can be made while penalized. However, caution should be taken when performing these actions, as a player will be vulnerable to attacks from nearby players. Special Abilities Provoke Provoke can be used to lock the target of an enemy player. While provoked, a player can only target the provoker. All actions performed by the person provoked (attacks, magic, items, etc.) will be directed at the provoker. This ability can be used to help teammates who are in trouble. However, Provoke is not guaranteed to take effect. Steal Petras can be stolen from members of the opposing force by using this ability. Mug Increases the chances of stealing large numbers of Petras from a member of the opposing forces. Auto-Attack During Ballista, the range of all melee weapons is increased. "Resist" Abilities All "Resist" abilities are enhanced. Weapon Skills The range of all melee weapon skills is increased. However, that of ranged weapons is not affected. K.O. Experience will not be lost when knocked out. There are three options available after being knocked out: 1. Wait for automatic revival A few moments after being knocked out, a player will automatically revive. At this time, 100% of the player's HP and 50% of the player's MP will be restored. The amount of time a player must wait for automatic revival increases each time this method is chosen. 2. Return to camp Choosing to return to camp will warp a player back to his/her nation's base, where he/she will be revived with full HP and MP. There is nothing special about the camps themselves. They are merely points in the current area where you are revived to and where your Pursuivant is located. Reviving using the above methods will not weaken the player. These two forms of revival will result in the loss of all Petras. Also, after using the above methods, the player will spend a short amount of time "preparing for battle." During this period, he/she cannot be attacked. 3. Be raised When raised with magic or a bard song, a player will temporarily be in a weakened state. However, that player will not lose the Petras he/she has accumulated. If a player is knocked out when the match comes to a close, he/she can still accept automatic revival without the loss of experience points. In such instances, "Return to Camp" will change to "Return to Home Point." Players in this situation can choose to return to their home point without a loss of experience points. [Instances where a player will have the option to "Return to Home Point"] When the match ends while in the process of being moved by the spell Tractor When a player returns to a finished match after losing his/her connection while in a knocked out state. Rooks Rooks are open territory for both teams. Anyone can score Petras in any Rook. The number of Rooks on the battlefield is determined by the number of players participating in the match. The Rooks change their position at regular intervals. A Petra cannot be thrown in a Rook directly before or after it moves. In most cases, Petras can only be thrown in Rooks when a player has achieved Gate Breach status. However, if the majority of the leading force's members have left the area, the Rooks' gates will open, allowing any player to freely score Petras (with or without achieving Gate Breach status). Scoring Petras may be thrown into Rooks only after a player defeats a member of the opposing team and has achieved Gate Breach status. However, only ten Petras can be scored at one time, and once a player has scored, his/her Gate Breach status will be disengaged.