Final Fantasy XI update will reduce player harassment issues

MPK problems to be addressed in the next MMORPG update

December 11, 2005

Square Enix has introduced new changes to its popular massively-multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), Final Fantasy XI. The new changes hope to put a stop to a form of player harassment called MPK (Monster Player Kill).

In Final Fantasy XI, it's not possible to directly attack another player, unless registered in a voluntary event called Ballista. Outside of this event, play is intended to be cooperative. However, it is possible to indirectly attack and defeat another player through MPK. In general, to MPK another player, you attract several higher-level enemies towards that player, and then leave the area. The monsters/enemies will then turn their attention to the victim of the MPK. In most cases, the victim is too low of a level to defend himself or herself.

Square Enix acknowledges that a good MMORPG will have both positive and negative experiences with other players, but that the MPK form of harassment is excessive and harmful to gameplay. Therefore, in the next version update, two changes to the game will be introduced.

The first change causes monsters to disappear under certain conditions. A monster will normally wander around a set area when it is not attacking a player. Under the new conditions, when a player is defeated by a monster outside of that area, or if the player being chased leaves the area, the monster will disappear. This means that the normal method of MPK can't be completed on any player outside of a monster's normal range. As soon as the attacker leaves the area, the threat is neutralized.

The second change affects monsters that have been immobilized with the "Bind" spell. With the new version, a 'bound' monster will only attack the party or alliance that it is targeting.

These aren't the first changes that Square Enix has made to address player harassment and competetion problems. Previous updates included changes to when a newly-appeared monster can be claimed, and the addition of the /blockaid command. These new changes, however, will likely be the most effective response to the MPK problem.