Your Guide to Chocobo Breeding & Gardening (updated)

[Sheori_Baxton]

Chocobo Digging and Gardening(07/03/2006)

The Truth Behind Chocobos

For the people of Vana'diel, chocobos are reliable traveling companions and the most accessible mode of transportation. In recent years, demand for chocobos has exploded in response to the activities of adventurers, but surprisingly little is known about the way chocobos live and are raised.

The Vana'diel Chocobo Society (VCS) takes up the task of educating choco-gals and choco-guys and dispatching them to chocobo stables across Vana'diel. Below, VCS President Hantileon answers some of our questions regarding chocobo raising.


The Start of a New Life


Q: I heard that chocobos can see as soon as they are born. Is this true?

A: By the time chocobo chicks break out of their shells, they are already covered in down and can see clearly. They can even stand on their own two feet and take their first unsteady steps after a single day has passed. When chocobos still ran wild on the Quon continent, they needed to be able to run from carnivorous prey in order to survive.

Even so, chicks are still very weak, and require a warm bed, soft food, and most of all, loving care. This is why the Vana'diel Chocobo Society contacts the chocobo's owner immediately after it hatches and asks the owner to give the new chick a name. The chick's name is always used while it is being cared for in order to create a stronger bond between owner and chocobo.

Some names are fairly common, as they are often passed on from parent to chick. Many owners also tend to reuse the names of chocobos they have cared for in the past.



Caring For Chocobos

Q: Gysahl Greens are the most well-known type of feed preferred by chocobos across Vana'diel, but what else does their diet consist of?

A: Chocobos enjoy other types of greens, in addition to root vegetables such as San d'Orian carrots. The stables often use carrots as feed due to their high nutrition. Meat, such as that of the cupid worm, is also essential for building strong bones and muscles. Other than that, we sometimes gather medicinal grasses in the field for the chocobos. These grasses tend to be very bitter, however, and the chocobos do not enjoy their taste.

The VCS takes great care to provide the chocobos with a balanced diet, particularly during the growth stage of chick to young chocobo. We also discuss with the owner what types of goals they have for their chocobo, and gradually alter their feeding patterns in response.




Q: Besides feeding, what other types of care do you consider important?

A: As I mentioned earlier, the most important element to raising a good chocobo is loving care. Call your chocobo by its name and spend time outside together.

It is also important to scold your chocobo on occasion to keep it from behaving in a spoiled manner.

Also, don't forget that chocobos love to run. We take our chocobos outside and race them against each other on a daily basis. This invigorates them and builds their strength.



Raising a Winner

A: "How does the VCS train good chocobos?"

Q: The VCS provides a variety of experiences for chocobos while they are still young, such as digging for treasure and delivering messages and packages. Creating and enforcing a schedule that allows the chocobo to try out a multitude of tasks builds courage and wits. A courageous chocobo can carry its owner even to dangerous areas, and a quick-witted chocobo can cleverly react to dangerous situations, so these attributes are important to foster.

Also, even if they look the same at first glance, chocobos' bloodlines and abilities differ from each other. Therefore, we take great pains to provide each chocobo with a schedule that fits its unique attributes and brings out its strengths without making unreasonable demands.


Final Comments:
We at the Vana'diel Chocobo Society are listening to chocobo owners' opinions, and are currently formulating a plan to introduce a new method of chocobo raising. This plan is designed to create chocobos superior to previous breeds, and we hope that the adventurers look forward to the introduction of the new system as much as we do.


-Quoted from the Vana'diel Tribune's "Report from the VCS"


Illustration by Mitsuhiro Arita

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Chocobo Digging and Gardening(07/03/2006)

Chocobo Digging and Gardening

There will be a number of changes and additions to chocobo digging and gardening in accordance with the introduction of the chocobo raising feature in the next version update.


Chocobo Digging

The following changes and additions will be made to chocobo digging to complement the chocobo raising feature. These changes will not affect players' digging skill. The player's chocobo digging skill will apply to any chocobo they ride or raise.




[Chocobo Abilities]

Raising a chocobo in a certain way may result in the acquisition of various abilities. Some of these abilities will enhance the profitability of chocobo digging, such as by increasing the variety of items obtainable via the digging command.

[Buried Items]

Up until now, buried items were available in such a limited amount that if several players dug in an area for long enough, they could gather all the items in the area. In the next version update, the following adjustments will be made in order to allow a greater number of players to enjoy chocobo digging:
-The number of buried items in each area will increase.
-Depending on the chocobo, "fatigue" similar to that incurred during fishing will be imposed upon the player after digging for a certain period of time.

Gardening

New seeds will be added in the next version update to allow players to grow their own chocobo feed. Players will be able to grow feed in the same manner as other plants, and will not need to learn any special techniques or purchase any specific tools.

 

[Sheori_Baxton]

http://www.playonline.com/pcd/update/ff11us/20060822VOL2B1/detail.html

≪Aug. 22, 2006 Chocobo Raising≫
*Japan Standard Time

[Chocobo Raising]



With the cooperation of the VCS (Vana’diel Chocobo Society), adventurers will be able to create care plans and raise their very own chocobos. Eventually, players will be able to breed their fully grown chocobos and possibly produce rare and expensive eggs!

Beginning Chocobo Raising
The process of chocobo raising begins when you trade an egg obtained from a shop or battlefield to a VCS chocobo trainer (located in the stables of the three starting nations). You won’t be able to tell the attributes or coloring of your chocobo until the egg hatches.
*Note that you cannot trade another egg to a chocobo trainer once the chocobo raising process has begun. Also, the process of raising a chocobo must be continued in the nation where the egg was traded.


VCS Chocobo Trainers
- San d’Orian stables: Hantileon
- Bastokan stables: Zopago
- Windurstian stables: Pulonono

*There are new NPCs in the chocobo stables known as “chocoguys” who will help you understand the process of chocobo raising.
Chocoguys
- San d’Orian stables: Arvilauge
- Bastokan stables: Gonija
- Windurstian stables: Kiria-Romaria

[From Egg to Chocobo]

The process of raising a chocobo from egg, to chick, to adolescent, to adult will take approximately one month (Earth time).
Adventurers will work with a VCS chocobo trainer to care for their chocobo. The attributes of a fully grown chocobo will depend on the treatment it receives during this time.


Chocobo Care
Visiting your chocobo and caring for it directly will create bonds of affection that cannot be replaced by even the most detailed care plan. It is not strictly necessary to provide this level of dedication; however, your loving attention will have a noticeable effect on your chocobo’s development. It is also possible to cure your chocobo of several different status ailments with direct care.

- Special Abilities
Your chocobo may obtain special abilities depending on the method of care you employ. Each chocobo is limited to a maximum of 2 abilities.

- Events
You will witness various events while caring for your chocobo.


Feeding Your Chocobo
Using special feed or medicine will help your chocobo recover from exhaustion and status ailments. Trade the feed you obtain from shops or gardening to the VCS chocobo trainer. Overfeeding your chocobo may lead to stomachaches

Care Plans
VCS chocobo trainers will provide a basic level of care for your chocobo by following the care plan that you create.

Creating a Care Plan
It is possible to create 4 consecutive care plans for your chocobo. First, register the type of care you wish your chocobo to receive for each plan. Next, decide the duration (up to 7 days) for each registered plan.
*Note that it is possible to make changes to your care plan at any time. In the case where you do not register a care plan, a 7-day plan of basic care will be implemented for you.


[Chocobo Raising Tips]

- Caring for Eggs
In general, eggs will hatch with little effort on your part. However, the chick inside will feel your loving attention, so be sure to keep watch over your charge.

- Caring for Chicks
Your newly hatched chick will need a name! Naming your chocobo will be necessary for future procedures.
You will notice that more options are now available for chocobo care. Just remember that you cannot choose these options while your chick is sleeping.
*You can choose 2 names from a list of available words, with a maximum combination of 15 letters. Names cannot be changed once they have been chosen.

- Caring for Young Chocobos
Several more care options will become available when your chocobo reaches this stage of development. Your chocobo will now be able to travel far and wide, but will also become susceptible to injury and illness if not cared for properly. If you leave your young chocobo alone for long periods of time, it might just decide to run away from home!

- Caring for Adult Chocobos
Your fully grown chocobo can now be called as a mount, and also become a candidate for matchmaking.
Once this peak of growth has been reached, your chocobo will gradually approach retirement age.

[Adult Chocobos]
Matchmaking
Once your chocobo has reached a mature stage of development, it is possible to match it with other chocobos. The resulting offspring may exhibit the attributes or coloring of its parents.

- Chococards
You can receive a chococard by speaking with the VCS trainer and selecting the “Ask for a chococard” option.
This chococard is a chart that contains your chocobo’s vital statistics. There are chococards for both male and female chocobos: chococard (M) and chococard (F).

- The Matchmaking Process
1. Obtain the chococards for the chocobos you wish to match.
2. Speak to the NPC Finbarr in Upper Jeuno to purchase a VCS honeymoon ticket.
3. Trade the following items to Finbarr:
Chococard (M)
Chococard (F)
VCS honeymoon ticket

Chocobo Mounts
To be able to call your chocobo as a mount, speak to the VCS trainer and select the option “Register to call your chocobo.”
The status of the chocobo you call will be based on the condition of the chocobo at the time of registration. An enchanted item known as a “chocobo whistle” is necessary to actually call your chocobo. Equipping the chocobo whistle and using the enchantment will summon your chocobo.

*You cannot register multiple chocobos to call as mounts. Also, it is necessary to re-register a chocobo to take advantage of subsequent growth and development.
*You must possess a chocobo license to be able to call a chocobo



Retirement
Chocobos will eventually be retired from the raising process. It is possible to voluntarily retire an adult chocobo by speaking with the VCS trainer and selecting the option “Retire your chocobo.”
A retired chocobo will be registered on a VCS registration card, and taken into the care of the VCS.
*A retired chocobo can no longer be involved in the chocobo raising process.
*A chocobo with which you have chosen the option “Give up chocobo raising” will not be registered on a VCS registration card.
*A VCS registration card will only be issued once. Please take care not to throw the card away.

- Matchmaking and Riding Retired Chocobos
Trade the VCS registration card to the VCS trainer. You will then have the option to obtain a chococard or register to call your chocobo.

[Chocobo Attributes]

You can see the condition of a chocobo you are raising by speaking with the VCS trainer and selecting the option “Ask about chocobo's condition.”


Physical
- Strength: Affects the chocobo’s running speed.
- Endurance: Affects chocobo riding duration.


Mental
- Discernment: Affects the chocobo’s potential to learn abilities.
- Receptivity: Affects the chocobo’s ability to communicate with fellow chocobos.


Other attributes
- Energy: The power the chocobo needs to remain active. Affects the success of care plans and the frequency of care options.
- Affection: The most important part of chocobo raising. Greatly affects the success of care plans.
- Satisfaction: Changes with feeding and affects energy recovery.

[Types of Care]

*Care types will be added as the chocobo matures.
*The care type “Compete against others” will only be added after certain conditions are met.

Type of Care- Effect
Watch over the chocobo- Strengthens bonds of affection. Places very little stress on the chocobo

Tell a story -Strengthens bonds of affection and trains mental faculties. Telling various stories may have a beneficial effect for the chocobo.

Scold the chocobo- Disciplines the chocobo. Slightly weakens bonds of affection

Compete against others-Strengthens bonds of affection, but depletes stamina. Entertains a bored chocobo.

Go on a walk- Strengthens bonds of affection, but depletes stamina. The chocobo may meet someone on its travels!

[Care Plans]
*Care plans will be added as the chocobo matures

It was stated in the June 19 Topics that a chocobo’s appearance would change along with its attributes. Due to an extension of the testing period, these changes will now be implemented in a following version update