Cactuar (Server)

This was the server for beta testing of the North American releases of FFXI on Windows and the PS2. It originally contained only the content of the original FFXI and all updates, not Rise of the Zilart. However, for the last few weeks of beta testing, content from Rise of the Zilart was offered to beta players with high enough levels.

Cactuar Server saw some events which did not occur on any other server. In Late August 2003, an Event Notorious Monster appeared outside San d'Oria, Bastok, and Windurst, the Gigantoad. It was a powerful creature with extrodinarily high HP which took dozens of players fighting it all at once to defeat. The Gigantoad never appeared on any other server (Note: This was a test to determine how well the servers can handle dozens of participants engaged in the same battle. The test was a success and a monster requiring dozens of players to defeat, Twinkling Treant, was added as an Event Notorious Monster in late December 2003). When beta testing ended, several GMs appeared before players on the final day and displayed to them various equipment (such as Artifact Armor from Expansion Jobs) and teleported groups of players to fight Notorious Monsters like King Behemoth, Serket, Roc, Simurgh, Colossus, Capricious Cassie. The GMs fought alongside the players.

ID Number: N/A

Activation Date: June 12, 2003 Deactivation Date: October 14, 2003