In the upcoming May version update of Final Fantasy XI, Square Enix plans to make your Alter Ego and Adventuring Fellow battle companions stronger than ever! Two new Alter Egos, the Martial Master Maat and the Yagudo ninja Gessho, will be implemented, and your Alter Egos will be summonable in the Wings of the Goddess expansion areas.

 A number of changes are also in store for the Adventuring Fellow NPCs, including the raising of their level cap to 99, the ability to go past lv. 99 based on item level gear, and a decrease to the exp penalty suffered by players while they have an adventuring fellow out.

Excited for the new changes? Let us know all about it over on the ZAM forums!

From the official Final Fantasy XI forums:

[dev1200] Alter Ego and Fellow Additions and Adjustments

• The following additions and adjustments will be made to the Trust initiative.
  • The following alter egos will be added.
    
    

    	名前	戦闘タイプ	習得条件
    	Maat	Melee Fighter	Complete one of the Trust initiation quests in either San d'Oria, Bastok, or Windurst.
    			Complete the quest "Shattering Stars" on at least six jobs. * Blue mages, corsairs, puppetmasters, dancers, scholars, geomancers, and rune fencers cannot accept this quest.
    			Speak with Maat in Ru'Lude Gardens (H-5) after fulfilling the above
    	Gessho	Tank	Complete one of the Trust initiation quests in either San d'Oria, Bastok, or Windurst.
    			Complete the mission "Passing Glory."
    			Examine the cushion in Aht Urhgan Whitegate (J-12) after fulfilling the above prerequisites.

  • Alter egos will be able to be called forth in the following areas.
    East Ronfaure [S] / Jugner Forest [S] / Vunkerl Inlet [S] / Battalia Downs [S] / La Vaule [S] / North Gustaberg [S] / Grauberg [S] / Pashhow Marshlands [S] / Rolanberry Fields [S] / Beadeaux [S] / Western Sarutabartua [S] / Fort Karugo-Narugo [S] / Meriphataud Mountains [S] / Sauromugue Champaign [S] / Castle Oztroja [S] / Beaucedine Glacier [S] / Xarcabard [S] / Castle Zvahl Baileys [S] / Garlaige Citadel [S] / Crawlers’ Nest [S] / The Eldieme Necropolis [S] / Castle Zvahl Keep [S]
  • Zeid’s combat tactics and actions will undergo wide-reaching improvements.
  • Nanaa Mihgo’s will have a new behavior when using “despoil.”

• Fellows will undergo the following adjustments.
  • Completing the quest “A Trial in Tandem Revisited” will enable fellows to reach a maximum level of 99. This change will occur retroactively.
  • Level 99 fellows will increase in levels in line with their character’s average equipped item level.
  • The degree to which experience earned by players is lessened with an active fellow will be decreased.