It appears that Square Enix has run out of things to talk about for Dragon Quest IX. The past few official media blasts from the company have been mostly rehashes of older updates, with just a few new details.

This past week, the company provided a refreshed look at DQIX's treasure map system and advanced job classes. Let's take a look in case you weren't paying attention earlier this year when these systems were first detailed, or if you want all the specifics now, now, now!

First up, treasure maps. As previously detailed, during your DQ IX adventure, you'll come across special maps. These are marked up with an X indicating the general location of a cave that houses treasure. Select the map from the tool menu, and it will appear on the top screen, allowing you to search for the exact location of the cave.

X marks the spot! Although the treasure map geography is only an approximation of the world map geography.

[end_p text="More on Dragon Quest IX, after the jump" /]

The dungeons for these caves are randomly generated. Each treasure map dungeon has a different form, a different number of floors, and different monsters. Thankfully, the game automatically maps your progress, so no worries about getting lost.

Awaiting deep within these dungeons is a boss-level monster. Defeat this foe, and you'll be rewarded with precious treasure and possibly more advanced maps.

Exploring a dungeon and encountering a boss-level beast at the end.

As previously detailed, the treasure maps work with the game's surechigai wireless exchange system, allowing you to give treasure maps to other players as gifts. For DQIX, this is particularly notable because all treasure maps have their treasure in a different location. In other words, a map that you receive from another player will require that you seek out a new location on your world map.

There's somewhat of a communicative aspect with the treasure map exchange system. The player who first conquered the map and found its dungeon is forever marked as "Discoverer." The person to last clear the boss at the end of the map is marked as the "Renewer."

You can play through your treasure maps over and over again. Apparently, the game offers the chance at earning treasures and new maps every time.

To the right, the player obtains an advanced map.

Next, advanced jobs and job changes.

Square Enix introduced DQIX's job change system in February. To recap what was detailed then, you change your job by heading to a shrine known as Dharma's Shrine. Once you've switched to a new job, your character starts the new job at level 0. However, you can switch back to old jobs and continue from your previous level.

Advanced skills as you advance in your job.

Requesting a job change at Dharma Shrine.

You can change your character into an advanced job only once you've reached a certain level in multiple basic jobs. So far, four such advanced jobs have been detailed:

Battle Master

An attack specialist. You can become this job not just with great power, but with mental strength as well. This job allows you to equip such powerful weapons as swords, axes, and hammers along with exclusive skills like "toukon" and "sutemi."

Paladin

This advanced job is skilled at recovery and strengthening allies. One particular skill, "niaoudachi," makes him take the damage of all attacks aimed at your party members. He also has spear skills which can be used for powerful attacks.

Battle Mage (Mahou Senshi)

Battle Mages can access a variety of spells to support allies, and also make use of precise sword attacks to strike foes. He continues to raise the skills learned in his lower level jobs to earn powerful attacks such as the Gigaslash.

Ranger

A soldier who makes use of projectile weapons like boomerangs and arrows -- a rarity in DQIX's jobs. His Shining Bow attack and boomerang skills do damage to all enemies simultaneously. He also knows how to live with the wild and will allow monsters to flee.

Battle Master

Paladin

Battle Mage

Range

Previously, Square Enix mentioned a training aspect to the advanced jobs. These take the form of quests. You'll only be able to become an advanced job once you've cleared these.

You take on these quests from someone somewhere in the world. There are apparently no preconditions, although it seems that you won't be able to actually clear some of the quests unless you've attained certain skills with your character. Once you've cleared one of the quests, all members of your party will be able to change to the advanced job in question.

Screenshots hint that the quest for becoming a Battle Master is requested of you by the priest at Dharma Shrine. The Battle Master quest merely asks that you defeat five slimes by building up your tension and making use of a Dragon Giri special attack.

Taking on a quest to become a Battle Master.

To the left, the Battle Master quest detailed. To the right, your new status once you've become a Battle Master.

There's less than a week to go before Dragon Quest IX's release. Will Square Enix cease with the updates, or will we be treated over the course of the week with even more details on what's already a feature-packed RPG? Keep checking back over the week!