One to Fifty, One Zone - Long OP

[Siobu]

I have a concern and would like to hear the opinions of others on this forum. Please forgive me if I missed this topic before. This is not about the copy-paste, the tunnels, environmental transitioning, or the lack of landmarks.

As adventurers, we look forward to traveling and taking our first steps into a new domain. We defeat the monsters and beastmen prowling the landscape, meet companions along the way, rest in the local town or city, and in the morning, we take our experiences and achievements, and move on.

In FFXI, we stepped into Sarutabaruta for the first time. We fought the Yagudo menace. We desperately limped towards the outpost, poisoned by crawlers. We watched in awe as veterans sped by, Chocobo's feet pounding the sand. We knew they were going somewhere. Somewhere far away. Somewhere dangerous.

One day, we looked down at ourselves and to the landscape, realizing that we did it. We conquered Sarutabaruta. We knew these lands like the back of our hand. Our predators no longer saw us as prey. It was time. Time to move forward.

And we did. With every land behind us, we moved forward. To beaches and frozen wastes. To deserts and swamplands. When we reached Valkurm Dunes, we knew that we had to conquer it. We had to get through it. Qufim was waiting! A new journey. To Kazham? To Crawler's Nest? And while these places were brutal, painful, and unforgiving, they were important.

They were milestones. Stepping into these places meant that we've grown. We met a goal. We felt proud of what we've accomplished.

And after a day, or a week, of sweat and blood, we move forward.

We cross the zone line.

New environment. New paths. Bigger stakes. Stronger foes. New songs were to be sung. And we would gather our companions and start again, just like that morning in Sarutabaruta.

In our world at present, we do not have to leave. We do not have these milestones. This adventure. This sense of achievement. And I am so, so worried. I'm worried because these areas we have right now contain enemies from 1 to 50. Our strength doesn't bring us to new lands. Seasoned soldiers fight right beside new recruits, against similar foes of different ranks.

I'm worried. Are you?

[TL;DR = One zone with mobs 1-50 means we don't have to go anywhere. The game doesn't HAVE to expand beyond the 4 zones we have. So will it? Are dungeons the future until a level cap? Will we ever have a true adventure from 1-50? I'm willing to sacrifice my experience from 1-50 for a new player to be able experience something world's better.]

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Happy Parade Invitation, you're invited!

Official English SE Reponse: Courtesy of Bayohne

German Thread: Click Here
Official German SE Response: Courtesy of Sasunaich

Japanese Thread: Click Here
Official Japanese SE Response: Courtesy of Triairy

French Thread: Click Here
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Courtesy of Meph, Chinook and Reinheart. Thank you.
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Click here for map sample by Griffin.
Click here for map sample by Richard.
Map samples by Zantetsuken: La Noscea - Thanalan - The Black Shroud

Click here to view some thumbnails.
View more of my earlier samples below. Thanks, Eden!
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Thank you very much!
Danke schön!
Merci beaucoup!
どうもありがとうございました！

[EdenArchangel]

**EDIT** Adding supplementary images created by Siobu ^^

I threw together some random scenery thumbnails for every one to pick apart if desired, randomly choosing sections of the map that seemed different than the others immediately surrounding it: http://seahorror.com/thumbs.jpg

With unique areas connecting our regions together, unique dungeons, and each zone serving a purpose in our characters lives (a level range, a milestone), I believe the world of Eorzea will flourish thereafter.

If I may continue to use a reference:

What if we never had to leave the city walls in 11?

What if this was all we knew?

http://seahorror.com/sample.jpg

I wholeheartedly support multiple areas with similar range, similar stages of progression. But right now, we have none. No progression. Adventure.

What's the right thing to do in this situation?

To anyone joining late, I'd like to re-post this image which demonstrates how I view the imbalance in our current world:

http://seahorror.com/thoughts.jpg

It is unnatural.

Traveling from one corner of our maps to another does not provide any sense of adventure, progression, or new experiences.

This thread has only gotten to where it is due to unanimous agreement. No, or little, debate has driven us this far.
We need a world. I need a world. I need to know what the future holds for us. For all of us.
Square, won't you please tell us?

**Original Post**

Not to add to your anxiety, but each of the three "main zones" currently have 1-96-ish rank mobs. xD

I'll admit that I don't like going to a virtually identical area every time I upgrade leve-quest ranks, though. =/

The main issue for me is the lack of the "Final Fantasy" feeling, just dirt and grass and more dirt. (Mor Dhona being the exception)

I believe XI tackled the combination of real world and fantasy areas quite well.
Sanctuary of Zi'tah, Ifrit's Cauldron, Temple of Uggalepih.... anywhere, really.

Summary --- I just want what makes Final Fantasy to show up, lol, and of course the reconstruction of existing zones for more variety.

[Rowyne]

I'm worried. Are you?

I am. There is a distinct lack of the feeling of progression, exploration, or adventure. And part of that is due to the handful of extremely large zones, instead of smaller different zones. It's also caused by lack of transportation methods, quest progression, and overall structure of the game.

Here's another thing we can add to the list of what doesn't work in an MMO. I wonder how SE will eventually handle this.

[Warlyx]

i miss a zone like xarcabard....the music was amazing for a "dangerous zone"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPK4rOmtlTY

[Rowyne]

OMG I remember how scared I was the first time I ran through Xarcabard! The music reminded me of evil Siberian Russia. Good times.

[Achilles]

I think most of those areas you mentioning came in later expansions, I could be wrong but pre-zilart there wasn't much to explore. I'm assuming you started the game a year or so later and got those fond memories.

[Mack]

TC I brought up this same exact topic earlier and rest assured about 90% of the community agrees with you but there is the annoying 10% that think the game actually tries to edge you to other zones but obviously you're right and I'm afraid this is never going to change, not short term anyway, maybe R50+ who knows but the first 50 ranks in this game are equivalent to the first 10 levels in FFXI. I would take a FFXI remake over this any day.

[Mack]

I think most of those areas you mentioning came in later expansions, I could be wrong but pre-zilart there wasn't much to explore. I'm assuming you started the game a year or so later and got those fond memories.

A year after Japanese release or NA release? I started the game when it was released in NA and the game kept pushing me to new zones non stop...its not about "new areas" its about the way the game was built. FFXIV is built so you can rank up to 50 in one zone and this isn't going to change.

[Xenor]

Hey at least when they raise the rank cap you can look forward to doing it all again with your rank 50 leves at BlueFog! In fact you'll be doing your rank 90 leves in cool places like Zanr'ak and Sea of Spires in about five years time. So much fun to be had.

Hopefully SE change something.

[Demacia]

This is my single biggest gripe with XIV.