One to Fifty, One Zone - Long OP

I honestly think the OP is a little bit silly. Zoning was not some exciting, grand experience. It was just "fade to loading screen, fade to new area." But it's not clear what his position is. Does he want more zone lines? does he want the whole world to be one area?

The former sucks, the latter is impractical.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Alhanelem

I honestly think the OP is a little bit silly. Zoning was not some exciting, grand experience. It was just "fade to loading screen, fade to new area." But it's not clear what his position is. Does he want more zone lines? does he want the whole world to be one area?

The former sucks, the latter is impractical.

---

you're probably looking at this whole thing differently then what the OP has meant.
What FFXIV misses over FFXI is a feel of adventure.
honestly, what would you rather have.
one huge zone that mostly looks the same, or multiple smaller zones, that all look differently.
i miss the adveture feeling.
i wish FFXIV would have adopted to FFXIs zones, like going from ronfaure to ghelsba outpost, and not from one camp to another >_<

I for one miss the zones. Seamless zones, while making the world feel 'bigger', actually does the opposite as we have three large zones that look the same. Not to mention the annoying 'invisible zone lines' that will screw the person that has you on AF, or simply kick you if you're trying to look at your ls list as you run through it. While I don't think they can do anything with it now, hopefully with expansions they'll add 'smaller' more diverse zones. I enjoyed my first few months in XI as I crossed from gustaberg to the high lands and saw more green and tall mountains with sheep and that huge ass ram roaming around. Then getting my first party and entering into the dunes and went "Holy beach!". Just seemed way more diverse than what we have now and that's only counting the zones from each city to jeuno, not even taking into thought the 'dungeons' like CN, gustav, etc.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Alhanelem

I honestly think the OP is a little bit silly. Zoning was not some exciting, grand experience. It was just "fade to loading screen, fade to new area." But it's not clear what his position is. Does he want more zone lines? does he want the whole world to be one area?

The former sucks, the latter is impractical.

---

This thread isn't about 'zoning'.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Alhanelem

I honestly think the OP is a little bit silly. Zoning was not some exciting, grand experience. It was just "fade to loading screen, fade to new area." But it's not clear what his position is. Does he want more zone lines? does he want the whole world to be one area?

The former sucks, the latter is impractical.

---

If more actual zone lines means each "zone" can have distinct visuals, then I'll gladly accept them and I think most people would agree with me. If they're really unable to add more textures and unique terrain to each zone as it is because of actual memory constraints, then this is the approach I would be asking them to take. Variety is the spice of life.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Alhanelem

I honestly think the OP is a little bit silly. Zoning was not some exciting, grand experience. It was just "fade to loading screen, fade to new area." But it's not clear what his position is. Does he want more zone lines? does he want the whole world to be one area?

The former sucks, the latter is impractical.

---

Yes you are missing the point. It's not about zoning. It's about diversity and different experiences and environments in each area. The zoning aspect just emphasized the fact that you were going somewhere new. I'd take diversity and variety over seamlessness any day of the week.

I currently see the existing zones more as regions in XI, however with the current zones they are just massive. The real zone when looking back at XI are the camps, Black Brush, Dry bone, Horizon, Broken Water, etc... But those zones all look the same. What I would have liked to see, or would like to see is having horizon exist as a marsh (or any camp for that matter) have some waterfalls and caves behind those water falls. Have areas that are seen, but out of reach that will make us want to explore...

I remember in XI, a bridge over a canyon, below I could see a cave, and a river but I had no idea how to get to that cave and it wasn't until years later that I found that connection, and was thrilled.

It would be excellent to see locations (a cave on top of a mountain) and have to find a way to get up to that cave, even if the path isn't obvious.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ogun_Riastradh

Yes you are missing the point. It's not about zoning. It's about diversity and different experiences and environments in each area. The zoning aspect just emphasized the fact that you were going somewhere new. I'd take diversity and variety over seamlessness any day of the week.

---

Exactly. Some people are arguing that future exploration is the 50+ zones with no camps and rank 60-90 mobs.

I will be EXTREMELY displeased if the trend of gigantic, single-themed copy-pastad zones with 1,000 of the same mob per grid space and no variety continues.

The starting zones all need an overhaul, and as it seems we're starting with the black shroud, the others could follow suit, one at a time if need be.


(and just to note, I've been here since the starting week and I see the potential ahead --- constructive criticism :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Delmontyb

I remember in XI, a bridge over a canyon, below I could see a cave, and a river but I had no idea how to get to that cave and it wasn't until years later that I found that connection, and was thrilled.

---

Exactly, like in La Theine Plateau. You had to explore and find all these cool little tunnels and paths to find the way to get into a canyon down below, or find a way through Ordelle. And there was quite the variety in mobs and scenery.

I gave several "Thumbs Up" in this thread. A Dev Tag would help but the Reps do pay attention to posts with alot of "LIkes". The "Hot Topics" section helps too so add this to the ever growing list of "SE, Please fix this".

Their attempt at "seamless transitions" was half-baked at best anyway because there are many, many times when we get "fade to black load screens" anyway. They are mostly due to Story Quests and instance loading but seeing as how our "immersion" is broken when we are halted in our tracks and a menu pops up asking if we want to continue, what is the point of "seamless zones"?

I also would gladly sacrifice "Seamless & Boring" for "Loadscreens & Variety".