One to Fifty, One Zone - Long OP

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Originally Posted by 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.

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Thanks for your thoughts, everyone. I'm humbled to know there are those who agree with my concerns. Mack, I definitely agree with you regarding the rank-level ratio compared between the two games. That worries me.

Achilles, thank you for your response. :) I hope I can clarify better what I meant. My main concern is that we can get from level 1 to level 50 in one area. Currently, there's no need for new areas. It would be as though in FF11, if we only had Ronfaure, Gustaberg, Sarutabaruta, and Sauromugue. And, we could get from 1-Cap without ever leaving Ronfaure. Or Sarutabaruta.

Of course, the lack of exploration deeply concerns me. But the lack of room for any expansion beyond these 4 areas we have to today, without the release of the level cap, worries me even more.

I hope that makes more sense. I'm sorry for any confusion!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIcLK...eature=related

one of the things I fear most if for this game is how in the world are they going to fix their um world.

<3

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

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Originally Posted by Demacia

This is my single biggest gripe with XIV.

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I just had a friend ask about all the places you get to explore as you level. It really sux answering that question.

Ah ok makes sense, and I hear you. I'm hoping this is our pre-zilart phase. Can only hope atleast.

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Originally Posted by 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.

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Actually, Xarcabard did come with the original game (the vanilla pre-Rise of the Zilart version first released in Japan). It was the home of the Shadow Lord, the end boss of the game when the level cap was 50.

In fact, here are all of FFXI's original pre-Zilart areas (Source):

Cities/Towns (6):

* Bastok
* Jeuno
* Mhaura
* San d'Oria
* Selbina
* Windurst

Zones (21):

* Batallia Downs
* Beaucedine Glacier
* Behemoth's Dominion
* Buburimu Peninsula
* East Ronfaure
* East Sarutabaruta
* Jugner Forest
* Konschtat Highlands
* La Theine Plateau
* Meriphataud Mountains
* North Gustaberg
* Pashhow Marshlands
* Qufim Island
* Rolanberry
* Sauromugue Champaign
* South Gustaberg
* Tahrongi Canyon
* Valkurm Dunes
* West Ronfaure
* West Sarutabaruta
* Xarcabard

Dungeons (28):

* Altar Room
* Beadeaux
* Castle Oztroja
* Castle Zvahl Baileys
* Castle Zvahl Keep
* Crawlers' Nest
* Davoi
* The Eldieme Necropolis
* Inner Horutoto Ruins
* Fei'Yin
* Fort Ghelsba
* Garlaige Citadel
* Ghelsba Outpost
* Giddeus
* Gusgen Mines
* Horlais Peak
* King Ranperre's Tomb
* Lower Delkfutt's Tower
* Middle Delkfutt's Tower
* Monastic Cavern
* Ordelle's Caves
* Outer Horutoto Ruins
* Palborough Mines
* Qulun Dome
* Ranguemont Pass
* Upper Delkfutt's Tower
* Yughott Grotto
* Zeruhn Mines

What do we have in FFXIV?

Cities/Towns (3):

* Limsa Lominsa
* Ul'dah
* Gridania

(I guess you could technically also count the hamlets, but they're pretty much empty atm)

Zones (5):

* La Noscea
* Thanalan
* The Black Shroud
* Coerthas
* Mor Dhona

Dungeons (6):

* Copperbell Mines
* Nanawa Mines
* The MunTuy Cellars
* The TamTara Deepcroft
* Mistbeard Cove
* Cassiopeia Hollow

Pre-Zilart was still miles better than what we've got in FFXIV. It's a pretty sad comparison, honestly.

I think it was even more than that in FFXI. For example the first run you do to Jeuno if you start in San'Doria you run through Jugner and Batalia and these areas have no map (unless you get Jugner in Sandy?) and that made it more mysterious too. On top that they were dangerous and they were new and huge and you just wanted to know more about them. It was the same with every new zone in FFXI, especially when you were a noob....somehow FFXIV managed to take the "noob" feeling out of the equation, I have no idea how that is even possible. Eorzea just has nothing on Vana'Diel and as cool as places like Coerthas and Mor Dhona are, they have nothing in them...like Xcarcabard had a temple, we all did Rank 5 mission there and it was so awesome, that was around level 50....Rank 50 and we're still outside the city walls in XIV.

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Originally Posted by Prevbean

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIcLK...eature=related

one of the things I fear most if for this game is how in the world are they going to fix their um world.

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Love the video. ^^

I personally believe that after the "reconstruction" of the black shroud, the same could follow suit for other zones (preferably unused 60+ areas in Thanalan, La Noscea).

For example, I am all for radically different environments in the same "zone," let's say La Noscea.
The camp bearded rock with the plains/grassland area merging into a misty, constantly raining swamp/marsh one side, snowy caps near the northern mountains.

People would complain about the lack of realism, but isn't massive changes from screen to screen what every Final Fantasy ever has been? Chalk it up to the crystals, or the primals/summons for causing environmental differences. (Shiva/whomever governing a snowy region, marsh or floodplain for Leviathan.... etc)

@ OP

This is one of the main reasons I've given up on battle classes entirely, at least until things change. I spend all of my time in game crafting or fishing, something I find boring in any game.

Patiently waiting, hoping that there will be better, more adventurous days ahead. I can't help but think my time spent playing FFXIV was all in vein.

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Originally Posted by MeowyWowie

This is one of the main reasons I've given up on battle classes entirely, at least until things change. I spend all of my time in game crafting or fishing, something I find boring in any game.

Patiently waiting, hoping that there will be better, more adventurous days ahead. I can't help but think my time spent playing FFXIV was all in vein.

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It is hard to sometimes keep the faith. Fixing this problem will require a major overhaul. Changing the battle system will look like a cakewalk in comparison.

I'm hoping the prophecies of the 7th Umbral Age and the end of the world will usher in a complete sundering of the land and changing of the map.