Which location(s) are we likely to travel to in the next expansion? *SPOILERS*

I hope we don't go to Radz-at-Han. At least not during 5.0 - I've had my fill of desert zones. We had some in 1.0 and 2.0. They were absent in 3.0 but then we ended up getting more in 4.0.

Personally I'm most eager to see more of Othard. Potentially more of Hingashi too, though I'm not too interested in it sacrificing its isolationist policy just to give us an excuse to visit.

I want to see more of Garlemald's territories, though my concerns echo Kallera's in that regard.

Sharlayan intrigues me too, though similar to Hingashi I don't really want it to sacrifice what makes it intriguing/sinister to justify the Warrior of Light showing up.

I'd honestly like to have a proper dunes desert as a zone, as the lower third of Southern Thanalan and the southwestern corner of the Azim Steppe were the only tastes we've gotten of that so far.

Visiting the Nhaama Desert as an instance of some sort would be nice.

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Originally Posted by Kallera

I think I'd be pretty sad if Garlemald isn't until 6.0, I'd rather just bite the bullet now, since they are the only thing I really want to hear about this expansion. i'm kind of conflicted, I want them to be better than the perpetually dying goons, perhaps even people we'd help, but Asahi...I'm kind of hoping for more than I'd probably get. This sounds like a prelude to yet another conflict, and that's nothing to look foward to as our victory is already so gauranteed the landscape comes prepackaged with downed airships and magitek wrecks.

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We’ve seen multiple examples of them being treated as more than perpetually dying goons, and I’m not just talking about gaius or Regula.

Conflict with Garlemald is inevitable. It’s being ruled by warmongerers and empire-builders. Varis is going to be a villain, no doubt about that. But that’s not mutually exclusive with allying with Garleans to actually end the conflict.

We have two main enemies, the Ascians and the Garlean Empire, the Ascians prefer the long game and the Empire is the immediate threat. Its only fortunate that, for as far as we (the players) know that the Ascians current trump card is the Garlean Empire, so it theres a good chance Garlemald is the next setting for 5.0. When we get rid of the Ascian's immediate physical threat, we resort to battling there magic and God of Darkness with the help of the Sharlayans, who would seem like the only nation that can stand a chance against the Ascians

They could bring a new villain with no nation allegiance in 5.0 who will have every continent in fear of what she/he could do to them. Could be like an Ascian worshipper who stole magicks and is now unstoppable. But yeah if 5.0 is keeping us in othard/eorzea making the story about only fighting Garleans again could get boring, there will need to be a new evil along with the Garleans.

I'm half expecting Garlemald to be full on Midgar from FF7 if we finally get to go there. Pre-order bonus will be that motorcycle mount, mark my works lol.

Starting point is anyone's guess. For all we know we could get a whole new area or more of Othard will open up. 4.5 will give us a clue, but aside from that we have to wait until Fanfest this year.

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Originally Posted by Tracewood

I'm half expecting Garlemald to be full on Midgar from FF7 if we finally get to go there. Pre-order bonus will be that motorcycle mount, mark my works lol.

Starting point is anyone's guess. For all we know we could get a whole new area or more of Othard will open up. 4.5 will give us a clue, but aside from that we have to wait until Fanfest this year.

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Is it normally 4.3 or 4.5 that we get hints of where the expansion goes next? I only joined post-Heavensward, around 3.5 so I don't know the trend.

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Originally Posted by NoblePigeon

Is it normally 4.3 or 4.5 that we get hints of where the expansion goes next? I only joined post-Heavensward, around 3.5 so I don't know the trend.

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I think bonus CS 4.3 (though we thought we were going to the moon back in 3.0.) or 4.4 at the earliest. I think 4.4 should drop before fanfest, though NA fanfest we prob won't learn much aside from the name iirc last fanfest.

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Originally Posted by NoblePigeon

Is it normally 4.3 or 4.5 that we get hints of where the expansion goes next? I only joined post-Heavensward, around 3.5 so I don't know the trend.

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Specifically, it's the X.4 patch when the main scenario starts to lead into the next expansion with full force. Any hints prior to X.4 tend to be less on the nose. By patch 4.4, if the pattern continues, we should be well aware of at least one major destination in 5.0.

Patch 2.4:

It's at this point when we converse Ysayle whom speaks of her intent to end the war between dragon and man.

https://img.finalfantasyxiv.com/lds/...9lFKkZeLi0.png

FINAL FANTASY XIV Patch 2.4 - Dreams of Ice Trailer

Patch 3.4:

It's at this point when we meet The Griffin whom is in the midst of rallying troops with the intent of liberating Ala Mhigo.

https://img.finalfantasyxiv.com/lds/...ZsNHUOSIEs.jpg

FINAL FANTASY XIV Patch 3.4 - Soul Surrender Trailer

here's to hoping we go to garlemald; i've wanted it for so LONG. and also hoping we stick to one region... i'm personally against traversing two regions, finding it hard to be emotionally invested in one or the other and now i simply just don't care about either lol msq has fallen terribly flat as of late ._.

I just had what seems like an obvious thought, but Ala Mhigo might open up as an actual city - an early-game hub area perhaps, especially if we are travelling eastward (whether to Thavnair or Ilsabard).

my guess somewhere tropical with Dense forest
with Ninja as poster boy

I'm not sure we'll really go anywhere new, maybe Thavnair and the currently obscured area that links it to Othard.

I reckon 5.0 might end up being the expansion where they overhaul a lot of the existing world (and systems) we already have, rather than adding a lot that's outright 'new'.

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Originally Posted by Jandor

I'm not sure we'll really go anywhere new, maybe Thavnair and the currently obscured area that link it to Othard.

I reckon 5.0 might end up being the expansion where they overhaul a lot of the existing world (and systems) we already have, rather than adding a lot that's outright 'new'.

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I'd like that in some ways if done right, similar to the way HW kept you in old areas for much of the start. Could you imagine flight in ARR areas? If you are mentioning an overhaul of the existing world, why not have a dream like that? Aether currents in the North Shroud could be a fun to find.

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Originally Posted by Rosa_Frandlia

I'd like that in some ways if done right, similar to the way HW kept you in old areas for much of the start. Could you imagine flight in ARR areas? If you are mentioning an overhaul of the existing world, why not have a dream like that? Aether currents in the North Shroud could be a fun to find.

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I'd quite like a lot of ARR areas to be merged (and expanded where necessary) with flying and swimming added.

I imagine it's not an incredibly popular opinion though.

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Originally Posted by Jandor

I'd quite like a lot of ARR areas to be merged (and expanded where necessary) with flying and swimming added.

I imagine it's not an incredibly popular opinion though.

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The problem with this is the amount of work required to simply redo what's already been done.
The entire game would change, ARR, HW and SB would all need to be tweaked, every side quest, every fate...

The end result would not be worth it, people already complain about there not being enough new content.

I think

4.3 MSQ spoilers

It's becoming increasingly clear that we are headed into Garlemald in 5.0, with multiple Scions already making their way toward it

SE tends not to do huge curve balls in where we are going next. Even Doma we expected to go to eventually, just not at the same time as Ala Mhigo. I think with 4.3's MSQ we can all but be certain where we are going next. After all, it is were the action is.

At this point all story hints point to Garlemald.

heck we even gotten confirmation that there is a Garlean that want peaceful solution have taken a large control of the population opinion so even with issues with what happened in 4.3 the ally Garlean faction seem to have grown enough for possible locations to be neutral grounds in 5.0.

We also gotten hints of our enterance into Garlemald been through the Ala Mhigo area (most likely a new npc may bring use through Ala Mhigo zones into Garlemald areas in 2.0 area).

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Originally Posted by Chewy2nd

I think

4.3 MSQ spoilers

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Pretty much that, the question is, how deep in there and are there other areas we'll visit?

(Also shoutout to the guy on reddit whose predictions made 4~ish years ago have been coming true so far.)

I mean, its got to be Garlemald. After experiencing 4.3 I will eat my hat if the next expansion isn't going to the empire.

Well despite all the promises for a plot twist there are huge freakin arrows pointing towards Garlemald. I mean for all we know Thancred might already be there.

I mean SE could pull the rug out from under use and force us to go somewhere else because Garlemald has some crazy shield. Or maybe Ascians do some thingy that blocks it from the rest of the world. So next expansion could be, we go to X, to find a way to go get into Garlemald because of Y. Of course all things really point to us just going to Garlemald.

The real question now should be what new location we may go to with Garlemald?

Garlemald is basically confirmed at this point with major figures already moving into that location to set up locations where the WoL and his or her allies can spend time in Garlemald but SE development team may also add another location as well such as they did with Stormblood where we expected Ala Mhigo but got a extra surprise with Doma.

It looks like the landbridge between Ilsabard and Othard is mostly The Burn, which doesn't lend itself well to (interesting) zones. The landbridge between Isabard and Aldenard though looks like it has a lot more countries in it. I could see SE making some of those countries "lead in" zones to Garlemald which is where the majority of the Zones are.

The other location that stands out is Sharlayan. Alphinaud isn't just a nobody; he's a member of a Sharlayan noble house practically speaking. If/when his disappearance gets found out would make for a logical time for more Sharlayan parties to get interested with what's happening on in Aldenard. Their big fear that Aldenard would get taken over by Garlemald is certainly not happening now. Meeting some more Sharlayans that aren't the Scions would be interesting.

Yoshi P said the Garlean plot started in 4.0 wouldn't be fully resolved till the end of 5.0 so honestly whatever we do next it will almost certainly be Garlean centric.

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Originally Posted by ObsidianFire

It looks like the landbridge between Ilsabard and Othard is mostly The Burn, which doesn't lend itself well to (interesting) zones.

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I'm not sure about that - it looks to me like the clouded strip below The Burn has land underneath it - we can see glimpses of green coastline between the clouds - and even if we can't pass through there, Thavnair looks like a more useful launching point into that region.

We meet some Sharlayan characters (and get a glimpse into their politics) in the 30-60 AST questline, and overall they seem to be very isolationist. I don't think we'll have much luck getting help from them unless Sharlayan itself is under threat.

I'll go and say next expansion will be thavnair and garlemand.
That embassy in Kugane has to work for something

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Originally Posted by Belhi

Yoshi P said the Garlean plot started in 4.0 wouldn't be fully resolved till the end of 5.0 so honestly whatever we do next it will almost certainly be Garlean centric.

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Wasn't it also said it could potentially take up to 6.0?

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Originally Posted by Theodric

Wasn't it also said it could potentially take up to 6.0?

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Don't expect the Garlean Empire storyline to be resolved so easily with 5.0 to 5.3.

Most likely they may have the storyline go all the way to 6.0 with 6.0 being the true final battle that will push the final change for the Garlean Empire and finally end the long war.

(queue long assumption...)

The Garlean Empire is the world's main source of Chaos for the Ascians so I am guessing 5.0 is the invasion of Garlemald that leads to the final battle in the Captial of the Garlean Empire then 5.1 to 5.5 set up political struggle with what to do with the Garlean Empire as a whole with many different political figures from all over the world (setting up locations for 6.0) with things breaking down at 5.5 due to a faction from the other countries wanting to make garleans suffer for what their civilization did to their country to lead into 6.0 where we may finally defeat Zodiark and the Ascians since this major movement of Anti-Garlean Faction sparked the final Chaos needed to bring back Zodiark.

Then for 6.1 - 6.5 storyline focus on slowly having the Scion's retire and the WoL deciding what he or she want to do with his or her life now that their mission as the Warrior of Light is now over.

Of coruse 6.5 ends with scenes showing all the characters and how each of them moved on with their life with a final scene showing what to expect in the New Journey the WoL will take in 7.0 and beyond storyline now that WoL is on a "new Adventure". (and maybe show some small clips of our new allies who will replace the Scions in this Season 2 storyline)

(and then they bring the Scion's back slowly through 7.1 to 7.5 by having us accidently meet them again on our new Adventure :p)

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Originally Posted by Theodric

Wasn't it also said it could potentially take up to 6.0?

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Well yeah but I had the feeling he meant the 4.X and 5.X cycle. I would be a bit surprised with three straight expansions focused on the Garleans. I like them and all but 6 years of them would be a bit Garlean heavy.

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Originally Posted by Belhi

Well yeah but I had the feeling he meant the 4.X and 5.X cycle. I would be a bit surprised with three straight expansions focused on the Garleans. I like them and all but 6 years of them would be a bit Garlean heavy.

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You can never have enough Garleans...or Hingans. ;)

I suspect that Garleans will still show up even after we explore their inner territories...even if it's just as part of various side quests. I'm also hoping to see more of Hingashi, even if it's just a brief glimpse of what the more secretive areas are like...though at the same time I don't really want it to fling open its doors to any and every outsider that comes knocking so I'd also be fine with it remaining a mystery.

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Originally Posted by Belhi

Well yeah but I had the feeling he meant the 4.X and 5.X cycle. I would be a bit surprised with three straight expansions focused on the Garleans. I like them and all but 6 years of them would be a bit Garlean heavy.

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Agreed; I think they mean that the "Garlean issue" will be resolved by 6.0. They need to start working on the Ascian/Zodiark threat, as well as perhaps introduce some new ones for regions like the New World. Garlemald isn't the big bad in the setting; it is simply a nation-state with hitherto antagonistic methods to those favoured by the Scions/WOL.

We're still really in the dark about exactly what it is the Ascians are trying accomplish on a grander scale, other then that we're apparently instrumental to their little scheme somehow and that they (Supposedly) need to cause calamities to bring Zodiark back.

I can't help but wonder if we'll be playing into their plans by going to Garlemald even if it means depriving of them of a major source of strife in the end.

I think the Ascians are trying to balance the world so that there isn't too much Light compared to Dark. After we take down Garlemald and eventually battle Zodiark, we probably run into a problem that we must travel to another star to solve, or the moon, since our Light are eventually so strong that it disturbs the world.

HW spoilers:

The Warriors of Dark (aided by the Ascians) in HW came from a star overrun with Light, an empty world of pure white, and tried to thus cause more darkness in ours to balance the scales while at the same time taking down Primals we haven't. Unukalhai who help us with the Warring Triad came from a star overrun with Dark, a.k.a the world that became the Void. So too much tipping in favor of either Dark or Light is bad. If I remember correctly, the Ascians also talked in a cutscene about Hydaelyn being too strong and causing imbalance in our star, which is why they need Zodiark.

I think that's something to keep in mind for 6.X or so.

My thoughts on this are...

The true nature of their intentions has yet to be fully grasped, as although they wish to effect the Rejoining and revive Zodiark, there's other matters at play, like the light/dark balance. That said, I don't think we'll see a take down of Garlemald so much as a potential alliance with it, as the Emperor is now more willing to consider negotiations with Eorzea and may need some help if "Zenos" gets out of hand. Even if he goes, the Populares will remain.

Just to point out... Hydaelyn is at her weakest right after she saved us from being stomped by Ultima. Lahabrea want's us dead at that point to further weaken her so that it's easier for Zodiark to come back. Hydalen is so weak that she can't talk to anyone at that point and it's only due to Minfilia giving Hydalen her energy that she currently can. It's also due to Urianger being a badass researcher that the Warrior of Darkness's Shard didn't fall. If Elidibus' plan for the Warriors of Darkess had gone though, both their Shard and our Shard wouldn't exist as we know them.

Also, Hydaelyn isn't the one who cause the Warrior's of Darkess's shard to become too "light". That's actually the Warrior of Darkness's doing since they got rid of all the darkess on their shard. It's heavily implied they did that because Hydaelyn was too weak from shielding us from Ultima to tell them they could stop fighting.

Every Umbral Calamity Eorzea experiences is another Shard "rejoining" with the Source. Each rejoining gives Zodiark more power and lore interviews have revealed that Hydaelyn split the Shards off from the Source out of desperation to slow down how quickly Zodiark was overpowering her. We've had Seven Umbral Calimities so half the Shards have joined the Source. One of them can't join the source because it was flooded with Darkness. The rest still can including the Shard Hydaelyn is bleeding the excess light off of (Warrior of Darkness's shard).

If the Ascians are committed to bringing about balance, they have a very, very counter-intuitive way of doing it. Or they're lying about that... that's a valid option too.

Mayhap their concern about the balance is fuelled exactly due to what happened to the world that was once the Void. It was of no real benefit to them.

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Originally Posted by manamoppet

I think the Ascians are trying to balance the world so that there isn't too much Light compared to Dark. After we take down Garlemald and eventually battle Zodiark, we probably run into a problem that we must travel to another star to solve, or the moon, since our Light are eventually so strong that it disturbs the world.

HW spoilers:

The Warriors of Dark (aided by the Ascians) in HW came from a star overrun with Light, an empty world of pure white, and tried to thus cause more darkness in ours to balance the scales while at the same time taking down Primals we haven't. Unukalhai who help us with the Warring Triad came from a star overrun with Dark, a.k.a the world that became the Void. So too much tipping in favor of either Dark or Light is bad. If I remember correctly, the Ascians also talked in a cutscene about Hydaelyn being too strong and causing imbalance in our star, which is why they need Zodiark.

I think that's something to keep in mind for 6.X or so.

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I think you have a few details wrong there:

A balance is needed between light and dark to avoid a world decending into Void. Void worlds are useless to the Ascians because they cant be used to revive Zodiark, their god. That seems to be their major motivation for avoiding that happening. After all the 13th shard world became a void because an Ascian screwed up and allowed the darkness to get too strong.

What the Warriors of Darkness were trying to do was to cause a Calamity on our world, The Source, to force Hydaelyn to merge their world back into the source, effectively turning their world to aether and consuming it. That is pretty much the whole point of the Calamities. Doing so kills everything on the Shard world but the WoD saw that as a better outcome than their world becoming a Void.

I am not too convinced on Hydaelyn growing too strong either. After all our side has failed 7 times to stop a Rejoining. That means the Ascians are half way to reviving Zodiark. What that actually means for us is hard to say for certain but Hydaelyn claims she only caste Zodiark out in the first place as a last resort when he tried to seize control. I think Hydaelyn recognises that she broke the world trying to stop Zodiark and that it might not be possible to maintain forever but I don't think she had good options and potentially she doesn't know how to solve the problem in a way that isn't going to be very bad for us.

I actually had a theory that part of her reason for being so hands off is as an manifestation of the Light she recognises that by her very nature she doesn't possess the ability to truly create balance. However mortals that exist in a world with Light and Darkness may be able to find a way she isn't able to. Regardless I think that the fundamental broken nature of the world will be as much a major overarching issue for us as beating Zodiark. It means we cant really win by just beating up the bad guys. We need to find another way.

Given the direction the story is headed, it seems Ilsabard is the strongest contender, mashed up with Thavnair. (I mean, they specifically created a Thavnairan embassy in Kugane, so we know that has to be relevant at some point.)

What I hope we get, however, is a bit different. 4.3 spoilers below the cut.

So, we liberated Ala Mhigo and Doma. Great! Time to head to Garlemald, right? Wrong.

As of 4.3, we learn that Dalmasca is still actively fighting to liberate their home from the empire, and they aren't doing well. It may be something that gets resolved in the Return to Ivalice storyline, but it'd just leave a bad taste in my mouth if we hopped off to Ilsabard without addressing their struggles at all. Like..

"Hey, Doma and Ala Mhigo are free! Sorry, Dalmasca, you're on your own."

I'd love to see a Dalmasca / Thavnair expansion, where we finish uniting the entirety of Aldenard + Othard for a final push against Garlemald. Would also be a prime opportunity to give us the Viera that they name-dropped as a race on Hydaelyn as of 4.3. All of this, of course, will most certainly not happen - but a man can dream.