Darkness Over Thanalan and Coerthas!

If they do redesign the zones i would be the happiest person alive. It has always been my biggest complaint with this game. The rest of the crap i can put up with. I just don't think there is enough evidence to claim this is actually going to happen so i'm not allowing myself to get my hopes up.

Immersion in a game is important to me and copy/paste just destroys that. I want a world i can belive in.

You guys are setting yourself up for disappointment if you think they are redesigning Gridania, let alone 3 whole zones.

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Zitat von Nuru

You can be right or you can be wrong, but the fact of the matter is, something is going to happen to The Black Shroud, and not necessarily Gridania. I also already gave an explanation as to how this event isn't directly tied into the main story, its just part of a side story, some extra lore and filler. Just like the Mob Size update, which is now also part of that story.

The conclusion, there are fingers pointing to the bare fact that these updates are being brought forth into this game by being tied in with some lore. If only small changes were done in Gridania, well.. its sad to say that the hype we have now is a greater hype than we'd have while exploring the changes in the Black Shroud.

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I agree with you 100% on this all of this is to bring lore to the Game, what exactly will happen with the story as it moods its course? Only time will tell in fact. But the matter of the fact is It would be stuipd to have all these NPCs saying Something Drastic is going to happen.. I mean nearly every NPC says that and Each NPC says something entirely different from the last, Along with the GM saying stuff about his "Prophesies" and what not, and also these Grand Companies, thats "suppose" to Rise up
once again to the Imminent Doom that awaits, The Grand Companies are from all the City-states which to me ties into the whole world itself, as to what gets brought about, whats gets destroyed, what gets added and how the story progresses itself is up in the air,.

It just seems "Likely" something is going to be destroyed and redeisgned, doesnt mean it will just a high probable chance

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Zitat von gifthorse

You guys are setting yourself up for disappointment if you think they are redesigning Gridania, let alone 3 whole zones.

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Go be negative somewhere else

Let's remember that the "Storm Over Gridania" lodestone post comes with context of being written by a Gridanian journalist. As a writer for a Gridanian Newspaper, whatever he writes will be written in an angle focusing on that city-state, because it's what his readers would care about most.

So what is happening may not be limited to just Gridania, even though this specific journalist is placing a focus on it.

On a personal perspective, I don't know what to expect right now. Anything could happen!

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Zitat von Benji

Go be negative somewhere else

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I was just trying to ground you in reality before you got disappointed by the dream.

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Zitat von gifthorse

I was just trying to ground you in reality before you got disappointed by the dream.

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I'd like to continue hoping for a bright future for this game. And hoping for something that actually could happen.

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Zitat von Benji

I'd like to continue hoping for a bright future for this game. And hoping for something that actually could happen.

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I totally Agree with you Bro =), Constructive criticism is one thing, but Blantly saying Negative inputs that doesnt help the game only by you putting it down doesnt give the game any hope but shutting it down like you are Gifthorse

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Zitat von Starlord

I totally Agree with you Bro =), Constructive criticism is one thing, but Blantly saying Negative inputs that doesnt help the game only by you putting it down doesnt give the game any hope but shutting it down like you are Gifthorse

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I love a good run-on sentence as much as the next person, but your assumption that I was being unreasonably negative was pretty suspect. Sure, I would prefer Gridania to be transformed, but there is little to no basis for hoping for it, unless of course you enjoy getting disappointed when such hopes never come to fruition. (And they won't)

Meh. You guys gotta stop stroking your e-peens at eachother and get to discussing the topic at hand before this gets messy. XP

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Zitat von gifthorse

I love a good run-on sentence as much as the next person, but your assumption that I was being unreasonably negative was pretty suspect. Sure, I would prefer Gridania to be transformed, but there is little to no basis for hoping for it, unless of course you enjoy getting disappointed when such hopes never come to fruition. (And they won't)

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And there you go again being Negative thats how it usually is with these forums

@ Tirem I know right Im trying to discuss this Topic, but Im getting the it wont happen speech, when they're are multiple Reasons why it "can" happen

Read this if you havent yet and maybe it would shed some light:

http://crevox.blogspot.com/2011/04/f...companies.html

So I guess I am not going crazy nor is my game fizzing out, it really is getting darker! This is the kind of little thing that makes me get all excited, doesn't matter if the outcome isn't anything grand it's the experience guys! XD

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Zitat von Cendres

So I guess I am not going crazy nor is my game fizzing out, it really is getting darker! This is the kind of little thing that makes me get all excited, doesn't matter if the outcome isn't anything grand it's the experience guys! XD

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NOw thats an Answer I want to see, a Positive Output that makes the experience a great one. Yes it is getting Darker, and no matter how many pictures I put up people think, " thats how it always been" When Im the kind of person that looks at the nature side of things alot more then playing it, and also Its been Raining in Thanalan for like ever for crying out loud, it barely rains there.. and it never EVER gets Dark to the point you see black skiesonly time you use to see that is on the Ferry ride thats about it.. and even then it wasnt that dark :/

But Cendres thank You for making a Positive Message Greatly Appreciated

SE has gotten tired of us complaining about the bland looking zones and they are fixing it by making things harder to see.

I guess we should be thankful that they aren't scaling them up...

I haven't noticed anything visual wise yet, but the leve NPCs aren't saying anything about "the end is near" anymore.

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Zitat von gifthorse

I was just trying to ground you in reality before you got disappointed by the dream.

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And yet Yoshida said they will redesign maps, yet didn't specify to what extent however it will take a long time to do so.

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Zitat von Benji

Go be negative somewhere else

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Except for the fact that what he said wasn't a negative statement, it was merely a recognition of the total unlikelihood of that happening. It's possible to be a positive person and also recognise what's in front of your face.

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I totally Agree with you Bro =), Constructive criticism is one thing, but Blantly saying Negative inputs that doesnt help the game only by you putting it down doesnt give the game any hope but shutting it down like you are Gifthorse

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Again, suggesting that the weather darkening (i've yet to see anything other than a usual rainstorm at night which has been happening since release) constitutes a 3-zone map re-design is unrealistic at best. I'm totally in support of the game and am looking forward to seeing what they do, but you're just seeing what you want to see at this point.

That said, Gifthorse is pretty negative in excess most of the time, but in this case I wouldn't say it was unreasonable.

I believe this screenshot should be proof of the dark nights:

http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/...rkernights.jpg

booorriinggggg

Again, hats off to SE, this is how you do a world event. A large number of NPCs actually changing dialogue showing that they "noticed" the change, and environmental and weather effects.

Honestly, I pity the ones that aren't even playing the game and just come to the forum to spin everything negatively.

they need to update a little now :/
it's nice to see element "darkness fall" but after one week it's time to add a next level.

forest color with no music for exemple

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Zitat von Sephr

Again, suggesting that the weather darkening (i've yet to see anything other than a usual rainstorm at night which has been happening since release) constitutes a 3-zone map re-design is unrealistic at best.

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I never really mentioned that it would lead to a redesign of 3 zones all at once. I am saying that it may lead to that though, each redesign after a significant amount of time. Right now, the focus is on The Black Shroud. I didn't even mention that a rainstorm at night will lead to any redesigning what-so-ever, so I'd love to know where you get your info from. The fact is, yes, it rains much more than usual, and we've probably only experienced the rainstorms at night for our first time, which everything is incredibly dark.

I've already said this a few good times in this thread, and I will say it once more. The Last Word - Storm over Gridania. WTF does that mean to you? Its just a storm right? Okay. Don't worry guys its just a storm, even though it rains 75% of the time you are in the Black Shroud prior to this storm.

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Zitat von Abriael

Again, hats off to SE, this is how you do a world event. A large number of NPCs actually changing dialogue showing that they "noticed" the change, and environmental and weather effects.

Honestly, I pity the ones that aren't even playing the game and just come to the forum to spin everything negatively.

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If people who just post in the forums without playing the game actually had played the game, they would be aware that there'll be a BIG change, but NOOOOOOOOO. They have to put their Negative Nancy bandage and go posting like there's no tomorrow.

Seriously, can't a player hope for some good features happening without someone destroying their hope for teh lulz? At this rate who gives about reality!

I'd actually feel pretty unintelligent game-wise if i wasn't even playing the game, thus, not making any posts on the forums. Which is probably the reason why the forums are limited to subscribers only. :P

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Zitat von Leowilde

I believe this screenshot should be proof of the dark nights:

http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/...rkernights.jpg

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Again some people just fail to realize that this is a Change, and they dont see it because they fail to see the "Very easy to see" Changes" in the world, even the NPC's as your Picture describes is a dialog Change. Why would they change the dialog for? for the heck of it?! How can you not see the Darkened sky that was NEVER there before on release till now. I spend more time looking at the sky and the nature around me more than than anything else. But thats the last time Im going to stress that out especially when the pictures are proof of the "Darker than usual" environment. Its even Raining in Mor Dhona It NEVER rains there and it rained for 2hrs straight last night, only weather was there before patch was Sunny and Darkness weather (Purple Area).

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Zitat von Abriael

Again, hats off to SE, this is how you do a world event. A large number of NPCs actually changing dialogue showing that they "noticed" the change, and environmental and weather effects.

Honestly, I pity the ones that aren't even playing the game and just come to the forum to spin everything negatively.

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I totally agree with you All the NPC ( Except for the Levequest ones their Dialog is back to where it was) but still all the rest of the NPC's dialog strictly points towards a "Dark Force" over Eorzea Its raining 75% more everywhere than usual, in places that it Never rains, its raining there and then some, Shady GM saying stuff about Prophecies. but its whatever if some people want to think that this is "Normal" then thats fine thats how they want it. But the truth of the matter is "Something" is going to happen.

If they've set us up with a game world that dynamically changes as time goes on (meaning zones won't remain the same and due to the war will change or something) this game is going to be really amazing.

As many of you know and have already stated. We have Zones the game does not steam the data of the area SO imagine this. If we had environmental shadows that had to interact with us and water reflections of the whole light effects that occur in one game day. That is a massive resources hog for any video card witch i would say would make FFXIV even less playable with current hardware as it is now.

This is a quote from other post I did but it should apply here.

So if they want to redesign whole area. It seems nice and all but it will still be a copy-pasted area until they add some continuous steam data instead of zones. Or add defined loading zones and make maps smaller

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Zitat von Lavinia

As many of you know and have already stated. We have Zones the game does not steam the data of the area SO imagine this. If we had environmental shadows that had to interact with us and water reflections of the whole light effects that occur in one game day. That is a massive resources hog for any video card witch i would say would make FFXIV even less playable with current hardware as it is now.

This is a quote from other post I did but it should apply here.

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How that has anything to do with zone changes is beyond me.

I saw that post, and was best left in the thread it was posted in, because that is more like talking about better grphics, while this thread we are discussing the same graphics the game is currently using.

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Zitat von Nuru

How that has anything to do with zone changes is beyond me.

I saw that post, and was best left in the thread it was posted in, because that is more like talking about better grphics, while this thread we are discussing the same graphics the game is currently using.

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People are finding ways to gun down this Thread, when were just being happy about this Event thats going on =(

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Zitat von Lavinia

So if they want to redesign whole area. It seems nice and all but it will still be a copy-pasted area until they add some continuous steam data instead of zones. Or add defined loading zones and make maps smaller

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That's what I said earlier. Making the maps smaller entails the ability to create more specified areas that are unique from one another. If Sarutabaruta, Meriphataud Mountains, and Tahrongi Canyon were all on a single map, that would stress out a PS2 to death, and then some. There are too many different textures to load, map physics, etc.

This is why our current maps are the way they are, because Tanaka's vision was to make a seamless world. However, its just not working as well as it should be. I'd much prefer loading an entire new zone with minor differences than just loading a full zone that is the same for the next 20 minutes of running.

Separating these maps into separate zones will open up so many possibilities and will cause a lot less stress on the PS3 version.

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Zitat von Nuru

That's what I said earlier. Making the maps smaller entails the ability to create more specified areas that are unique from one another. If Sarutabaruta, Meriphataud Mountains, and Tahrongi Canyon were all on a single map, that would stress out a PS2 to death, and then some. There are too many different textures to load, map physics, etc.

This is why our current maps are the way they are, because Tanaka's vision was to make a seamless world. However, its just not working as well as it should be. I'd much prefer loading an entire new zone with minor differences than just loading a full zone that is the same for the next 20 minutes of running.

Separating these maps into separate zones will open up so many possibilities and will cause a lot less stress on the PS3 version.

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Im All for Smaller zones by separating the bigger zone into smaller zone. It really makes no difference either way the smaller zone would still be quite a walk from point A to point B anyhow. So really in the end, they can make better zones in the smaller zones and still be able to keep the Travel far from point A to Point B =)

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Zitat von Starlord

Im All for Smaller zones by separating the bigger zone into smaller zone. It really makes no difference either way the smaller zone would still be quite a walk from point A to point B anyhow. So really in the end, they can make better zones in the smaller zones and still be able to keep the Travel far from point A to Point B =)

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As long as they:

1) Get rid of copy/pasted material
2) Change the texture just a bit to differentiate between zones. (Ex. From Thanalon to Black Shroud - Start adding a bit of trees near the zone, probably a creek or small river to support the idea of plant growth.. possibly even call it a meadow. Dead trees closer to dry area.. etc.)
3) Crystal Encampments for each zone.
4) Hidden areas to explore, and make them worth exploring. (Ex. Secret cave with a spring, perhaps even a waterfall, weird plant life growing, NM spawn..)

Just these things alone can really make this game go from a 4 rating to an easy 8 or 9!

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Zitat von Nuru

As long as they:

1) Get rid of copy/pasted material
2) Change the texture just a bit to differentiate between zones. (Ex. From Thanalon to Black Shroud - Start adding a bit of trees near the zone, probably a creek or small river to support the idea of plant growth.. possibly even call it a meadow. Dead trees closer to dry area.. etc.)
3) Crystal Encampments for each zone.
4) Hidden areas to explore, and make them worth exploring. (Ex. Secret cave with a spring, perhaps even a waterfall, weird plant life growing, NM spawn..)

Just these things alone can really make this game go from a 4 rating to an easy 8 or 9!

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Yeah most of what people complain about is of the "Copy and Paste" Terrain. Nor I dont blame them for acting that way, for the fact that like every turn you make seem to be the same as you were 3 mins ago. Which is Most likly the reason they are fixing the zones ( starting with Gridania First it seems) but the Thanalan Ideal.. is what confuses me.. they mention stuff about this "Storm over Gridania", yet most of the attention is at Thanalan.. hmmm, but then again.. the weather has picked up everywhere so..

Thanalon is the Basis of the Info on what is happening to the Black Shroud because of reasons currently unknown. Though, i believe it could be because either or all of these following reasons:

1) The FFXIV Staff realizes that UlDah is the focal point of the player base across each and every server.
2) Thanalan is the next zone over, so the story-based NPCs are warning the neighboring city, which happens to be UlDah. Also, since the catastrophe is going to take place in Gridania, the NPCs most likely wouldn't want to stay in that area.

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Zitat von Nuru

2) Change the texture just a bit to differentiate between zones. (Ex. From Thanalon to Black Shroud

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You know what would really help to connect the two? A Savannah.

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Zitat von Nuru

Thanalon is the Basis of the Info on what is happening to the Black Shroud because of reasons currently unknown. Though, i believe it could be because either or all of these following reasons:

1) The FFXIV Staff realizes that UlDah is the focal point of the player base across each and every server.
2) Thanalan is the next zone over, so the story-based NPCs are warning the neighboring city, which happens to be UlDah. Also, since the catastrophe is going to take place in Gridania, the NPCs most likely wouldn't want to stay in that area.

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That seems Logical, But one question remains... Why is there "Darkness" in the Clouds and its raining practically everywhere you go (even in Mor Dhona)

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Zitat von Seif

SE has gotten tired of us complaining about the bland looking zones and they are fixing it by making things harder to see.

I guess we should be thankful that they aren't scaling them up...

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lol that really made me laugh :)

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Zitat von Starlord

That seems Logical, But one question remains... Why is there "Darkness" in the Clouds and its raining practically everywhere you go (even in Mor Dhona)

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That my friend cannot be answered at the moment. This is what we are all waiting for.

Well, I can confirm this much.. When the Thanalan Zone losses its Theme the NPC does say there stuff they normally wouldnt say, this is an ( Off and On Event) its Triggered at certain times of the day.