6.0 Predictions: Will it be Garlemald, Sharlayan, or Meracydia?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kesey

But we know that Zodiark's summoning is a delay to the apocalypse, not a means to stop it. This was made clear by Venat and other Ancients that summoned Hydaelyn. Furthermore, when we echo to the Crystal Exarch's past and see the "changed" future they are clearly in an apocalypse that comes after the 8th calamity because the WOL is already dead. The beast has to be Zodiark because he is the only thing synonymous world ending destruction.

---

Light, dark, doesn't matter. What matters is how you use it.

Zodiark is not a slavering beast frothing with rage. If nothing else he was a guardian that served his purpose and outlasted his worth. Hydaelyn has also served her original intention and acted as a bulwark against the forces that sought to bring back Zodiark. Both would bleed all aether in existence in different methods. Zodiark demands sacrifice to fuel his protection. Hydaelyn stops all flowing aether. In both scenarios everyone would eventually die off.

That quote is specifically talking about the two in the room. Ferocious, ravenous, remorseless, is all Zenos. Whereas the beast shall kindle the flames of the apocalypse is all Fandaniel. You know, by fanning the flames of war and unleashing something even worse on everyone. We still don't even know what caused the sound that warped the ancients magic. The thing that Zodiark saved everyone from. That thing, whatever it is, is the one synonymous with destruction.

Fun Fact: both Yoshi-P and Yasumi Matsuno (the writer / creator of Ivalice) are on record stating that while the game may be stuffed to the gills with references / homages / shout-outs to Ivalice, it is a separate world from the one the Ivalice Alliance games take place in. Yes, even though the stories of Tactics and XII both broadly took place in it. (Or are taking place, as far as XII goes.) Until such a time as this is contradicted, no matter how many such homages (etc.) are paid to the Ivalice Alliance games the world of XIV exists independent of it and every other Final Fantasy world except the generally shared connection to the Rift.

Fandaniel is not Hashmal, who is a separate character both in the Ivalice setting and the setting of XIV. (I don't wanna call it Hydaelyn anymore cuz... y'know.)

As for Fandaniel himself, he doesn't appear to have a goal beyond stirring shit up. Upon realizing Elidibus is (effectively) dead he becomes ecstatic that he's no longer bound by "moldering memories [or] damnable duty" and free to live for the moment, found Asahi's body by chance, and is just using it because the wealth at his disposal is useful for their plans. As others have noted he seems to be the long-speculated Kefka analogue complete with histrionics, which means he probably doesn't actually have an endgame. (I'm of the mind he's just trying to kill Zodiark in order to stick it to the Unsundered. 'bout all I can figure based on what we got so far of him.)

As for where, japes and speculation aside the current signs do point to Garlemald. I won't deny that. That said, the same was true of Shadowbringers and then they threw a curveball at us, so the plausibility of that not being the case remains open. Past that I can only speculate, though 5.4 (the beginning of "6.0 Expansion" Arc) should more strongly hint at things or make them abundantly clear.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cilia

As for where, japes and speculation aside the current signs do point to Garlemald. I won't deny that. That said, the same was true of Shadowbringers and then they threw a curveball at us, so the plausibility of that not being the case remains open. Past that I can only speculate, though 5.4 (the beginning of "6.0 Expansion" Arc) should more strongly hint at things or make them abundantly clear.

---

I'm not convinced that a Garlemald expansion won't be a rehash of Stormblood. Liberating oppressed peoples of the empire, Zenos as main antagonist, Zenos fusing with Zodiark (instead of Shinryu), attention divided on two fronts (Empire and Ascians, much like Doma and Ala Mhigo), all of the allied forces of Eorzea coming together to liberate a giant city of huge strategic worth, the player character the crucial figure to turn the tide of the war, etc.

Something will need to develop to make this fresh or a Garlemald expansion will be Stormblood 2.0.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kesey

I'm not convinced that a Garlemald expansion won't be a rehash of Stormblood. Liberating oppressed peoples of the empire, Zenos as main antagonist, Zenos fusing with Zodiark (instead of Shinryu), attention divided on two fronts (Empire and Ascians, much like Doma and Ala Mhigo), all of the allied forces of Eorzea coming together to liberate a giant city of huge strategic worth, the player character the crucial figure to turn the tide of the war, etc.

Something will need to develop to make this fresh or a Garlemald expansion will be Stormblood 2.0.

---

Sharing a potential similar structure doesn’t really guarantee a Stormblood 2.0 in and of itself. Stormblood biggest general plot issue was the split that was created between the Ala Mhigo and Doman sections of the story that created large disconnects. This caused an inability to focus as much the region's unique problems like we got with the First in Shb or the Ishgardians in HW. This caused them to have to repeat the 'downtrodden rising up' multiple times just to keep the story somewhat functional due to the heavily split up regions.

At the moment it's hard to say until we know exactly what Zenos and Fandaniel are actually planning to do, it may not be as straight forward as go to Garlemald and beat up Zenos again, though I suspect getting to Garlemald will likely be part of it.

Garlemald's situation is too different from Ala Mhigo and Doma's to be a rehash of it. For one thing, Garlemald is the aggressor, and there's a lot of conquered nations that would love to see it fall so they could get their independence. And I can see the Eorzea Alliance not really wanting much to do with the continent of Ilsabard. It's far out of the way and getting supplies and troops there through the Empire would be crazy hard. So I would see us having to deal with a lot more politics of the "yes, we get you want to be free of Garlemald; no, that doesn't mean you get obliterate Garlmald either" variety. All while the actual fighting against Zoidark is going to be an issue.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kesey

I'm not convinced that a Garlemald expansion won't be a rehash of Stormblood. Liberating oppressed peoples of the empire, Zenos as main antagonist, Zenos fusing with Zodiark (instead of Shinryu), attention divided on two fronts (Empire and Ascians, much like Doma and Ala Mhigo), all of the allied forces of Eorzea coming together to liberate a giant city of huge strategic worth, the player character the crucial figure to turn the tide of the war, etc.

Something will need to develop to make this fresh or a Garlemald expansion will be Stormblood 2.0.

---

ugh this is my nightmare, literally Stormblood 2.0 as Zenos is annoyingly still alive and weve fought his fatass so many times in so many ways i think we have it memorized. but 5.4 and 5.5 have their chance to wow us and assure us that "dont worry we arent repeating Stormblood"

as of 5.3 what do we know really, The Empire is in complete chaos due to Zenos and "friend" which motives are still unknown but we can dictate they contradicted Elidobus seeing to how happy he was during 5.3. The Unsundered bided their time and employed varies means to for a calamity I mean i doubt the Dalamud crashing was caused in a day took years to replicate the technology and to approve the plan in the Empire, technology they literally made with Allag eons ago. My best guess is either these guys are less patient and more erratic or they just done care is another solid guess .and Zeons journey to have a blood date with us to quench his bloodthirst bla bla boring boring one note one note.

Unique scene trying to convince the empires patrons that the empire is run to doom humanity, like thancred said War isnt key to mess with the empire subterfuge is

also hate to break it to everyone but Zenos kinda cant die hes been seen body snatching all over erozea like a acsian, to the point of body snatching a PRIMAL.how the hell can we kill that which cannot be killed?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jirah

also hate to break it to everyone but Zenos kinda cant die hes been seen body snatching all over erozea like a acsian, to the point of body snatching a PRIMAL.how the hell can we kill that which cannot be killed?

---

We directly killed two unsundered and severely wounded the third so he can be killed, and also killed a few sundered ascians. Yea, there's nothing we can't kill given what we know now, just takes time and cleverness.

That said, I can't help but have the sneaking suspicion that Zenos and Fandango are going to be dealt with by the end of 5.5, and 6.0 is going to go somewhere none of us suspect, or maybe suspect a bit (Sharlayan my money is on)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wolffriend

We directly killed two unsundered and severely wounded the third so he can be killed, and also killed a few sundered ascians. Yea, there's nothing we can't kill given what we know now, just takes time and cleverness.

That said, I can't help but have the sneaking suspicion that Zenos and Fandango are going to be dealt with by the end of 5.5, and 6.0 is going to go somewhere none of us suspect, or maybe suspect a bit (Sharlyan my money is on)

---

The Party doesnt even know about Fandango yet how can he possibly die so soon when we know so little except his VA got super lucky. Agreed if we have the means to kill the likes of Lahabrea its possible to do away with Zenos in theory it would feel blah killing him what the 4th time now? Sharlyan? Since we had a taste of their culture and architecture in HW i dont doubt well go to the motherland but in 6.0? Old Sharlyan if you glance at the ye old world map is WAYY north of Dravania beside the Northern Empty.

In 4.0 we only went to Kugane for a easier passage to Doma ya know logic, Theirs no logical reason to go so far off away from Ilsabard and this being the last expansion for the Zoidoark Arc, it would be super strange for it not to be in ilsabard. and every expansion having 2 hub towns if some sort of base of operations or refuge is in order why not Radz-at-Hans? its how Estinein got to the capital or just brave through the Ghimlyt Dark to Ilsabard. Everything is up in the air until 5.4 really

If we had another whole expansion just dealing with Zenos and whoever is with him, I'd be very disappointed, especially after SHB. But you're right, we'll get a hint in 5.4.

As long as Zenos does not survive till 6.0 I'm fine with anything really. Not too interested in Garlemald though since architecture is so dreadful...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Erendis

As long as Zenos does not survive till 6.0 I'm fine with anything really. Not too interested in Garlemald though since architecture is so dreadful...

---

That's why I refer to it as a hopeful Islabard expansion, keep in mind While controlled by the Garleans, Islabard is an entire continent with no doubt a variety of cultures, the way I honestly feel it will play will be four zones in Islabard with their own distinct and culture with some Garlean influence as is to be expected but still unique, the fifth zone as Garlamald proper, and the final zone as the moon which I have stood by for years i feel will be the final mystery zone

I still think Sharlayan may be involved somewhere along the line. I can't help but think someone reported back to them what went on on the First, and more important, what was learning about Zodiark, Hydaelyn, and most especially us. And given the AST quests, I can't help but feel there are folks there who won't be happy about it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FrightfulNight

That's why I refer to it as a hopeful Islabard expansion, keep in mind While controlled by the Garleans, Islabard is an entire continent with no doubt a variety of cultures, the way I honestly feel it will play will be four zones in Islabard with their own distinct and culture with some Garlean influence as is to be expected but still unique, the fifth zone as Garlamald proper, and the final zone as the moon which I have stood by for years i feel will be the final mystery zone

---

All of Ilsabard being relegated to five zones would be absurdly disappointing. Even Ala Mhigo alone got three, and most areas on Eorzea have 4+, they may be smaller but them being distinct areas adds to the world. The most shafted place is probably Othard, but we're probably going back to Hingashi someday and Bozja is coming out soon. Ilsabard is supposed to be the largest continent with many nations comprising the empire, it would be so weak to have so few zones dedicated to it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Veloran

All of Ilsabard being relegated to five zones would be absurdly disappointing. Even Ala Mhigo alone got three, and most areas on Eorzea have 4+, they may be smaller but them being distinct areas adds to the world. The most shafted place is probably Othard, but we're probably going back to Hingashi someday and Bozja is coming out soon. Ilsabard is supposed to be the largest continent with many nations comprising the empire, it would be so weak to have so few zones dedicated to it.

---

All the more reason we should at least start to explore it in 6.0, some areas might be relegated to the raid series, trial series, and whatever the next iteration of Eureka is, maybe some of the Islabard zones we do get will be more urbanized giving them a more distinct look and development compared to other zones. I also imagine there will be a globe trotting expansion one day that adds of the areas around Hydalyn that we have been near but have not explored including hopefully the rest of Hingashi with a more mystical experience because I do agree it was disappointing we only got one city from the Nation based off of Japan.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FrightfulNight

I also imagine there will be a globe trotting expansion one day that adds of the areas around Hydalyn that we have been near but have not explored including hopefully the rest of Hingashi with a more mystical experience because I do agree it was disappointing we only got one city from the Nation based off of Japan.

---

I'm pretty the reason Kugane as the only open city in Hingashi is to reflect the history of Japan that for the longest time had one port city open to the rest of the world. Plus it gives them a chance to have an expansion some time in the future that is a "Japan" expansion which I'm sure all of the devs would be culturally proud of.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jirah

The Party doesnt even know about Fandango yet how can he possibly die so soon when we know so little except his VA got super lucky. Agreed if we have the means to kill the likes of Lahabrea its possible to do away with Zenos in theory it would feel blah killing him what the 4th time now? Sharlyan? Since we had a taste of their culture and architecture in HW i dont doubt well go to the motherland but in 6.0? Old Sharlyan if you glance at the ye old world map is WAYY north of Dravania beside the Northern Empty.

In 4.0 we only went to Kugane for a easier passage to Doma ya know logic, Theirs no logical reason to go so far off away from Ilsabard and this being the last expansion for the Zoidoark Arc, it would be super strange for it not to be in ilsabard. and every expansion having 2 hub towns if some sort of base of operations or refuge is in order why not Radz-at-Hans? its how Estinein got to the capital or just brave through the Ghimlyt Dark to Ilsabard. Everything is up in the air until 5.4 really

---

Well I expect Fandaniel to be the guy with the upper hand over Zenos. Maybe his plan is force our confrontation and have Zenos killed off? Maybe he just needs the empire to do something to set off the 8th calamity and has to placate Zenos because he's not an unsundered who founded the empire? Guess we need 5.4 and 5.5 for a clearer plan.

One thing sticks out in my mind, although we don't know much about Fandaniel, he approached Zenos--so obviously, he is the guy with the master plan.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kesey

I'm pretty the reason Kugane as the only open city in Hingashi is to reflect the history of Japan that for the longest time had one port city open to the rest of the world. Plus it gives them a chance to have an expansion some time in the future that is a "Japan" expansion which I'm sure all of the devs would be culturally proud of.

---

Both Hingashi and Doma are heavily inspired by feudal Japan, and while the liberation of the latter is definitely portrayed as a good thing in Stormblood it doesn't shy away from pointing out the ugly side of Japanese culture as embodied in Yotsuyu.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Veloran

All of Ilsabard being relegated to five zones would be absurdly disappointing. Even Ala Mhigo alone got three, and most areas on Eorzea have 4+, they may be smaller but them being distinct areas adds to the world. The most shafted place is probably Othard, but we're probably going back to Hingashi someday and Bozja is coming out soon. Ilsabard is supposed to be the largest continent with many nations comprising the empire, it would be so weak to have so few zones dedicated to it.

---

I agree. I think we're at a juncture where we need an updated world map. This hasn't been done since 3.5 and I guess wasn't necessary because we were on the 1st, but in the meantime we've begun to flesh out new areas like Bozja and Terncliff. Although a map isn't a huge spoiler in and of itself, it will give us an idea of what lore has been more fleshed out and potentially give us an idea to where the plot could turn.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cilia

Both Hingashi and Doma are heavily inspired by feudal Japan, and while the liberation of the latter is definitely portrayed as a good thing in Stormblood it doesn't shy away from pointing out the ugly side of Japanese culture as embodied in Yotsuyu.

---

Yes, most definitely. But sealing off the rest of Hingashi was probably deliberate so it could be revisited with the proper main story plot, allowing them to add more of the dev's native culture.

I don't speak for the community, but once Hydaelyn/Zodiark is resolved I'd be up for exploring Hingashi.

The lore book goes into Hingashi's political state which is... very, very complicated compared to Doma. Doma's situation is pretty simple: there's one king of it, he rules the people and what he says goes. Fortunately for Doma, the line of kings they have has been mostly decent as individuals and when they haven't been, that's when you get the Ninja getting developed and assassinating the king that was really bad for everyone. Hingash wasn't happy about this as Doma didn't have Ninja until a Hingan Ninja, Sasuke, showed them how the job worked and Hingashi views Sasuke as a traitor because of that.

Hingashi is... the result of a nation that has been at war with itself for around six centuries. While the past several centuries have been more peaceful, Hingashi really doesn't want to go back to war because it has a long memory of how bad it was. The real power in Hingashi is the bakufu, a military government. The Mitsurugi clan has the most power in it and basicly the only reason there is an "Emperor" in Hingashi is because the Mitsurugi clan says there can be... so long as he's not politically active.

Because of that, the Mitsurugi clan has declared Hingahi will be neutral in the Garlean conflict. Fortunately for it, Hingashi is an island nation, so Garlemald isn't even interested in it. But Hingashi does not want to be influenced by outside influence even though it does want to know what the other countries are doing. So there's one port everyone can go to, but nowhere else.

For the story to go to Hingashi, a lot would have to change about Hingashi's politics. And Hinashi's politics are... stable enough that I don't see that happening anytime soon. The Lvl. 60-70 SAM quests have some good info on the state of Hingashi politics.

My crack-theory:
Spoilers

We will be going to Garlemald but we will also be going to future Eorzea.
Like in the future we hopefully prevented, a calamity will destroy civilization.
La Noscea, the Black Shroud, and Thanalan will all be big maps, their individual ARR parts put together, with the city states in ruins. Maybe we will see some of Coerthas but Ishgard will be lost.
Mor Dhona might survive (and be our new hub city or end game hub) due to the Crystal Tower.
Back in current times, Garlemald will get like 3 areas.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mimilu

My crack-theory:
Spoilers

We will be going to Garlemald but we will also be going to future Eorzea.
Like in the future we hopefully prevented, a calamity will destroy civilization.
La Noscea, the Black Shroud, and Thanalan will all be big maps, their individual ARR parts put together, with the city states in ruins. Maybe we will see some of Coerthas but Ishgard will be lost.
Mor Dhona might survive (and be our new hub city or end game hub) due to the Crystal Tower.
Back in current times, Garlemald will get like 3 areas.

---

If i recall the bad future is no longer reachable, or phased out of existence due to the efforts to undo the 8th calamity. I also do not think they will do another split expansion after the weak story in SB and since we just had a more isolated location this expansion i do not feel it will be so next expansion, i also do not think they would have spent such time adding flying to the ARR zones and even modifying them a bit to accomidate it if they were just going to destroy and completley remodel them again. I feel wherever it will be it will be the Source, modern time, and relevant to the current events. also while i know my idea of Islabard getting exploration five zones with one being Garlemald proper with other Islabard zones being added in Raid series, trials and future Eureka like content was not well received, i see getting just three zones for the entire continent, again like Orthard all over again will be widely panned. either way i feel it should be Islabard for this expansion, the veil of clouds just adds that irresistible sense of mystery to it, and it just screams end game zone. i do not know what they will do with Garlemald but the continent of Islabrd almost has to be where they do the next expansion. Plus i do not see them leaving that world map incomplete for long, we are already exploring or have already explored areas in the mist such as Dalmascus, and Bozja, and they already have locations developed there such as the capitol, i doubt it would have been shown in game if it is just going to be in the background and unexplored another two more years with more meanwhile at the Imperial palace cutscenes that have been prevalent both this expansion and the previous one. No they are just screaming to be used. i feel the subvert expectations was either a red herring or that what we will be doing there will be different then what most people expect, maybe instead of SB 2.0 which everyone dreads, it will be more espionage focused.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FrightfulNight

If i recall the bad future is no longer reachable, or phased out of existence due to the efforts to undo the 8th calamity.

---

Read the most recent Tales from the Shadows, please.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Aniya_Estlihn

Read the most recent Tales from the Shadows, please.

---

I feel that this recent story was done in the similar fashion as a plot point in Season 5 of Agents of Shield where

where the team is sent into a bad future where the world was destroyed and when they went back to their own time they left a hopeful message in the bad future where the survivors would find a way to go on, since we already averted this future it will continue on its own separate timeline with the survivors trying to make their world a better place as well but since we already averted it and since the method of getting there is so great as shown by the methods G'raha used i do not think the player will ever go there, or they may years down the line but after ShB dealt with a similar concept i do not feel it will be in 6.0

I agree, all the tech needed is stuck on the first, the only one who could even use it is stuck on the Source and even if he was there we destroyed Proto-Omegazander (Tycoon) so the time travel ability of the tower isn't even there anymore, it also took the future timeline generations of people to get Cid's ideas to function.
In addition we have no real reason to even go there, they sent someone back to avert their fate, we've nothing to gain by going back there, while yes they have advanced tech it again took them ages to make it, they're in a post apocalyptic world they're not just going to have lodes of shiny new future tech sitting around for us to borrow.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BlitzAceRush

I agree, all the tech needed is stuck on the first, the only one who could even use it is stuck on the Source and even if he was there we destroyed Proto-Omegazander (Tycoon) so the time travel ability of the tower isn't even there anymore, it also took the future timeline generations of people to get Cid's ideas to function.
In addition we have no real reason to even go there, they sent someone back to avert their fate, we've nothing to gain by going back there, while yes they have advanced tech it again took them ages to make it, they're in a post apocalyptic world they're not just going to have lodes of shiny new future tech sitting around for us to borrow.

---

But the tech that's on the first comes from our time line on the source.

After reading a few comments above the 8th calamity by flooding The First with light and using Black Rose on source has been averted. Without concrete proof of what Fandaniel is plotting, we can guess that he is still planning an 8th calamity by other means. Now this new possible 8th calamity could play out 100% differently than the one that was averted.

This leaves the possibility of the WOL visiting a different future post-calamity. Or readvenuturing through The Source in apocalypse mode. Or a whole new world reborn.

Although all these scenarios feel like soft resets, not like an epic end of season finale. So ultimately, I don't see this stuff happening until later if ever.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kesey

But the tech that's on the first comes from our time line on the source.

After reading a few comments above the 8th calamity by flooding The First with light and using Black Rose on source has been averted. Without concrete proof of what Fandaniel is plotting, we can guess that he is still planning an 8th calamity by other means. Now this new possible 8th calamity could play out 100% differently than the one that was averted.

This leaves the possibility of the WOL visiting a different future post-calamity. Or readvenuturing through The Source in apocalypse mode. Or a whole new world reborn.

Although all these scenarios feel like soft resets, not like an epic end of season finale. So ultimately, I don't see this stuff happening until later if ever.

---

From the Source 200 years removed, there's no guarantee they could get any of it to work today and again we did brake the actual machine that controlled the time travel, so even if the second crystal tower suddenly dropped in Cid's back yard he'd have a bunch of stuff he has no idea how to use with the most important part missing.
I'm not saying we might not time jump again (though not any time soon) I just don't think it'll be because of anything to do with Graha's jump or the "Doomed" future.

This truly might be a case of Occam's Razor. With that statement many of us are pondering where 6.0 will go but the way it is set up and has been for the past two expansions it is most likely Islabard. Yoshi P. might have been misdirecting it due to the statement similar to Benidect Cumberbatch character in Star Trek into Darkness being said not to be Khan when in fact he was or Christopher Waltz not playing Blofeld in Specter when once again he was. The story has been pushing Islabard hard for two expansions now especially with that final scene in 5.3. Also while we will have to wait for 5.4 to get a better picture, past x.3 patches did show a little bit on where the next expansion would be. 2.3 began to show the Ishgardian plotlines develop and 3.3 did the same for Ala Mhigo, the only one that did not if I recall was 4.3 as the location for ShB was kept under heavy wraps up to the third fan fest.

While they did do the curveball away from Islabard last expansion, to set up the long awaited Ascian expansion and show just how high the stakes are with the other shards, I do not think they will do it two expansions in a row, especially with locations already somewhat developed and made. I feel Yoshi P. wants to wrap up as many season 1 story lines as possible and that most likely includes the empire as well as Hydalyn/Zodiark, allowing the next storylines to be less tied down and explore new territory. Also I feel at this point they have just done about all they can with the Garlean Empire, to keep them around as antagonists for another full expansion will just get a tad repetitive and stale.

That being said I seriously hope we do not have to have another expansion with Zenos as the main antagonist, that right there I feel will especially get old and tiresome especially after the more complex and ironically human antagonists of ShB like Emet-Selch and Elidibus.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FrightfulNight

This truly might be a case of Occam's Razor. With that statement many of us are pondering where 6.0 will go but the way it is set up and has been for the past two expansions it is most likely Islabard. Yoshi P. might have been misdirecting it due to the statement similar to Benidect Cumberbatch character in Star Trek into Darkness being said not to be Khan when in fact he was or Christopher Waltz not playing Blofeld in Specter when once again he was. The story has been pushing Islabard hard for two expansions now especially with that final scene in 5.3. Also while we will have to wait for 5.4 to get a better picture, past x.3 patches did show a little bit on where the next expansion would be. 2.3 began to show the Ishgardian plotlines develop and 3.3 did the same for Ala Mhigo, the only one that did not if I recall was 4.3 as the location for ShB was kept under heavy wraps up to the third fan fest.

While they did do the curveball away from Islabard last expansion, to set up the long awaited Ascian expansion and show just how high the stakes are with the other shards, I do not think they will do it two expansions in a row, especially with locations already somewhat developed and made. I feel Yoshi P. wants to wrap up as many season 1 story lines as possible and that most likely includes the empire as well as Hydalyn/Zodiark, allowing the next storylines to be less tied down and explore new territory. Also I feel at this point they have just done about all they can with the Garlean Empire, to keep them around as antagonists for another full expansion will just get a tad repetitive and stale.

That being said I seriously hope we do not have to have another expansion with Zenos as the main antagonist, that right there I feel will especially get old and tiresome especially after the more complex and ironically human antagonists of ShB like Emet-Selch and Elidibus.

---

The 4.3 patches showed the Empire and Emet. Emet became the important player and the Empire did not. I'm not sure that is sufficient evidence.

Unfortunately, if we are to have an Empire expansion it will require Zenos as 5.3 clearly ends with him seizing the throne (granted not out of personal desire but because Fandaniel has promised him it was important to whatever it is he is plotting). But I don't think an empire expansion, with the given plot, will be more than a rehash of Stormblood.

The story is going use Fandaniel, and by extension Zodiark, as the main villain and their attempt to cause 8th calamity/rejoining. Could that mean the empire? Maybe, but its just as likely as any other location to hold a McGuffin that could cause the 8th calamity/rejoining.

That would seem a little odd to me given we just spent all of ShB averting the 8th for them to then go "Surprise! it's the 8th calamity again!" Also re-joinings require a shard to be absorbed back into the source and from all we know the Aciens do it one at a time and it takes them a lot of time to do each one, with the First saved and the unsundered gone it's unlikely they just have a second ready to immediately go, Fandaniel would also need to do this from one of the shards, so unless it's just all going to happen off screen we'd have to shard hop after him, something I don't see them pulling again given the lengths it took to get us to the first.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kesey

The story is going use Fandaniel, and by extension Zodiark, as the main villain and their attempt to cause 8th calamity/rejoining. Could that mean the empire? Maybe, but its just as likely as any other location to hold a McGuffin that could cause the 8th calamity/rejoining.

---

My money's still on Meracydia for this. You expect me to believe 4 Elder Primals are coincidentally born on the exact same continent, all within a relatively short(ish) time span? No way in hell, something powerful is there that could allow such a thing to happen.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BlitzAceRush

That would seem a little odd to me given we just spent all of ShB averting the 8th for them to then go "Surprise! it's the 8th calamity again!" Also re-joinings require a shard to be absorbed back into the source and from all we know the Aciens do it one at a time and it takes them a lot of time to do each one, with the First saved and the unsundered gone it's unlikely they just have a second ready to immediately go, Fandaniel would also need to do this from one of the shards, so unless it's just all going to happen off screen we'd have to shard hop after him, something I don't see them pulling again given the lengths it took to get us to the first.

---

No, the 8th calamity caused by Black Rose/Flood of Light has been averted. Yes, we've created a new future but that doesn't conclude all the possible plans and contingences at the Ascian's disposal. Their end game is to cause an 8th calamity and allow Zodiark out of the moon.

In case you forgot, ARR was about giving the Empire Allagan weapons to use against beast tribes and Eorzea for the 8th calamity (stopped by us @ ultima weapson and stopping the primals), then tried to manipulate the escalation of the dragonsong war (stopped by us, again) to bring the 8th calamity, then use the unrest caused by the liberation of Doma and Ala Mhigo to unleash Black Rose to cause an 8th calamity (they also gave the nidhogg eyes to summon Shinryu escalating the liberation too), not to mention they were playing Ardbert and the others on the First at the same time to cause an 8th rejoining with the flood of light. Noticing a pattern yet?

We don't know much about Fandaniel, but what little we do know is he has a plan, and going by what we know about Ascians is they are all about causing calamities/rejoining to get to Zodiark. So until Fandaniel belies otherwise, we have to assume he is tempered by Zodiark and is working towards the same goal.

Zodiark and the Ascians need an 8th calamity. That's the only way they win. Everything else is just a means to an end, including the empire and Zenos.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RyuDragnier

My money's still on Meracydia for this. You expect me to believe 4 Elder Primals are coincidentally born on the exact same continent, all within a relatively short(ish) time span? No way in hell, something powerful is there that could allow such a thing to happen.

---

It's no secret, we've already been told that the ascians are responsible for the summonings. Plus faith, urgency, and aether on a greater level than that of anything the Eorzea beastmen are capable of. The now dead civilizations of Meracydia were powerful enough to stand up against the Allagan Empire at its height for at least a little bit. Take that and the ascians whispering the secrets of summoning and you have a recipe for the Warring Triad. Then there's Bahamut, who was summoned by beings practically swimming in aether.

But given what we know right now at this moment, there is no reason to go to Meracydia. It is a dangerous and mostly unlivable wasteland with nothing in it and no civilizations beyond scattered tribes. Right now we have 2 separate side-storylines where we've started or will start to liberate the very southwest and southeast edges of Ilsabard. It was already frustrating as a player and for the characters themselves in the game that the WoL was randomly pulled into doing something else just as the war with Garlemald started heating up and there was action in the borderlands. It would be odd if they did the same thing again, especially since now the Garlean Empire is fractured and in the middle of a civil war.

The ascians are similarly unorganized now that we've killed all the ones planning everything for the past 10,000 years. Unless the few remaining ones form up around Fandaniel to cause ruckus somewhere else in the world, or something we didn't know about and wasn't in the game yet suddenly comes to light in the next 2 patches, I don't see us going anywhere except Ilsabard for 6.0.

Except we don't even know if Fandaniel wants to bring him back, he might be content with just blowing up the Source, he pretty much threw a party at the unsundered being gone saying he can do what he wants now, hell he might be trying to help Zenos just because he wants to see what happens if you release a 7/14 Zodiark. We have no idea if he wants to keep the agenda or if the remaining can even do it anymore, Eledibus literally says they can't do it without him, which is why he cannot afford to lose to us, well he dose which means if the remaining even intend to keep trying it's likely not going to be how they've been doing it up till now.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BlitzAceRush

Except we don't even know if Fandaniel wants to bring him back, he might be content with just blowing up the Source, he pretty much threw a party at the unsundered being gone saying he can do what he wants now, hell he might be trying to help Zenos just because he wants to see what happens if you release a 7/14 Zodiark. We have no idea if he wants to keep the agenda or if the remaining can even do it anymore, Eledibus literally says they can't do it without him, which is why he cannon afford to lose to us, well he dose which means if the remaining even intend to keep trying it's likely not going to be how they've been doing it up till now.

---

You're right, this does seem to offer a gray area that will have to be better explained as they flesh out Fandaniel. The lack of unsundered could mean a few things, like maybe that means Fandaniel can be reckless in calamity planning; maybe it means he doesn't care about resurrecting the Ancient's Amarout and just wants Zodiark to wipe the world clean. We also don't know his relation other sundered Ascians and what their plans are now and what worlds they are setting up to rejoin.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BlitzAceRush

Except we don't even know if Fandaniel wants to bring him back, he might be content with just blowing up the Source, he pretty much threw a party at the unsundered being gone saying he can do what he wants now, hell he might be trying to help Zenos just because he wants to see what happens if you release a 7/14 Zodiark. We have no idea if he wants to keep the agenda or if the remaining can even do it anymore, Eledibus literally says they can't do it without him, which is why he cannot afford to lose to us, well he dose which means if the remaining even intend to keep trying it's likely not going to be how they've been doing it up till now.

---

Now that I think of it, I wonder what it even means for Zodiark now that its heart is dead. Can Zodiark even be fully revived? What was the nature of the Elidibus we know to Zodiark and how did he get separated?

I hope these are things that we learn in 5.4 and 5.5. I hope at the same time that Zenos doesn't last to 6.0 because I'm kind of sick of him tbh.

My dream 6.0 would be to finally fill in some of the Ilsabard map. Don't need to fill in all of it and I hope they don't because having 6 zones representing the biggest of the 3 main continents would feel cheap. Even with Stormblood, a lot of Othard isn't represented by the 3 zones we go to. But Ilsabard has been teased enough that I wish we could go. We've already had multiple NPCs run around there already and seen and played their flashbacks. Now we're going there ourselves, but only barely. Shadowbringers has been really neat and it was something completely different and unexpected, but I think it's about time to get back to what we're expecting.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MikkoAkure

Now that I think of it, I wonder what it even means for Zodiark now that its heart is dead. Can Zodiark even be fully revived? What was the nature of the Elidibus we know to Zodiark and how did he get separated?

---

I have these thoughts too. Let me add this mystery: that Venat implies at the end of Anemnesis Anyder they aren't gone forever and can return in the form of their choice after becoming the Heart of Hydaelyn. I don't know who or what Venat is now, but I'm thinking they can clear up these questions.

I actually like Zenos, so I'm cool if he persists, though I feel they need to do something else with him if he dose, the "frenamy" idea is fine but not as lead big bad for two expansions, I feel if he makes it into 6.0+ he needs to either, become a side plot along side the main story or go the Vegeta rout of him working with us, not saying he ever needs to be redeemed or actually become a "good guy" but just that our goals align, after all he can't fight us if the world ends, so I could see that kind of motivation for him, perhaps he even notices we fight so many crazy things that he can get his murder fix if he just follows us around, who knows.
Either way I'd like for him to stick, but I agree him headlining twice shouldn't be how he is handled if he remains.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BlitzAceRush

I actually like Zenos, so I'm cool if he persists, though I feel they need to do something else with him if he dose, the "frenamy" idea is fine but not as lead big bad for two expansions, I feel if he makes it into 6.0+ he needs to either, become a side plot along side the main story or go the Vegeta rout of him working with us, not saying he ever needs to be redeemed or actually become a "good guy" but just that our goals align, after all he can't fight us if the world ends, so I could see that kind of motivation for him, perhaps he even notices we fight so many crazy things that he can get his murder fix if he just follows us around, who knows.
Either way I'd like for him to stick, but I agree him headlining twice shouldn't be how he is handled if he remains.

---

I'm of the mind Fandaniel and by extension, Zodiark are the main villains going forward. I think Zenos is getting the thing he wants from Fandaniel (a reason to have us show up and fight) and either is getting fooled by or, more likely, doesn't care about Fandaniel "masterplan".

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MikkoAkure

Now that I think of it, I wonder what it even means for Zodiark now that its heart is dead. Can Zodiark even be fully revived? What was the nature of the Elidibus we know to Zodiark and how did he get separated?

I hope these are things that we learn in 5.4 and 5.5. I hope at the same time that Zenos doesn't last to 6.0 because I'm kind of sick of him tbh.

My dream 6.0 would be to finally fill in some of the Ilsabard map. Don't need to fill in all of it and I hope they don't because having 6 zones representing the biggest of the 3 main continents would feel cheap. Even with Stormblood, a lot of Othard isn't represented by the 3 zones we go to. But Ilsabard has been teased enough that I wish we could go. We've already had multiple NPCs run around there already and seen and played their flashbacks. Now we're going there ourselves, but only barely. Shadowbringers has been really neat and it was something completely different and unexpected, but I think it's about time to get back to what we're expecting.

---

It is my hope that 6.0 is Finally Islabard and while i do not see all of it being explored i can at least see the parts important to the story like Garlemald being a location, maybe the moon is just a dungeon or something instead of a zone and we have 6. Maybe some other zones in Islabard are added in other questlines like the Raid series, trial series, or whatever the next Eureka like questline will be. At some point down the line after the Hydalyn/Zodiark saga has ended i do see there being a globe trotting expansion where instead of an entire area with multiple zones around it added there are instead multiple zones added throughout the world and this includes more of Hingashi, and multiple unexplored zones in both Orthard and Islabard