Crucial missing element that hinders Open world content - Monster ranks
The current world is not really tailored for open world content but Yoshi is going to continue to implement features like the hunt, then the world needs a sense of danger and seclusion from low lv content.
You can't have that without formidable foes.
That's why monster ranks should not be exclusive to Elite marks. Instead they should be a proponent of all monsters in the game.
Look at the MMO Aion for example:
They had HP bars for different monster ranks based on how many players needed to kill it:
NORMAL - 1 person can solo
http://i.imgur.com/t9e557f.jpg
ELITE - need 2-3 players
http://i.imgur.com/RBCT6Zl.jpg
HERO - A full party required
http://i.imgur.com/tTSi0yh.jpg
LEGENDARY - A full alliance
http://i.imgur.com/pcBJBXW.jpg
Because all monsters have their own rank, the level designers can create sections of the map with danger for open world content and safe zones for questing, travel, etc.
- D rank - Solo
- C rank - Light Party
- B rank - Full party
- A rank - Alliance
- S rank - 3x Alliance (ilv50)
For example, in Eastern Thanalan, imagine if The burning Wall section and Amalj'aa Encampment section were full of C-rank monsters. SE can place a B-rank hunt in those areas or valuable gathering points and maps.
http://i.imgur.com/T6ZwhGl.png?1
Places like beastman camps and Lv50 zones should have sections of higher ranked mobs.
I know it's hard for them to implement something like this now, but I really hope for the new areas in the expansion pack, they design areas with dangerous elements.