About Gridania

This thread is an open discussion to my personal opinion about Gridania's design. No raging or emo quitting threatening intended. :o

Gridania seems so boring and small if you compare it with the other 2 city states and the upcoming Ishgard. It's literally a small village. Few buildings some trees and that's it. Also feels relatively smaller than the rest of the city states. It doesn't feel like a city state. Even Mor Dhona feels like a proper fortress city and like a new city state on the rise. Is it possible to redesign Gridania or "enhance" it in future so it will feel like a proper city state? Just like what happens to Mor Dhona which gets upgraded patch by patch. While Mor Dhona justifies this lore wise, Gridania can use a bit of overhaul to look like a proper city state.
What is your opinion about this guys?

I like Gridania for how simple it is actually. Even after all that time, I'm still lost when I walk in Ul'Dah. So having one of the three cities that doesn't feel complicated is quite a good point for me.
The fact that the paths are larger is nice too.

I do understand what you mean though. ^^

I actually like Gridania back in 1.0 days. I was in total awe when I first make my character and chose Gridania as my home town, then hearing that soft-pleasant-homey tune we had back then. And when I stop by to Gridania time to time, I still awed by the serenity of it back then.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOr4WFrOkhU

Current air of Gridania now aimed for more bustling activities like what Ul'dah has. It definitely doesn't feel like solitary home anymore. ^^;

Gridania is my favorite so I'd never oppose them expanding upon it.

I usually taunt my FC's Adders with this, but I actually think Gridania is perfect the way it is. Their government is ruled by Elementals who take protecting the forest very seriously, so it makes sense that their buildings and layout cause as little impact as possible.

Ul'dah and Limsa are also built in the wide open desert/ocean, while Gridania is built in what is basically a redwood forest. So It could also be possible that it has some massive structures that we just can't see because of the trees, it's concept art suggests this could be the case at any rate.

But from a design standpoint, it's also good that Gridania has a different take than the other city states. Things wouldn't be very exciting if the three were too similar.

Gridania does feel like your standard mmo forest city, nothing really stand out from its design if compared with uldah and limsa lominsa imo.

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Originally Posted by Virevolte

I like Gridania for how simple it is actually. Even after all that time, I'm still lost when I walk in Ul'Dah. So having one of the three cities that doesn't feel complicated is quite a good point for me.
The fact that the paths are larger is nice too.

I do understand what you mean though. ^^

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Indeed, I love Gridania, and at least we no longer have those awful winding tunnels from 1.0 Gridania that went on and on and on. It used to take forever to get anywhere in the city. And that says nothing about that stupid long ramp that used to be near the Adventurer's Guild which always required the player having to almost zone out of the city and then double back just to go to the Adventurer's Guild - I'm so glad they sheared that off.

About the only thing from 1.0's Gridania I miss is the old Gridania BGM Born of the Boughs ~ The Theme of Gridania - Wailers and Waterwheels/Dance of the Fireflies is okay, but Born of the Boughs just had that quiet/homely feel to it. :)

Either way, Gridania is a forest nation - of course it's not going to be masses of stonework everywhere, you want boring cold stone go to Ul'dah or Limsa. Gridania is all about nature and thus it's buildings reflect that.

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Originally Posted by BobbinT

Current air of Gridania now aimed for more bustling activities like what Ul'dah has. It definitely doesn't feel like solitary home anymore. ^^;

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That's because Ul'dah took over the Gridania markets. You lost your quiet air of serenity, but think about the Gil you gained in novelty Seedseer collectables alone! You're welcome.

Easiest to get around to, though. I find myself visiting Gridania more than the other two cities just cause no bridges or convoluted stairways. Also, usually less people there to clutter my screen.

It's all about balance and nature, because they don't want to angry the elementals and jeopardize the contract of Gelmorra (that allow the Gridanians to live in the forest).

and also this:

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The cityscape is a mosaic of labyrinthine waterways and great wooden structures, so gracefully constructed they seem a part of the surrounding environment.

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