A request for Map design

It's my first post here, so bear with me. I've been seeing other MMORPGs for the sake of giving a fair criticism to the game and maybe hope on having my message seen. Maybe someone agrees me or not.

I've been researching the different maps and minimaps around the genre and have seen that even though the UI on the cities aetherytes changed (Yes, it was great), the maps didn't.

Maybe a stroke of colour like on Guild Wars 2 (not too exaggerated yet still maintaining that vintage feel) would give our maps a little more life.

Not sure how off the charts this request is, but after seeing Mr. Junichi Murata letter on FFXIV: A realm reborn, I mustered the courage to create a thread here. Maybe one of you guys feel the same way as me? Any suggestions on how we can make our maps even more lovely?

I mean, it's a map. I use it to go from point A to B if I need directions. Personally, I don't need it to be fancy. I just need it to work. The maps in the game are actually fairly detailed. All of that said, I wouldn't be opposed to spicing them up a bit. I'm just content with the way they are now is all.

Ultima thule doesn't do it for you? More than color I'd like to see more variation in verticality, more dramatic landscaping, big caves, sprawling sub terrain tunnels and so on.

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Originally Posted by Kukajoo

Ultima thule doesn't do it for you? More than color I'd like to see more variation in verticality, more dramatic landscaping, big caves, sprawling sub terrain tunnels and so on.

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I believe they are talking about the maps we use to orient ourselves, like the zone maps and minimap.

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Originally Posted by Vahlnir

I believe they are talking about the maps we use to orient ourselves, like the zone maps and minimap.

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Oh minimaps! My misunderstanding then. I wouldn't mind more detailed minimaps like in the style of the worldmap.

The game engine probably limits it like everything else in the game. It would be really nice to see some updates to a lot of things, including the maps. There are probably 'other means' out there.

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Originally Posted by Greyhawk

The game engine probably limits it like everything else in the game. It would be really nice to see some updates to a lot of things, including the maps. There are probably 'other means' out there.

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I don't see how. One image is the same as another. I think the maps graphics are the way they are now for legibility and clarity. But maybe they'll get an overhaul like the Achievement UI did. I'd love for more of the UI to be in that kind of RPG adventure journal/notebook style.

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Originally Posted by Alleluia

I don't see how. One image is the same as another. I think the maps graphics are the way they are now for legibility and clarity. But maybe they'll get an overhaul like the Achievement UI did. I'd love for more of the UI to be in that kind of RPG adventure journal/notebook style.

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Yes, even though it's a simple and clearer objective kinda thing, you can still make it like a map from the World Map. The points of interests (for instance the dragon bones on coerthas western highlands) would be calling more the players.

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Originally Posted by Vahlnir

I mean, it's a map. I use it to go from point A to B if I need directions. Personally, I don't need it to be fancy. I just need it to work. The maps in the game are actually fairly detailed. All of that said, I wouldn't be opposed to spicing them up a bit. I'm just content with the way they are now is all.

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Yeah, I understand that most people would rather for a simple and objective map, but if you mix that with a little bit of art, it wouldn't hurt anyone!

It just needs a bit more colour so things like paths are easier to identify.

Artistic "points of interest" are harder without edging away from the clear top-down view into something more angled, or covering up details of the actual map.