Amazing game all around but HORRIBLE map system

Seriously guys you gotta give us some more slack to find areas. I spent almost an hour just looking for one place. Its really frustrating not knowing where anything is even when you press on map in the quest window. I have to find camp drybone and I have NO idea where to go now.

Is there an easier way to navigate? This is literally blood boiling. It's the only thing I hate about this game.

I agree it was my biggest gripe about the game when I first started playing. It gets much better once you uncover most of the map and now I don't even notice it. It was probably my biggest pet peeve when first starting out. Stick with it and soon you won't even notice how bad it is.

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Originally Posted by stoxastic

I agree it was my biggest gripe about the game when I first started playing. It gets much better once you uncover most of the map and now I don't even notice it. It was probably my biggest pet peeve when first starting out. Stick with it and soon you won't even notice how bad it is.

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I don't understand where to go or do anything man. It shouldn't be like this!

Even at level 21 I don't know what's going on most of the time outside gridania.

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Originally Posted by stoxastic

I agree it was my biggest gripe about the game when I first started playing. It gets much better once you uncover most of the map and now I don't even notice it. It was probably my biggest pet peeve when first starting out. Stick with it and soon you won't even notice how bad it is.

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Can you tell me where camp drybone is?

drybone is in eastern thanalan

I never noticed a problem with the maps, they usually pointed the direction where to go, and by the time it was less straightforward I knew most areas

Eastern Thanalan is where you find camp drybone

either you go to Uldah => gate of Nald to Central Thanalan => ride or run North East and you should arrive Eastern Thanalan

Or gridania => Central Shroud => run south to South Shroud => run south passing by camp tranquil to Eastern Thanalan

http://xivdb.com/?maps/44/w1f3-00/Th...stern-Thanalan

Doesn't clicking "Map" in your quest journal show you where to go?

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Originally Posted by Deifact

Doesn't clicking "Map" in your quest journal show you where to go?

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Not all the time. Sometimes it shows a messed up world map glitch and it gets super annoying lol

Part of the joy of gaming, for me, is discovery. That being said I felt the same way when I first started playing. I would go on a search for the new location and get sidetracked with other missions or die from battling some of the newer random enemies. I ended up spending a half hour or hour one night just clicking through finding the various areas that connected with each other. The better you know the layout the more Gil you'll save by not having to fast travel as much. Stick with it and it'll become more natural and manageable, good luck!

I think it takes you to the world map only when it's an area you haven't discovered.

Thanks everyone for their help :)

If you are playing on the PS3, when you "map" your quest from the journal press R1 for a more detailed location. You can press R1 again for an even more detailed look. (This has helped me a TON)

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Originally Posted by Grenwal

I think it takes you to the world map only when it's an area you haven't discovered.

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It depends on where you are. Using Drybone as the example, it's in Eastern Thanalan, so the possibilities are:
1) If you're also in Eastern Thanalan, it will bring up the Eastern Thanalan map with the specific location marked.
2) If you're in another Thanalan region (Western Thanalan, for instance), it will bring up the Thanalan map showing that Western Thanalan connects to Central Thanalan, which connects to Eastern Thanalan.
3) If you're in a completely different area, like the Black Shroud or La Noscea, it will go to the world map.

Then from any of these, you can zoom in and out, going from a regional map to the wider area map to the world map or back again. And you can follow region boundary lines to see, for instance, where in Eastern Thanalan the South Shroud to Eastern Thanalan boundary crossing will bring you. It does get easier once you've uncovered the whole map area, but even before that, you can at least see which regions connect to which other ones, which is generally enough to figure out how to get where you need to be.

Are you guys serious? You want to be spoon fed every part of the game?

Personally, I felt that the map system in Final Fantasy XIV is a little too much of hand holding, and not enough free exploration - which is why the Treasure Maps and the new cryptic quest is a breath of fresh air.

If you're having trouble, you can always click "map" on your quest journal entry. Regardless of whether you have uncovered the area yet, or not, you'll either see a red circle delianating the proximity of the next quest objective. Failing that, you'll always see one of the gold markers that shows you where the next part of the quest is, or where you can access side quests, or main scenario quests.

The NPCs will always tell you where you need to go within the dialogue - unless you click through it and don't bother to read it?

Reply to Eltaire:
I don't think everyone here is looking to be "spoon feed", the op [singular] was looking for some clarification/help or just wanted to share an opinion (gasp!) with the map system, so we complied as best we could. Before you make a statement like you opened with, you should try to remember that you're in the "New Player Help" forum.

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Originally Posted by Grenwal

Reply to Eltaire:
I don't think everyone here is looking to be "spoon feed", the op [singular] was looking for some clarification/help or just wanted to share an opinion (gasp!) with the map system, so we complied as best we could. Before you make a statement like you opened with, you should try to remember that you're in the "New Player Help" forum.

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This x100

Plus, I don't know if the OP is PS3/PS4/PC but the map is extremely difficult to navigate on the PS3. I mean, an NPC might say "Western Thanalan" but if you are new to the game, how are you supposed to just magically know where that is? (Especially if you go to your map and it just shows all of Thanalan with a tiny quest marker and no details.)

Either way, I never found navigating the map to be an issue, even when I was a new player myself when 2.0 first went live.

Regardless of whether an NPC says "Western Thanalan", as per your example, Dagger_32, the map marker is still there to loosely direct you.

Besides, if you are completing all the sidequests within a given region prior to moving the story forward, you should uncover majority of the map, including the zone exit, with 9 times out of 10 said zone exit leading to the next zone required for main story. In this manner, the mapping is fairly linear.

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Originally Posted by Grenwal

I think it takes you to the world map only when it's an area you haven't discovered.

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I understand that you said that you think, but it's still wrong, so I am going to clarify. It will ALWAYS take you to the world map, wherein you have to click on a region. Said region relating to the quest that you're looking for is always marked with either a gold winged quest marker (fulfilment) or a main scenario marker (meteor). Click the marker region and it will take you to the sub-region map (i,e Thanalan will take you to the sub-regions of Thanalan, such as Central, Eastern etc.) The correct sub-region is likewise marked. Click it and it will directly display the area that you are supposed to visit, regardless of whether you have uncovered the map, or not.

P.S - I don't feel that the mapping system is horrible, hence why I am entitled to my opinion about it being too hand-holdy, and equally you're all entitled to your own opinion of the system, and its operation.

If you've never been to an area, you can still look at the bigger world map and learn how to get there. The map has lines between regions that you can travel between by walking. So you use the Quest Log to find the region where the quest objective is on the world map, then follow the lines until you see how it connects to the area you're currently in.

The fact that you you have to go World map>Region>Location can be confusing. Say you are fairly new to the game, you are in Old Grandia, you pick a quest that says you need to go to the steps of Ul'dah. You've never been there. You click the map, it shows Thanalan with a quest marker, ok, that doesn't help much. You go to look at the region. There's the quest marker with no real path telling you how to get there. You click again for the exact location, more grayed out area.

So now you know where you need to go...you just do not know how to get there. This is where the exploring comes into play. You explore, head in the general direction you think you should be going, get lost, look at the map, see your in the South Shroud. You don't even know there is an airship you could take... You continue exploring, find level 30 monsters, and get insta-death.

That will be nice if you ever need to go to the South Shroud... but still, where the heck is Ul'dah!?

The map is of NO help in cases like this and it happens all the time when you are new. Just look at this board. So it's fantastic that you are super awesome "know everything cause I do everything" players but everyone has their own play style. There is no right or wrong.

Square-Enix employees painstakingly and lovingly put in text that directs you where to go every step of the way throughout your adventure of the main scenario of A Realm Reborn.

If people choose to skip cutscenes, click through text without reading it, or ignore what the NPCs say, it doesn't make the mapping system horrible. It makes the person playing not respectful of the time placed into creating the dialogue for the diegesis of the world of Eorzea. In your example, the person that couldn't find their way would know that they had to take an airship, and where it left from had they read the text.

The map exists as an aide-de-camp of sorts to your exploration. As to your example of someone dying because they ran into level 30 monsters - the logical thing would be to not go that way again, because why would the game direct you through an area that you're not even geared for?

If you grew up in the late 80s, early 90s, you would definitely be whinging about not having any guides to where to go, as there were none. Period. People now aday have it so much easier with the linearity of games. A Ream Reborn is no exception.

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Originally Posted by Dagger_32

Say you are fairly new to the game, you are in Old Grandia, you pick a quest that says you need to go to the steps of Ul'dah. You've never been there. You click the map, it shows Thanalan with a quest marker, ok, that doesn't help much.

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Sure it does. It tells you where you need to go, with directional markers of how to get there. Even if you've never set foot in any of the Thanalan regions, or even the South Shroud, the maps will already tell you that the Central Shroud connects to the South Shroud, the South Shroud connects to Eastern Thanalan, Eastern Thanalan connects to Central Thanalan, which in turn connects to Ul'dah. All you have to do is look at where the maps connect and trace through the routes. You'll see which regions you need to pass through and which direction to take through each of them. Just how much easier do you think any map could possibly make it?

True, you won't know what the landscape looks like until you get there, and there are a few cases (like Upper La Noscea, for instance) where not all region boundaries are connected to each other overland (though there's a ferry to get you across).

And you won't know what mobs are there, though it rarely matters if you stick to the roads, which are generally pretty clear of aggressive mobs. Sure there are level 30 mobs between Gridania and Thanalan, but it's easy to travel past them even at level 1. Just avoid the aggroing mobs and don't engage them if they're significantly higher level than you are. It's not until around level 45 that mobs start to get aggressive enough that they get hard to pass without fighting, and at that point it's intended that you're not supposed to pass those areas until you're ready.

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Originally Posted by Eltaire

*Snip*

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BWHAHAHAHA! I cannot take you seriously. I grew up in the 80's & 90's I remember how gaming was back then. What that has to do with THIS game, I have NO IDEA. No one is disrespecting the game by pointing out that the map COULD be better. It could. It's cluncky and the controls do not well work on the PS3. I don't know how well it works or does not work on the PC but on the PS3 it is a mess.

It doesn't mean people are not playing the game to your high standards. It doesn't mean they do not respect the game and it's makers. Holy over-exaggeration Batman! IT'S A MAP!

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Originally Posted by Niwashi

*snip*

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I don't think the OP is stating that the map is not a map. (I know that is not what I am saying) I think it is more along the lines of the mechanics behind navigating the map are a mess.

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Originally Posted by Dagger_32

It doesn't mean people are not playing the game to your high standards.

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I fail to see where I stated that I am an elitist, or have high standards. However, if that is what you wish, this would be akin to a Monatarist and a refugee with you obviously being the refugee.

I'll crush you beneath my golden foot. *squish*

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Originally Posted by Dagger_32

No one is disrespecting the game by pointing out that the map COULD be better. It could. It's cluncky and the controls do not well work on the PS3. I don't know how well it works or does not work on the PC but on the PS3 it is a mess.

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The map itself is literally LEAGUES better than the 1.0 version though, and while there are still a few cities that are confusing your first time around, for the most part it was a big improvement when ARR came out.

In terms of the PS3 though, I have to say that the controls are also extremely fluent and natural to someone who knows their way around the Dualshock controller scheme. The only real downfall on the PS3 is having to try and type out a custom conversation that you wouldn't be able to create via the international word data bank, but that's mainly a PS3 UI problem and isn't something that square-enix would be able to fix (Using a USB keyboard fixes this issue).

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Originally Posted by Eltaire

I fail to see where I stated that I am an elitist, or have high standards. However, if that is what you wish, this would be akin to a Monatarist and a refugee with you obviously being the refugee.

I'll crush you beneath my golden foot. *squish*

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Way to lose all credibility with a single post!

Also, it's "Monetarist."

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Originally Posted by The_Last_Dragoon

*snip*.

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I have trouble with the zoom in and out (L1 and R Analog). My instinct is to use the L Analog to look around the map, which causes my character to to move. Then I have to "select" my way to the map. I am not used to using the "select" button for everything, but it is becoming more natural. I am sure over time I will forget how much I stumbled in the beginning but it has taken some time for the controls to "click."

Side note: Your little Lightning bard is awesome looking! Hahahaha!

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Originally Posted by Eltaire

I fail to see where I stated that I am an elitist, or have high standards.

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Originally Posted by Eltaire

Are you guys serious? You want to be spoon fed every part of the game?

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This post starts off as pretentious and snarky, you are generalizing everyone who posted in this thread, even though the majority are here to help. You don't seem like a troll or flamer, so it may not have been intentional but sarcasm has a hard time translating through writing. The attitude portrayed in the opening lines has a feeling of elitism: the fact that we are beneath you because we want to be led or told where to go. When in fact, the op was just trying to express his/her concerns with the map from a beginner's perspective.

I'll reiterate myself, I enjoy the feeling of discovery. It's one of the things that holds my interest in a game. When there are darkened or missing areas on a map, I want to unlock what's there; to see what I'm missing. To each their own.

Whether or not you intended to belittle others, your words came across that way.

Lol coming from a game where you used to have to either quest or buy the map to have it available, this is pretty cake. at least you get to piece it together as you travel into undiscovered territory.

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Originally Posted by Eltaire

If people choose to skip cutscenes, click through text without reading it, or ignore what the NPCs say, it doesn't make the mapping system horrible. It makes the person playing not respectful of the time placed into creating the dialogue for the diegesis of the world of Eorzea.
If you grew up in the late 80s, early 90s, you would definitely be whinging about not having any guides to where to go, as there were none. Period. People now aday have it so much easier with the linearity of games. A Ream Reborn is no exception.

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What a load of "word of the day calendar" garbage. While I'm sure that we all appreciate you coming unselfishly down from your ivory tower to bless the common-folk with your pearls of wisdom, I don't think you are actually trying to help anyone or anything in this case.

It really bothers me that people can't make criticisms of systems in this game without somebody swooping in to defend a flawed design choice, or berate those who have issues with it simply because they did not have, or chose to overlook the same experience.

It's not unreasonable to ask for a more concise map system.

I've been playing since the first day of 1.0, and I also find the map system to be a bit wonky in this game. I did not have much trouble with it personally, but after reading the OP I can see where they are coming from. It is pretty easy to see how a new player who is not familiar with where "Thanalan" is or whether or not "Limsa Lominsa" is in walking distance from Gridania would be confused by the current world map, and the fact that maps are obscured until locations are discovered compounds that confusion.

The maps should function like they do in nearly every other MMO - where regions are shown much like a real life world map, as part of a continent/island with zone boundaries indicated by borders. The way it is now there is no perspective for how these regions connect, only names on a map with lines connecting them, and the camera is so zoomed in on the map that you have to scroll to find connecting regions, which makes being thrown into the world map through the quest log even more disorienting.

The maps aren't unreadable, but they aren't as good as they could be.

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Originally Posted by Dagger_32

Way to lose all credibility with a single post!

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Last I checked, I wasn't seeking credibility, or your validation. Shame for you.

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Originally Posted by Tsuga

The maps aren't unreadable, but they aren't as good as they could be.

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Took me a few days to get used to the maps, but now I am definitely accustomed to the interface. I definitely agree they could be better.

After 200+ hours, while earlier levels it's simply reading dialogs and proceeding along. Later levels, you have explored a lot, and you get to a point where you have to level to continue on with the main story line, have to do fates, instances, side quests, etc. This can lead you across the world, and when you receive a level up you can forget where they were. Those of us that aren't obsessed, kids, chasing fate parties to go way past the story level need this help. Some have real world obligations that can lead us away from game for hours. It'd be nice to see main quests appear on the global map or a quest finder for specific regions, so that we can go back to where we left off.

Sure it doesn't take much to remember that the NPC for xyz quest at xyz level at xyz town. What harm is it to allow you to find it easily? This is why people have GPS in their cars. Some people have horrible memories. Sometimes even looking at the last story quest you did gives no hint to where the next quest is. I don't want it spoonfed to me, no. But I do expect not to travel the entire world looking for 1 npc, and not only have the map update to where the quest npc is when I'm in the town they're in. I like to explore, but I explore when I have free time, not doing story quests, between levels. I do enjoy the game and the story.

Square, in my opinion wants the game to be accessible and enjoyable for everyone. It's not about our singular opinions, it's about what reaches a broader audience, what makes the most sense, and of course makes it great for everyone. If you could leave a mark on the map so you know where it is yourself, it'd be a lot better than nothing at all.