Delving Deeper Into Ishgard?

With the release of Stormblood, the grand focus of the story will obviously be shifting greatly. New land, new enemies, new conflicts......new experiences.

And yet...I'm a little sad.


For better or worse, people have their own opinions as to if Heavensward was a success or not. Some have said too long, some said pacing developement was bad, any number of things. Myself, well...from the very day I crossed the gates and set metalshod foot into the somber city, I fell in love. With the (then) constant threat of the dragons, the overshadowing reach of the all powerful religious establishment, the very tangible dreary melancholiness in the ever-snowy air as day turned to night (seriously, go stand by the delivery moogle closest to the 'Last Vigil' aetherite tele at 5:59-6pm and just gaze down the street), the city brought itself to life, while I lost my soul.

Forgive the rambling.


Because we were so occupied with the events of the Dragonsong war, I wouldnt exactly say we've had the chance to fully see beneath the city/culture's surface. The storyline of the Scholasticate, as well as the 6 written pieces placed on Lodestone a few months ago were aaabsolutely delicious in terms of shedding further light but....dabbit..I want more!! I-its become like fine crack..o-or Blue meth if you will. The order of the knights. The inner workings of the church. The internal politics of the Houses, the hard times in the Brumes. The devs, I believe, have established the foundations for each of these pieces so well, that any one of them could branch off into a story all their own, just as Scholasticate did.

I know I'm sounding like a greedy child asking for more candy, with only so much time being able to be spent on certain points, but, seeing as Uldah, Gridania, and Limsa seem to kinda have stopped having their own plots developed altogether, I'd hate to see that happen to Ishgard as well (heaven help every lala with lunchmoney within 1,000 yalms of me should they finally release housing there) So I guess this is just a way to say a sincere thanks to the devs for the fine 3-course meal you've already provided us with, with just a small request not to clear the table completely when Stormblood gets here~

Im pretty sure they will continue Ishgard's story but it won't be the focus going forward.

Whenever they talk about the healing rifts between Ishgard and the Dragons its always saying it'll be some time before it fully heals. Things are certainly better, and probably faster then real life, but there is still room for possible side quests to take us back to Ishgard. Or possibly even something like the add-on scenerios of XI. Mini-expansion type things essentially.

I really had hoped we would have gotten more Ishgard. I like the city and the themes presented but overall it felt less like Ishgards expac and more like Ishgards brief cameo, now on to the Ala Mhigo expac

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in Ishgard. I wish they had better utilized it though, i didn't like that idyllshire became the player hub and would have preferred the endgame exchanges took place in Ishgard.

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Originally Posted by Lone-wolfe-02

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in Ishgard. I wish they had better utilized it though, i didn't like that idyllshire became the player hub and would have preferred the endgame exchanges took place in Ishgard.

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You spelled Idleshire wrong.

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Originally Posted by gastovski

You spelled Idleshire wrong.

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So i did. :p

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Originally Posted by Lone-wolfe-02

I didn't like that idyllshire became the player hub and would have preferred the endgame exchanges took place in Ishgard.

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Yeah, I understood the need for a seperate hub back in ARR since there was no unifying city where everyone went to no matter which city they started at (so we got Revenant's Toll in Mor Dhona).
But Ishgard could have become exactly that..instead, we got Idyllshire :/ Which has become very beautiful and all, but still.

I doubt Ishgard housing will ever be a thing. Yoshi was probably right that an always-snowy area would not be very popular with most players (even though there are a few who'd have loved it, like Vaeria and me xD).

I think in general it's a bit sad the cities get abandoned once you finish there - 3 main cities after you leave for the Path of the Twelve, Ishgard now as we move on to Ala Mhigo (which will most likely end up with the same fate come 5.0).

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Originally Posted by Atoli

as we move on to Ala Mhigo (which will most likely end up with the same fate come 5.0).

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As far as I know, 4.0 won't have any new big cities. We'll get Rhalgr's Reach, which will be our new Idyllshire, and that's it.
Ala Mhigo itself is still occupied by the Garlean Empire.

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Originally Posted by SilkaN

As far as I know, 4.0 won't have any new big cities. We'll get Rhalgr's Reach, which will be our new Idyllshire, and that's it.
Ala Mhigo itself is still occupied by the Garlean Empire.

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I'm aware it's not in 4.0, but I expect it to be in 4.x, unless we fail miserably again.

Good riddance Ishgard, as much as I like snow, there can be overdoes. I will be happy to go back into warmer and sunnier areas!

I really hope Ala Mhigo gets a better treatment. Ever since i started i have loved the idea of an eastern mercenary/toll city that was placed in harsh environments. Monks, lancers and more. Ala Mhigo only deserves the best. We have been teased about its existance since the very birth of the game.

Though a part of me wishes for us to enter the city once with the scions, only to have the empire go full doma on it- nuking the city. With a new friend introduced while lvling us teleporting the WoL out while letting everyone else die. Cleaning the slate, so to say.

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Originally Posted by SilkaN

As far as I know, 4.0 won't have any new big cities. We'll get Rhalgr's Reach, which will be our new Idyllshire, and that's it.
Ala Mhigo itself is still occupied by the Garlean Empire.

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The city Ala Migho can still be part of 4.0 for underground and spy quests. I'm sure the rebels are good rebels and have builded up a spy network in the city.

I love Ishgard. I'd like it to have its own housing area and be the hub that the other cities are, not only for those that are playing the HW main scenario.

While for SB Rhalgar's Reach can easily be part of Ala Mhigo like what Foundation is part of Ishgard.

While leveling all of the classes and jobs can help expand the story of Ishgard, I wish that the Scholasticate series had been better handled. There was a lot more that could have been expanded on about the city itself and its people and culture besides just the Dragonsong War and the High Houses. I would have liked to get more time to know some of the Ishgardian npcs. The Lightfeather Proving Grounds is a great example of an underused area in Ishgard. It appears in a few quests but that is it. When I first saw it I had hopes that it would be part of some new side content or expansion of the chocobo system or pvp but nope, nothing. The city itself is very beautiful, but I agree with the sentiment that Ishgard should have been the hub and not Idyllshire. Most of the time the city feels very empty. Hopefully Rhalgar's Reach will be handled a bit better and be both a storyline and game play hub.

To me, the game has 4 major cities, 3 of which are directly linked to the Grand Companies. I would really like it if in addition to the main story, the over arching theme and all the primary content, we should have story arcs that focus on each of the main cities, and their internal politics, and even their interactions. I hesitate to call it side quests, I would prefer something more substantial than typical side-quests. but having a continuing story arc centered in each of the main cities running in parallel to the MSQ would - in my opinion - add a great deal more depth to the game.

Also, the cities themselves could easily play host to their own dungeons based on their lore and construction. this would further deepen the game and add weight to their stories. It doesn't always have to be new areas that get new content.

You all forget that Ishgard is going to be involved in 4.0: Nidhogg's eyes. You can bet your butt that Aymeric will be involved and possibly Estinien.

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Originally Posted by Atoli

I'm aware it's not in 4.0, but I expect it to be in 4.x, unless we fail miserably again.

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Please look forward to it!

Was personally hoping to see Ishgard revitalized and made shiny again, Jeuno housing here we come, and I assume we'll continue to see it through 4.0 but I also assume they'll make a new Idleshire.. so changing the landscape of Ishgard might not be worth it to them, it's a lot bigger and would require a lot more new stuff/placement, and either another instance or careful planning.

I think one way to revitalize Ishgard is to actually open up the bottom floors of the Ishgard towers and maybe make those the new housing area. I always wanted to see what was below those towers. Maybe even do the same with Limsa Lominsa, Gridania & Ul'Dah. They have so many unexplored buildings that would be cool to see and maybe make them livable, too.