Hints on Ishgard's future.

So during the MSQ it was stated that Ishgard wasn't always so cold, it became that way as a curse sort of, and I came across this quote by YoshiP on Twinfinite about Ishgard housing wards, and it made me really thrilled!

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“But that being said, after we have established Shirogane’s housing wards, we feel that possibility wise, rather than Ala Mihgo, maybe Ishgard might be a higher consideration point. We’re hoping by then Ishgard won’t be as frigid and cold.”

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I've been itching to see a change in the environment, to see what they could do to change an entire area's landscape design. Not sure if this could affect coerthas as well or if maybe just Ishgard and Falcon's Nest would change.

Have there been any other hints on Ishgard going back to not being so frigid?

It wasn't cold during 1.0 and it was the calamity that changed the climate. I don't think it will ever change back unless we get to the end of the Seventh Astral Era and witness another calamity. I'm pretty sure the game can go for a decade without another relaunch.

Well, in Castrum Oriens we see two Ishgardian soldiers talking and one of them mentions the Eastern Highlands. To date, we have only ever gone to the Central and Westerns Highlands. Is this a hint for a new area?

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Originally Posted by Kyran-Varlsen

Well, in Castrum Oriens we see two Ishgardian soldiers talking and one of them mentions the Eastern Highlands. To date, we have only ever gone to the Central and Westerns Highlands. Is this a hint for a new area?

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You actually can visit them in PvP. In 1.0, Coerthas had several more areas such as the Eastern Highlands (where Rivenroad and the final fight with Nael took place) or the Central Lowlands.

In 1.0, which takes place 5 years ago at the start of ARR and before the Calamity, Ishgard was a fully playable region. It also lacked the snow and ice that make up the modern feel of the zone, instead being a sort of pastoral plain area. Ishgard more or less removed itself from the alliance with the realization that Niddhog was awakening, and thus was not present in the Battle of Cartenau. As the battle with the dragons began once again, the calamity struck. The Calamity had massive effects on many areas of Eorzea, with several lakes being drained in Limsa Lominsa, massive alterations to the geography of Mor Dohna, an erosion of the power of the Elementals in Gridania, and more. Ishgard, while not facing as much direct damage from Bahamut's strike, had its aetherial balance horrifically altered towards ice. The land was covered almost instantly in frost, to the point that in some regions of Ishgard you can find men and dragons frozen where they stood. Many areas were present in 1.0 and can still be accessed, allowing players to witness the horrors the calamity wrought through the destroyed hamlets and settlements.

The Eastern Highlands were a region in 1.0, but remain inaccessible from 2.0 onward. Another of the regions returned as the 'shatter' map in Frontlines, but the Eastern Highlands are still unable to be reached by players. As far as I know, there is no way to really remove Ishgard from its current state. Massive Aetherial imbalances like that are difficult to cause our cure, with the only other great example being the Calamity of Water caused by centuries of irresponsible magecraft. Nobody in universe has even gotten started on finding a way to fix something of that magnitude, and it would take probably another calamity level event to undo the harm. On a different note though, they could definitely add the Eastern Highlands in later. It would be a good opportunity (along with new areas for the main three city states )for them to make an 'Eorzean Expansion' without a massive world changing event like WoW's Cataclysm.

Either way, I would love an Ishgardian housing district! I've always been a fan of snowy cottages, and Ishgardian Architecture is some of the coolest in all of Eorzea. Not to mention it's probably the City State I feel most loyal to.

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Originally Posted by CaesarCV

In 1.0, which takes place 5 years ago at the start of ARR and before the Calamity, Coerthas was a fully playable region. It also lacked the snow and ice that make up the modern feel of the zone, instead being a sort of pastoral plain area. Ishgard more or less removed itself from the alliance with the realization that Niddhog was awakening, and thus was not present in the Battle of Cartenau. As the battle with the dragons began once again, the calamity struck. The Calamity had massive effects on many areas of Eorzea, with several lakes being drained in La Noscea, massive alterations to the geography of Mor Dohna, an erosion of the power of the Elementals in the Black Shroud, and more. Coerthas, while not facing as much direct damage from Bahamut's strike, had its aetherial balance horrifically altered towards ice. The land was covered almost instantly in frost, to the point that in some regions of Coerthas you can find men and dragons frozen where they stood. Many areas were present in 1.0 and can still be accessed, allowing players to witness the horrors the calamity wrought through the destroyed hamlets and settlements.

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Fixed a few names from city states to regions.

I do have a feeling that we will get an expansion that will allow us to go into the past like FFXI's Wings of the Goddess. I saw that statement Yoshida-san made before about Coerthas/Ishgard not staying permanently frozen in time. I do think that we may go into the past to uncover something, but then it changes the outcome on the 2.0 over world, making more areas accessible to us. Who knows, wishful thinking on my part.

It's worth considering that the comment about Ishgard not being so frigid and cold may have been intended to be humorous - a kind of "That's totally the reason it's not yet, too cold, who'd want to live there?" joke.

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Originally Posted by Berethos

It's worth considering that the comment about Ishgard not being so frigid and cold may have been intended to be humorous - a kind of "That's totally the reason it's not yet, too cold, who'd want to live there?" joke.

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This is especially important given that was basically Yoshi's answer to the question during the fanfest. He shivered and asked if you really wanted to live somewhere so cold. Amusingly enough, the players still seemed psyched about Ishgardian housing. Granted, back then they assumed that it was going to be Ala Mighan housing, which was a bit of a less exciting prospect compared to the Shirogane housing we eventually got.

I definitely agree that it'd probably have to take another Calamity to change the environment again. I don't think there'd be a real reason to do that, because some people might like a snowy, stony getaway. lol

I kind of feel like the reason they don't want to do a snowy housing area is because a lot of the outdoor furnishings and fixtures wouldn't look good in a snowy environment.

You would expect everything to be covered in snow but things like your roof, plants, gardens, and chocobo stable would be void of snow. Certain plants that you can place in your yard wouldn't conceivably be able to survive in colder climates so wouldn't make sense for them to be there. Your ponds which should be frozen would still be liquid. Things like leaf piles and stepping stones that should be burried under the snow would be on top of it.

Things just wouldn't look right and people would complain about it so that's why they probably won't do it.

That being said, there's still plenty of candidates for housing areas in heavensward zones other than coerthas. The Hinterlands or Sea of Clouds would be good choices imo.

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Originally Posted by Zetsumei_Tsunarashi

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If I can have a bunch of snow drifts and an oriental snow cave on my front lawn at the top of a cliff overlooking a sandy desert, then banana trees can grow in Ishgard!

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Originally Posted by Zetsumei_Tsunarashi

That being said, there's still plenty of candidates for housing areas in heavensward zones other than coerthas. The Hinterlands or Sea of Clouds would be good choices imo.

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Actually, a colony on a newly discovered floating island would be a very interesting idea. The Diadem shows that such places exist even without Vanu or Moogle inhabitants, and Ishgard could set one up as a housing district for adventurers for a number of reasons. First, as a new frontier, it may be best to settle this island with hardened yet wealthy adventurers who can be counted on to defend their homes in case of an attack. Second, it would reinforce Ishgard's place in the Eorzean Alliance by joining with the housing program seen in the other city-states.

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Originally Posted by Kyran-Varlsen

Actually, a colony on a newly discovered floating island would be a very interesting idea. The Diadem shows that such places exist even without Vanu or Moogle inhabitants, and Ishgard could set one up as a housing district for adventurers for a number of reasons. First, as a new frontier, it may be best to settle this island with hardened yet wealthy adventurers who can be counted on to defend their homes in case of an attack. Second, it would reinforce Ishgard's place in the Eorzean Alliance by joining with the housing program seen in the other city-states.

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I want this so badly! They could even strong arm in that the designs can be Foundation architecture themed because it was Ishgard soldiers who helped build it, but also the idea of cute beasttribe style housing is interesting(Possibly more airship designs?).

I'd definitely want for it to have some foundation style architecture. The imposing stone buildings of Ishgard are some of my favorite architectural styles in all of Eorzea. They even have a grim, gritty, defense focused nature which makes them even cooler. The idea of a Diadem/Floating island housing structure is cool too! I'd personally prefer somewhere closer to the city so I can get my snowy little wonderland, but that would work too!

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Originally Posted by Keever

If I can have a bunch of snow drifts and an oriental snow cave on my front lawn at the top of a cliff overlooking a sandy desert, then banana trees can grow in Ishgard!

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Mm. Besides - if they really feel obligated to come up with a plausible explanation for it then they can just brush it off as 'magic'. It's not unreasonable for certain furnishings to be enchanted or enhanced in some way to survive in any climate. If they're worried about 'immersion' then they've already jumped the gun on that one, anyway. Not everyone appreciates their view being spoiled by chocobo or paissa houses but they have no choice but to endure it if their neighbours happen to embrace that particular style.

Obviously swimming would need to be included in an Ishgardian housing district as well. The water would be very, very cold - but for some that is considered to be very refreshing.

6.0 or 7.0, the obligatory time-travel expansion?

If so, can't wait to run around the 1.0 Black Shroud and actually fight those level 80 mobs instead of running in terror!

And we'd finally get that Ishgard housing XD

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Originally Posted by Theodric

Obviously swimming would need to be included in an Ishgardian housing district as well. The water would be very, very cold - but for some that is considered to be very refreshing.

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Could also be hot springs. Imagine sitting in the hot water, drinking some of the Forgotten Knight's best mulled wine, and watching the snowflakes swirl around you.

I'm rather confused why they chose Shirogane instead of Ishgard. When I first unlocked housing, I got the impression it was a facility for ranked/known adventurer.
Ishgard is closer due to being in Eorzean Alliance than Sekiseigumi, which in Kugane considered neutral? I mean, buying apartment requires 2nd sergeant.
Does lore explain how Kugane recognize Eorzean ranks/authority? or maybe hint of Sekiseigumi as grand company?

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Originally Posted by uvuvwevwevweonyetenyevweugwemu

Does lore explain how Kugane recognize Eorzean ranks/authority? or maybe hint of Sekiseigumi as grand company?

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I figured their reasoning for having adventurer/ijin housing was just economic.

Technically Shirogane housing isn't just for adventurers. It's moreso for general Ijin housing. If you go to the district itself you can find other people in the markets, some of them looking like nobles, rich merchants, or politicians. I think the Ijin district was described as a more recent phenomenon, a result of the increased presence of foreign diplomats and merchants in Kugane. They needed their own housing to store themselves and their families, and they figured they might as well open it up to other foreigners as well.

From a developer standpoint, it just looks better to have tnis shiny new housing district be rooted in the new Far Eastern fantasy aesthetic Kugane and Yanxia are going with.

From a lore standpoint, Ishgard still wasn't keen on foreigners, especially adventurers, until the tail end of 4.x's entire narrative. They are still in rebuild mode for their own city.

While I would thrown myself at snowy regional housing, I do think something in the Sea of Clouds would make just as much sense in the long run, and would make for some fantastic scenery.

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Originally Posted by Keever

If I can have a bunch of snow drifts and an oriental snow cave on my front lawn at the top of a cliff overlooking a sandy desert, then banana trees can grow in Ishgard!

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I was running around Falcon's Nest in my Moonfire Shisui gear the other day. Snow means nothing to the Warrior of Light!