Could We Get More Seamless Verticality in Future Zones?

It suddenly struck me how 'flat' FF14's overworld zones feel—there’s no seamless, vertically layered terrain (like towering mountains or valleys you could climb without loading screens), nor vast underground depths that stretch endlessly downward in a connected space...:p

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Originally Posted by YukioShirogaki

It suddenly struck me how 'flat' FF14's overworld zones feel—there’s no seamless, vertically layered terrain (like towering mountains or valleys you could climb without loading screens), nor vast underground depths that stretch endlessly downward in a connected space...:p

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The tempest was one of my favorite zones in the game. It got darker as you spiraled down to the depths of the ocean until you finally exited through the cave to have Amaurot in all its splendor. That was a map that truly showed off what a developer can do when they care. The depth of it made it feel so alive. In comparison all the dt maps feel so flat. Like two horizontal planes at different height aren't really depth. We need more slopes, cliffside objects, caverns, etc. Like this is an in game picture of one of the new wow zones.
https://warcraft.wiki.gg/images/a/a8...all.jpg?785024
Night and day

Exactly! Some zones have those dramatic extreme points, vertically challenging areas like winding mountain paths and narrow passes. There could also be fjord-like terrain with small basins nestled between mountain ranges, connected through several strategic passes. For descending areas, we could have deep layered zones like Genshin's The Chasm or Enkanomiya, even underground realms like the Goblin Town from The Hobbit.

BTW, while I haven't played WoW myself, the screenshot you shared does look absolutely stunning!

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Originally Posted by YukioShirogaki

BTW, while I haven't played WoW myself, the screenshot you shared does look absolutely stunning!

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It is. Best part is its only a fraction of the zone. Its also completely underground connected to the overworld map, horizontally to the kobold map, and above the deepest zone of the expansion. All connected with no loading screens and multiple paths and shortcuts between them.

The sun rock also shifts hourly to a purple void theme version and changes the lighting from a holy city nestled on a cliffside deep underground to a haunting sinister purple glow. A unique boss spawns whenever it happens too randomly around the map somewhere and killing it can get you a mount.

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Originally Posted by YukioShirogaki

It suddenly struck me how 'flat' FF14's overworld zones feel—there’s no seamless, vertically layered terrain (like towering mountains or valleys you could climb without loading screens), nor vast underground depths that stretch endlessly downward in a connected space...:p

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This was a big complaint of mine as well and it was mostly due to technical limitations. Something as simple as flying from the top of Yak Tel to the bottom with the changing aesthetics was impossible without a loading screen before the graphical update. Dawntrail zones were a big improvement of the previous ones, so hopefully that trend continues as they continue to explore their new capabilities.

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Originally Posted by CidHeiral

This was a big complaint of mine as well and it was mostly due to technical limitations. Something as simple as flying from the top of Yak Tel to the bottom with the changing aesthetics was impossible without a loading screen before the graphical update. Dawntrail zones were a big improvement of the previous ones, so hopefully that trend continues as they continue to explore their new capabilities.

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I would hope they could be able to do more once PS4 support is ended as that console will be 13 years old by the time 8.0 releases. That has held the game back for some time now since all the current generation consoles have SSD's as standard and that helps tremendously with loading times and more along with the larger RAM needed to load more details of the zones.

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Originally Posted by Rinoa_353

I would hope they could be able to do more once PS4 support is ended as that console will be 13 years old by the time 8.0 releases. That has held the game back for some time now since all the current generation consoles have SSD's as standard and that helps tremendously with loading times and more along with the larger RAM needed to load more details of the zones.

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That could certainly be the case. Even the PS5 is five years old as this point. Personally I would have liked to see them go further than they did with the update but I understand where they're coming from, MMOs typically need to cater to very wide range of systems.

Yak T'el technically has verticality since you can see the tree crowns from above the edge of the cliff and if you have flying you can just flight through the canopy and into the lower zone where the lighting also changes!

But yes, more verticality would be nicer!

Absolutely. More verticality but with also the cosy-depth some ARR zones had. We don't always need big expansive areas.

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Originally Posted by Rinoa_353

I would hope they could be able to do more once PS4 support is ended as that console will be 13 years old by the time 8.0 releases. That has held the game back for some time now since all the current generation consoles have SSD's as standard and that helps tremendously with loading times and more along with the larger RAM needed to load more details of the zones.

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The PS4 is still well above the game's minimum PC specs. Console hasn't been the problem since they dropped PS3 support in Stormblood. They just don't seem to want to tell people with outdated PCs to upgrade.

i brought this up as well in another section of the forum :) we definitely need the world to feel more open and for more places and locals to visit need more reasons to go out and explore the mapped areas not tied too fates,hunts, or gathering but just nice venues an landscapes to traverse with some nice suprises waiting around the corners or in the depths they could even add floating land masses above us to fly too later as we unlock flying in the area just like with sea of clouds or dravanin territories.

Along with more verticality, I want less invisible walls. Let me jump off of things like a madman. Absolutely bonkers that we’re not allowed to jump off the waterfall cliffs in Kozama’uka Like, c’mon, fall damage is just a slap on the wrist in this game, just let us do it.

Yes! They could even create vertical distinctions (like hilly level? ground level, and underground areas), Each floating island could have its own unique terrain, style, and scenery. Eventually, connecting these islands via cliffside pathways or trails leading up to a highland plateau at the mountain summit would make for an excellent exploration experience.

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Originally Posted by Destati

Along with more verticality, I want less invisible walls. Let me jump off of things like a madman. Absolutely bonkers that we’re not allowed to jump off the waterfall cliffs in Kozama’uka Like, c’mon, fall damage is just a slap on the wrist in this game, just let us do it.

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I think an explanation was that they are afraid that people in Japan would jump in real life too. Dunno if this was some forumgoer devsplaining. But knowing what we know now of the devteam its safe to say its just lazyness/lack of funds/ creativity / integrity / technology or whatever excuse they draw out of their hat until they are SUDDENLY able to do it.

it would take more time to make. but i dont think people would be too mad if they would only make four or five areas which are more interesting, more lively and have more to discover.

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Originally Posted by Asari5

it would take more time to make. but i dont think people would be too mad if they would only make four or five areas which are more interesting, more lively and have more to discover.

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But you should understand that whoever is managing XIV atm and their team barely have enough resources to give us a *single dungeon, a trial (+ extreme) and a deep dungeon* in six months. Making the open-world better ? Sorry brother, will be considered maybe in 9.0 if at all.

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Originally Posted by Molex

But you should understand that whoever is managing XIV atm and their team barely have enough resources to give us a *single dungeon, a trial (+ extreme) and a deep dungeon* in six months. Making the open-world better ? Sorry brother, will be considered maybe in 9.0 if at all.

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This is a very troubling point, which I don't think has been fully absorbed by the community yet.

Given that the devs are apparently overworked, and that there are insufficient resources for content one might reasonably expect, it seems somewhat pointless to suggest game improvements.

The dev team is running at full pelt on a treadmill just to remain in the same place. Ask for more and they will shoot off it, like that amusing cat video I saw once on YouTube.

Nothing more immersion breaking than not being able to fall from a cliff because of an invisible barrier.

Something that feels really awkward is Limsa Lominsa second area. There's a spot at the Aftcastle that you can see the Aetherythe plaza very close, just a jump away, yet you can't see anybody in there (the most player dense part of the city).

Would be nice if they reworked the main cities to integrate both zones, like the post Stormblood ones. Since, you know, it's always going to be full of players anyway.

I'd love to as well. The last one was the Tempest, but before that it was actually Yanxia to a smaller degree, around the paddy fields. Climbing those without flight and when not knowing the area's layout yet had you actually explored and fumble around a little.
And I think we also need to draw the line between confusing and vertical, because those aren't equivalent by nature, but it's always something to keep in mind when designing vertically.