The zones we have now are to small.

[Despite]

They are very small.. and not only that.. very linear and corridory. Rubbish.

[adam92682]

(1) I'd rather have smaller zones that aren't just the same couple yards copy-pasted for hundreds of miles.

(2) I'd rather we get completely new zones added, rather than a patch/expansion to make the existing zones bigger.

All new zones should be the size of central shrouds or larger. I liked being able to explore in 1.0 without have to see other players every 5 minutes.

[adam92682]

After the mess that was 1.0, I'm actually fine with the size. However, I do have a problem with the lack of things to do in zones. They feel small to me because all there is to do are FATEs, leves, and gathering. Nothing to explore since the world is pretty much flat, nothing to discover, nothing fun to do....nada.

I agree there is next to no open world content in this game. The open world feels like a menu to me where you select dungeons while standing next to a giant crystal.

[adam92682]

The teleport system is probably the biggest reason the game feels so small. They should have restricted it to mages like in FFXI.

[Hyrist]

Why can't we have zones that were as large as they were in 1.0 but still be filled with things to do like the current areas?

You're level fifty, there's nothing preventing you from exploring areas that are more dangerous now. The zones are much larger than they initially give out ,because you're exploring each zone in segments.

Walk from Sweetbloom Pier to Amarissiax's Spire, then curve north to Moonspore Grove, then to the Seedbed, then go back to start. This will give you a good idea as to the actual size of the zones. They're more than decent sized zones, as large if not larger than the ones in FFXI, and far more detailed and flushed out.

Are they as big as the copy/pasted regions with hidden zone-lines in FFXIV 1.0? No, but I could spend an hour writing the flaws in that system and how it would not work for this game, irrelevant of the PS3.

[Jynx]

You're level fifty, there's nothing preventing you from exploring areas that are more dangerous now.

There is no such thing as a dangerous area in 2.0. Sure there is actually a good deal to explore but was absolutly zero reason to do so, hell there aren't even things like hidden lore objects to walk around and see. I'm all for better and grander zones but I'd rather them give them more of a purpose than being a staging area for fates and quests.

[Shioban]

But we have the RAM/CPU/GPUs to handle it now.

Essentially, the average base of PCs ontop of the PS3 meant that they decided it was best to section of zones and fill them detail than make larger zoned 'waste-lands'.

A sensible compromise.

Why go for the 20% when you can target the 80%.



Don't get me wrong, the zones do feel smaller, but they're generally nicer.
FFXI had some severe restrictions forcing large open areas with nothing in them, but as Yoshi has said many times this is a game built around convenience not time consumption.

[Riv]

I think zone sizes are fine.

[Hyrist]

There is no such thing as a dangerous area in 2.0. Sure there is actually a good deal to explore but was absolutly zero reason to do so, hell there aren't even things like hidden lore objects to walk around and see. I'm all for better and grander zones but I'd rather them give them more of a purpose than being a staging area for fates and quests.

*Stares at you funny*

Every map marker is a lore item, though finding the Lore behind it is a bit difficult, you'd actually have to do quests to figure out the lore. The Lore for the Beastmen areas, however, are likely to be revealed in the Beastmen Quests we're supposed to get in 2.1.

Exploration is it's own reason. I don't understand this concept that they have to be lead by the nose to explore something, then be given a tasty biskit for doing what they were told to do. I happen to have more self-motivation than a canine, thank you.

And yes, there are dangerous areas. Granted, running through an area or using a mount significantly reduces the danger, but it does not eliminate it. If you get disorientated alone in a Beast-man stronghold, you can die.

It's no level 72 Drake one-shotting you for taking the wrong turn in Southern Thanalan, but it does mean you can't just leisurely stroll everywhere and not expect to get engaged.

[Amyas]

There is no such thing as a dangerous area in 2.0.

Ever been to the Sylphlands? Can't wait for Ramuh.