One to Fifty, One Zone - Long OP

[EdenArchangel]

I'm glad the sense of adventure lasts longer for some people.
I have no doubt that it won't last up to 50 for anyone, however, lol.

I definitely took my time exploring on my soloing trip to 30, and still do as a 50THM, since I can kill anything up to ~67, as well as survive past higher mobs.
However, wherever I went, I was let down. Same scenery, same mobs. For some reason, what annoys me most is seeing high ranking areas filled with literally nothing but one hundred of the same mob.

I'm still baffled as to why we even have the 90+ mobs and areas in the starter zones, or even at this point in time with a 50 cap, and wish I understood the design choice.

But now I'm straying from topic so...
The community must be heard.
We want XIV to succeed more than anything, and to do that, we have to address fundamental issues after the battle system, i.e. the world of Eorzea itself.

This world will be a Final Fantasy!

[Siobu]

No worries, Eden, you're definitely not off topic. I, as well as others, feel the same as you. It is why we are here.

We must be heard. And now we know, we're not alone. Though we might have different ideas on how to find the solution, we all want to get there.

We all deserve to have an adventure.

[Daedae]

I can agree that there could be more diversity, but I am still getting a sense of adventure. Granted, my highest toon is 30.



Last night, I took a trip north in Thanalan to attempt to get to Mor Dhona. I was amazed at the scenery changes, and the dangers inthe north of the zone. You pass through a cave, and come into a canyon area lined with vegetation and classic mobs like Goblins and vultures. I had to strategically maneuver my way through the area, avoiding Dreamites and some other crazy looking desert creatures. I narrowly escaped death from lvl 71 dragon of some kind, and finally arrived in Mor Dhona.

For the breif time I was there, I was amazed. Now, our LS has our sights set on the next level of progression in Mor Dhona.

So far for me, it's been full of adventure. We have taken the initiative to explore, break away from the guild leve/behest grinding, and make our own adventures.

I think people get stuck in the camp-to-camp grind and don't really explore the game and try out new things. At this point, I'm playing catch up on my storylines and crafting skills - always leaving me with a lot to do when I log on. And then the LS gets together, and we do our SP parties and exploring together. I'm looking forward to leveling other classes in Nanawa, Mun Tuy, and Cassiopea, and eventually gaining enough strength to take them into new areas.

Sure, I'd love prettier maps, but I feel like a lot of players aren't going to any lengths to find and enjoy the "sweet spots" that the game has to offer. When there are more dungeons, zones, and things to do... the game will be utterly amazing. But don't be so quick to write it off. You can adventure into new territory, find sweet camping spots, walk into dangerous situations, and discover new things just as I was hoping.

The crazy thing to me is that we find these awesome spots for parties to get SP, and nobody is there. Nobody has taken the time to go, and it's not because people aren't playing. There are 10-15 people sitting in the camp doing nothing. The eyes were giving us behest-level SP (400+) and so were the Wights. It was waaaay more efficient than standing around waiting for a behest... and nobody seemed to even know about it.

I think it went over your head. Yeah, there are some cool looking places, maybe like, one per zone. But even those are copied. Cassie Hollow looks like Mistbeard which looks like the new dungeon. :O Mun-tuy looks like tam-tara looks like...the new dungeon! If you have low standards for how unique zones should be, and the sense of adventure you want, awesome! But you are in the minority. that sense if adventure you have isn't going to be refreshed when you level your second job, or your third....or your fourth....fifth....

Reliving that adventure is just as important has having it in the first place. Perhaps its because we are seasoned MMO players and we've become disenchanted with MMO's that do not reach a standard expectation, but when you compare zone diversity and adventure in XIV to any other MMO on the market, it falls flat, that includes F2P's. How broke game developers who are hardly making any money at all can develop games to be more interesting than the juggernaut that is SE is boggling! XIV feels like a second hand journey in a half-finished world. I like to see things in-game and not only appreciate the aesthetic value, but the lore and purpose behind it. Why are Nanawa and Copperbell abandoned? What are the closed doors in mistbeard for? So many things that are just up in the air!

[EdenArchangel]

What are the closed doors in mistbeard for?

Behind Mistbeard doors are a dock; where that ship will take us probably hasn't been decided yet. :3
But yes, the lack of 'life' in areas (not defined by having mobs) is definitely an issue as well.

[Daedae]

Behind Mistbeard doors are a dock; where that ship will take us probably hasn't been decided yet. :3

NONE OF THAT SASS! But still, more useless things!

I wasn't meaning to sound, well, mean in my response. It's just that nobody is doubting how 'pretty' the game looks. It looks pretty,but boring. Like those tacky pictures of flowers your wannabe-photographer friends on Facebook post. yep, flowers are pretty, is that picture interesting, no, because there are millions like it. The game is too big geographically to have such a lack of diversity. Just sayin'!

[Rowyne]

I can agree that there could be more diversity, but I am still getting a sense of adventure. Granted, my highest toon is 30.

This is a great post, Valhinjin. But I wish I heard more stories like this.

At the time of this post, my highest rank is 24 CON. And, yes, I've been playing since closed beta.

I am one of those people who enjoy the journey more than the destination. So, for me, it isn't just about leveling, it's about exploring new places and experiencing the lore and the world. And when my husband and I could just no longer do the same leves at the same camps in the same landscapes, we did some exploring. We found a few nifty things in Thanalan, like an NPC who guards what may someday be a dungeon, industrial smokestacks, and some high level monsters who one-shotted us. But in the end, we didn't feel like we explored new territory, we were in the same old desert.

So, we made the long journey to Mor Dhona to lay eyes on the crystal mountain formations, and the aftermath of what you see in the opening movie. By far, that is the most breathtaking and epic experience I've had in FFXIV.

But this is a high level zone. I'm not saying that anything pre-30 should be so epic. But it should also not be monotonous drudgery.

Those of us who are Final Fantasy fans love playing a game that is about journey, and adventure, and accomplishment. We pride ourselves on playing a game that doesn't have the mindset of 'life begins at endgame'. As it is now, the only reason I have to want to push to 30 is so I can do the new instanced dungeons. Otherwise, I can't stand the idea of doing more of the same leves in the same landscapes.

The crazy thing to me is that we find these awesome spots for parties to get SP, and nobody is there. Nobody has taken the time to go, and it's not because people aren't playing. There are 10-15 people sitting in the camp doing nothing. The eyes were giving us behest-level SP (400+) and so were the Wights. It was waaaay more efficient than standing around waiting for a behest... and nobody seemed to even know about it.

Here's the reason why: lack of progression. I don't think people don't level in those spots because they haven't taken the time to go, it's because they're not aware of them. The subzones of each region not only look and feel the same, but the game hardly gives you a clue that there's anything else out there. And what is out there is blocked by weird monster placement (sort of like the lvl 40 antlings that use to smite the lowbies trying to get around Thanalan). I'm not saying this game needs to be 100% linear with one clear path from point A to point B. We've already established that the map and existing layout can allow for multiple choices. But when there is a complete lack of guidance, organization, or structure, then people just sort of go with the flow and assume this is all that awaits them.

Right now, there are a lot of people making that assumption, and the game isn't arguing.

[EdenArchangel]

NONE OF THAT SASS! But still, more useless things!

I wasn't meaning to sound, well, mean in my response. It's just that nobody is doubting how 'pretty' the game looks. It looks pretty,but boring. Like those tacky pictures of flowers your wannabe-photographer friends on Facebook post. yep, flowers are pretty, is that picture interesting, no, because there are millions like it. The game is too big geographically to have such a lack of diversity. Just sayin'!

Ah, I see. My intention was to answer the question so that you would not have to look it up and see for yourself, which after seeing would undoubtedly lead to regret-- more regret that we don't need. xD

[Richard]

Here is my travel log for Ul'Dah to Black Brush to Horizon to Nophica's Wells to Ferry Docks (4 subzones; 1 region).

- Step outside the gates and I can run west to Horizon, north to Black Brush or east to Drybone. The only thing I need worry about is one R56 Sandskin Peiste that I can see 1 mile away.
- I go west to Horizon and the only thing I need worry about is one R35 Antling Digger.
- I go south to Nohpica's Wells and the only thing I need worry about is one R35 Antling Digger.
- I go west of Horizon, down the ramp towards the Ferry Docks and the only thing I need worry about is one R45 Floating Eye and maybe a R45 Dusty Mongrel.

The entire trip takes about 10-15 minutes on foot, I can't take a chocobo and everything looks completely the same. There is no sense of danger or exhilaration and there is nothing to explore because the minimap will spot anything and everything before I can see it with my character.


Here is my travel log for San d'Oria to West Ronfaure to La Theine Plateau to Valkrum Dunes to Selbina (4 zones; 1 region)

- I step outside the gates and head south towards the outpost. I dip and dodge around numerous Carrion Worms, Orcish Fodders, Grapplers, and Mesmerizers, Goblin Digger, Fisher, Thug and Weavers, Night Bats and Enchanted Bones before reaching the zone into La Theine Plateu.
- I make my way south and dodge Gale Bats, Akabas, Goblin Ambusher, Butcher, Fisher, Thug, Tinkerer, and Weaver, Battering Rams, Lumbering Lambert and Bloodtear Baldurf (Lv.55-56 NM) and even more Orcish Fodders, Grapplers, Grunts, Mesmerizers and Neckchoppers before reaching the zone line.
- I head west in search of Selbina and have Goblin Ambusher, Bounty Hunter, Butcher, Digger, Gambler, Leecher, Mugger and Tinkerer, Bogys and Ghouls in my way before I reach my destination.

The entire trip takes maybe 15-30 minutes on foot unless I take a chocobo. West Ronfaure is a lush highland of forests, grass and elven architecture. La Theine Plateu is a sprawling grass plains with crags, caves, rolling hills and fields. Valkrum dunes sits on the coast and is a beach with more than one oasis, caves and tunnels and even a secret beach

* Selbina also offers delightful music/escape from dunes life unlike the bland and empty Ferry Docks in Ul'Dah. (lol)


Which would you rather play?

[EdenArchangel]

Could you add to the list Selbina and it's delightful music/escape from dunes life?

And oh goodness, I'm starting to remember why I love the FF community again. xD

[Richard]

Could you add to the list Selbina and it's delightful music/escape from dunes life?

haha fixed! XD