Hydaelyn at large (is there a compilation of info yet?)

[Alice_89th]

So its cool to see maybe real world still being a big source of geographical/climate/fauna - flora/ inspiration.

The real world definitely seems to be the inspiration for a lot of the descriptions. Especially when you look at a lot of the botany items, their descriptions match a lot. (the origin of potatoes Popoto's and rice, for example).

Like you mentioned, Eorzea seems to take the spot of Europe, with some equivalent of America to the west and 'the East' being middle/east Asia. Aloe is mentioned in game to be native to the southern continent and in the real world it is native to Africa, so that matches as well. I am not sure whether anything matches Australia...

Ilsabard wouldn't really fit with this comparison though, as it is described as being (on) the northern continent. But there is nothing north of Europe unless you want to count the north pole. Looking at the world map however, the Garlean Empire seems to be where our Russia would be. So maybe they mean that by north? Then again, it doesn't have to match.

There is one thing that confuses me though. Aldenard is described as ''the westernmost of the three great continents''. Yet item various descriptions and quests seem to hint at there being something even more western. Whether that there really is a yet unexplored continent ... I don't know. I know it called the 'new world', but that could both be a hint at that it is yet unexplored, or another parallel to America

In the same way, the description says ''the westernmost of the three great continents''. But even if we leave out 'the new world' there is talk of northern, southern, and eastern regions. Then again it does say great continents, so maybe there are smaller ones as well?

[Kyan]

Then again it does say great continents, so maybe there are smaller ones as well?

The three Great Continents are Aldenard, Ilsabard and Othard, with Aldenard being the westernmost of the three, correct. But yes, there are more lands in all directions, such as Meracydia to the South, and The New World which you were talking about.

As to an Australian counterpart, maybe it is the Island of Bianaq (which I cannot seem to place)? I can only dream! As a proud Australian, I long for kangaroo beastmen and platypus mounts...