One to Fifty, One Zone - Long OP

[Skky]

Is it realistic to ask for a zone, where all three zones can meet at level 20 and form groups to grind aka the dunes from ffxi?

[Tonka]

I'm for any change, really. They don't have to redo the terrain, but at least provide us with different ambient effects in different sub zones. By that, I mean the white noise as well as the music, and the lighting can change (think about how it changes in a single zone for day or night or purple weather in MorDhana etc). Then, varying mobs and structures and/or ground clutter so that they are specific to that specific area. And if this crazy engine can handle it, the actual ground textures.

[Richard]

Is it realistic to ask for a zone, where all three zones can meet at level 20 and form groups to grind aka the dunes from ffxi?

Yeah I honestly think that is realistic. It's exactly what they should have done with Coerthas and MorDhona. 1-20 in either of the 3 starting areas and then 20-30-40-50 in either coerthas or mordhona. Would have made 100x more sense than what we have atm lol.

[Eekiki]

That's the thing! Once open beta started, and the whole world was open to us for the first time, I thought Thanalan, La Noscea, and Black Shroud were 1-30 zones, and Coerthas and Mor Dhona were 30-50 zones.

That would've been great if it were true.

[Perrin_Aybarra]

That's the thing! Once open beta started, and the whole world was open to us for the first time, I thought Thanalan, La Noscea, and Black Shroud were 1-30 zones, and Coerthas and Mor Dhona were 30-50 zones.

That would've been great if it were true.

Would have been better, but not great really. Would have a better progression for sure, but the world would still be as bland and lifeless as it is right now. Thanalan, BS and La Noscea are too big for their own good, even more it they were 1-30 unless they make sub-zones within them that are diversed and full of life, maybe if they have 3-5 sub-zones, there could be choices to the player as to where to go at any rank, so there would be progression, diversity, and some freedom all at the same time. And then repeat this for 30-50 in Coertas and Mor Dhona.

[Rowyne]

A grind is a grind is a grind is a grind...is a grind wrapped inside of a grind hey we heard you liked grinds so we got you a grind for your grind so you can grind up your grind.

I LOL'ed.

The game could use some other sources of "grinding". It is in heavy need of more options. Give us quest hubs to grind (they are), give us exp mobs to chain (they are) and try and make the leve system not gay (they are).

Absolutely. No offense to anyone, but many FFXI vets who haven't played other MMOs are in this mindset that the only option other than leves is pure undisguised grinding. There are other ways to play and level, that are truly fun and satisfying.

I'm hoping the upcoming dungeons will deliver, and make those who want some real nitty gritty satisfying party play happy. I'd really like to see some quest-based content that also gives SP. I've seen some real knee-jerk reactions to the mere mention of quest-based leveling in this game. That it isn't feasible in a multi-class game, and just makes soloing more viable. I'm SE could find a way to implement it. It wouldn't have to be viable to do it all the way to cap. Just as long as it gives you more options to break up the grind.

Hey we heard you like options so we opted to get you options so you can opt with your options.

[Perrin_Aybarra]

I LOL'ed.



Absolutely. No offense to anyone, but many FFXI vets who haven't played other MMOs are in this mindset that the only option other than leves is pure undisguised grinding. There are other ways to play and level, that are truly fun and satisfying.

I'm hoping the upcoming dungeons will deliver, and make those who want some real nitty gritty satisfying party play happy. I'd really like to see some quest-based content that also gives SP. I've seen some real knee-jerk reactions to the mere mention of quest-based leveling in this game. That it isn't feasible in a multi-class game, and just makes soloing more viable. I'm SE could find a way to implement it. It wouldn't have to be viable to do it all the way to cap. Just as long as it gives you more options to break up the grind.

Hey we heard you like options so we opted to get you options so you can opt with your options.

More options is always good, even if the quests are not repeatable when you change job/class, at least it gave you a break from leves/grind/behest and rewarded your time you spent doing the quest with some SP on top of it.

[Mack]

Yeesh, try and say that quickly!

But yeah, whilst it might be quite pointless (If people really are expecting area re-designs, they're being totally unrealistic), it would be nice to see some plans (as I'm sure they have) of how to deal with it going forward.

Honestly, what I expect to happen is that future zones added will be more interesting, and the current zones might be adjusted in level to funnel people up through them quickly, rather than have everyone use the same area permenantly.

There are some huge open spaces not being used that could be in the future, maybe for things like hamlet defense or even (/shieldsup) player-company buildings? They could easily add towns/HNMs/danger to the areas further in.

The "people crying foul" on the forums may not represent the entire community but that is mainly because the entire community left the game after the first month of release. Had you read this topic no one has once said the game should funnel you into a certain zone, people are asking for the zones to be unique and the game should give you options - i.e., multiple zones balanced for a given rank range. People are using FFXI because it was close to doing it right, FFXIV has done it completely backwards. Maybe its too much to ask for a complete map re-design but tbh #@$^ them for the crap they half assed and the fact that they still ignore this topic. Yes, I would take a "we have no plans for this" over nothing...but if that's the case then they don't care about making FFXIV better. The entire game today is the size of Vana'Diel (vanilla) and has 5 zones compared to the 25 some FFXI had at release...forget loading screens, I'm talking variety. But on the topic of loading screens, FFXIV gets rid of them by making long drawn out tunnels to get you from area to area, that's not even called seamless that's called $@#!in annoying. The entire overworld design of this game is boring as hell and if they don't change it, they change nothing really.

[Perrin_Aybarra]

^ Mack has to right of it. No one asked to be funneled or directed from one area to the other. We ask that each sub-zone to be different from each other with different graphics/design/music so that you feel like you progress through different area. Since the zones are really big, they can design each starter big zone like thanalan to be from rank 1 to 30, but since Thanalan could easily be at the minimum 5 sub-zones, that would mean we could have more than 1 sub-zone for lets say rank 10-15, giving the player a choice of where to go (assuming that the design is well done and that if there are 2 areas for rank 10-15 that both of them are as rewarding so that there is actually a choice to do).

[kurokawa]

Honestly, it ain't that great. Lots of people have rose-tinted glasses here and like to make up crazy and long-winded stories about how AMAZING it was, but mostly it was just poor design and frustration back in the day. I'm sure people here would write about the sun hitting the GLORIOUS DUNES OF VALKURM and how BEAUTIFUL it was, and how MAGNIFICENT the fish were that 1-shotted people on a regular basis.

I have fond memories, don't get me wrong. But as far as zones go, Qufim was pretty balls.

Not a case of rose tinted glasses son. You miss my point.

10 years ago someone designed an area that was a barren wasteland of ice and snow that folks grinded the day away in. Still to this day people are there banging away at books, killing crabs, smashing the crap out of Giants.

10 years ago. 10.

FFxi is a grind fest. It is. I'm not arguing that.

My point is that back in the day Quifim and others like it made by SE were diverse - in quifim's case, it even had a changing weather condition that meant death to under 25s if you didn't get your ass sorted. Nearly every area in 11 has its own distinct feel and potential for getting bummed by a mob - grindfest or not.

Game mechanics are a separate issue. 11 was balls in general because of the grind and the leveling curve to 75. Not because of the areas.