One to Fifty, One Zone - Long OP

[AuronYevon]

Siobu. Inspired by your drawings and some of the ideas other have posted, I've put together some of my own concepts for alternate texture looks in the different areas of each zone.

Here are the links:

Thanalan
The Black Shroud
La Noscea

The only issue with changing texture pallets for different areas of the zones is the loading them. We already have transitional areas for loading though and if they manage to make it a smooth transition, the new textures would be a simple fix that would add a considerable amount of visual variety to the zones. This, of course, in addition to mob redistribution.

I think this is a great example on how each zone can slowly change appearance but make it into a fresh new zone.
All of these images have a very common theme for each zone but their own uniqueness at the same time.

Great job man. Just wish that the Dev team would have thought of something like this.

Hopefully one of these days we could be graced by them on this subject, instead of just ignoring the elephant in the room.
So in the mean time lets make this elephant of a subject grow bigger to the point that they can no longer not respond to our calls.

[Zanfire]

Only thing id say to add anything to those picks you have, is have the areas that lead from one zone line to the next be the closest to what about to happen

ex: oasis/palm tree/muddy/grassy patched area when going from Than to the boat
taller grass/bushes/small trees/ maybe vines starting to grow on stuff the closer you get to the Than > Shroud zone line.

It would be a nice touch and a cool way to indicated whats up ahead, especially for newer players and for upcoming zones.

[Amadas]

Honestly I don't think it would be that difficult/time consuming to create these rich landscapes depicted above. They don't have to be massive zones of sprawling foreverness like we have now. Condense the zones, add diversity to new zones, and for god's sake don't make it so easy to teleport everywhere. FFXI was one extreme where you had to walk everywhere. Now FFXIV is the polar opposite where a click of the button takes you anywhere. Neither is ideal. Find the balance in between. Make each zone small but with one or two central themes such as a giant abyss, an ancient tree that reaches to the heavens, or a dark cavern with an underground waterfall and an inner sanctum the size of a football field. That's all I can ask for.

[Siobu]

(...)with one or two central themes such as a giant abyss, an ancient tree that reaches to the heavens, or a dark cavern with an underground waterfall and an inner sanctum the size of a football field(...)

I agree with you, Amadas. A forest hiding a giant, walled fortress is much different than a forest riddled with exposed tombs. Nice point to bring up regarding a central theme.

300 thumbs...? /stagger

[Reinheart]

woot someone on the japanese side added comment to thumbs up on this original thread and i think its working !!!

[Len]

Nice initiative being shown in this thread by a lot of posters.

It's a shame, because I doubt Square Enix will say anything terribly constructive on this topic.

[Joeking]

Nice initiative being shown in this thread by a lot of posters.

It's a shame, because I doubt Square Enix will say anything terribly constructive on this topic.

There looking into it and will get back to us never.

[Kiara]

Hi Reinheart,

Nice job! I wanted to say "Thanks!" for taking the time and effort to translate the Original Post over to the JP Forum side. Hopefully it gets more attention. Great work!

BTW, would you mind translating my suggestion for using some of the current zones as an added reply to the JP Thread? Just figured it might help.

(Not my whole old post (it's too long (^_^; but the section at the bottom with the 3 Regions and what Camps to use (1-10, 11-20, etc.). and the ending of it).

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...l=1#post174965

If not, no worries.

Thanks!

[Reinheart]

Hi Reinheart,

Nice job! I wanted to say "Thanks!" for taking the time and effort to translate the Original Post over to the JP Forum side. Hopefully it gets more attention. Great work!

BTW, would you mind translating my suggestion for using some of the current zones as an added reply to the JP Thread? Just figured it might help.

(Not my whole old post (it's too long (^_^; but the section at the bottom with the 3 Regions and what Camps to use (1-10, 11-20, etc.). and the ending of it).

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...l=1#post174965

If not, no worries.

Thanks!

I'll try adding the good ones like yours in when I can, don't have much time at home with pregnant wife + 4yr old son lol. Most likely would do it like i did the translation during work when boss is /away and I got free time

Got 81 pages now lol which ones should I translate...lol

320+ Hell Yeah!!

[Siobu]

Thanks, Reinheart, for the updates! Don't get in trouble at work!

And sending my thanks out once again to Meph, Chinook, Dark, Perrin, Renta (Did I miss anyone...?) for helping to convey the messages collected here. I'm glad to learn that members of the FF14 community as a whole, no matter the culture, share similar concerns. Hopefully together, we can receive an answer.

To late arrivals (frequent readers can skip!): This thread calls for a re-evaluation on Eorzea's current zones. Our starter areas contain enemies from 1-99, severely limiting any possibilities or necessity for new zones. We've been calling for new, diverse and unique environments, as well as progression forward through the map. We want our earned ranks to grant us entry into challenging, dangerous and beautiful areas. We want to leave the city walls. We want an adventure.