Areas in the game that we can see, but can't explore.

[Colt47]

In response to the OP: This is one of the things we kind of lost with the transition to a pure themepark design unfortunately. The game is designed around presenting story content in a set compared to being an open place to really explore, so areas are more detailed, but they are tailored the same way I tailor areas in a Dungeons and Dragons adventure. Unfortunately it's one hurdle game designers have trouble crossing: how to address the problem of a player wanting to explore outside the story area. I think it would be good if they had sections designed for the story and then sections designed for free roaming, which is probably what the team behind EQ are going for in Everquest Next, though I'm still waiting on that one.

[Ecks007]

snip

While that is true. This game is still relatively in it's infancy. Yeah, I know it's been just over a year now but in MMO terms that's hardly anything when the MMO is successful enough. Right now FFXIV is successful enough to keep going for many years, in my opinion. I mean, just look at FFXI. They haven't shut that down and it's been going for 12 years (JP) come November and 11 years (NA) in October. Then you have the WoW which will have been around for 10 years come November. There are many other MMO's that have seen relative success and are still online and going well in their own rights that have been around for anywhere from 3-5+ years as well.

So basically what I am saying is that FFXIV has a lot of room to grow. While the game is undoubtedly theme park, that just means it's not a sandbox mmo. That doesn't mean we can't have more freedom of movement in our environments, and have freedom to explore objects and areas.

For now, we can't explore those areas mentioned in this thread, but who's to say we won't be able to later on.

Currently the devs really like their instances. Instances aren't a bad thing, per say, but hopefully they introduce content in the future that is not exclusively instanced. Areas that are bigger in scope than current zones (or near the size of some of our larger zones) with more multi-layered environments that add an increasing depth to the game world. Some of these potential areas already exist, like Gelmorra, yet we can't access them yet. Though I can only hope that the devs don't always stick with an "instanced only" approach to content. While it does make the content easier to produce, I'm sure, it limits creativity in all honesty. You can only do so much if you make your instance small (like all current "dungeons") and to be honest very few of the dungeons we have really feel all that big or open. Current dungeon design feels basically like you are going through a rail shooter, with only one specific way to maneuver through the "dungeon".

Honestly I was a bit disappointed with the way they decided to do the Hard Mode dungeons. I was hoping for completely new areas in the dungeons, similar in appearance only, but layout and design would be different. Instead our Hard Mode dungeons are just the same things, but rehashed, and we run though them a slightly different way than the original dungeon layout. To me this feels so lazy. I mean, I know they had to work hard to put out the content as fast as they did, but the end result has a bit of cheapness to it, in my opinion.

Though with the first year finished, hopefully they don't have to rush too much and can actually work on bringing up true new content when it comes to new HM dungeons (because we do still have quite a few to go through). Also hopefully newer dungeons have a more open approach to them. Lost City and HullBreaker Isle were good approaches in that direction, yet they still suffer from basically having one long hallway to walk through, only now the hallway's roof has been removed and you can see the sky, and in some parts you're walking on glass and can see emptiness below you, but you're still in a hallway and not actually on an Island that you can explore in the end.

[SevValen]

Thered also that giant gate in southeast coerthas I don't remember the name but it starts with a g

And for the guy that said hardmode dungeons were made cheap obviously havent heard about or played destiny. Just the thought of that overhyped piece of crap brings disappointment.

[Ecks007]

Thered also that giant gate in southeast coerthas I don't remember the name but it starts with a g

The Gates of Judgement? Yeah.. that leads to Ishgard, and we'll likely have access ...maybe at 2.4 if not a bit later since the storyline is heading that direction.

[Phyllo]

The Gates of Judgement? Yeah.. that leads to Ishgard, and we'll likely have access ...maybe at 2.4 if not a bit later since the storyline is heading that direction.

No, the gate of judgment is up north xD
What he talks about is the gate of the griffin cross which used to connect the central highlands and the eastern lowlands.
(The bridge on which you fight Gilgamesh)

[SevValen]

The Gates of Judgement? Yeah.. that leads to Ishgard, and we'll likely have access ...maybe at 2.4 if not a bit later since the storyline is heading that direction.

no not the gate of judgement


Look all the way at the bottom right for the word griffin

[Tupsi]

I dunno about jumping, some of those floating islands are just too far apart. I was thinking something more like Cape Riverne in XI, they had these tears, or maybe they'll use portals.

Yeah and for those that never seen it:



Considering SE hates open world dungeons for XIV, I was thinking it'd end up more like this:



Bunch of Teleport platforms everywhere, since you know they'll turn that into an instance raid if it does become explorable.

[Phyllo]

Yup, the griffin crossing, a huge ass bridge that connected the central highland and the eastern lowlands, it's been severely trashed during bahamut's rampage so they closed it for reparation.
You fight Gilgamesh on it.

Something funny is that from almost everywhere in the shroud you can see in the direction of this lowlands some pretty messed up badlands but when you're on the bridge you can't see it at all even tho you're miles higher than when you're in the shroud xD



Tupsi
Well it would be weird to see teleport platform in the floating city while there are none in the "prison" they made for the cursed ones; the wanderer's palace, but yeah I think it'd be a nice way

[SevValen]

It could be worse id rather have closed of areas that have a reason to be closed rather than https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9YoJjdEBv8

[Phyllo]

Yeah but look at the comment, he clearly died because he isn't playing on PC, he brought it upon himself xD

Okay joke aside, honestly I too prefer invisible walls and closed areas rather than "it's all playable terrai-UAAAAAARGGHH!!!" XD (for those who don't know, you can't die in destiny no matter how high you fall from, if you could die from falling from too high then okay, I don't mind... But this no xD)