Zone Aesthetics

[Rinoa]

I like the zones the way they are right now. I say just add some more ones.

[FilthyDisco]

Honestly i'd rather have small, unique zones. Where every zone has a Final Fantasy feeling to it, a different theme for each zone, etc. I'm sure many of you will agree with me here.

[Rydin]

I think they should included same changes to area's during all these patches and beyond not an overhaul all at once but small increments gradually adding uniqueness to each area over time. If one thing they learn from ffxi imo is the copy/paste technique and using it way to much and need to move away from that approach when possible. There were time's when I would see something that caught my eye and said hey what that and head over to be disappointed. There's a sense of no lifeness in my opinion to the areas they need to gradually give npc's/mob some kind of pattern to counter that. But thats my two cent on the supject.

There is a very long thread on adding life to Eorzea with NPCs that do more and like moving random carriages in the field and such.. and I agree wholeheartedly....

Black Shroud for exemple, sure they can keep an area with the overpasses and all, but them maybe the central shroud it could be more of an open forest, the east shroud more like a clearing. The western part could be those overpasses/mazes thing. Just so we don't feel like we are always in the same place regardless what level you are.

There are some parts in the northeast where you're actually up in the trees... and you're right, I think they could embellish that being "Up in the trees" feeling to really create some diversity... and maybe they will
And the center being more wide open... I would like that
Its a forest but you never really file like you're "Amongst the trees"
You just kind of wander through stone paths and clearings....

[Rydin]

Complete redesign is pretty much required anyways, because the current zones already take you all the way to the cap and beyond. We have level 80 and 90-something monsters in the current zones.

I'm not talking about MOB placement though... I agree with you there... but Im talking purely aesthetic

Honestly i'd rather have small, unique zones. Where every zone has a Final Fantasy feeling to it, a different theme for each zone, etc. I'm sure many of you will agree with me here.

I do.... and I am looking forward to splitting the zones up into themed areas...
But I do like the theme of each zone now..... The thing is, that theme should only be used in 1/3 of each zone.. with 2 other themes per zone being added

[northernsky]

I am looking forward to splitting the zones up into themed areas...
But I do like the theme of each zone now..... The thing is, that theme should only be used in 1/3 of each zone.. with 2 other themes per zone being added

They stated several times that they plan to include 3-4 very characteristic zones in every region to favor uniqueness and build a stronger theme.

Imagine if every zone had 3-4 Mor D'hona-like sites with the fallen airship entangled in a dragon's bones, or the crags from XI, or a volcano etc. I don't think they would need complete redesign, just make sure to integrate these spectacular new elements well in the current landscape with a form of progression within the region between those different zones.

[Rydin]

They stated several times that they plan to include 3-4 very characteristic zones in every region to favor uniqueness and build a stronger theme.

Imagine if every zone had 3-4 Mor D'hona-like sites with the fallen airship entangled in a dragon's bones, or the crags from XI, or a volcano etc. I don't think they would need complete redesign, just make sure to integrate these spectacular new elements well in the current landscape with a form of progression in the region between those different zones.

I know.. and we've mentioned that in te thread... I just wanted peoples opinions on what they like to see in a zone

[Platinumstorm]

So you'd like the feel of each zone as long as they didn't have the exact same ridge repeated over and over?

I have problems with the length of time it takes to get from place to place, and then once you get to that area you spend a little bit of time there; you're done, and then you have to make the long journey elsewhere - so that's a pain. There's nothing exciting that happens between the points, there aren't even things like vendors where you can unload goods, or even people to talk to. I do think a few points major standout points of interest that actually mean something and do something are really important, but the zones don't really have them. At the very least, large points of interest serve as a navigation ground. You can also have smaller points of interests. For example, you could have Fungar creatures populating an area where there are some giant mushrooms. That makes sense because it's like their camouflage. It's not something that's going to overwhelm a players' sense, isn't grandiose, and doesn't take away from subtle zone aesthetics, but it makes sense and adds some character.

I do think Black Shroud is a zone that needs more than just repeating the same ridge - this is because of the HUGE gaps caused by the corridor. Black Shroud needs a MAJOR overhaul. It's annoying that the Black Shroud's major features are lakes that look identical to each other. The lakes should have character to them; it doesn't mean they need a tower of Babel shooting laser beams from it, but it needs to have its own flavor and purpose.

La Noscea really needs performance optimizations, so that would be the change I would suggest for it.

Thanalan has the best zone design. You have easy access to several different tilesets within the theme, and even though there are many repeated assets it's easier to digest in this zone because of its open space and larger items.

Mor Dhana is a mess and I would just overhaul it completely. No one wants to go to Mor Dhana and fight pigs and toads. It's basically saying here's a giant dragon - but what you're going to fight are lizards, pigs, and toads.

Coerthas is somewhere in the middle. It needs some performance optimizations; but like Mor Dhana and the other zones- nothing there matters.

A part of the zone redesigns should also focus on music, they need to add lots and lots of music. People talk about how FFXIV's music is so great, and there are some really nice pieces, but there is so little of it and it ends up ruining the ambient experience.

Right now between the three main zones there is about 6-9 minutes of non-combat music per zone. [which is what you're doing the majority of the time]

I researched this a few months ago, but one of my favorite zones in World of Warcraft has about 25 minutes of music for the daytime cycle.

This music is trimmed apart into smaller bits that make it feel relevant to areas within the zone, and it's a great feeling and adds so much to the zone design.

Daytime cycle music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpyInx0ldfo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nGXJ...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFaVY...eature=related

The Night cycle has 20 minutes music, but it's modified to fight the night time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLJSIsg3lh8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5s-8...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFaVY...eature=related

So for this zone, there is nearly 1 hour of music.

Take some time to read the comments there, because the theme of the zone combined with the absolutely superb music really evoked emotional responses from people. I've heard these tracks so many times and they give me chills.

FFXIV has Nobeo Uematsu - his contributions to making the FF franchise successful are immensely high; so let him use his works to make the game more immersive.

[Rydin]

I have problems with the length of time it takes to get from place to place, and then once you get to that area you spend a little bit of time there; you're done, and then you have to make the long journey elsewhere - so that's a pain. There's nothing exciting that happens between the points, there aren't even things like vendors where you can unload goods, or even people to talk to. I do think a few points major standout points of interest that actually mean something and do something are really important, but the zones don't really have them. At the very least, large points of interest serve as a navigation ground. You can also have smaller points of interests. For example, you could have Fungar creatures populating an area where there are some giant mushrooms. That makes sense because it's like their camouflage. It's not something that's going to overwhelm a players' sense, isn't grandiose, and doesn't take away from subtle zone aesthetics, but it makes sense and adds some character.

That was a long post... but I honestly enjoyed it... you were honest about what you disliked... but I felt like it came from a serious desire for this game to be better.. and not just blind hate....
You know, I was gathering the other day and saw Funguar... and I was like "It would be cool if there were mushrooms that looked like the funguars when they are rooted to the ground..." that would really make it interesting.... maybe even harvestable mushrooms... so sometimes the botanists accidentally aggroed a funguar by mistake

[northernsky]

I know.. and we've mentioned that in te thread... I just wanted peoples opinions on what they like to see in a zone

Yeah initially I quoted your opening post but in the time I finished my post a few others popped.

What I wanted to do was to highlight that saying that current themes are nice but should cover maybe 1/3 of the current regions seemed pretty accurate since they plan to introduce 3-4 strong themes in each region.

Then I replied to your opening point: I think that including said themes in the current regions would greatly improve aesthetic without having to completely redesign the maps.

[Alexis_Arteme]

what do you guys think?

I think you have too many 50's.

Aside from that, I'd like it to be subtle, but have many "POI's" like SWG used to have, places to run out to and visit. Also, "completely random" spawning chests and NMs would be great - that is, nothing campable. Even small, soloable dungeons that adjust based on party size and rank could be done this way.

I think SE has done an OK job with the beginning zones being bland, and the ending zones being cool. Now they just need to keep adding reasons for us to go to said zones.