Which location(s) are we likely to travel to in the next expansion? *SPOILERS*

[Timmyz]

I mean, its got to be Garlemald. After experiencing 4.3 I will eat my hat if the next expansion isn't going to the empire.

[Balipu]

Well despite all the promises for a plot twist there are huge freakin arrows pointing towards Garlemald. I mean for all we know Thancred might already be there.

[SicariusSeven]

I mean SE could pull the rug out from under use and force us to go somewhere else because Garlemald has some crazy shield. Or maybe Ascians do some thingy that blocks it from the rest of the world. So next expansion could be, we go to X, to find a way to go get into Garlemald because of Y. Of course all things really point to us just going to Garlemald.

[EdwinLi]

The real question now should be what new location we may go to with Garlemald?

Garlemald is basically confirmed at this point with major figures already moving into that location to set up locations where the WoL and his or her allies can spend time in Garlemald but SE development team may also add another location as well such as they did with Stormblood where we expected Ala Mhigo but got a extra surprise with Doma.

[ObsidianFire]

It looks like the landbridge between Ilsabard and Othard is mostly The Burn, which doesn't lend itself well to (interesting) zones. The landbridge between Isabard and Aldenard though looks like it has a lot more countries in it. I could see SE making some of those countries "lead in" zones to Garlemald which is where the majority of the Zones are.

The other location that stands out is Sharlayan. Alphinaud isn't just a nobody; he's a member of a Sharlayan noble house practically speaking. If/when his disappearance gets found out would make for a logical time for more Sharlayan parties to get interested with what's happening on in Aldenard. Their big fear that Aldenard would get taken over by Garlemald is certainly not happening now. Meeting some more Sharlayans that aren't the Scions would be interesting.

[Belhi]

Yoshi P said the Garlean plot started in 4.0 wouldn't be fully resolved till the end of 5.0 so honestly whatever we do next it will almost certainly be Garlean centric.

[Iscah]

It looks like the landbridge between Ilsabard and Othard is mostly The Burn, which doesn't lend itself well to (interesting) zones.

I'm not sure about that - it looks to me like the clouded strip below The Burn has land underneath it - we can see glimpses of green coastline between the clouds - and even if we can't pass through there, Thavnair looks like a more useful launching point into that region.

We meet some Sharlayan characters (and get a glimpse into their politics) in the 30-60 AST questline, and overall they seem to be very isolationist. I don't think we'll have much luck getting help from them unless Sharlayan itself is under threat.

[Remedi]

I'll go and say next expansion will be thavnair and garlemand.
That embassy in Kugane has to work for something

[Theodric]

Yoshi P said the Garlean plot started in 4.0 wouldn't be fully resolved till the end of 5.0 so honestly whatever we do next it will almost certainly be Garlean centric.

Wasn't it also said it could potentially take up to 6.0?

[EdwinLi]

Wasn't it also said it could potentially take up to 6.0?

Don't expect the Garlean Empire storyline to be resolved so easily with 5.0 to 5.3.

Most likely they may have the storyline go all the way to 6.0 with 6.0 being the true final battle that will push the final change for the Garlean Empire and finally end the long war.

(queue long assumption...)

The Garlean Empire is the world's main source of Chaos for the Ascians so I am guessing 5.0 is the invasion of Garlemald that leads to the final battle in the Captial of the Garlean Empire then 5.1 to 5.5 set up political struggle with what to do with the Garlean Empire as a whole with many different political figures from all over the world (setting up locations for 6.0) with things breaking down at 5.5 due to a faction from the other countries wanting to make garleans suffer for what their civilization did to their country to lead into 6.0 where we may finally defeat Zodiark and the Ascians since this major movement of Anti-Garlean Faction sparked the final Chaos needed to bring back Zodiark.

Then for 6.1 - 6.5 storyline focus on slowly having the Scion's retire and the WoL deciding what he or she want to do with his or her life now that their mission as the Warrior of Light is now over.

Of coruse 6.5 ends with scenes showing all the characters and how each of them moved on with their life with a final scene showing what to expect in the New Journey the WoL will take in 7.0 and beyond storyline now that WoL is on a "new Adventure". (and maybe show some small clips of our new allies who will replace the Scions in this Season 2 storyline)

(and then they bring the Scion's back slowly through 7.1 to 7.5 by having us accidently meet them again on our new Adventure )