Revelations from Keynote III (2019)

[Fenral]

That... is a pretty good idea I'll admit, but at the same time, didn't they say we actually arrive in Lakeland first?

Crystarium is in Lakeland, which looks like a de-calamitized Mor Dhona. I'd say the dots connect.

[MagiusNecros]

Yoshida said during the Q&A that the Echo is needed to travel freely

Unless you are GREG the GREAT ONE.

[MrThinker]

Crystarium is in Lakeland, which looks like a de-calamitized Mor Dhona. I'd say the dots connect.

I know that, I'm only wary (is wary the right word to use here?) because we started off in the Fringes in Stormblood, and it is entirely possible that on our first trip to the First, something goes wrong and we end up outside of Crystarium in the middle of Lakeland. It could definitely be possible that G'raha is wanting us striding out of CT like we own the place, but things rarely go the plan (who am I kidding, they mostly do).

[Fenral]

Honestly, you may be right, and I'm starting to suspect the entire CT-on-the-Source thing is some kind of bait and switch. The direct approach doesn't unlock until you unlock Labyrinth of the Ancients, and with that continuing to be optional into the expac, there'd need to be a separate entrance somewhere for people who haven't done it (or else the entire four fangs sequence becomes really weird). Though I guess it's not like the entire questline isn't already broken worse than Zombie Nanamo, because players could start it after hearing from Engima, and then nonchalantly let G'raha seal it away like it's no big deal even though we presumably need it to get to the First.

We could just as easily get a portal in some other part of Dhonuts that connects to a corresponding point in Lakeland, then work our way to Crystarium, where the doors to Syrcus Tower are, lo and behold, still sealed. Then we go the entire expansion wondering "who could that mysterious robed figure possibly be?" even though the answer was really decided from the moment they took a certain 2.1 NPC's unique face model and put it on the key art in a robe.

[Nalien]

I don't think we'll be locked out of Crystarium, I picture it functioning very much like Ishgard did as a focal point for the plot. Crystal Tower itself can always be locked despite that, though.

Actually, I hope Crystarium is the hub as well... No clue what role Eulmore will actually fill as a city, I mean, other than the new ERP hub...

[MrThinker]

I don't think we'll be locked out of Crystarium, I picture it functioning very much like Ishgard did as a focal point for the plot. Crystal Tower itself can always be locked despite that, though.

Actually, I hope Crystarium is the hub as well... No clue what role Eulmore will actually fill as a city, I mean, other than the new ERP hub...

Just a point of clarification Nalien, he didn't say we would be locked out of Crystarium but rather the Crystal Tower on the First.

Also they said Crystarium would have a marketboard so its more than likely the hub. Just have to start thinking how our retainers can cross dimensions and what the implications of a cross-shard marketboard would be.

[Daralii]

Just a point of clarification Nalien, he didn't say we would be locked out of Crystarium but rather the Crystal Tower on the First.

Also they said Crystarium would have a marketboard so its more than likely the hub. Just have to start thinking how our retainers can cross dimensions and what the implications of a cross-shard marketboard would be.

I guess the question is if them centralizing all the hub and city aspects in Crystarium means Eulmore won't have anything, or if it'll have the normal city amenities regardless.

[RenewalXVII]

I guess the question is if them centralizing all the hub and city aspects in Crystarium means Eulmore won't have anything, or if it'll have the normal city amenities regardless.

Could Eulmore end up being the endgame city? I don't know the details from the Fanfests all that well, but given the examples of Ishgard/Idyllshire and Kugane/Rhalgr's Reach, it seems intuitive that the Crystarium will have all the main city amenities like the market board, and Eulmore will hold all the endgame vendors. We don't have a hard pattern yet, but it seems natural to continue it, especially to ease congestion between leveling and endgame players.

[MrThinker]

Could Eulmore end up being the endgame city? I don't know the details from the Fanfests all that well, but given the examples of Ishgard/Idyllshire and Kugane/Rhalgr's Reach, it seems intuitive that the Crystarium will have all the main city amenities like the market board, and Eulmore will hold all the endgame vendors. We don't have a hard pattern yet, but it seems natural to continue it, especially to ease congestion between leveling and endgame players.

Well it certainly seems like it would be the town that would be more likely to receive aesthetic upgrades through the patches at the very least (unless they relegate that all to Ishgard restoration).

[Zohar_Lahar]

Unless you are GREG the GREAT ONE.

How do you know he doesn't have the Echo?