FFXIV 2.0 and the City-states

[Endemerrin]

So, we know that the engine that FFXIV launched with has been hard to work with. We the players have felt it, and the Dev team have felt it. That's why with 2.0 we'll have an entirely new engine running the game.

Many things took a hit because of the restraints of FFXIV's original engine, and a big one for me was the city-states. While fascinating at first, all three eventually grew stale to me. It didn't matter how many players filled the city, they just felt so lifeless. NPCs standing around in one spot, all day and every day. I'd say a big part of the problem was the engine, and the lack of the ability to have such features without putting strain on the servers.

My question is this: With the new engine in XIV 2.0, will we finally be able to see a little life brought into the cities outside of the players? Such as the occasional NPC roaming from one point to the next. Maybe a Chocobo carriage traveling down the main streets in Ul'dah every now and again, like we see in cutscenes. Ships docking and setting sail from Limsa-lominsa ever few hours. A few guards patrolling the cities, instead of a few just sitting at their posts near low-traffic areas. Stuff like that.

While not a priority in the grand scheme of things, it would be nice to see them breathe life into the cities if given the opportunity. Having an engaging world to game in is just as important as actual gameplay mechanics to me. But is this even a possibility with the new engine? Maybe something they've already discussed?

Would love to hear a response from a community rep on this one.

[Deli]

ya have some moving npc might be fun. But I'm +1 for moving background like ships. Or guarded soldiers patrol around the city. They eventually will get old, but sometimes it's just fun to stop and watch them change.

on a second thought, maybe just let the players as the living force of the city might be ok... if there are players in that city...
on a third thought... I <3 gridania better cus it has no players /shout running or just display their battle loot. <3 that peaceful environment as the npc said, just me and trees.

[Velhart]

I would love this, assuming it won't be a problem with the stability of the area.

[Answa]

A really, really old quote says that, indeed, there will be NPCs moving about. But not all of them, because finding them would be annoying.

[indira]

well 2.0 we'll be able to see 40 players on screen so it should feel more lively

[NotApplicable]

well 2.0 we'll be able to see 40 players on screen so it should feel more lively

Then all we'll need is 20 more players.

[Endemerrin]

A really, really old quote says that, indeed, there will be NPCs moving about. But not all of them, because finding them would be annoying.

Yeah. I guess what I had was more in line with un-targetable NPCs, or ones that serve no purpose other than to just add life to their surroundings.

Nice to hear that they'll be giving some NPCs patrol routes, though, if the quote is indeed accurate.

[Picoman]

well 2.0 we'll be able to see 40 players on screen so it should feel more lively

I believe 40 is the current limit. Think its going up to 100.

[Answa]

I found one of the dev quotes. I know there's a more specific, recent quote somewhere.

[ChiefCurrahee]

I believe 40 is the current limit. Think its going up to 100.

Yeah I was just gonna say, 40 is what the current engine supports. Yoshi wants us to see 100+ with engine 2.0