A PoC Scion please? There is so much untapped potential here.

[Jandor]

No, they are not automatically Asian (or the fantasy equivalent thereof) just because the game makers are Asian. The world map and cultural influences indicate that Eorzea is Europe-inspired while Othard is clearly eastern Asia.

I'd say that Europe is missing from the world map, as things stand.

Eorzeas shape and location is much reminiscent of Africa than Europe, it also happens to be a wild and untamed land full of "backwards" tribes that are being invaded by a much more technologically advanced Empire that sees them as inferior.

[TristanBlane]

Honestly Lilja was SUCH a breath of fresh air , I'd gladly welcome more diverse characters and perspectives. And I hope we get more and more of Lilja.

[Iscah]

I'd say that Europe is missing from the world map, as things stand.

Eorzeas shape and location is much reminiscent of Africa than Europe, it also happens to be a wild and untamed land full of "backwards" tribes that are being invaded by a much more technologically advanced Empire that sees them as inferior.

I don't think it's close enough in shape to Africa - more a tilted Europe, or simply the loose concept of Europe versus Othard's much closer geographical match to Asia. But there are the central fairytale forests, the frozen north (with Norse-mythology-themed dragons), the Near East and an island off the continent that is better placed to match Britain than Madagascar.

Africa (or at least northern Africa) might be mashed into the south of it as the Sagolii Desert - but from what little we know, Africa might equate better to the unseen southern continent of Meracydia. The plants noted to have been imported from there to Eorzea, sesame and aloe, are both African natives.

[Jandor]

I don't think it's close enough in shape to Africa - more a tilted Europe, or simply the loose concept of Europe versus Othard's much closer geographical match to Asia. But there are the central fairytale forests, the frozen north (with Norse-mythology-themed dragons), the Near East and an island off the continent that is better placed to match Britain than Madagascar.

I'd say they're pretty damn close in shape. Obviously not 1:1, but much closer than I originally thought they were tbh.

Even the basic layout of forest and desert is fairly close. Ul'dah, Ala Mhigo, Gridania and Sharlayans colony all shift over to the map of Africa reasonably accurately, even Ishgard sort of makes sense, if you picture the Sahara as a frozen desert instead of a sandy one.

The main differences seem to be the lack of mountain ranges along the west/south of the Sahara, and Africa's complete lack of a sea of floating islands

Madagascar was just shifted to the other side of the continent.

[Iscah]

Even the basic layout of forest and desert is fairly close.

Except the forest band in Africa is tropical jungle, not temperate forest like Gridania.

Even if the shape is inspired by Africa, the climate (and culture) is inspired by Europe. Africa sits across the equator and that tropical band runs along it, with deserts either side and then temperate climate beyond that.

Eorzea seems to be in that more northern temperate zone with the southern edge dipping into the desert zone, and maybe the southern tip reaching the tropical zone. The Cieldales islands in the south are also apparently tropical.

[BokoToloko]

Except the forest band in Africa is tropical jungle, not temperate forest like Gridania.

Even if the shape is inspired by Africa, the climate (and culture) is inspired by Europe. Africa sits across the equator and that tropical band runs along it, with deserts either side and then temperate climate beyond that.

Eorzea seems to be in that more northern temperate zone with the southern edge dipping into the desert zone, and maybe the southern tip reaching the tropical zone. The Cieldales islands in the south are also apparently tropical.

Overall, southern Aldenard and Vylbrand bears to me a heavy resemblance to the Iberian Peninsula (warm climate areas along the mediterranean coast, almost desertic in some parts, along with many Arabic building, most known being La Alhambra, that bear a strong resemblance to some Ul'dahnese and Ala Mighan architecture). La Noscea and Limsa Lominsa white painted architecture is pretty on par to what you see in many Mediterranean zones and Portugal, where white buildings are fairly common in traditional villages, and the climate is similar to that in the Athlantic coast). Plus, windmills.


On a different topic, the Amaljaa could take some inspiration from African (mostly sub-Saharian) cultures, given their outfits and their tribal disposition.

[MikkoAkure]

I'd say they're pretty damn close in shape. Obviously not 1:1, but much closer than I originally thought they were tbh.

Even the basic layout of forest and desert is fairly close. Ul'dah, Ala Mhigo, Gridania and Sharlayans colony all shift over to the map of Africa reasonably accurately, even Ishgard sort of makes sense, if you picture the Sahara as a frozen desert instead of a sandy one.

The main differences seem to be the lack of mountain ranges along the west/south of the Sahara, and Africa's complete lack of a sea of floating islands

Madagascar was just shifted to the other side of the continent.

Posting in a troll thread, but just because the shape of the continent in a fantasy game looks like Africa, doesn't make that Africa. The local Hyur have legit Celtic/Germanic names, Elezen have French-esque names, and Roegadyn have Germanic/Scandinavian names and their own Scandinavian-inspired language. The clothing everyone wears is very European. Ul'dah has some Middle-East cues, but so does Thavnair, which more classically fits that theme. Ala Mhigo feels a lot like Turkey/Ottoman Empire in their design ideas. Nothing is 1-for-1, and this is a fantasy world so it doesn't matter too much anyway. Their leaning into real world places (far east, near east, far west) helps connect players to the game's background, but I feel like it also weakens the story when you just cut and paste real life places and cultures into a fantasy world.

[Jandor]

Posting in a troll thread, but just because the shape of the continent in a fantasy game looks like Africa, doesn't make that Africa.

Likewise, some of the city-states being inspired by Europe doesn't make Eorzea into 'Fantasy Europe'.

Eorzea doesn't just share the shape of Africa, it fits in the same place geographically, and it fits in the same place thematically, as the last major continent to face invasion by a technologically advanced Empire that has notions of 'bringing civilization to the savages'.

The clothing everyone wears is very European. Ul'dah has some Middle-East cues, but so does Thavnair, which more classically fits that theme.

The clothing in Ul'dah doesn't seem very European to me, what with everyone rocking turbans on their heads, not to mention that Miqote dancer gear. What little we know of old Ala Mhigan fashion doesn't exactly seem very European to me either, like Lyse's fancy dress.

Nothing is 1-for-1, and this is a fantasy world so it doesn't matter too much anyway. Their leaning into real world places (far east, near east, far west) helps connect players to the game's background, but I feel like it also weakens the story when you just cut and paste real life places and cultures into a fantasy world.

The lack of cut and paste from the real world is why I like Eorzea, it's a good mix from a wide variety of sources. A bit of Africa, a bit of the Middle East, a bit of Europe, all mixed together in a way I find interesting and unique.

My point isn't that Eorzea is 'Fantasy Africa' (although it definitely has more than a hint of the old "dark continent" trope about it,) it's that Eorzea is not 'Fantasy Europe'. Some parts of it are, but other parts of it clearly aren't, and summing the whole place up it as if it was and ignoring all the other elements that have gone into it does it quite a disservice IMHO.

Now if you want to say the Far East is just lifted from our world and dumped into the game, then go nuts. It's obviously not exactly 1-for-1, but when thought of as a follow up to Eorzea I found the region to be a bit disappointing tbh.

[Valknut]

I'd say they're pretty damn close in shape. Obviously not 1:1, but much closer than I originally thought they were tbh.

Even the basic layout of forest and desert is fairly close. Ul'dah, Ala Mhigo, Gridania and Sharlayans colony all shift over to the map of Africa reasonably accurately, even Ishgard sort of makes sense, if you picture the Sahara as a frozen desert instead of a sandy one.

The main differences seem to be the lack of mountain ranges along the west/south of the Sahara, and Africa's complete lack of a sea of floating islands

Madagascar was just shifted to the other side of the continent.

If you turn that chunk of land 90degress you will not only see the UK, the naval power house of its history, and France, and Italy is literally a boot into the Adriatic sea.

They did very similar cultural references in FFXI. The Elvan and Sandoria were a medieval castles built on European themes, Bastock the industrialized young western country, and Tarutaru and Windurst were ment to represent Japan.

but also because there is no Nordic Countries on Hydaelyn either.

Heavens ward is about as northern European as you can get, The construction of the castles is exacerbated, but the power that religion holds, they way their religious figures dress. That's all very orthodox.

[Burmecia]

Heavens ward is about as northern European as you can get, The construction of the castles is exacerbated, but the power that religion holds, they way their religious figures dress. That's all very orthodox.

Analogues between RL and fantasy do not those fantasy locations into their RL inspirations make.