6.0 Predictions: Will it be Garlemald, Sharlayan, or Meracydia?

[Wrestlefire769]

I'm not gonna be popular with this prediction:

The Eighth Umbral Calamity happens first.

[Rosenstrauch]

I'm not gonna be popular with this prediction:

The Eighth Umbral Calamity happens first.

I'd say that's unlikely for two reasons. The first is that it would reflect pretty poorly on Shadowbringers' plot. It's already a bit silly that the ageless, undying Ascians were so heavily committed to their current plans that they wouldn't just back off until the WoL and friends left the picture. Things would get downright ridiculous if it turned out Emet-Selch and Elidibus had another reflection already prepped for a rejoining, but went all-in on the First instead. And obviously they're not going to remove access to the First, nor are they going to undermine the writing for Eden and the Void Quests by erasing everyone's hard work out of nowhere.

The second reason is a bit more on the technical side of things. They already spent an ample amount of time and resources updating the 2.0/ARR zones to accommodate flying. The 8th Umbral Calamity ought to have a substantial impact on the game world, which would mean updating those zones—and more—yet again. I don't see that happening until 7.0 at the earliest.

[Wrestlefire769]

I'd say that's unlikely for two reasons. The first is that it would reflect pretty poorly on Shadowbringers' plot. It's already a bit silly that the ageless, undying Ascians were so heavily committed to their current plans that they wouldn't just back off until the WoL and friends left the picture. Things would get downright ridiculous if it turned out Emet-Selch and Elidibus had another reflection already prepped for a rejoining, but went all-in on the First instead. And obviously they're not going to remove access to the First, nor are they going to undermine the writing for Eden and the Void Quests by erasing everyone's hard work out of nowhere.

There's a problem with that. There's no reason to believe that Emet-Selch and Elidibus are even functionally involved. Because now you've got a guy out there who is... I'm not sure I can go much further without a spoiler function here, as it's in the end of 5.4.

The second reason is a bit more on the technical side of things. They already spent an ample amount of time and resources updating the 2.0/ARR zones to accommodate flying. The 8th Umbral Calamity ought to have a substantial impact on the game world, which would mean updating those zones—and more—yet again. I don't see that happening until 7.0 at the earliest.

That makes a bit more sense, but I do wonder if you're out of options otherwise. You would probably have to do Garlemald if you were right, since haven't we already been to Sharlayan -- as in what is now Idyllshire?

[Rosenstrauch]

There's a problem with that. There's no reason to believe that Emet-Selch and Elidibus are even functionally involved. Because now you've got a guy out there who is... I'm not sure I can go much further without a spoiler function here, as it's in the end of 5.4.

We're closing in on two months since the patch dropped. I don't think anyone cares about hiding spoilers anymore—if they even bother, it's probably just for readability's sake. Giant walls of text have a habit of making posts annoying to read.

The spoiler function is [ HB ](Your text here)[ /HB ], but without the spaces.

That makes a bit more sense, but I do wonder if you're out of options otherwise. You would probably have to do Garlemald if you were right, since haven't we already been to Sharlayan -- as in what is now Idyllshire?

The Hinterlands colony was abandoned, as the people of Sharlayan sought to avoid the Garlean Empire's invasion rather than defend their land or unite with the rest of Eorzea to repel them. But the Sharlayan mainland is where they retreated to. It's in the upper-left section of the map of the Source.

[Kesey]

The Hinterlands colony was abandoned, as the people of Sharlayan sought to avoid the Garlean Empire's invasion rather than defend their land or unite with the rest of Eorzea to repel them. But the Sharlayan mainland is where they retreated to. It's in the upper-left section of the map of the Source.

I'm glad you posted this map. Looking at it again, the Sharlayan Island looks bigger than I think many on this forum have made it out to be. Furthermore, I think of a much smaller island, like the Isle of Val, which is also Eureka, and we managed to get 4 big areas out of it, so I'm confident that if we go to the Sharlayan island and have 5 or 6 big areas and a city just out of that space alone.

[MoofiaBossVal]

I'm glad you posted this map. Looking at it again, the Sharlayan Island looks bigger than I think many on this forum have made it out to be. Furthermore, I think of a much smaller island, like the Isle of Val, which is also Eureka, and we managed to get 4 big areas out of it, so I'm confident that if we go to the Sharlayan island and have 5 or 6 big areas and a city just out of that space alone.

I wouldn't be so sure of that. Hingashi only had Kugane. You couldn't explore any zones outside of the city.

[RyuDragnier]

I wouldn't be so sure of that. Hingashi only had Kugane. You couldn't explore any zones outside of the city.

Though SAM 61-70 questline DOES hint that we may return in the future.

[Kesey]

I wouldn't be so sure of that. Hingashi only had Kugane. You couldn't explore any zones outside of the city.

True. But I would like to think that a Hingashi expansion is something that will come in the future, further down the road. You can see that there are exits in Kugane that are just blocked by npcs. It would very much be a fantasy Japan expansion to FFXIV as Kugane and Hingashi are a Japan ruled by the Shogun who only had one port city open for trade with the rest of the world.