Actual lore regarding the current civilizations on Meracydia (potential spoilers)

[RyuDragnier]

Not only is it the same offensive stereotype of Africa perpetuated by colonial European powers, it doesn't make any sense both in-universe and out. Meracydia was devastated by Allag - but they've had three Astral eras to rebuild. Lack of communication - and that the MSQ hasn't needed to explain and explore current-day Meracydia yet, mean that they have not given any info (using the aforementioned old trope as shield) as to have a relatively blank canvas. And when -because another ten years means that the chances of eventually exploring Meracydia in the MSQ is highly likely- we do reach the different regions of Meracydia, it will have as many major civilizations and organized smaller settlements as anything in Othard, Aldenard, Ilsabard, or Norvrandt.

This does make me wonder...perhaps Meracydia has actually changed to be more like Esthar from FF8. They just seem like they're in a backwater inhospitable area due to the high technology they're using to hide it. Now wouldn't that just be a twist, for Meracydia to in fact be the most technological country on the planet.

[KariTheFox]

I am slightly concerned with Meracydia and the New World being content that reinforces colonialist tropes about Africa and pre-Columbian America. Not because I assume any malice on SE's part, but because if they were to use western pulp and adventure fiction as an inspiration, it could be easy to fall into those kinds of tropes if the writing team doesn't engage with them critically. (Indeed, the concept of an entire continent with people already living on them being a "new world" is an pretty colonialist idea already.)

That being said, SE has an okay track record so far, so I'm only a little concerned and more than willing to see where they take things.

[Jandor]

And here's me, really wanting them to use western pulp and adventure fiction as an inspiration.

[KariTheFox]

And here's me, really wanting them to use western pulp and adventure fiction as an inspiration.

Oh no, don't get me wrong. I'd love it if they used that as inspiration, I just hope they critically engage with and challenge the colonialist tropes that underpin a lot of it.

[Theodric]

I'd rather have the writers simply create a cool story and not concern themselves overly much with attempting to please those who seek to twist everything into a potential 'issue'.

After all, given that this is a game with a global audience there's many of us who aren't particularly interested in seeing every last little thing framed through the lens of biased ideologies that mysteriously never make the connection that pretty much every nation and culture on the planet has, at some point, performed the very same deeds that they themselves like to attribute as the gravest sins of all.

[Lauront]

I'd rather have the writers simply create a cool story and not concern themselves overly much with attempting to please those who seek to twist everything into a potential 'issue'.

After all, given that this is a game with a global audience there's many of us who aren't particularly interested in seeing every last little thing framed through the lens of biased ideologies that mysteriously never make the connection that pretty much every nation and culture on the planet has, at some point, performed the very same deeds that they themselves like to attribute as the gravest sins of all.

Heartily agree.

[aveyond-dreams]

Besides what is already known about Meracydia, I would like to see it represent a clean start for Season 2. Though the Allagans ravaged the continent thousands of years ago, I would like to think that they've since gotten their act together by now.

I'd like to see Meracydia (or at least the part we explore in 7.0?) include locations that give off similar vibes to:



Cornelia Castle, FFI



Castle Fynn, FFII



Castle Baron, FFIV



San d'Oria, FFXI



Sanbreque, FFXVI

If they fail in establishing a strong high/dark fantasy theme early on, they run the risk of repeating one of the major mistakes that led to people failing to connect with the game back in 1.0/ARR - the lack of a dominant fantasy feel to the game, apart from seeing Ishgard far off in the distance, inaccessible for a long time until late into ARR gave us a taste and then opened the doors in Heavensward.

We can save the high technology-style civilizations for 8.0, if not 9.0 or beyond given how long it took us to get to Garlemald in Season 1. That's not a theme or location they should lead with, it should have significant build up prior to that. I also highly dislike the idea of a full-blown "New World" themed expansion or randomly throwing in cultures/civilizations to represent without any logical sense behind it.

Let's start with something strong and consistent and let things proceed naturally from there.

[MikkoAkure]

I am slightly concerned with Meracydia and the New World being content that reinforces colonialist tropes about Africa and pre-Columbian America. Not because I assume any malice on SE's part, but because if they were to use western pulp and adventure fiction as an inspiration, it could be easy to fall into those kinds of tropes if the writing team doesn't engage with them critically. (Indeed, the concept of an entire continent with people already living on them being a "new world" is an pretty colonialist idea already.)

That being said, SE has an okay track record so far, so I'm only a little concerned and more than willing to see where they take things.

After the original countries introduced in 1.0, SE has leaned heavily into cultural tropes for everything else, for better or for worse. Limsa Lominsa, Sharlayan, Ishgard, Ul'dah, Gridania, and Ala Mhigo all seem to have elements of real-world cultures, but don't depend on them and can stand alone. Thavnair, Hingashi, Azim Steppe, and Nagxia are ripped right out of our world and pasted into FFXIV with a fantasy coat of paint.

Thavnair is very heavily influenced by the Indian subcontinent. Nagxia is Vietnam, complete with their food, clothing, and a guerilla war against a larger, more technologically advanced empire in their jungles. Azim Steppe are Mongols on yol-back, complete with Nadaam and morin khuur. And the laziest copy/paste to me is Hingashi: a xenophobic, closed-off island nation with a single port allowed for foreigners on their western-most island and would be a 1-for-1 copy of Edo-era Japan if it weren't for the Tengu and Au Ra.

Then Doma is awkwardly "Japanese" despite having Chinese music, geography, and architecture.

I wouldn't get my hopes up too high for something that doesn't lean heavy into trope territory based on what we've seen since ARR.

I'd like to see Meracydia (or at least the part we explore in 7.0?) include locations that give off similar vibes to:
Cornelia Castle, FFI
Castle Fynn, FFII
Castle Baron, FFIV
San d'Oria, FFXI
Sanbreque, FFXVI

Considering everything we know about them leans into ideas from Egypt and West Africa, I do not expect Meracydia to have European castles.

[RyuDragnier]

That's some good logic there aveyond. To add to that, your post reminded me of the interview where Yoshi-P stated that he was tired of FF being mostly high tech and wanting it to stay closer to the fantasy setting. So your idea is very likely as to what will happen. Who knows, maybe 7.0 and Meracydia will be our "Final Fantasy V" expansion, assuming that isn't saved for the "New World."

[MikkoAkure]

That's some good logic there aveyond. To add to that, your post reminded me of the interview where Yoshi-P stated that he was tired of FF being mostly high tech and wanting it to stay closer to the fantasy setting. So your idea is very likely as to what will happen. Who knows, maybe 7.0 and Meracydia will be our "Final Fantasy V" expansion, assuming that isn't saved for the "New World."

I feel like he's letting FFXIV be its own thing and all the ideas that he wanted and of what Final Fantasy should be, he's putting into FFXVI. Based on what little we've seen of it so far, it will be a classic medieval fantasy.

Meracydia was a battleground of the Allagan Empire so there's no way there's not ancient Allag robots and fortifications still around. There's plot hooks pointing to Meracydia, but honestly I'm sick and tired of hearing about the Allagan Empire and I hope we do something new and fresh that has nothing at all to do with them.