How Ala Mhigo Could Be Fixed

[DamianFatale]

Wouldnt this involve literally wiping the Ala Mhigan quarter off the overworld map? As much as I would have liked a more vibrant, lived in version of the city state I doubt the devs would go that far outside of another "calamity" map overhaul.

Ala Mhigan Quarter can stay for quest purposes. They could just make it an extra gateway into the main city proper, or even go back to the old ways and make it a second half of the instanced city. Either way I have no problem with it being outside of the instance. We have Mor Dohna without an instance. It can exist. It might even add to Ala Mhigos flare.

[Amenara]

Ala Mhigan Quarter can stay for quest purposes. They could just make it an extra gateway into the main city proper, or even go back to the old ways and make it a second half of the instanced city. Either way I have no problem with it being outside of the instance. We have Mor Dohna without an instance. It can exist. It might even add to Ala Mhigos flare.

I think this is more or less the intent of Ala Mhigo, it is the Mor Dhona of Stormblood. I would love to see the city fixed up and similar NPCs as in Mor Dhona added to the city, but I just don't see a purpose for Ala Mhigo outside of Stormblood. If the story went in a direction forcing us back into that part of Eorzea then I could see the point in revamping the city and adding onto it, but until then, it's a fancy quest hub for Stormblood and a few other things outside of that.

That being said I do like your ideas and appreciate the effort for them and I hope that if Ala Mhigo is given a purpose again that they give us the city proper.

[CodeAvellus]

Oh for sure, this would all be great! I just wish Square Enix would actually do half of what you suggested :-\

They probably don't even look to this forum

[anhaato]

Oh, I'm so god damn happy people want a better Ala Mhigo.

I agree with a lot of this. To give it it's own aesthetic, it could totally borrow from Tibetan cities! Tons of high roads and vantage points with some greenery introduced. There's a place near Ala Gannha that has a ton of trees decorated with purple and gold banners that can be used to give the city color and luster. Besides, Ala Mhigo always had a great silk industry a la trade with Thavnair, so why not have a Sapphire Avenue-esque area with tons of market stalls?

Honestly I think they should look at cities in the Caucasus region first and foremost, those highlands, considering that's most likely the initial inspiration. Yerevan, Armenia comes to mind as far as highlands go. But at the same time, the actual land's geological features look almost 1:1 inspired by Turkey, particularly the Cappadocia region. I'd rather they start there with real world inspiration.

[anhaato]

Don't forget to make the zone all that grey, wait sorry pink rock that is all around the Gyr Abania zones.
Everyone would love that, and it's never been done before.

Why the shade on the pink stone aesthetic? The actual architecture is something not done in any other location ingame, the color scheming just makes it even nicer. Honestly I don't understand all the shade towards Gyr Abania and its aesthetic, people complain about it being similar to Thanalan but it's literally not. Like at all. It's arid, yes, but the geological features are quite unique and beautiful, especially the purple flora and white rock outcrops in the Peaks. And let's not forget the complex architecture scattered around the Lochs, one of my favorite zones in the game. I will make the people pay Ala Mhigo more respect if it's the last thing i do!

[DamianFatale]

Why the shade on the pink stone aesthetic? The actual architecture is something not done in any other location ingame, the color scheming just makes it even nicer. Honestly I don't understand all the shade towards Gyr Abania and its aesthetic, people complain about it being similar to Thanalan but it's literally not. Like at all. It's arid, yes, but the geological features are quite unique and beautiful, especially the purple flora and white rock outcrops in the Peaks. And let's not forget the complex architecture scattered around the Lochs, one of my favorite zones in the game. I will make the people pay Ala Mhigo more respect if it's the last thing i do!

The reason why people get it mixed up is because there isn't enough lore on Ala Mhigo. They put three zones of content into it, but didn't expand on everything. Fun fact, some of the landmarks don't even have lore behind them if you google it.

[Protantical]

Honestly I think they should look at cities in the Caucasus region first and foremost, those highlands, considering that's most likely the initial inspiration. Yerevan, Armenia comes to mind as far as highlands go. But at the same time, the actual land's geological features look almost 1:1 inspired by Turkey, particularly the Cappadocia region. I'd rather they start there with real world inspiration.

I can mess with that too. Imagine the super pretty mosaic architecture they can throw into a courtyard or a giant hub building? The citadel (3rd part of the dungeon) is already beautiful, I would love seeing major buildings take after it. Imagine a big budapest with cushions and really elaborate rugs being a cool screen spot a la hot springs in Empyreum? That'd be SICK.