Eorzea or Etheirys?

[Ransu]

Aldernard is Africa. The entirety of FFXIV's world is straight up based off of Earth but stretched out.

[Lyth]

I think that there's a lore reason why so much of the Etheirys is ocean (great maps, by the way).

There's a 2018 FanFest interview with Gamer Escape which delves into this, and it's also covered in the EE volume 1. In short, the Fifth Umbral Calamity (of Ice) causes an ice age of sorts where various peoples (Miqo'te, Lalafell) migrate across the now frozen oceans to get to congregate in aether-rich regions where they can actually grow crops, Eorzea being one such place. Magic flourishes as a means of combating the cold, but eventually leads to the War of the Magi, which causes the Sixth Umbral Calamity (of Water). This causes everyone to seek out the high ground to escape the resultant great Flood. I'm sure that if you looked at a map of Etheirys at various timepoints during this, you'd see varying amounts of landmass. It may be that there's just less landmass now because the flood waters never completely receded.

What makes this really interesting is the First, where Norvrandt is functionally just a map of Eorzea with everything else erased by the Flood of Light ('the Empty'). Lakeland is Mor Dhona, Eulmore is Limsa, Rak'tika is the Shroud, Amh Araeng is Thanalan, Il Mheg is Coerthas, and Bismark likes to sleep in the Aether rich waters of 'the Source' much like Midgardsormr does in Lake Silvertear. To extrapolate from this, it's possible that the other shards are 'mirror images' of Etheirys from 12000 years ago, with variations in geography arising from their own unique history.

As a simple case in point, what if on one such shard, Meracydia and Ilsabard retained its land bridge simply because it had never experienced a great Flood? If so, you could conceivably shard hop, cross the land bridge, hop back, and find yourself on a different continent.

[Alleluia]

It's actually the other way around. Aldenard is the name of the continent, but "Eorzea" includes Aldenard, Vylbrand (the island where La Noscea is located) and also noted in the lorebook to include the Cieldales and other smaller islands.

Is there a difference between Vylbrand and La Noscea? That's the most confusing geographical distinction for me. Eorzea is a region consisting of different landmasses, like Oceania, and I find that easy to remember.

But Vylbrand is just that island. And every part of that island is called X "La Noscea". Its like saying Madagascar is also called something else simultaneously. Situation of an old name vs a new name, maybe? Or does Vylbrand actually include something besides the La Noscean area?

And Aldenard is pretty clearly africa, with Madagascar (Vylbrand) on the left instead of the right, imo. And Merycidia is australia. Hingashi is Japan, etc. I mean, culturues don't necessarily line up, but just geography-wise, they basically made Sharlayan the british isles, sank europe or squished it, left a lot of asia basically the same. Oh and south america is HUGE, now. lol I'm rather curious what culture they'll add to north america. And what cultures they'll add to the reflections. I'm hoping Emet's "some of the civilizations on the reflections will surprise you" means a super advanced society somewhere and I'd like north america to get something cool, even if its not on the source.

[Iscah]

Is there a difference between Vylbrand and La Noscea? That's the most confusing geographical distinction for me. Eorzea is a region consisting of different landmasses, like Oceania, and I find that easy to remember.

But Vylbrand is just that island. And every part of that island is called X "La Noscea". Its like saying Madagascar is also called something else simultaneously. Situation of an old name vs a new name, maybe? Or does Vylbrand actually include something besides the La Noscean area?

All the parts of the island that we visit are called La Noscea, but I assume the kobolds' area extends northwards from the border zone in outer La Noscea.

I do think the game tends to have confusing layers of names, particularly when the city names overlap with the surrounding regions.

And Aldenard is pretty clearly africa, with Madagascar (Vylbrand) on the left instead of the right, imo. And Merycidia is australia. Hingashi is Japan, etc. I mean, culturues don't necessarily line up, but just geography-wise, they basically made Sharlayan the british isles, sank europe or squished it, left a lot of asia basically the same. Oh and south america is HUGE, now.

Take a map of Europe, turn it 90 degrees, east upwards. Now consider Norse-themed dragons in the northwest, apparently Turkish-influenced Ala Mhigo in the northeast, a large island in the southwest, central European forest, arid south perhaps stretching across to incorporate some of the Sahara desert.

Eorzea is Europe with creative liberties.

Meanwhile, Meracydia has African plants and animals (aloe, sesame, hippos) while Australian animals are not credited to it.

For North America, we know the Native American themed Whalaqee tribe from the blue mage quests. Mamool Ja appear to be "Mayincaztec" as TV Tropes phrases it.

[Rongway]

Is there a difference between Vylbrand and La Noscea? That's the most confusing geographical distinction for me. Eorzea is a region consisting of different landmasses, like Oceania, and I find that easy to remember.

But Vylbrand is just that island. And every part of that island is called X "La Noscea". Its like saying Madagascar is also called something else simultaneously. Situation of an old name vs a new name, maybe? Or does Vylbrand actually include something besides the La Noscean area?

Vylbrand is the big island. There are smaller islands around it which are included in La Noscea. On the map of Eastern La Noscea, you can see small islands near Costa Del Sol. On the map of Western La Noscea, the Isles of Umbra. In Lower La Noscea, Moraby Drydocks are on a separate island connected to Vylbrand by the bridge at Oschon's Embrace. Limsa Lominsa is entirely off the coast of Vylbrand except for the city gates.

[Enkidoh]

Meanwhile, Meracydia has African plants and animals (aloe, sesame, hippos) while Australian animals are not credited to it.

Actually, Aussie animals are credited to Meracydia as well, well, at least one is (the wind-up kangaroo minion description mentions it's based on a "Meracydian marsupial") - whether the Ittybitty Duckbill, Frill-necked Lizard and Koala Joey specifically come from there too also isn't mentioned though (although the koala and duckbill are also seen in Elpis so that means like most of Hydaelyn's modern wildlife the Ancients created them originally -amusingly the minion description for the Koala Joey seems to suggest it's found in Eorzea given it "dropped down onto a retainer who was cutting down it's tree").

Also I understand wattle bark can be found via BTN gathering in Azys Lla (wattle being an Australian native tree of course), and the dragon sector of that was literally lifted wholesale from Meracydia, so it's basically all but proven Meracydia is a "great south land owing more to Australia but has some elements of Africa as well" (it isn't shaped like Australia though, apparently being roughly triangular in shape according to the Hydaelyn model seen from the moon).

I still think Aldenard is roughly Africa in shape, but culturally is more Europe/Middle Eastern than anything. But I digress.

[EaraGrace]

Actually, Aussie animals are credited to Meracydia as well, well, at least one is (the wind-up kangaroo minion description mentions it's based on a "Meracydian marsupial") - whether the Ittybitty Duckbill, Frill-necked Lizard and Koala Joey specifically come from there too also isn't mentioned though (although the koala and duckbill are also seen in Elpis so that means like most of Hydaelyn's modern wildlife the Ancients created them originally -amusingly the minion description for the Koala Joey seems to suggest it's found in Eorzea given it "dropped down onto a retainer who was cutting down it's tree").

I'm hoping the spiders didn't make the jump from Australia to Meracydia

[Iscah]

Actually, Aussie animals are credited to Meracydia as well, well, at least one is (the wind-up kangaroo minion description mentions it's based on a "Meracydian marsupial") - whether the Ittybitty Duckbill, Frill-necked Lizard and Koala Joey specifically come from there too also isn't mentioned though

Also I understand wattle bark can be found via BTN gathering in Azys Lla (wattle being an Australian native tree of course)

Well, the kangaroo is a recent minion, and I'm pretty sure last time the topic came up, I asked about the other minions and was told they're all nonspecific. And I hadn't seen wattle raised as a point before.

So it's a hybrid, but still. Africa is mashed into Meracydia; Eorzea is sideways Europe; Othard is Asia but with Russia ripped off the top and presumably recast as Ilsabard.

[Guhthaerz]

I was under the impression that Eorzea was the combination of Aldenard and Vylbrand

[AlenyaElizabelle]

I was under the impression that Eorzea was the combination of Aldenard and Vylbrand

Aldenard is basically the Far East e.g. Hingashi, Kugane.
Eorzea is Vylbrand (where Limsa is) and the rest of Eorzea itself (Ul'dah, Gridania, Ishgard, Ala Mhigo), and though we can't 100% see due to the clouds, seems that Ala Mhigo area could connect to Ilsabard where Garlemald is.
Hmm.