Quote Originally Posted by MikkoAkure View Post
That example isn't a very good one considering they had to backpedal that and retcon the lore in order to fit it in since "Dalmasca" was in the wrong place and invaded at the wrong time according to the lore book, so they had to invent a new city-state of "Nhalmasque" that got confused as being Dalmasca.

Otherwise Ivalice more or less worked because we already had a bad guy empire narrative just like FFXII. FFXI's story is heavily dependent on their own gods and their own ancients. It's one thing to replace the Archadian Empire with the Garlean Empire, but replacing Altana and Promathia with Hydaelyn and Zodiark, and the Zilart with the Ascians feels like a giant disservice to both games.

I don't think they can feasibly fit Vana'diel into Etheirys anyway since there's not exactly a place to shove in three more continents and the aesthetic doesn't exactly fit with the New World. I suppose they could randomly chuck them under the cloud cover over Ilsabard, but I'd rather Ilsabard be more creative than that and there's no evil expanding empire in Vana'diel either. The story just doesn't fit exactly into FFXIV unless you want to overwrite the important parts to justify shoving it in where it doesn't have to belong.
Again, you're ignoring how FFXIV does reference lore. It's never 1-to-1, they always recontextualize parts of older games and give it an alternate take; Like the Crystal Tower or Ivalice, or Venat and the Convocation, or Galuf and Krile etc. Numerous examples and bits of lore they've borrowed. FFXI isnt any different unless we're really trying to be purists (and really I understand where you're coming from). But for keeping the game world grounded, its preferable that they do what they have done with Vana'diel rather than completely alienating the world. I just seriously dont want another disaster like Nier.