Are we expecting TO MUCH from 8.0?

[Hyperia]

Because they were redesigns of the really terrible 1.0 zones that kept the good stuff and are as loaded with detail as current zones but a fraction of the size.

I would prefer ARR sized zones and have more of them each expansion.

[RedLolly]

I would prefer ARR sized zones and have more of them each expansion.

Make 8.0 zones 3/4ths the size of DT's zones. Still enormous, still reward flying, but then they can press the detail and overworld content closer together to make it just feel more alive and natural.

There are so many detailed nooks and crannies in DT zones we're unlikely to ever see because we just have no reason to explore that stuff even if you do all side quests.

[Absurdity]

Because they were redesigns of the really terrible 1.0 zones that kept the good stuff and are as loaded with detail as current zones but a fraction of the size.

Often they added most of the good stuff, because there was none in the 1.0 zones. The vast majority of them was just flat copy+pasted plains.

I would prefer ARR sized zones and have more of them each expansion.

While I would also prefer ARR zones if I had to choose between the two, it wouldn't really work as long as flying exists.
You notice it in the ARR zones right now even after the update, they were not designed for flying mounts and the comparatively small size becomes really jarring when you can zoom through them on a flying mount.

There are so many detailed nooks and crannies in DT zones we're unlikely to ever see because we just have no reason to explore that stuff even if you do all side quests.

As someone who just flies through the zones when I'm bored, looking for exactly this stuff. Yes, Dawntrail has a few of those nooks and crannies but still nowhere close to ARR, where almost every zone was packed with tiny details, NPCs just doing their thing, buildings you could enter in almost every tiny settlement and "mysteries" that we don't have an explanation for to this day. I put mysteries in quotations because sometimes it's just a really big door you can't get past, but the question of what's behind it remains.


Ultimately I blame flying for the change in zone design.
Yes it's a really convenient feature to quickly get somewhere, but the consequence of flying is that zones needed a massive increase in size so you couldn't just get to the end in seconds and feel like they're way too tiny.

This increase of course had some knock-on effects, like the reduction in clutter/detail. Both so consoles/potato PCs could handle the zones but also because they simply didn't have the time to add that much detail to environments 4 times the size.

[VeyaAkemi]

You notice it in the ARR zones right now even after the update, they were not designed for flying mounts and the comparatively small size becomes really jarring when you can zoom through them on a flying mount.

What I notice more is that there is actually quite a few ARR maps that use perspective tricks for landmarks, and they are actually much smaller than they appear, notably Castrum Occidens in Eastern La Noscea has some parts that look really off if you can fly a lot closer to them than you were ever supposed to get.

[RedLolly]

What I notice more is that there is actually quite a few ARR maps that use perspective tricks for landmarks, and they are actually much smaller than they appear, notably Castrum Occidens in Eastern La Noscea has some parts that look really off if you can fly a lot closer to them than you were ever supposed to get.

One that I've noticed is you can see the West Shroud plateau in multiple zones quite clearly despite us not being able to go there {aside from a long gone deleted Feast map that could just as easily be anywhere in the Shroud). It was apparently absolutely wrecked in the Calamity but it's a constant landmark in the distance and just teases me to this day.

That's another thing zones from HW onward quit doing; the zones are now set so far apart in universe that consistent landmarks like that just aren't a thing. They feel very contained mostly and often disconnected.

[Shistar]

Because they were redesigns of the really terrible 1.0 zones that kept the good stuff and are as loaded with detail as current zones but a fraction of the size.

Call me crazy, but I'm so tired of the huge areas we have nowadays. Takes ages to get through them even at max flying speed, they look empty and nothing ever fits on my map anymore, which is so annoying. We could go back to ARR-sized maps and I'd consider it an upgrade.

[...]You notice it in the ARR zones right now even after the update, they were not designed for flying mounts and the comparatively small size becomes really jarring when you can zoom through them on a flying mount.

Personally I consider it satisfying, especially since flying was awarded at the end of the expansion vs. as you finish questing in that zone. So it feels good, earned and I like getting places quickly when I need to. I also like walking and GPosing through lush, detailed areas when I want to. It's a win-win in my book.

[BedtimeBear]

Cautiously optimistic they need to wow players to show they're putting effort, 14 is SE's cashcow (still)

Like others have said, there isn't much they can change. Being safe is the key to please most players, shareholders! So don't expect too much.

Rough predictions:

6 Patches - Essentially 8.5 pt 2 becomes 8.6 a smaller patch but still a patch. 3 patches every 12 months post expansion.


IF DT = ARR, 8.0 = HW -> 3 Jobs (2 at launch and 1 job for 8.4 not a limited one)

7 or 8 zones - instead of 6, 1 may be more of a smaller fun social end-game hub


-Battlepass type activity (older rewards mixed with recoloured cosmetics to incentivise older content) more casual friendly too.
-UI update
+ More sidequests, Hildi plus something new to at least show they're doing something different
+FF7 Raid series or event collab as part 7-pt3 is due next year
-Raids 8 + 24man + ULT, crafting, relic schedule may generally remain the same

If anything, a tigher patch cadence would be very helpful. Moreso a mix up of the schedule, putting deep dungeon or relics earlier in the game to avoid that post expansion lull.

[VeyaAkemi]

One that I've noticed is you can see the West Shroud plateau in multiple zones quite clearly despite us not being able to go there {aside from a long gone deleted Feast map that could just as easily be anywhere in the Shroud). It was apparently absolutely wrecked in the Calamity but it's a constant landmark in the distance and just teases me to this day.

Oh no you completely misunderstood what I meant, let me show you.

In Eastern La Noscea, at the Castrum, there is a gate at the end of the walkable area, past that gate there is a road you can barely see, and a wall structure in the distance, indicating the Castrum goes deep underground, and that the player is just on the outer area of it.



But with flight, you can get much closer than you were supposed to, and the perspective illusion they are trying to enforce shatters, the walls are much, much smaller than they appear from the right angle, and it shows there is nothing past them, just a literal blackened hole in the ground.



This is what I mean, and it is legitimately maddening to me, it is clearly something we were never supposed to see, and we can see now thanks to flight, but we still can see, and it ruins a lot of ARR maps to me.

[RedLolly]

Snip.

OH OH okay. I see.

I think that hole is actually an entrance to the first set of the Coils raid. I hoped on to look and you can fly directly up to it, getting as close as just where you second image cuts off and yes, it's so small!

I never noticed!

[AlliciaCapulet]

To the question "Are we expecting too much for 8.0?"

I believe not. In ARR, they managed to bring back this game alive after a disaster.

Now, the dev team, while they did an amazing stroy in EW, almost killed the game by making it too easy and boring to play. DT had some steps in the right directions, but it's again just them "trying to be safe" and not daring to do new things or to ask too much from the players. They also try to keep a "3 month for patch release" model on a 4-5 months patch release, making players wait and wait for content. Add to that one of the worst story where your character was like just a sidekick, and you get one of the worst and most boring expansion of the history of XIV.

For many players like myself, 8.0 will be the reason if they keep their sub or if they are done for good with XIV. Not only the game has to be good and innovative again, and not just a 50 hours of cutscene where I do nothing, but it also need to have a better calendar, patch release and engaging content on the following patches.

I was forgiving the devs for EW and DT, mostly because of nostalgia of how good the game used to be, but if they fail a 3rd time to deliver, then I'm done with XIV.

So, are we expecting too much? No, we are just expecting the game to be good and fun again, if it's not, we'll simply carry on and play other games.