While I find this thread is made of gold and almost everything said is 100% right for me, there's one little thing I have to say (dont know if it's already been said, still have to finish to read everything!)
Regarding the 1-50-in-one-zone problem: while I totally dont like the fact you can grind 1-50 in the same zone, I have also to say I find stupid that enemy level have to be strictly related to the zone. I mean, it's stupid if in one area you can only find, for example, 1-15 and in other areas just 15-25 like almost all FFXI zones.
But, actually, FFXIV managed to give this concept a very bad shape. So, what could be a solution?
Simple. Remember of FFXII, the first outside zone... with simple low level enemies but 1 deadly t-rex? (It even made me said: even if it doesnt drop a shit, when I'll be high level I'm gonna kill it!). Even in FFVIII outside Balamb Garden, if I remember well there was a T-Rex somewhere in a lil forest; it was very high for low levels characters. So, basically: variety is good, but only in a "good" way. Give the areas enemies of 1-50, other areas 20-45. Why not? But focus on 1 level range per zone (max 10, like 15-25), BUT adding some not-grindable (translation: only a few and/or long respawn time and/or very far between each other) higher/lower mobs.
Another solution (that can be added to first one in a second moment) would be... still focus on 1 level range (like 35-45) and make all enemies of that area 35-45. BUT! But enemies can grow their level if left unclaimed, but respawn with their proper level. And since we know, usually, in a place (think Qufim, Valkurm, etc) not every spot is that good to grind... voilà! We have enemy rank variations.
Regarding how FFXIV areas are now: they're nice to see. To see. Dot. Not to explore, to travel, to PLAY. They're too big, too "open" (I like open-feeling wide areas, but not when every area is). Think about Jugner Forest, that's a good example of a very nice to travel area. Then, instead, think to... the areas outside Jeuno (Sauro, Batallia and... and... oh, right, Rolanberry!). Those 3 are the ones that remind me of areas in FFXIV, but: they're 1000 times smaller, are mainly transition areas (to go, for example, in Jeuno itself or Garlaige)
PS: I'm not English so please dont be mean if I didnt write something correctly :V



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