One to Fifty, One Zone - Long OP

[Rowyne]

This is the single biggest thing that has turned me off to this game and makes it EXTREMELY hard for me to log in anymore. I've been playing since September and am still stuck in the starter areas. Still seeing the same environments. This doesn't feel like a MMO to me. I am only rank 32 on my conjurer, but I literally have to get myself psyched for an hour before I can log in to level

You sound just like me! I've been playing since closed beta and I have one combat class I've put any work into, which is my R24 Conjurer. People talk about their concern for this game having replay value for their other R50's. I don't even have one R50, given I have to push myself to go do any leveling.

And trust me, I'm emotionally invested in this game. I brought my LS over from FFXI, and I've built us a completely new website. It troubles me that I have such little motivation to play this game. But at R24, halfway to level cap, I feel like I'm still in the starting area doing the same old things, and it just shouldn't be that way.

[Siobu]

(...)Are they going to change the copy paste landscapes and introduce real character to the land of Eorzea, or are they limited to adding a few camps and dungeons?
If they can't change it, why are they limited? Is it cost, manpower, Memory or the actual engine?
Will the starter area landscapes stay the same?
Whats the deal with everything being copy paste?
Will new areas be better thought through?
Will every camp look similar in future??
Do they agree that leveling from 1-50 in a barren canyon is most people's idea of hell?(...)

(...)And this is what this thread touches upon. The lack of variety in zones, the monster distribution, the Anima System, the Guildleve System, etc ... may not be directly responsible for the lack of psychological progression, but they each contribute.

Why does the least dangerous part of a region look identical to the most dangerous part?
Why do the most dangerous monsters in the game live in the same region as a beginning city?
Why can I be teleported to an Aetheryte I've never visited?
Why are the highest ranked quests in the game in beginning cities?

If the empirical progression doesn't place at least some demand for adjusting a players interaction with their world (even as little as seeing a different part of it), that players psychological progression throughout the game will be anemic at best. They will get bored quickly, because they are not required to see or do or fight anything differently from one week to the next ... or from one month to the next.(...)

So many good points brought up in the last few pages, I worry I can't fit them all! Nabbed a few to bring over to this page for late arrivals. And to say I agree with them all.

(...)But at R24, halfway to level cap, I feel like I'm still in the starting area, and it just shouldn't be that way.(...)

Well said, again, Rowyne.

No matter how we get there, in the end, I think we all want the same: A diverse, expansive, progressive world. Room for expansion beyond our current 5 zones.

It's a lot of work. It'd take a lot of time. I'm willing to wait, but need an answer: Will we ever have a true adventure from 1 to 50?

*lays out dead lalafell for Malboro Bayo bait* <_<

Some of you really crack me up.

Wish I could do more for everyone to bring us an answer.

[Daedae]

You sound just like me! I've been playing since closed beta and I have one combat class I've put any work into, which is my R24 Conjurer. People talk about their concern for this game having replay value for their other R50's. I don't even have one R50, given I have to push myself to go do any leveling.

And trust me, I'm emotionally invested in this game. I brought my LS over from FFXI, and I've built us a completely new website. It troubles me that I have such little motivation to play this game. But at R24, halfway to level cap, I feel like I'm still in the starting area doing the same old things, and it just shouldn't be that way.

Ahaha, me too! Been in since CB, and have been holding on since. :3 Quit once after reaching r28 getting 0-60sp a puk kill. I have some 50 jobs, about to get the next one started The game has just become a chore rather than fun, and I can't fall to behind for when/if it becomes decent. I don't know how I'm still playing really, I didn't play XI so I don't even know how great SE is at MMO's when it comes to my personal experience. Here's to hoping, and a free bump!

[Averix]

I apologize if that has already been said but I didn't want to try reading through all the posts. I think the one zone idea was a great idea, implementation is just awful. From the games I have played people have repeatedly cried that everything is too instanced now and it doesn't feel cohesive. This is what leads to the one major hub for gathering in most games. I think the hub in FFXIV is more to do with population. When the game was first released players were everywhere and it made it feel alive.

It's easy to see where SE got this idea, and if put together right I think it would have really paid off. Sadly, they took the idea of using one zone and didn't think about what that would mean or implement all the features it would take to truly make areas feel unique. I think with enough thought in the future about how to make areas more distinct while keeping it all one zone, it can actually be a large selling point for future players.

[miqokini]

Just popping in to add my two cents. For the love of Christ, YES, PLEASE REDESIGN THE REGIONS.

Ul'dah is fine, just add more detail... seems kinda bland atm.
Limsa is pretty good, too, but the stone texture needs to be replaced, as it looks like poo.
Gridania could use a redesign.

Other than that, all other zones are in desperate need of the removal of copy-pasta. I absolutely HATE running from point A to point B, only to have point B look EXACTLY like point A.

After all the beautifully designed regions in XI, how did they possibly make such a horrible design choice???

[stardrifter]

I just came across this post and i had to reply.

I hate the fact there is no real milestones in XIV, I like most played FFXI and loved the difficultly.
Having to be careful so mobs wouldn't aggro you was to me awesome! Having to supply before leaving to goto any area by yourself gave a great sense of adventure.

XIV doesn't seem to give the sense of adventure i was looking for. For instance walking my taru to Jueno from Bastok for the first time and finally realizing how to get chocos was such a sense of accomplishment! Now i understand the devs didn't want XIV to be so time comsuming but with the dumbing down of tasks to do really ruined some of the aspects that made FF great.

Every spell learned, Every new piece of gear was a step forward and it really made you feel as if you did something great in this fantasy world to push towards something bigger. in FFXIV i feel all im doing is getting XP (granted there are many more ways to do this which is nice.) but for really no reason.

I do hope xpacs will come out and bring back the sense of danger, accomplishment, and adventure.

[Prevbean]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIcLK...eature=related

one of the things I fear most if for this game is how in the world are they going to fix their um world.

[EdenArchangel]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIcLK...eature=related

one of the things I fear most if for this game is how in the world are they going to fix their um world.

Love the video. ^^

I personally believe that after the "reconstruction" of the black shroud, the same could follow suit for other zones (preferably unused 60+ areas in Thanalan, La Noscea).

For example, I am all for radically different environments in the same "zone," let's say La Noscea.
The camp bearded rock with the plains/grassland area merging into a misty, constantly raining swamp/marsh one side, snowy caps near the northern mountains.

People would complain about the lack of realism, but isn't massive changes from screen to screen what every Final Fantasy ever has been? Chalk it up to the crystals, or the primals/summons for causing environmental differences. (Shiva/whomever governing a snowy region, marsh or floodplain for Leviathan.... etc)

[Enthy]

<3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyBXshYnp_c

[Achilles]

Ah ok makes sense, and I hear you. I'm hoping this is our pre-zilart phase. Can only hope atleast.