One to Fifty, One Zone - Long OP

[Richard]

I agree with everything the OP has stated, but fixing the existing areas is just not going to happen. SE focus for the rest of the summer has already been outlined. They are first going to fix the battle system and other UI things. Once they have that done, I'm sure they will work on new areas like Ishgard etc.

Why is the possibility completely thrown off the table at this time? Yohshida already said he doesn't like how The Black Shroud was designed and hinted to a possible revamp in the future. WoW did it 9 years after it released with Cataclysm. No one is expecting it to happen RIGHT NOW. What we do want and what we do expect is for SE to *eventually* fix what they messed up.

Ishgard has been in the works for a long time and to be perfectly honest its probably already finished. The shell of the city is done, all they need to do is add the coding for the inside. I know SE has a lot on their plates but its not completely impossible or out of the question.

[Richard]

Point from me is, I want to hear more about HOW to make the game better and less complaints about how unworthy XIV is as the successor to XI. It took them YEARS to fix that game to be a more acceptable MMO, worth playing by more than just hardcore, dedicated FF/Squaresoft Fans. And I never ONCE heard anyone in game or on the forums people complaining about the lack of transition from zone to zone. (example again, Rolanberry Fields to Sauromugue Champaign) Complaints like that fill the minds of easily agitated people and create more expections that SE may never live up to. And ultimately, the whole things brings a more negative air in players minds to a game that is currently suffering already from a massive negative outlook and reputation.

You're answering almost all of your questions by yourself...I don't really understand why you're still posting the same thing over and over again. XI had a rough start in Japan. RoZ/CoP were it's golden years and ever since WoTG it has made the slow downward trend towards the casual gamers. Is this a problem? No it's not. For a marketing standpoint it was giving SE a broader market.

No one complained about transitioning in XI because the zones were so well orchestrated that there were no problems! That has been said here at least 10 times. The Exploration in XI was 100x better and they need to go back to their roots in that sense. At least 5 or 6 people on this thread have posted IDEAS and constructive points about how we can make this happen. No one is blindly complaining about XIV in this thread which is why I hope this thread explodes outside the norm of this community. In regards to people always want want want wanting zones to be fixed: If SE does it right the first time (like XI) people won't beg for new stuff.

[Sigmakan]

You're answering almost all of your questions by yourself...I don't really understand why you're still posting the same thing over and over again. XI had a rough start in Japan. RoZ/CoP were it's golden years and ever since WoTG it has made the slow downward trend towards the casual gamers. Is this a problem? No it's not. For a marketing standpoint it was giving SE a broader market.

No one complained about transitioning in XI because the zones were so well orchestrated that there were no problems! That has been said here at least 10 times. The Exploration in XI was 100x better and they need to go back to their roots in that sense. At least 5 or 6 people on this thread have posted IDEAS and constructive points about how we can make this happen. No one is blindly complaining about XIV in this thread which is why I hope this thread explodes outside the norm of this community. In regards to people always want want want wanting zones to be fixed: If SE does it right the first time (like XI) people won't beg for new stuff.

I know some people may disagree, but having the maps already 100% revealed really ruins some of the exploration. I miss hunting down maps :/

[Richard]

I know some people may disagree, but having the maps already 100% revealed really ruins some of the exploration. I miss hunting down maps :/

100% agree with this even though it was a PITA lol! I loved this about XI.

[Kafeen]

I know some people may disagree, but having the maps already 100% revealed really ruins some of the exploration. I miss hunting down maps :/

Yeah, I would have liked to have seen the maps unveil as you explore the area.

[Ruri]

Remember trying to get through the Yuhtunga and Yhoator jungles for the first time? Even with a map it was a challange. Finally memorizing the path through was cool. In ff14 we get minimaps and outlined yellow roads to navigate us. A little too easy imo. Not saying get rid of mini maps but we need more zones that you actually need to explore to find the way through.

[Sigmakan]

In regards to separating each area of the zone into different level ranges. Isnt that how it is already?

Central Than 1-10
Easter Than 10-20
Western Than 20-30
Western Than(nophica) 30-40
Southern Than 40-50
Eastern Than(halatali) 40-50

They have the right idea, but having different level ranges like this isnt enough to make players feel like they are making any progress. Issue is that you see the same type of monsters over and over, as well as the same textures over and over. If each 'zone' of the large maps had more unique flavor to them as well as unique mobs it would definitely help.

However, I still dont think that will be enough. I think the best solution is to add more dungeons that are UNIQUE, not just reskins of other ones. Completely redoing the existing zone would be quite the task. I'm sure they can do it, but at the same time I'd rather see them add new zones completely.

[Richard]

In regards to separating each area of the zone into different level ranges. Isnt that how it is already?

Central Than 1-10
Easter Than 10-20
Western Than 20-30
Western Than(nophica) 30-40
Southern Than 40-50
Eastern Than(halatali) 40-50

They have the right idea, but having different level ranges like this isnt enough to make players feel like they are making any progress. Issue is that you see the same type of monsters over and over, as well as the same textures over and over. If each 'zone' of the large maps had more unique flavor to them as well as unique mobs it would definitely help.

However, I still dont think that will be enough. I think the best solution is to add more dungeons that are UNIQUE, not just reskins of other ones. Completely redoing the existing zone would be quite the task. I'm sure they can do it, but at the same time I'd rather see them add new zones completely.

There are R55-59 mobs right outside of the city walls and R70-99 mobs where all of the R50-60 mobs should be populating. You can literally choose 1 area in the game and find a 30-40 level range of mobs for no real reason. Do they serve a purpose and help you in your progression? No.

Outside of NMs, which should range from mid-high level anyways, each of these zones/subzones needs to be fixed to focus on moving from the new adventurer to the world saving hero.

[Sigmakan]

There are R55-59 mobs right outside of the city walls and R70-99 mobs where all of the R50-60 mobs should be populating. You can literally choose 1 area in the game and find a 30-40 level range of mobs for no real reason. Do they serve a purpose and help you in your progression? No.

Outside of NMs, which should range from mid-high level anyways, each of these zones/subzones needs to be fixed to focus on moving from the new adventurer to the world saving hero.

What else are they going to put there instead of the high level mobs? More low level mobs. Seems like they made the maps TOO big and just trying to fill up parts of the maps with filler mobs.

I definitely think SE is aware of how these large maps are creating all sorts of game design issues, and in the future I suspect we'll see smaller maps.

Here's a question for discussion. Since Mor Dhona and Coerthas are so unique, why dont we see more players in those zone if we all love the 'sense of progression' so much?

[Richard]

What else are they going to put there instead of the high level mobs? More low level mobs. Seems like they made the maps TOO big and just trying to fill up parts of the maps with filler mobs.

I definitely think SE is aware of how these large maps are creating all sorts of game design issues, and in the future I suspect we'll see smaller maps.

Here's a question for discussion. Since Mor Dhona and Coerthas are so unique, why dont we see more players in those zone if we all love the 'sense of progression' so much?

First off you don't add more low level mobs you redo the entire mob placement throughout the zone. Completely change it. SE has done this in patches before and moved around mob densities and spawn locations. Put mobs where mobs make sense.

Secondly no one goes to mor dhona or coerthas because a) there are a limited amount of quests/sidequests for those areas b) no leves for these areas and c) you can level 1-50 in Thanalan. At the moment they might as well just call Eorzea "Thanalan".