HIDDEN MYSTERY

[Atoli]

Not trying to say FFXIV should copy this from another MMORPG, but I'll still talk about it because I think it's a great example of what I expect from exploring(not gonna say a name here):

There is a game out there, in which you can explore some desert.
So while you search for hidden relics you can sell for money or trade in for exp and items, sometimes you find a sandspout instead of a relic, and if you don't manage to run away fast enough, you are thrown into some cave under the desert.
This cave is an unbelievably huge maze and it's really hard to find the exit, even after some people walked through it again and again to make a complete map, because places just look the same, and you can't view a full map of the place but just a small circle around you (like the FFXIV minimap). The only thing hinting on where you are is the color of the floor, which is getting darker as you are getting closer to the exit.
The whole cave is filled with monsters; bats, mini sandworms, bugs, etc., some of them aggressive.
While this sounds not very nice, the cave also has special features.
There are "doors" you can only open after doing whatever these doors want from you, like for example healing someone in front of the door, using a certain item, etc.
Behind these doors are treasure chests, so it's rewarding.
There are also some special monsters down there who are a lot like the NM in FFXIV, which drop items you can't get anywhere else.
While wandering around, you sometimes stumble across a hole in the ground and may decide to jump down, which will either get you closer to the exit or drops you to some random place inside the cave and you have to start finding your way all over again.

So yeah. While it is dangerous and creepy, it's also filled with suspense and even may be rewarding.
And that's how it gets interesting for players to explore the world

[Innes]

it wouldnt be hidden or a mystery for long. once word got out it would be like that "hidden camp" in crawlers nest.
i like the idea but i feel like its a 3 second high if that.

Thats part of the fun, that word spreads. whats that called, oh yeah, COMMUNITY.
even though hidden crawler nest and other great camp spots location were shared, it was still really exciting to visit those places.
whats that called...
oh yeah... exploration and ADVENTURE.
^^d

[MattyWS]

I remember first finding the secret beach in the dunes in FFXI, no one told me about that, as far as I know before I found it myself I had no idea about it.

[NeoEarth]

I remember first finding the secret beach in the dunes in FFXI, no one told me about that, as far as I know before I found it myself I had no idea about it.

lol. love that too.

then you ask your ls mates... "um... ya... thats the 'secret' beach'.

[Scarface]

Random chests in random caves which depop and reappear all over the world would be hot. But what would be in them? Gil? Lol...

[tymora]

Random instanced encounters might be interesting...Like walking around in Thanalan and an antlion comes up from the ground...Or a hippogryph that swoops down on you in Coerthas.