Area redesign - Discussion thread

[Esk]

I didn't Play FFXI for long but the atmosphere of the areas and little details of the plants and effects made the world a whole lot more alive as others have already said just to get that part out the way.

The world lacks depth imo, while what we have looks stunning I sometimes think its the fluff that is missing.
It's far to static at times, even just having the Pc's moving around from 1 place to another would help a huge amount imo, patrols leaving the main city walking camp to camp.
Mobs moving from location to location as a heard or running from an aggressive mob.
Mobs fighting each other.
Mobs attacks each other
Mobs are around changing with the weather or day/night.
Small critters running around (the size of the old mobs or smaller) and running from everything and everyone.
Oh and Mob placement suiting the surroundings, I have to wonder sometimes about crabs and does next to each other lol.
An rather then redesigning the world, I would much rather see new sub zones (around 1/2 the size of the current?) added around the current ones then time spent on redesigned atm.
Using the Current zones as they are almost like hubs, and the real conent beding added around them.
- Large cavern sections around the LL zones or small islands off the coast,
- several old ruined villages populated with goblins or beast tribes or even new npc villages (that look like villages with more houses then the current ones),
- underground tunnels below the tree roots around Gridania.
- A huge desert with only thats alwasy got a serious sandstorm.
Meaning you can very ocasionally get lost and end up back where you started lol (mini event thing you see your self walk off then load up walking back to the nearest camp)
- New sections added under or over on inside the citys for the content to the new areas.

Ok I could ramble on for ages here but you get the idea I hope.

[Gidonoidon_Sur]

I agree with most of what is said here. To me, they should focus on making zones smaller and more detailed. I think FFXI was way better in terms of zone design/feel/progression but still wasted tons of space. I mean, there were beautiful areas with no reason to go to them (and they were huge on top of that). I hope when they do the redesign, they really focus on the idea Yoshi brought up in an interview about 'conductor', that is, focusing on the progression of the character and where they go.

And please god, make it so the farther you go out the more dangerous the mobs. I don't want to see furry animals everywhere I go.

[Akira_Tenshi]

I'm actually pretty excited about this, more so than i am about new content. The crappy zones were my biggest gripe about the game.

[Balbanes]

My 2 cents: Make TBS more open. Not a maze/series of tunnels. The rest of the zones I don't really have a problem with. As far as the physical layout goes, at least.

[Tezz_Xivectro]

However these redesigns take place, the open world should have a feeling of worth. Monsters should be everywhere and not a vast empty landscape for miles & miles. That's just monsters, but there should be many little way-points & distinguishable locations/camps as well.

Overall, when my RL friends ask me about all the places you have to travel on the journey from Lv 1 - 50, i don't want to reply with "right here in the desert" or "thanalan". They look at you like you're crazy.


Landmark Requests:

• A creepy old dead tree with the face of a monster petrified on the trunk of it (it moans in-game).
• Floating airships that hover in the sky above certain areas.
• An area where there are many corpses piled on the ground with glowing fireflies circling it.
• Secret underground complex with evil moogles practicing necromancy on a Roegadyn in a subligar!
• An area inside a dungeon where the walls actually bleed.