The redesigning of Eorzea

[Endemerrin]

You previously mentioned that you guys are working on redesigning the areas. Are you more focused on changing the geography or the design?

Yoshida: Changes will be made to both the geography and the design of the areas. Some areas will be changed rather drastically, so I'd love if you all could discuss how you think the changes will be made while you're all looking forward to it.

I figured as I hadn't really seen a thread based around this idea (correct me if I'm wrong), I'd go ahead and try to start one up. What are your thoughts on what should be added to the maps we currently have, and what do you think will be added?

For me, I'm hoping to see more cultural landmarks. Maybe even ruins from before the 6th umbral era. Areas within zones that tie directly in to the culture of that city-state or surrounding areas. Explorable shipwrecks on the coast of Vylbrand would be interesting, or perhaps the masts of ships poking out from the water out in the bays to just paint a more solid aesthetic to the region and it's nautical history. Maybe the northern half of the island, O'Ghomoro, would be a more volcanic region. A rocky area, covered in pools of sulfur and steam vents from the nearby volcano. Covered in old ruins, destroyed Limsan settlements. Probably inhabited by the Kobolds.

For Thanalan, more temples and shrines. Maybe old catacombs - perhaps even home to the tombs of former Ul'dahn nobles and members of the syndicate. Given the nature of undeath surrounding Ul'dah and it's Thaumaturges, there would be plenty of room to play around with the idea of powerful necromancers raising up notable figures from Ul'dah's past for all manner of wicked ideas. Definitely need an actual desert-like area, such as the one seen south of Ul'dah. Rolling dunes, covered in the ruins of old Ul'dahn settlements and outposts that are buried half-way in the shifting sands. Would also be an interesting place for tombs and catacombs.

The Black Shroud could use a bit more of a mystical feel to it. Maybe there might be a region covered in a dense fog (a small tribute to our beloved Zi'Tah). Maybe have old ruins scattered about not unlike what can be found in the northern black shroud currently. Perhaps there are massive trees deep in the forest with huge, sprawling complexes carved into them (Sort of like Boyahda). Even villages in the tree tops would seem fitting, in my opinion.

Coerthas seems to have been painted to be this powerful nation with a war-scarred past - and yet the zone seems relatively peaceful and unscathed. Maybe there will be a change to that, painting it's history in a more visible light. Skeletons of ancient dragons draped across the tops of mountains, or in the valleys. Old battlefields, riddled with all manner of craters, skeletons and decrepit weaponry from past wars. Maybe even a region of the mountains that's covered in scorched earth and burnt trees - an area destroyed entirely by the dragons.

Those are just some of my hopes and dreams. What about you?

[SuzakuCMX]

There was one but it got buried...

Basically people wanted Gridania/The Black Shroud to be more open and feel more evil/mysterious.

[Hayden]

I'm totally with you on this Merri. I think Eorzea could use a little sprucing up.

[MeowyWowie]

Here ya go: http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...e-Zone-Long-OP

Arguably the most popular thread on the forums (and maybe even the most productive,) translated in all languages. Even includes some rep responses.

[Preypacer]

I figured as I hadn't really seen a thread based around this idea (correct me if I'm wrong), I'd go ahead and try to start one up. What are your thoughts on what should be added to the maps we currently have, and what do you think will be added?

For me, I'm hoping to see more cultural landmarks. Maybe even ruins from before the 6th umbral era. Areas within zones that tie directly in to the culture of that city-state or surrounding areas. Explorable shipwrecks on the coast of Vylbrand would be interesting, or perhaps the masts of ships poking out from the water out in the bays to just paint a more solid aesthetic to the region and it's nautical history. Maybe the northern half of the island, O'Ghomoro, would be a more volcanic region. A rocky area, covered in pools of sulfur and steam vents from the nearby volcano. Covered in old ruins, destroyed Limsan settlements. Probably inhabited by the Kobolds.

For Thanalan, more temples and shrines. Maybe old catacombs - perhaps even home to the tombs of former Ul'dahn nobles and members of the syndicate. Given the nature of undeath surrounding Ul'dah and it's Thaumaturges, there would be plenty of room to play around with the idea of powerful necromancers raising up notable figures from Ul'dah's past for all manner of wicked ideas. Definitely need an actual desert-like area, such as the one seen south of Ul'dah. Rolling dunes, covered in the ruins of old Ul'dahn settlements and outposts that are buried half-way in the shifting sands. Would also be an interesting place for tombs and catacombs.

The Black Shroud could use a bit more of a mystical feel to it. Maybe there might be a region covered in a dense fog (a small tribute to our beloved Zi'Tah). Maybe have old ruins scattered about not unlike what can be found in the northern black shroud currently. Perhaps there are massive trees deep in the forest with huge, sprawling complexes carved into them (Sort of like Boyahda). Even villages in the tree tops would seem fitting, in my opinion.

Coerthas seems to have been painted to be this powerful nation with a war-scarred past - and yet the zone seems relatively peaceful and unscathed. Maybe there will be a change to that, painting it's history in a more visible light. Skeletons of ancient dragons draped across the tops of mountains, or in the valleys. Old battlefields, riddled with all manner of craters, skeletons and decrepit weaponry from past wars. Maybe even a region of the mountains that's covered in scorched earth and burnt trees - an area destroyed entirely by the dragons.

Those are just some of my hopes and dreams. What about you?

All very good ideas.

I'm with you on the idea of adding more of a sense of history to the places. Having ruins of old settlements and such definitely helps paint a picture of a place that's seen a lot of life and a lot of action over the years. Makes it more intriguing.

As an example from XIV's older sister, I used to go through Sauromugue Champaign, seeing all these old, destroyed buildings and walls and wonder what the place was like when they were still standing. Same thing with Garlaige. Of course, when WoTG came around and we got to see Vana'diel as it looked during the war, my questions were answered.

Same with other dungeons, like the Eldiemme Necropolis, or the Horotuto Ruins, or Gusgen Mines... or of course, the Quicksand Caves. All these places had a history, prior to their fall into disuse and ruin. The design of them really helped to support that idea. Equipment and machinery left behind, contraptions built for some specific use that hadn't been used in who-knows how long...

Vana'diel has this amazing sense of "place" to it.

If you've ever watched videos about urban exploration, or even suburban exploration and seen some of the really amazing things people find when they go venturing into places - right under everyone's feet, or just a little ways off some modern roadway - that have been long forgotten about... For me it really brings this amazing sense of wonder.

In one video, there's a video of a guy in NYC who sneaks his way into a subway system and makes his way far into one of the tubes, to come out in a large, beautifully built but ultimately unused train station. As it happens, the cars that the subway was originally built to accomodate were replaced by larger ones that wouldn't have been practical. And so, while kept clean and lit up (ostensibly for people to get a view of it while passing by), it remains unused. However, it's a piece of NYC's history that many people living there today may not even realize exists...

I found that same sense of wonder in XI with many of its zones and areas. I think there's a definite lack of that in XIV right now.

So, as part of the redesign, in addition to adding more variety, giving areas within regions their own identity and reducing the repetitive nature of the places.. I think adding some more history to the world would definitely help.

However, it should be done in moderation. Start throwing "Mysterious Ruins" all over the place, and it becomes too common, losing some of that intrigue.

[SuzakuCMX]

There are ruins all over Coerthas actually...