Zone Transition?

[Seoki]

Now I understand as of now the game doesn't have much zones, however I have always been bothered by the way one place would transition into others. Now I'm not talking about an open area such as Thanalan to Nawana Mines, which is a nice transition.
More from Thanalan's desert to Gridania's expansive forest. There's no ease into the new zone. It's an abrupt change and kinda takes away from the immersion and sense of change.

I believe this should be changed and implemented in the near future.

[Gidonoidon_Sur]

They need to go back to the zones idea like FFXI and make the entrances to the different zones resemble the area you are heading to.

[Seoki]

Yes, that's exactly what I want. I feel like you should begin to see a forest as you get closer from Thanalan to Gridania it would really add to the overall feel of the game.

[Nakiamiie]

Now I understand as of now the game doesn't have much zones, however I have always been bothered by the way one place would transition into others. Now I'm not talking about an open area such as Thanalan to Nawana Mines, which is a nice transition.
More from Thanalan's desert to Gridania's expansive forest. There's no ease into the new zone. It's an abrupt change and kinda takes away from the immersion and sense of change.

I believe this should be changed and implemented in the near future.

I, too, believe they should either add transitory zones to make the change from true zones to another more smooth or add seamless transition for each zones with new data map swaps.

They need to go back to the zones idea like FFXI and make the entrances to the different zones resemble the area you are heading to.

In FFXI, very few zones truly had entrances to new zones with elements of that zone (La theine plateau to Valkrum dunes, where was the transition? for example). I am talking about true definitely noticeable transition for outside zones and areas.

Yoshida-san said they would redo certain maps in the future, hopefully they will add areas transitions and zones transitions.

[SupaCancerion]

Just wanted to bump this thread because it's something that's really bothered me from the get go and I feel like it needs to be addressed, badly. The copy/pasted zones are bad enough and I'm ecstatic that they are being redesigned, but I really hope they address this issue as well. It's just tacky and makes Eorzea seem so cookie cutter and fake. I would like to feel as if I'm actually traveling through a living, breathing world, and this completely destroys that. I love the excitement I get in open world RPGs when I'm exploring and the scenery begins to change, and I know I'm about to enter a new area/region. It really heightens the level of immersion. It wouldn't even have to be completely seamless; I'm okay with having to load a new area, just give us some kind of inclination that we're about to enter a new zone. For instance, in Thanalan, maybe have the scenery rise a little bit and have huge roots begin to grow out the sides of cliffs, and different kinds of trees appear here and there, or maybe even let us be able to see the top of The Black Shroud's canopy in the distance before we hit the load screen. I'm sure something can be done. Please do something about this SE!

[Anty]

i agree, it would also add to the scenery a lot and you would have a nice walk and see how the vegetation gets richer the closer you get to gridania. From Gridania to coertas there could also be something like a way, that takes you up the mountains, rather then just "ding", <welcome> to the mountains.
The animals also should reflect the vegetation more (this bothers me even more tbh). The same mobs all over again. That is retarded. Each area should be unique in most aspects, matching vegetation to the creatures therein would be nice.

[Lienn]

Ya, i've been asking this for a while already...making intermediary zones...maybe like Lumberline...just a big hall with a settlement in the middle...but to give time to the game to load the new area without the loading screen.

It's actually pretty easy to do...just would require a bit of effort making the intermediate models (since areas like thanalan and black shroud are pretty different, they would require some intermediate models that would be the same at both regions). I would love seeing interediary zones to avouid loading screen! ^^

[Korbei]

Since the issue is really only present between Thanalan and Black Shroud, the easiest way I can think to address the issue (but not the best by any means) is to separate both areas by a huge mountain range that would occlude both regions from each other. Then the transition could simply be a tunnel through the mountain.

It's easier to imagine desert and rain forest on opposite sides on a mountain.

[Qfox]

what i dont like about the areas in this ffxiv that i feel its only like 5 maps .. and when will try to lvl in same zone will get u bored .. because only mobs and their lvl is changing, for example in LL area .. from camp rock till iron lake th envirement is halls and grass on ground and occen is surrend the area .. we dont go to new areas which give feeling of adventure

[syntaxlies]

Since the issue is really only present between Thanalan and Black Shroud, the easiest way I can think to address the issue (but not the best by any means) is to separate both areas by a huge mountain range that would occlude both regions from each other. Then the transition could simply be a tunnel through the mountain.

It's easier to imagine desert and rain forest on opposite sides on a mountain.

wow, this is exactly what i was gonna say.

edit: also a passage through giant whole in some sort of magical giant tree would be cool.(like that tree from avatar, but with a big whole in it)