{Curiosity} Where did the original concepts end and new begin?

[Renik]

snip

Just an observation, i think you got some info mixed, first, they never had the intention to implement jobs in 1.0, the idea was building one character (character level) and then mixing skills to make your own class, the main build, char level would determine if your character was more focused on a single role, or built to perform various roles but less efficiently. And last, ffxiv was never meant to be ffxi-2 or even similar to it, the project started as a graphic rebuild of ffxi for it's new client in ps3, but they decided to make a new game instead, if they used the races to save work time, or for the nostalgia factor is something we can't really know.

[Alberel]

I wonder, was the Crystal Tower ever a part of early lore? Some of the developer comments suggests that at least that Dalamud and Bahamut was planned for a different context in 1.0 than how they were ultimately used.

I'm also wondering how much of the Ishgard/Dravania conflict is from original design plans and how much was created after they made A Realm Reborn. Same with Midgardsormr's role in the story.

As far as we know the Crystal Tower was new to 2.0 with no original plans for it in 1.0. In fact all character cameos and references to previous FF games came only after YoshiP took over. Tanaka's vision for FFXIV was very much XI-2 complete with realistic travel times, downtime, social dependencies, etc. The only thing that really differed was the class system.

As for Dalamud, YoshiP said a long while back that Dalamud was never intended to be Bahamut's prison. It was originally an Allagan space station of sorts that players were meant to eventually visit in an expansion. When ARR was given the go ahead though Yoshi needed a cataclysmic event to explain all the changes to the world so they changed the lore behind Dalamud. Whilst I am indeed curious what the original story for Dalamud was meant to be I'm quite happy with how it turned out instead.

The Ishgard/Dravania stuff is most likely very much back on track for the original story now. They were not changed much at all for 2.0, though the Ascian involvement in events may be considerably more overt than originally planned.

[HereticBliss]

As far as we know the Crystal Tower was new to 2.0 with no original plans for it in 1.0. In fact all character cameos and references to previous FF games came only after YoshiP took over. Tanaka's vision for FFXIV was very much XI-2 complete with realistic travel times, downtime, social dependencies, etc. The only thing that really differed was the class system.

This isn't accurate. 1.0 was nowhere near XI-2, and wasn't supposed to be. The only thing different was the class system? Just off the top of my head; the battle system, crafting, equipment system, quest system, leve quests, aetherytes, group mechanics. All were completely different from XI's.

As for Ishgard's storyline, there was next to nothing about it in Tanaka's time. I don't think you can claim they are back in line with a story we didn't have.

[Alberel]

This isn't accurate. 1.0 was nowhere near XI-2, and wasn't supposed to be. The only thing different was the class system? Just off the top of my head; the battle system, crafting, equipment system, quest system, leve quests, aetherytes, group mechanics. All were completely different from XI's.

As for Ishgard's storyline, there was next to nothing about it in Tanaka's time. I don't think you can claim they are back in line with a story we didn't have.

When I say XI-2 I don't mean system for system identical. I mean he was making a very similar world with very similar values at the heart of the game. Look at the things that made XI unique in the modern MMO world: access to all roles on one character, massive reliance on group play, a story driven main narrative, realistic travel times, lots and lots of downtime (which actually is the key to building a social community and precisely why so few players care to be social in newer MMOs). The soul of XIV was clearly intended to be the same as XI, even if the systems themselves were different or evolutions of XI.

As for Ishgard's storyline, no we don't know much about what was originally intended. But we do know that the 2.0 arc was a deviation to facilitate the fall of Dalamud and reintroduce new players to the Garlean threat. Essentially 2.0 was a catchup story to get everyone that missed 1.0 on the same page. We already knew that Ishgard was intended to be opened in 1.0 so in effect the story is now back where it was originally supposed to be, even if the cast has changed and some events played out differently. Whilst it's possible they may have entirely re-written Ishgard's story for the reboot I find it very unlikely as that would entail huge amounts of extra and unnecessary work if there was already something planned that would still fit with the rebooted 2.0 story.

[HereticBliss]

When I say XI-2 I don't mean system for system identical. I mean he was making a very similar world with very similar values at the heart of the game. Look at the things that made XI unique in the modern MMO world: access to all roles on one character, massive reliance on group play, a story driven main narrative, realistic travel times, lots and lots of downtime (which actually is the key to building a social community and precisely why so few players care to be social in newer MMOs). The soul of XIV was clearly intended to be the same as XI, even if the systems themselves were different or evolutions of XI.

Literally none of what you listed was unique to FFXI when it was released. not a single thing. The similarities between 11 and 14 apply to nearly every MMO as well, so I'm not sure what point you're trying to make there.

As for Ishgard, you're speculating at this point so I don't see a reason to argue it. Irrelevant in either case.

[tymora]

Well, Tanaka designed Final Fantasy III so it may have been his idea to put it into FFXIV. Also during FanFest, we learned that the whole Dalamud and Bahamut thing was Yoshi's idea.

Well he has to come up with something to do the reboot into 2.0 lol...what better than to blow up the world?!

[MageBlack]

Well he has to come up with something to do the reboot into 2.0 lol...what better than to blow up the world?!

I still love this pic someone shared back when 1.0 was ending.