Please do not make group quest open world areas.

[Raist]

I believe the reason people are reacting negatively towards potentially dangerous mobs in the open world isn't due to "fear", but rather annoyance; simply traveling from A to B could potentially take longer if they're forced to fight every step of the way, especially if they're already at level 60 and have no reason to be fighting mobs nor having anything to gain from them. People counter with "omg you actually have to socialize now!?", but no one is saying they don't want to socialize purely to avoid it. I am betting people don't want to be constantly bothering their friends to play bodyguard just to go from one town to another if their quest is for solo stuff.

Don't know if it will be an option... but if you will be able to take a choco taxi, your problem is basically solved after your first trip to an area with a choco wrangler (no aggro on choco porter), or other similar means of transportation. Once you unlock the more direct or otherwise aggro-free mode(s) of transport, real world aggro becomes considerably less of a problem then it will be the first time you make the run. Think of it like your first FFXI run to the Altepa crystal, or Jueno for that matter. Note that people were making those runs on grossly under-leveled jobs...sometimes just for the sh!ts & giggles, other times as a competition. Just pointing this out as it demonstrates that open world aggro never really was that great a problem in XI, and this doesn't sound like it will be anything near what we had there.

As for the bits about socialization, depth, etc.---this game simply is lacking elements that seemed to foster a certain type of connection amongst the players, and also between the players and the game. The kinds of changes they are talking about with HW's open world sounds like a step back in the direction of what helped make those kinds of connections with the players--which is largely why I myself am looking forward to it...guessing perhaps that goes for some of the others welcoming the change as well.

Here are a few videos for your enjoyment that may express the sentiments far better than anything we may type in here:

A Little FFXI Story - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARghlVjBab0

FFXI a Little Story - (series of videos--at Sasaya's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/sasayaneko)

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUroyx1ezuc
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KjSj0TCzCc
Part 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxvHZOhWNaE
Part 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arODrDNcmbQ