Suggestion: How to Implement Flight in 2.x Areas Without Delaying Expansion

[EveK]

At PAX East, the answer regarding implementing flight in A Realm Reborn areas was that doing it in the short term would likely delay the 4.0 release since we'd have to model terrain that we can't see from the ground but would be able to see were we able to freely fly.

Why not just put flight boundaries such that we still can't get to the "wrong" side of such scenery? We already hit invisible walls when we try to fly too far in Heavensward areas. Just put those boundaries a bit closer as needed in ARR areas.

[Lemuria]

Wouldn't work. Simply by being able to fly upwards would give you a perspective that you wouldn't be able to get otherwise, meaning you would be able to see over existing terrain and into the void beyond. If they were to put in such flight boundaries, it would be so restrictive that it would defeat the purpose of giving you flight to begin with.

[FaileExperiment]

To be honest, SE is being disingenuous here. They knew they wanted to flying well before 3.0, obviously. Why did they not simply redesign the 2.0 zones back then? They could have actually started small, maybe one zone a patch, or whatever. The players would not have even know since the redesign would only have affected things we couldn't see anyway.

If they had done even half of a zone each major patch since 3.0, which could have been done concurrently with everything else... they'd be done by now, or at least well into having it ready by 4.0 without delaying anything. it's not a zero-sum game.

[Ashkendor]

To be honest, SE is being disingenuous here. They knew they wanted to flying well before 3.0, obviously. Why did they not simply redesign the 2.0 zones back then?

They aren't being disingenous at all. They just never intended to add flying to those zones in the first place.

There's really not much reason to do so, honestly. The old areas are so small it's not needed.

[Preypacer]

They aren't being disingenous at all. They just never intended to add flying to those zones in the first place.

There's really not much reason to do so, honestly. The old areas are so small it's not needed.

Indeed. Just for kicks, I just rode chocobo from Gridania to Ul'dah - following the roads, no short-cuts or cross-country. Took me about 8 minutes. So that's about 2 minutes on average, to cross each zone, following the roads. Could probably chop a couple minutes off that if I took short-cuts. And of course, there's Aetheryte crystals you could port directly to once you have them.

If they added flying, at current flying speeds, forget it. You'd be across the zones in seconds. It'd be ridiculous.

What gets me are those acting like it's somehow needed, or important enough that adding it should take priority, even if it means pushing back new areas/content for an expansion. I mean seriously? "No no no, don't put priority on designing and introducing new content and areas for your players to explore. I'd much rather be able to fly around in 2+ year-old areas. That's much more important. Those new areas can wait."

Yeah, okay. lol

Sure people want flying in the old zones, because they want it. But to argue that it's needed, or should somehow be a higher priority? Come on.

[Spawnie]

What gets me are those acting like it's somehow needed, or important enough that adding it should take priority, even if it means pushing back new areas/content for an expansion. I mean seriously? "No no no, don't put priority on designing and introducing new content and areas for your players to explore. I'd much rather be able to fly around in 2+ year-old areas. That's much more important. Those new areas can wait."

Yeah, okay. lol

Sure people want flying in the old zones, because they want it. But to argue that it's needed, or should somehow be a higher priority? Come on.

couldnt agree more lol

[Yoruichi4478]

They aren't being disingenous at all. They just never intended to add flying to those zones in the first place.

There's really not much reason to do so, honestly. The old areas are so small it's not needed.

well, what about 2.0 Coerthas? Only one aetheryte and ppl going from A to Z have to ground it all the way since there are no other aetherytes at say Whitebrim or the giant tower further south to get to for example, a hunt mark that will melt with everyone on the server heading to it even if you get there via the Mor Dhona exit, or the thavnarian mistletoe node. Just a couple examples of convenience. I mean even 1.0 Coerthas had multiple camps all over the zone besides Camp Dragonhead with their own aetherytes you could teleport to and now we have just the one. It was faster and easier to get around 1.0 Coerthas than it is now for some even with the zones technically being a fraction of the size they were in 1.0. 1.0 Mor Dhona had the same thing, but then again, it was also much larger than it is now.
I think it would just maybe simpler to put more aetherytes in that zone for example and some in the Hinterlands if it's even possible.

[Ashkendor]

well, what about 2.0 Coerthas? Only one aetheryte and ppl going from A to Z have to ground it all the way since there are no other aetherytes at say Whitebrim or the giant tower further south to get to for example, a hunt mark that will melt with everyone on the server heading to it even if you get there via the Mor Dhona exit, or the thavnarian mistletoe node. Just a couple examples of convenience. I mean even 1.0 Coerthas had multiple camps all over the zone besides Camp Dragonhead with their own aetherytes you could teleport to and now we have just the one. It was faster and easier to get around 1.0 Coerthas than it is now for some even with the zones technically being a fraction of the size they were in 1.0. 1.0 Mor Dhona had the same thing, but then again, it was also much larger than it is now.
I think it would just maybe simpler to put more aetherytes in that zone for example and some in the Hinterlands if it's even possible.

Could it use another aetheryte or two? Absolutely. Does it need flying? Nah. I've spent a ton of time out of bounds in that zone and honestly it would need a massive overhaul before they added flying. Too many one sided mountains and two dimensional scenery.

[Jynx]

well, what about 2.0 Coerthas? Only one aetheryte and ppl going from A to Z have to ground it all the way.

I swear I always envisions this when people complain about something like travel distance in MMO's these days.


Different times these are.

[Chewy2nd]

well, what about 2.0 Coerthas? Only one aetheryte and ppl going from A to Z have to ground it all the way since there are no other aetherytes at say Whitebrim or the giant tower further south to get to for example, a hunt mark that will melt with everyone on the server heading to it even if you get there via the Mor Dhona exit, or the thavnarian mistletoe node. Just a couple examples of convenience. I mean even 1.0 Coerthas had multiple camps all over the zone besides Camp Dragonhead with their own aetherytes you could teleport to and now we have just the one. It was faster and easier to get around 1.0 Coerthas than it is now for some even with the zones technically being a fraction of the size they were in 1.0. 1.0 Mor Dhona had the same thing, but then again, it was also much larger than it is now.

I'm thinking that Snowcloak (Hard) might actually unlock a path between Western and Central Highlands.