Revelations from Fan Festival 2017 Frankfurt

[DarthSanguine]

The thing with the Interdimensional Rift is that it has always been assumed that the Rift is always the same in the Final Fantasy franchise, reason why it's believed Gilgamesh is the same character in all FF appearances, same with Omega, that would make our Omega a dimension hopper.

The Bend of Time makes no sense as a subtitle for Interdimensional Rift, if anything it might be an area of the Rift named after CC's Bend of Time.



I feel like you guys are confusing Yanxia with Doma, Yanxia is right outside Doma according to the map.

Yanxia is region Doma is in, just like Ul'dah is in Thanalan, or as a better example, (New) Sharlayan is in Dravania. In the latter case, one of the zones we got was the ruins of Sharlayan - it just wasn't called that. Based on what we've seen, it seems like we may only get one zone per region in this expansion (which is very disappointing, usless they're twice the size of HW zones).

[DarthSanguine]

Yeah, I think the Crown could be that dungeon they showed us.

While I know many the beasts lining the maps are there for artistic filler and might not exist per se, I do have to wonder what exactly is this west of Garlemald:


Is that a "Titan?"

Looks like Super Saiyan 3 Phlegethon to me... XD

[Hinoto-no-Ryuji]

Well, that was a doozy of a Fanfest! I can safely say that I did not see Othard coming, especially not in the capacity of half the entire expansion! As someone who is pretty much constantly thirsting for more information on that part of the world, seeing the map alone was very exciting, and I can't wait to actually explore it.

although I got the location of the Azim Steppe shockingly wrong when using the Encyclopedia to plan out the geography relevant to Ryuji's backstory, which means I need to go back and re-do a solid amount of it grr

So, based on this map, Hingashi consists of Shishu and Roshu, a simplified fantasy version of the Japanese archipelago (the lack of a Hokkaido analogue is a bit surprising, although I can't really say the same for the lack of Shikoku). It seems to be in its closed-off Edo Period, with Kugane being an obvious analogue of Edo-era Nagasaki. I'm curious to see how literal the cultural analogs get, especially across the various regions.

My prediction: we're going there first. I know some people seem to think we'll hit Ala Mhigo first, probably since that was the first reveal, but I really think the first half of the expansion will be in East. Kugane exists outside Imperial control, and is therefore a much more logical starting point than Ala Mhigo, seeing as how the latter is THE Imperial foothold on Aldenard. Starting in Kugane and working back West also allows for a much longer buildup to attacking Ala Mhigo, which reduces the chances of a Deus Ex Machina being used to justify us taking down the Imperial forces stationed there. Alternatively, we could start by going through Gyr Abania, only to get pushed back and need to flee East - however, this delays arrival in Kugane, which seems like an odd thing to do, to me. At any rate, I don't expect to set foot in Ala Mhigo until the climax.

There's also the question of Thavnair, since it's a relatively friendly port that lies between Aldenard and Othard that we'll almost certainly be passing through. We currently have at least 5 new zones teased ("multiple" unnamed ones in Gyr Abania, plus the Ruby Deep, Yanxia, and the Azim Steppe), which nearly matches Heavensward's six; could that final one be Thavnairian?

Truly, we live in exciting times. Now if only we can make it to release without the two-DPS salt killing the community's collective hype.

Based on what we've seen, it seems like we may only get one zone per region in this expansion (which is very disappointing, usless they're twice the size of HW zones).

One zone per region is all we got in Heavensward too, though, if I'm understanding your meaning of "region". That's still (at least) five new, huge maps to explore and enjoy, and the likelihood of it skipping a sixth and being smaller than Heavensward is pretty unlikely.

[Omegakiyohime]

Idk if this has been pointed out yet, but Shirogane, the new housing area, seems to be on Hingashi as it has the Kugane symbol/flag on it. What this means for our relations with the Isolationist Hingashi is anyone's guess. It does make me wonder just how big Kugane is going to be in the grand scope of things.

[DarthSanguine]

Hingashi consists of Shishu and Roshu,

One zone per region is all we got in Heavensward too, though, if I'm understanding your meaning of "region". That's still (at least) five new, huge maps to explore and enjoy, and the likelihood of it skipping a sixth and being smaller than Heavensward is pretty unlikely.

Firstly, it's Koshu, not Roshu. The translated map got it wrong.

Secondly, no, you're not understanding the definition of region. The regions of Eorzea are: Thanalan, The Black Shroud, La Noscea, Coerthas, Dravania, Abalathia's Spine, Mor Dhona, Pagl'than, O'ghomoro, Xelphatol, and Gyr Abania.
Of the zones we got in HW, half of them were in Dravania.

[Zohar_Lahar]

Thank you so much for this map! I was trying to pinpoint Aerslaent and now it's clear where it is, than you



So now we know where roegadyn's homeland is...close to sharlayan but like really up there. Probably a very cold place. Wonder if we'll go there when when we visit Old sharlayan or something.

Did anyone see that huge sea dragon to the north of Aerslaent? Wow wonder what that is...it's as big as the land itself...
Another thing I noticed in this map is the "The Drown" is full of wrecked ships. Wouldn't that be that ship graveyard dungeon we saw? Maybe it'll get the Xelphatol treatment...and that's how we cross to Doma

I think that sea dragon was just a stylistic drawing and probably not to scale. Samething with the dragons around Dravania, the Four Sacred Beasts by Othard, the Bismarck-like flying whale, and the Giant Naked Man of Ilsabard.

[Cilia]

Been busy making Magic decks to stomp people, not played much lately so apologies for being a little late on it.

Well... not a whole lot to discuss except the big bomb: we're going to Othard as well as Ala Mhigo, and SAM is the new class as a melee DPS.

With the journey to Othard revealed, it feels almost like Ala Mhigo is an afterthought now. I do hope they split it evenly across the two regions, and from what I heard Ala Mhigo's liberation is going to come first - though I don't think we'll be able to visit Ala Mhigo proper yet, we will free Gyr Abania from Garlean control before heading to Othard.

SAM as a melee DPS. Cool. Now I really can fight like Vergil just like I wanted.

Well, get ready to beat the Garleans' noses in and then feel bad about it! Those storm clouds and lightning around Garlemald totally reek of moral ambiguity!

[Theodric]

Zenos may very well be as much an enemy to Garlemald itself as he is an enemy to Othard and Eorzea. Thus far every time we've dealt with Garlean forces head on they've been separated from Garlemald as a whole. We've also seen - through Gaius, Nero and Regula - that the lore team aren't afraid to touch upon moral ambiguity when it comes to Garleans. One needs only look at the lore book and read the passages within surrounding Garlemald to see that there is much more to them than meets the eye.

As for the storm clouds and lightning surrounding Garlemald on the map? It's described as a harsh wasteland in the lore book - so it being reflected as imposing on the map is hardly a surprise, really.

Ishgard, too, looks rather intimidating from a distance - or even up close, for that matter. That does not mean it was without redeeming qualities.

[Belhi]

I think the clouds on the map just represent 'fog of war' rather than actual weather. Its just so they don't have to show the whole of the lay out of Ilsabard.

I think we need to consider the main Antagonist Zenos when considering how this is going to play out. I have a feeling he is going to seize the throne some how and its in response to what he is up to which will lead us to head to Doma. Going to practically the other side of the world to a city under enemy occupation with broken resistance movement seems a strange place to look for Allies. Zenos will have a plan and some how Doma will tie into it.

I also think its very likely we will meet a potential Garlean ally in this expansion. I am very much convinced we are going to Garlemald in 5.0 and it won't be to lay waste to it.

[Khalithar]

The more I think on the storyline my prediction is:

Ala Mihgo! Help the resistance gain a foothold but... oh no! The empire has ninjas and we need reinforcements! But then Yugiri pops up and will make the enemy say "oh no ninjas are here!" Then she says "come help free Doma and we will join your fight against the empire!" Then primals show up! Then you and the Domans go back to Ala Mihgo! Then fight the empire and kill the Legatus! Or something.