I myself too love the concept of building bases.

But this is FFXIV, we can take it further. We have craftsmen and gatherers. This is a lil' idea ive been toying with for a while.


I can see a three part zone with where the crafters of the game fortify the bases with materials brought by the gatherers in the zone. Since i foresee a large zone where we when out of combat can change class, the materials should be in contested zones requiring a clear area to gather.
In order to entice more to unlock crafters the ability to help out with crafting the components should be doable at level 1 for the basic parts, like planks and bricks. At higher levels more advanced recipes would unlock. Still the team with only level 1 crafters would be able to make basic walls of wood and sheds in which vendors would be protected. The best team would be able to craft metal walls and bunker-like protection. Hamlet defense anyone?
Protection from what? Aerial strikes and seige vehicles. This is the offensive part of the zone where players can create and control airstrikes on opposing bases and send catapults, cannons and trebuchets (depending on craftsmanskills) to attack the enemys base. You will need rams and other such force to break down the gates to enter the centrum where the victor will take the special npcs granting wolfmarks (or a new pvp currency) to the assailants when succesfully kidnapped and brought to the home base.

The rewards for playing crafter/gatherer/combatant will be a new currency allowing the purchase of better assault vehicle recipes and glamour, pets mounts etc. This way players will have the choice of either getting the new shiny mounts first or become the victor of the playing field first.

Like FATEs there would be smaller more individual events spawning around the map at random, gathering the three teams forcing them to be near each other allowing conflict to erupt.