The Azim Steppe

[LystAP]

Reminder that the Dotharl murdered an entire tribe (RIP Hotgo). Mide and her fellow explorers, who possessed the Enigma Codex and summoned the primal Alexander and served as the catalyst for the entire Alexander chain were Hotgo. They could have summoned Alexander out of desperation after the Dotharl murdered their friends and family.

[Dualblade]

Lets be honest, all WoL were born Qestir and thus want to go home sometimes. Yes, that includes the non-Xaela. They are also Qestir.

[KageTokage]

I'd like to hope we'll return there for something MSQ related and not just for a single quest that leads to a new dungeon there.

[SaitoHikari]

I'd like to hope we'll return there for something MSQ related and not just for a single quest that leads to a new dungeon there.

We probably will. If we end up journeying to Garlemald, going from the Steppes is the most logical route.

One will note that there's two caves leading out of the Steppes that are gated off, in exactly the same way that SB areas were sealed until you progressed through the story. The areas beyond look more dangerous than a conventional route though, one route going through what appears to be a massive remote mountain range, the other going through a high snow-capped mountain. Chances are we'll be asking the locals for help.

[Miyha]

I don't think we're going to any of the deities of Man as primals. We were all primed up to get Rhalger, but wound up with Shinryu instead.

Which I admittedly think was a bit strange, simply because of all the people who would have summoned Rhalgr as a primal, Ilberd would have been the one to do it. That said, it fits with the fact that said primal was summoned using Nidhogg's, a dragon's, eyes. Additionally, that was, essentially, one of "man's deities"; it was born of the desperation of man and took the form of an eastern legend. Just because we haven't had one of the major deities as a primal by name yet, doesn't mean it couldn't happen. Louisoix DID attempt to summon the Twelve, after all.

Also, as I said in my post... it was sort of a crack theory. Kind of like the terrible Fortemps theory that was floating around during Heavensward (and dear GODS I'm glad THAT didn't happen).

I'm kind of surprised that there hasn't been any (Known) Ascian meddling at the steppe yet, honestly.

The Xaela seem like a people who could easily be manipulated into summoning a primal with many of them having a belief in gods, along with the constant tribal conflict and imbalance of power amongst them providing a reason for it.

I suppose the lower aether levels in Othard might make such a thing difficullt, though.

^ The line of reasoning that gave rise to my "crack theory", lol. Mildly silly question though, was it confirmed that there are actually lower aether levels in Othard? From my understanding aether was everywhere (even in Ilsabard/Garlemald; they just don't possess the ability to manipulate it), and as long as there's aether, if enough can be gathered in a concentrated place (i.e. with crystals), primals can happen. I may well have missed wherever it stated that aether levels were lower in Othard though, or am forgetting when/where this was said. :P

We probably will. If we end up journeying to Garlemald, going from the Steppes is the most logical route.

One will note that there's two caves leading out of the Steppes that are gated off, in exactly the same way that SB areas were sealed until you progressed through the story. The areas beyond look more dangerous than a conventional route though, one route going through what appears to be a massive remote mountain range, the other going through a high snow-capped mountain. Chances are we'll be asking the locals for help.

This is also one thing I've been thinking about, but not so much in the context of us going to Garlemald. We know there are Xaela tribes that reside in the mountains, as well as several that reside in the desert. Those mountain ranges are likely still Xaela territory and I would like to see an entirely new zone to explore in those mountains. As for the desert, there's a whole desert area out past the Dotharl camp. This is essentially what I mean when I say I'd like to see the Steppe expanded, meaning not only maybe let us go across that broken bridge, but also allow us to venture into other Xaela territories, not just the main part of the Steppe. And let us do it freely. Outside of an instance...

Mooooore than likely though I predict that, to my disappointment (and that of others), these potential "points of entry" will become points of entry for dungeons, not new zones to explore. :/ Kinda like how Xelphatol became a dungeon. Hope I'm wrong, though; I'd like to see a mountainous area that's only partially covered in snow, unlike Coerthas.

[Evumeimei]

The Azim Steppe section was my favorite part in the main story. I loved the area, the music, the lore and the characters. Was really sad when I had to leave and go back to Doma.

They made me feel like an outsider except that one Mol girl.

I actually found that they were overall one of the more accepting groups we've met. Ishgard wanted nothing to do with us at first, and we as foreigners only have access to a small part of Hingashi (if that's what it's called) through Kugane because they don't want outsiders in their other cities. The Raen of the Ruby Sea also don't want much to do with us. Domans were so beaten down by Garlean oppression that they were scared of us.

Meanwhile, the Xaela were totally cool with us participating in a tribal tradition that essentially dictates who rules over them. All we had to do was prove ourselves. I wasn't playing an Au Ra character at the time, so I was just really surprised at how chill they were with sharing their culture and traditions with my character. They were also agreeable about us asking them to help in our battle (which I'd felt was wrong of Hien to ask of them considering they had no involvement with the whole situation until that point).

[Vexander]

I think I might be the only person who didn't like the Steppes. Feels lonely. I didn't -dislike- the steppes, but it never came across as particularly good to me.

[Zumi]

I actually liked the zone but it felt a bit weird doing Xaela traditions as a Raen.

[KageTokage]

I'm kind of surprised that there hasn't been any (Known) Ascian meddling at the steppe yet, honestly.

The Xaela seem like a people who could easily be manipulated into summoning a primal with many of them having a belief in gods, along with the constant tribal conflict and imbalance of power amongst them providing a reason for it.

I suppose the lower aether levels in Othard might make such a thing difficullt, though.

[Demise]

Azim Steppe, Yanxia, and Ruby Sea, please SE I need more content in these places! I loved the quests and the areas for each and everyone of these zones, I 100%'d each of them and I have a need to go back there for more! I want Magnai to find his moon and all the tribes to learn to get along (and fight), and I want the little Namazu merchant to be very successful (and civilized, look at their bells they're so civilized!), and the village in the ruby sea to rebuild and...gah. ;_;

Basically with Ralghar's Reach as the new endgame hangout it feels so much like the far east is just over and I am so not okay with that because those zones and quests and characters were my favorites so far in this game.