Hints on Ishgard's future.

[Endeleon]

So during the MSQ it was stated that Ishgard wasn't always so cold, it became that way as a curse sort of, and I came across this quote by YoshiP on Twinfinite about Ishgard housing wards, and it made me really thrilled!

“But that being said, after we have established Shirogane’s housing wards, we feel that possibility wise, rather than Ala Mihgo, maybe Ishgard might be a higher consideration point. We’re hoping by then Ishgard won’t be as frigid and cold.”

I've been itching to see a change in the environment, to see what they could do to change an entire area's landscape design. Not sure if this could affect coerthas as well or if maybe just Ishgard and Falcon's Nest would change.

Have there been any other hints on Ishgard going back to not being so frigid?

[Balipu]

It wasn't cold during 1.0 and it was the calamity that changed the climate. I don't think it will ever change back unless we get to the end of the Seventh Astral Era and witness another calamity. I'm pretty sure the game can go for a decade without another relaunch.

[Kyran-Varlsen]

Well, in Castrum Oriens we see two Ishgardian soldiers talking and one of them mentions the Eastern Highlands. To date, we have only ever gone to the Central and Westerns Highlands. Is this a hint for a new area?

[RomildaRayne]

Well, in Castrum Oriens we see two Ishgardian soldiers talking and one of them mentions the Eastern Highlands. To date, we have only ever gone to the Central and Westerns Highlands. Is this a hint for a new area?

You actually can visit them in PvP. In 1.0, Coerthas had several more areas such as the Eastern Highlands (where Rivenroad and the final fight with Nael took place) or the Central Lowlands.

[CaesarCV]

In 1.0, which takes place 5 years ago at the start of ARR and before the Calamity, Ishgard was a fully playable region. It also lacked the snow and ice that make up the modern feel of the zone, instead being a sort of pastoral plain area. Ishgard more or less removed itself from the alliance with the realization that Niddhog was awakening, and thus was not present in the Battle of Cartenau. As the battle with the dragons began once again, the calamity struck. The Calamity had massive effects on many areas of Eorzea, with several lakes being drained in Limsa Lominsa, massive alterations to the geography of Mor Dohna, an erosion of the power of the Elementals in Gridania, and more. Ishgard, while not facing as much direct damage from Bahamut's strike, had its aetherial balance horrifically altered towards ice. The land was covered almost instantly in frost, to the point that in some regions of Ishgard you can find men and dragons frozen where they stood. Many areas were present in 1.0 and can still be accessed, allowing players to witness the horrors the calamity wrought through the destroyed hamlets and settlements.

The Eastern Highlands were a region in 1.0, but remain inaccessible from 2.0 onward. Another of the regions returned as the 'shatter' map in Frontlines, but the Eastern Highlands are still unable to be reached by players. As far as I know, there is no way to really remove Ishgard from its current state. Massive Aetherial imbalances like that are difficult to cause our cure, with the only other great example being the Calamity of Water caused by centuries of irresponsible magecraft. Nobody in universe has even gotten started on finding a way to fix something of that magnitude, and it would take probably another calamity level event to undo the harm. On a different note though, they could definitely add the Eastern Highlands in later. It would be a good opportunity (along with new areas for the main three city states )for them to make an 'Eorzean Expansion' without a massive world changing event like WoW's Cataclysm.

Either way, I would love an Ishgardian housing district! I've always been a fan of snowy cottages, and Ishgardian Architecture is some of the coolest in all of Eorzea. Not to mention it's probably the City State I feel most loyal to.

[Balipu]

In 1.0, which takes place 5 years ago at the start of ARR and before the Calamity, Coerthas was a fully playable region. It also lacked the snow and ice that make up the modern feel of the zone, instead being a sort of pastoral plain area. Ishgard more or less removed itself from the alliance with the realization that Niddhog was awakening, and thus was not present in the Battle of Cartenau. As the battle with the dragons began once again, the calamity struck. The Calamity had massive effects on many areas of Eorzea, with several lakes being drained in La Noscea, massive alterations to the geography of Mor Dohna, an erosion of the power of the Elementals in the Black Shroud, and more. Coerthas, while not facing as much direct damage from Bahamut's strike, had its aetherial balance horrifically altered towards ice. The land was covered almost instantly in frost, to the point that in some regions of Coerthas you can find men and dragons frozen where they stood. Many areas were present in 1.0 and can still be accessed, allowing players to witness the horrors the calamity wrought through the destroyed hamlets and settlements.

Fixed a few names from city states to regions.

[Naraku_Diabolos]

I do have a feeling that we will get an expansion that will allow us to go into the past like FFXI's Wings of the Goddess. I saw that statement Yoshida-san made before about Coerthas/Ishgard not staying permanently frozen in time. I do think that we may go into the past to uncover something, but then it changes the outcome on the 2.0 over world, making more areas accessible to us. Who knows, wishful thinking on my part.

[Berethos]

It's worth considering that the comment about Ishgard not being so frigid and cold may have been intended to be humorous - a kind of "That's totally the reason it's not yet, too cold, who'd want to live there?" joke.

[CaesarCV]

It's worth considering that the comment about Ishgard not being so frigid and cold may have been intended to be humorous - a kind of "That's totally the reason it's not yet, too cold, who'd want to live there?" joke.

This is especially important given that was basically Yoshi's answer to the question during the fanfest. He shivered and asked if you really wanted to live somewhere so cold. Amusingly enough, the players still seemed psyched about Ishgardian housing. Granted, back then they assumed that it was going to be Ala Mighan housing, which was a bit of a less exciting prospect compared to the Shirogane housing we eventually got.

[duckandcover]

I definitely agree that it'd probably have to take another Calamity to change the environment again. I don't think there'd be a real reason to do that, because some people might like a snowy, stony getaway. lol