The Art of Unlocking: Exploration and Crafting

[Altanas]

Agree as well.

Also, from a Gatherer's perspective, it would be handy if we could fill in primary tool nodes as we find/use them.

As well as a recipe book, Perhaps add a Gathering Book in the form of widget similar in size to the minimap where we can keep a log of what items come from nodes and their relevant notch/spots (thinking of the userbility for the future console users (who wont have a windowed mode or two monitors side by side)


It would then be handy to allow the mini and main map to be customised to display things as you desire them (to avoid clutter)

It would also be handy if we could resize or reshape the minimap to our liking.

[Arcell]

I suggested a recipe book a long time ago and I believe the word even back then is:

They're working on it, no real date given for completion.

Also I'd agree with having maps filled in as we go. The "Well other MMOs did it!" defense is pretty weak. There's nothing wrong with doing things that other games in the same genre do. Some things are standards for a good reason.

[Jinko]

Star Ocean 3 style maps can I have it, thanks.

I really like the idea of self filling maps as it shows you where you have been and where you haven't.

Part of the fun of games like Etrian Odyssey are filling in the maps and exploration, I would love to see this aspect in an MMO.

WoW does do it sorta but its more area based.

I think the best way to do it would be to expose the square of the map you are standing in.

[SirEdeonX]

I've actually been thinking about this and was about to suggest it. Either exploring or buying the maps. But the problem with buying the maps is that everyone is already rich XD SO, I agree ;P

[Jinko]

Buying and questing maps is a bad idea IMO, hated it in FF11.

[Tigerme]

what about have a class call cartographer.
Groups of adventurers can accept quests from guild or watever it's called.
then proceed on exploring, while cartographer needs to be on team.
as the group exploring, cartographer's data will increase.
you can turn in the quests at based on your data, and you will get maps, based on the data you got, as quest reward.

since eventually, people will complete all areas,
so cartographer should be able to work on something that require drawing. e.g. scrolls.

[Douten]

what about have a class call cartographer.
Groups of adventurers can accept quests from guild or watever it's called.
then proceed on exploring, while cartographer needs to be on team.
as the group exploring, cartographer's data will increase.
you can turn in the quests at based on your data, and you will get maps, based on the data you got, as quest reward.

since eventually, people will complete all areas,
so cartographer should be able to work on something that require drawing. e.g. scrolls.

I think it's an interesting idea, but I don't think it would required a whole class out of because like you said the class will need something beside making maps.

What could happen is making maps can be a part of one of the DoH class right now (I guess leather?) and when the player explore fully an entire area they will learn the recipe to craft up a map for that area. With the right ingredients they can craft some maps and sell them. This would slightly have some economy benefits for I'm sure there's the lazy ones around who'd just rather buy a map.

[KamikazeMan]

I think it's an interesting idea, but I don't think it would required a whole class out of because like you said the class will need something beside making maps.

What could happen is making maps can be a part of one of the DoH class right now (I guess leather?) and when the player explore fully an entire area they will learn the recipe to craft up a map for that area. With the right ingredients they can craft some maps and sell them. This would slightly have some economy benefits for I'm sure there's the lazy ones around who'd just rather buy a map.

Maybe give DoL or DoH sub jobs that can be used from time to time, rather than as often as battle and magic jobs. Armorer can fix/create Magitek armor (since they're being released and mounts will be usable in battle), Blacksmith can fix/create Magitek weapons, Carpenter can be a cartographer and create treasure maps once every few days (once a week as guild quest?) that unlock quests, Botanist can plant and grow vegetables in these player housings we're getting (indoor garden). DoH and DoL should not get left in the dust when it comes to jobs and advance skills.

[Zeref]

what about have a class call cartographer.
Groups of adventurers can accept quests from guild or watever it's called.
then proceed on exploring, while cartographer needs to be on team.
as the group exploring, cartographer's data will increase.
you can turn in the quests at based on your data, and you will get maps, based on the data you got, as quest reward.

since eventually, people will complete all areas,
so cartographer should be able to work on something that require drawing. e.g. scrolls.

You know, I've actually seen a cartographer class in one of the indie online RPGs i've played when I was a kid, they definitely did something interesting, cartographers were able to craft maps of zones after exploring them, there were like three maps for each area, spawn map, dungeon location map (game was filled with little sub-caves and stuff) and just general layout map, higher levels were able to markup levels of mobs and jot down boss locations, they used to sell those maps and the need never ran out because maps essentially had durability. as a fighter they basically used giant quills and brushes and were essentially an ink mage class concentrating on buffs and debuffs.

Its actually pretty sad, this was all done by three guys in a basement using an old 2D engine that was closer to nintendo visuals than to what PC was at the time, ended up shutting down because the game basically had 20 people on at peak hours. Get your head in the game Square, I'm not saying this would necessarily fit in XIV, but you were being outdone by a couple of unemployed kids ten years ago, what's your excuse now?

[Maxthunder]

I think SE should do what they did in FFXI. Meaning we buy the maps as well as some being quest related map. I found that either buying the maps or questing for maps was in its self rewarding. Now to black out the maps as we walk thru the zones I would have to disagree with anything like that. Now to leave the map blank thats fine till you either buy the map or quest for it. I would love a book to hold all the receipts we make and or can unlock. Now ill go even furthure and say with the new jobs of whm and blm, SE needs to take away the animas and give the whm teleport spells as well as blm's having their warp, and warp 2 spells. Also sneak and invis would be a nice addition as well for mages to have. Part of what made FFXI fun to explore was not knowing and you are running thru a zone w sneak/invis up. In ffxiv there is no sense of danger. Exploration in FFXIV is either walk past certain mobs or depending on the area you are in you either get lucky as some spots are full of monsters that are sight only so walking and such dosent help, it is just by luck that you may or may not get by certain monsters in certain zones. For those of you that will say it can be done, I say im sure it can if and only if the monsters are in a placement (sight aggro only) that you can get thru. I have gotten all crystals (thats what I call them) in all but 2 zones.