Paglth'an is purty

[Shougun]

Was doing paglth'an and thinking about EW and wanted to say I am quite excited- what a beautiful dungeon that I just wanted to wander around in.

While I'm not suggesting it was a purposefully a reference or intention on SE's part, my first thought for this place was along the lines of "hahaha this does WoW barrens better than WoW does WoW Barrens, even if I was playing WoW I want "this barrens" to be the one that is used now".

It's not really necessary to view a content in superiority or inferiority to another, and I'm not entirely all for the team X vs team Y thing.. since I think they can help each other, but I just felt huge pangs of nostalgia at the same time I felt something new and more beautiful. It is an interesting experience as it's like the place that feels so familiar and brings up so many memories, and yet is clearly new and interesting in it's own right.

Which again doesn't mean the value is merely via a comparison, but emotion enough was tied to that idea that I wanted to share it.

An earlier dungeon where you ride the back of Bismarck had this really cool movement in the beginning, and here in Paglth'an with the dragon back. It's possibly coincidence but I recall hoping FFXIV might toy with movement, here and there, some time ago, and man do I feel stuff like that is fun (when used on occasion).

There was a lot of Azys Lla in the final patch string, while the green general atmospheric ambience wasn't always 'my thing' (pretty area, very detailed, but the weather sometimes made it hard for me to focus due to being so active). It was definitely a really nice treat and a theme they've carried forward throughout each expansion (gorgeous zone that makes you feel "THIS is a FF game").. and a great choice to have players re-appreciate.

Though the weather is lore appropriate and interesting, I really like it when it calms down and becomes devastatingly lovely in a sad sort of way, when the green clears up and the clouds come out (balance of lost great power, damage, and beauty still).

Though one of my, current, personal favorite is probably still the surprise location in Shadowbringers because it also lines up with a long time desire, and the music is insanely chill and perfect for the zone- yet honestly EW looks like it might have a zeal-like location being another long time desire.. So really I feel pampered and probably prepared to adopt a new favorite location, even if it was probably accidental lol.

I assume the team is working hard on the expansion with maybe no time to come up for air, but I just wanted to say I'm excited and the game does regularly impress me.

A /point /thumbsup

Excitement for the expansion is palpable, and the tease of "are they really willing to go there?" that Yoshida dropped a few times recently has one in bit of a feverish wonder.

Hope FFXIV, and the team, have continued success.