Open World elements in FF14

[Seraiki]

I definitely agree with point No. 3. Garlemald in particular is a big disappointment to me when this big empire that's been the bane of Eorzea in the few expansions it was a threat for turned out to become a small, ruined city. Nothing grandeur other then the tower poking up right in the middle of it. I was hoping for more then just a filler zone, like it would be cool to explore a little more then what's already right in front of your eyes.

[DPZ2]

FF14's open world does not encourage, incentivize, or reward exploration. Other than sightseeing logs, which give measly rewards if you actually organically explored rather than following a guide, there's almost next to no point in exploring the world.
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Exploration should be a big feature during the MSQ as you get to learn the lore of the land.

Your ideas are based on the premise that an 'Exploration' activity would not be reduced to following a guide for the rewards you've suggested. Any activity in-game has multiple guides, video and text, before the first month of an expansion has passed.

I 'explore' the world in an organic fashion while leveling through the zones. The MSQ provides access to the world in general. The side-quests provide access to those places whose existence comes as a nice surprise. I go back to places I've discovered and do other things (mostly involving gshade screenshots and commentary on tumblr and twitter).

You are under the mistaken idea that everything you do in-game should be rewarded with loot. And yes, I've played That Other Game where there was an achievement for reading almost every 'interactive book'. There was also an achievement for exploring every corner of the map. And one for completing every single in-game quest, on both sides. Everybody used guides to get those achievements, as it was extremely difficult to figure out what you missed in order to complete them.

[Fonkiemonkie]

Final Fantasy isnt a open world mmo its a theme park mmo get ur facts straight

[SugarPuff]

I love exploration in open world games and I've noticed it's an area where FFXIV is weak. We don't have much in the way of content that encourages players to wander around just to see if they find, for example, a small loot cache, an npc with a quest, or a bit of lore. Things minor enough to have well randomized locations without inciting too much ire, but fun to find. Everything available currently is very streamlined and specific. For me the fun isn't necessarily in finding something that was extremely difficult to locate, but in checking all the books and crannies for a "surprise" find.

Personally, I don't think Final Fantasy designers are fans of exploration type content because FFXI (during the time I played) was also weak in that regard. Only it went in the opposite direction, with things players absolutely needed to find hidden so well that the only way to accomplish anything was with a guide. I've had a lot of fun in both worlds but they do encourage more goal oriented play as opposed to unguided.

[SieyaM]

I have been working on my SMN ARR relic and I do feel that the ARR zones feel much more lively for me. There seems to be less purpose to the design and a more organic feel if that makes any sense. Ultima Thule is a great example of a map that was designed solely for one purpose, to serve the MSQ, and little else. It's laid out so you can only progress a certain way through MSQ blocks and once you can fly it is little more that 3 islands with some quest NPCs on them. The shroud though has all kinds of buildings and areas that are there just because they feel like they belong there.

[Skiros]

I have been working on my SMN ARR relic and I do feel that the ARR zones feel much more lively for me. There seems to be less purpose to the design and a more organic feel if that makes any sense. Ultima Thule is a great example of a map that was designed solely for one purpose, to serve the MSQ, and little else. It's laid out so you can only progress a certain way through MSQ blocks and once you can fly it is little more that 3 islands with some quest NPCs on them. The shroud though has all kinds of buildings and areas that are there just because they feel like they belong there.

100%. ARR zones feel like a real world you can explore. Ultima Thule feels like a dungeon.

[sharknado]

Exploration =/= going all over the map. Please get better at reading comprehension. The only thing that actually resembles exploration is the sightseeing log because some of them are in hidden nooks and crannies.

This game is all about making your own fun. If people really wanted "exploration" it would come up more often, including question/answers time during live letters and the likely some content would be created. That's how Island Sanctuaries started. As there is only sightseeing log it seems there isn't much interest in this... and it's a one-off content. Repeatable tasks as those listed in previous posts work much better at having people in the zones.

[ZedxKayn]

It's very sad how bad expac zone design is. There shouldn't be a carrot on a stick like currents or the sightseeing log to encourage exploration, exploration should be its own reward. Those to me are just one of the many items on the FFXIV shallow content checklist I complete every expac, not something I do because I enjoy exploring the zones.

More condensed zones, sidequests that aren't obviously marked on the minimap and with a bit more thoughts put into them than "kill x amount of _ because ???" would go a long way.

[SeverianLyonesse]

This game is all about making your own fun. If people really wanted "exploration" it would come up more often, including question/answers time during live letters and the likely some content would be created. That's how Island Sanctuaries started. As there is only sightseeing log it seems there isn't much interest in this... and it's a one-off content. Repeatable tasks as those listed in previous posts work much better at having people in the zones.

Then I will plan on complaining about it more. I think the environmental design has been one of XIV's weakest aspects since Heavensward. EW's zones were literally five large circular bowls...and Thavnair. And part of that is ruined by flight which allows the player to quickly escape the denser ground level, but the earlier zones have a combination of denser level design and a lower flight ceiling that encourages a more immersive feel to the environment. And even comparing the earlier zones to stuff in say GW2 just isn't as richly designed.

I can say the same thing about dungeons and raids as well. Very sparse, linear experiences running through very beautiful backdrops. Everything is designed to look stunning in panorama, but generally lacking a degree of fineness that makes your immediate surroundings feel distinct/discrete/intimate.

[EgilTheStressedMage]

This Zenos yae Galvus rper is really committed.