The Formula won't change

[Turtledeluxe]

This is a huge part of the problem for me! Imo all map zones should function more like Eureka/Bozja as a baseline. I enjoyed both iterations of the idea and was hoping, as with all things, that exploratory content would have been continually refined instead of just shelved for a whole expac. Bozja content was great but I found the subject matter and story delivery very dry - a personal problem I have with Matsuno's work although I love the pomp and weight of the dialogue in the ivalice 24 mans] - it also didn't help that the whole map was a desolate, craggy warzone. The sequestering off of these cool open world systems into their own separate content really kills any incentive to commit to them in any meaningful way even though they provide a far more structured and integrated experience than the baseline overworld. Bit of a waste tbh.

I much preferred the tone and setting of Eureka myself. But I'm very optimistic ahout zone 3 based on my own experience. I've converted several of my friends to relics hunters (I did both post EW, across all DCs actually and bith both zones were very axtive) and they successfully completed the zones within the last year. Bozja has been a hotspot for leveling. I think players have become more familiar with the zones retroactively vs less, although only SE would know that. I'm assuming my observations are on the money or else they wouldn't even be doing a third zone. Hopefully they use the opportunity to do something inviting that excites players across a wide skill spectrum.

And I say that because I see they're doing other new things. I see the Choatic raid and the lifestyle content. But both of those have their own drawbacks in terms of being wide appeal, cooperative, long term, etc. Exploratory zones can fill that gap.