Possible story-based areas for end-game

[Klefth]

What I would love to see are areas similar to sky and sea, unlocked after progressing so far into the story missions, and have them be dedicated to end-game. FFXI pulled this off really well because you only had to do the missions and unlock the areas if you were interested in end-game. And I don't know about any of you but I like working for my end-game content, not just slapping a party together, going to the dungeon/primal fight, finishing or wiping, and then disbanding like is seen in so many modern MMOs. You miss out on that sense of community that playing in an MMO should give you. Besides not only does it add end-game content but it also adds to the feel of the storyline, especially in 11, being able to actually go to the places that are mentioned throughout the story was pretty badass.

THIS.

I'd love to have something like this, too. Finally gaining access to those areas felt great, and it actually gave end-game, you know, that end-game feeling, unlike pretty much every other game, where "end-game" is there as soon as you hit max or near max level and is basically the start of the game (which is kind of contradictory given the term "end-game"...).

[GatoGrotto]

It's good to see that most of you agree with this topic. The storyline is really what makes FFXI and XIV unique from other MMOs, they incorporate the stories of the game with the content so well. It would be a shame to see ARR follow in the footsteps of today's mainstream MMO where you really don't even know why you're going to an area or running a dungeon in the first place and the sense of playing an rpg is lost. Iirc though GW2 did an open world event recently that opened a new dungeon after the players beat it. I would love to see stuff like this more often, get the players to work together to get something that benefits everybody.

[MicahZerrshia]

It's good to see that most of you agree with this topic. The storyline is really what makes FFXI and XIV unique from other MMOs, they incorporate the stories of the game with the content so well. It would be a shame to see ARR follow in the footsteps of today's mainstream MMO where you really don't even know why you're going to an area or running a dungeon in the first place and the sense of playing an rpg is lost. Iirc though GW2 did an open world event recently that opened a new dungeon after the players beat it. I would love to see stuff like this more often, get the players to work together to get something that benefits everybody.

There are other players in GW2? I stopped playing it because there not being anybody around ever in the lvl 30 and below zones lol the stories were also very lackluster, disjointed and boring.

I love the FF storytelling and I hope it stays. If you dont like it you can skip cs or enter thru it fast but I know alot of people who love it and it makes the game worthwhile. Not only do you care more about the game but you start to care more for the NPCs. How many of us cried when we though ol' Lou died to a megaflare to the face? Or when Aerith was run thru by Seph, or the tragic heartrenching scene that was the end of crisis core. Dont get that in many games and certainly not in other MMOs. If there is one thing SE excels at, its storytelling.

[ChiyoKatsui]

I just wanted to say something.

Walk of Echoes

PS> Only FF game I ever cried at was ten, at the end. Probably because it was my first play through and i read every word of it. Felt a little like Tidus back in those days...

[Themis]

For it to be recognisable as a Final Fantasy game, it needs to have certain areas that you can only access when you reach certain points in the story. Even games outside of FF don't let you access all of the areas all at once. It adds to that sense of progression and, for many, it doubles up as an achievement of sorts when you finally step foot into the area you've long heard of.

I would like to see all zones like that also being used for more than just driving along the story. There were many zones in XI that looked great and the music for some of them were equally so. But for the most part, there wasn't any real reason to go to them once you'd finished what story there was to do there. There needs to be something interesting and exciting in every area/zone that gets added in and made to feel like a part of the world and not just some tacked on area for the purpose of getting to one or two NMs/bosses (outside of the areas which are designed to be the throne of said boss).