I think something that has killed that sense of exploration for me is ... well, it's twofold. One of them is simply to be expected from a new game, but the other is a very important game mechanic.
The World Size - Look, there's really no way of putting it nicely. Eorzea, or at least what we can explore of Eorzea, is woefully small when you get down to brass tacks. Part of it is because despite the fact that the each zone is effectively the size of 3-5 zones in Final Fantasy XI combined (or an FFXI region sans the load times), the lack of "zoning" seems to add to the smallness, surprising as that might sound. There's also the fact that when you do zone, you've already made it to the backyard of one of the other cities. When Ishgard becomes available, for example? You're literally not going to find a single zone that doesn't have a city to enter inside of, with the exception of Mor Dhona.
But as this is a new game, like I said up at the top, to a degree this can be expected.
Leves & Aetheryte - I may get a lot of flak for this, but let me just preface what I am about to say. I enjoy leves. I also enjoy being able to teleport. It saves so much time and energy when you compare it to the slow, plodding process of, say, running from Gridania all the way to Limsa Luminsa. And the leves are a great source of income, as well as a way to keep me going for a reason when it comes to building up my field, combat, and crafting jobs.
But the simplicity of Aetheryte travel (for example, you don't need to link to one if you have a friend who already has access to an Aetheryte crystal), and the fact that you go to all the different cities well before you even hit level 10 (mostly because of the desire to find the best leves, or grab others when you run out in one city), has effectively killed the sense of exploration and adventure that you got as a nublet in Final Fantasy XI. Not only that, but in Final Fantasy XI, you had some more overarching purpose to go to the other cities outside of finding the best leves, or visiting one of the other craft/job guilds. The diplomat/emissary missions, for example. Or going to Jeuno the first time after being told you were being sent there to link up with the embassy there. People complain about how Final Fantasy XI didn't hold your hand compared to, like, World of Warcraft. But compared to what Final Fantasy XIV is, FFXI is almost like being buckled in and given a guided tour!
(By the way, any other FFXI alumni notice how the newest Developer Q&A strictly outlines you can't change nations or see other nation stories? Remember how you could do that in FFXI, instead of having to blow more money on Character IDs? Yeah ...)
Anyway. That's all I got. Speaking as an FFXI veteran of 6 years.
The World Size - Look, there's really no way of putting it nicely. Eorzea, or at least what we can explore of Eorzea, is woefully small when you get down to brass tacks. Part of it is because despite the fact that the each zone is effectively the size of 3-5 zones in Final Fantasy XI combined (or an FFXI region sans the load times), the lack of "zoning" seems to add to the smallness, surprising as that might sound. There's also the fact that when you do zone, you've already made it to the backyard of one of the other cities. When Ishgard becomes available, for example? You're literally not going to find a single zone that doesn't have a city to enter inside of, with the exception of Mor Dhona.
But as this is a new game, like I said up at the top, to a degree this can be expected.
Leves & Aetheryte - I may get a lot of flak for this, but let me just preface what I am about to say. I enjoy leves. I also enjoy being able to teleport. It saves so much time and energy when you compare it to the slow, plodding process of, say, running from Gridania all the way to Limsa Luminsa. And the leves are a great source of income, as well as a way to keep me going for a reason when it comes to building up my field, combat, and crafting jobs.
But the simplicity of Aetheryte travel (for example, you don't need to link to one if you have a friend who already has access to an Aetheryte crystal), and the fact that you go to all the different cities well before you even hit level 10 (mostly because of the desire to find the best leves, or grab others when you run out in one city), has effectively killed the sense of exploration and adventure that you got as a nublet in Final Fantasy XI. Not only that, but in Final Fantasy XI, you had some more overarching purpose to go to the other cities outside of finding the best leves, or visiting one of the other craft/job guilds. The diplomat/emissary missions, for example. Or going to Jeuno the first time after being told you were being sent there to link up with the embassy there. People complain about how Final Fantasy XI didn't hold your hand compared to, like, World of Warcraft. But compared to what Final Fantasy XIV is, FFXI is almost like being buckled in and given a guided tour!
(By the way, any other FFXI alumni notice how the newest Developer Q&A strictly outlines you can't change nations or see other nation stories? Remember how you could do that in FFXI, instead of having to blow more money on Character IDs? Yeah ...)
Anyway. That's all I got. Speaking as an FFXI veteran of 6 years.
A friend to the end to depend on you can.
I walk through the sea, swim through the sands.
To the edges of the earth, to your rescue when you hurt,
Only thing I learnt is I'm not Superman.
~Giant Panda - Strings
I walk through the sea, swim through the sands.
To the edges of the earth, to your rescue when you hurt,
Only thing I learnt is I'm not Superman.
~Giant Panda - Strings
