FFXIV Maps, 1.0 to ARRFollow

I think it's fair that we can take a more objective look at the gains and losses of each region of FFXIV and how it changed from 1.0 to A Realm Reborn. Now's a good time to reflect upon it as we're about to head into the first expansion and our first real map addtions.

Just a disclaimer, this is a thread for reflection, not outright complaints. Please keep your critiques constructive and your speculation out of the realm of underhanded insults towards individuals, or the developers.


We'll start with the biggest cut that we've seen, and probably the one we'll be speculating the most about due to the Expansion. Corethas.

This best explained in one image:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-uFfANvRTOQk/UnVwR35mH6I/AAAAAAAAAyo/n5f1pNa98GI/w1126-h866-no/oldvnewcoerthas.jpg

4 sections of Corethas as a whole were cut off with ARR's release. Most of what 1.0 had in that segment was walled off, particularly noted in the storyline is that Snow Cloak sealed off an entire segment of the land due to the freeze over.

However, none of the additional Corethas zones have been mentioned in the Zone expansions, which makes me question whether or not we will be getting these zones back. Rather, they seem content in exploring what is under the Sea of Clouds.

That said, the area of Corethas Central Highlands is far denser in material than it was before. The tiny little Camp Dragonhead is now a sprawling outpost, same with Whitebrim. Behemoth's dominion has been carved into the mountainside, the Observatorium has been added.

However, none of that can make up for those horrendous winding staircases SE felt compelled to make its players walk over and over again. At least they provided interesting scenic views.

Overall I felt like this was the biggest loss of landscape in the transfers. That said, this was also I feel the second largest gain in zone density. In the whole of the five regions Corethas initially had available in 1.0, there was very, very little to accommodate for it. You could have fit the entirety of Coretha's content within Central Highlands and I feel that's what they did here. There is far more story and lore here than there was before, Witchdrop and how the High Houses work in particular stand out.

Overall, I really wouldn't mind having the other Zones of Corethas back, but it would have to be done in the same manner, and I would be willing to wait for them to add content appropriately for it. Otherwise, I'm content with the Centeral Highlands as they are and look forward to the new zones Heavensward gives us.

(Let's discuss this one a bit, before I bring up the next region.)

Edited, Jan 23rd 2015 1:03pm by Hyrist

Not specifically. He essentially only showed the sky zone, the inner city, and the forest area presumably beneath the sea of clouds. None of which bore the Corethas name. Most defiantly there are more zones to explore and be added, but they all seem to be the broader Ishgard regions.

Also, none of these areas are Snow-covered, and the two segments of the lowlands are presumably major impacts sites for the Calamity. I'll note one other area of this in my next segment, as Corethas wasn't the only zone hit a segment, just the only one hit multiple segments.

One time... I had to RP walk up those stairs, being escorted to a Ceremony... yeah... plenty of time for exposition.

Can you imagine getting to a hunt on that map?