Beastman Strongholds (09/12/2011)

[Stanislaw]

http://static.finalfantasyxiv.com/to...ee81283714d45c


Beastman strongholds—these two imposing words speak for themselves. In keeping with convention, however, we will describe to you these enemy fortifications that will soon rise across the Eorzean landscape.

Teeming with foes and home to copious treasure chests, strongholds are formed of multiple sections, each of which is guarded by a contingent of defenders. Adventurers must cut their way through line after line of enemy resistance, breaching one gate after the next, before finally reaching the heart of the compound. Be forewarned: fearsome adversaries lie in wait within, ever ready to put a swift end to those trespassers who enter unprepared.


• Zahar'ak

A stronghold erected by the Amalj'aa, its name meaning "like a rock" in their native tongue. Its location was said to be chosen by thaumaturges who, through ancient rituals, divined the position to be auspicious for waging war. Beginning life as a humble frontier outpost, over time Zahar'ak grew to become the foremost Amalj'aa base in all of Thanalan, boasting an intimidating array of siege engines and troop conveyances as well as a facility for breeding war drakes. Recent moons have seen a sharp rise in activity at Zahar'ak, which has sparked disquieting rumors among Ul'dahns of a full-scale assault on the sultanate.

http://static.finalfantasyxiv.com/to...c3e2dcb9d5e40b

http://static.finalfantasyxiv.com/to...f229bbb9b714fe


• Flamefist Ahlygg Roh

http://static.finalfantasyxiv.com/to...06f11937bb05f1

A commander of great renown, born into one of the most influential clans of his race. Even among the ranks of the Roh—the warrior class charged with enforcing order in Amalj'aa society—his unsurpassed fighting prowess places him in a class of his own. Despite his notable bloodline, Ahlygg Roh exudes an air of humility, and is ever relentless in his pursuit of excellence in Amalj'aa martial disciplines.


More beastman strongholds and numerous other notorious monsters aside from those mentioned above will descend to plague Eorzea come patch 1.19. Adventurers are urged to keep their weapons honed and armor sound ahead of this mounting threat.


Link

[Taliesin]

http://static.finalfantasyxiv.com/to...06f11937bb05f1
I know this guy....

Spoiler: show

http://www.fenixware.net/fab/images/...fulgore_ki.jpg

[Niiro]

http://static.finalfantasyxiv.com/to...06f11937bb05f1
I know this guy....

[Cichy]

Was hoping for Castle Ostroja type stronghold or something, this just looks like random Amalaja themed items and mobs put on the map.

[Aratharn]

Agreed. Really hope there is a lot more to them.

I wonder if these will be instanced or public..

[sceptre]

Cant see this being instanced looks more public with there new claiming system.


although im not sure why they would do this with max members still at 8 people /shrug

[Vuitton]

Pretty confident that these are non-instanced.

[miokomioko]

Zahar'ak is already on the map, near Broken Water. Perhaps the map overhauls will turn it into a real stronghold and that this objects/furniture placement is just an easy hold-over until that happens.

[Cichy]

I hope this is not the raids Yoshi mentioned. First thing that poped into my head when I looked at the picture was a guy with a Starcraft like map editor putting few gates around the map, few mobs, a hub, and boom we gotta brand new stronghold.

[Lucavi]

You mean like the re-used terrain debacle of earlier?

[Cichy]

You mean like the re-used terrain debacle of earlier?

Yup
I guess I was just wishing for something like XI's strongholds which for me always had sort of sense of history and beastman belonging there. Rather than few fences and HQ fireplace with mobs gathered.

[Celeras]

Yup
I guess I was just wishing for something like XI's strongholds which for me always had sort of sense of history and beastman belonging there. Rather than few fences and HQ fireplace with mobs gathered.

So you're saying you want a random zoneline before the place where the random fences and HQ fireplaces are set? Fking people and their nostalgia vision.

And we've known that strongholds were going to be open world for a while now. I think most people were just expecting a big-ass camp to begin with. The fact that NMs and chests are accompanied within is a pleasant surprise to me.

[solracht]

These sound more like the equivalent to Ghelsba/Giddeus/Palborough, rather than Davoi/Oztroja/Beadeaux anyways, so I don't think anyone should expect much. The text itself mentions this stronghold is just a frontier outpost.

Not that we'll ever see them if the game never takes off, but the beastmen supposedly have their own regions near Thanalan/La Noscea/Black Shroud/Coerthas, which I assume is where their capital cities would be.

Can see those regions in this map: http://www.ffxivmaps.com/img/region-eorzea-large.png. O'ghomoro is actually referenced as the home of the Kobolds ingame (unless I remember wrong) and Paglth'an sounds Amal'ja enough, plus it's close to where Zahar'ak is.

[vadre]

These sound more like the equivalent to Ghelsba/Giddeus/Palborough, rather than Davoi/Oztroja/Beadeaux anyways, so I don't think anyone should expect much. The text itself mentions this stronghold is just a frontier outpost.

Not that we'll ever see them if the game never takes off, but the beastmen supposedly have their own regions near Thanalan/La Noscea/Black Shroud/Coerthas, which I assume is where their capital cities would be.

Can see those regions in this map: http://www.ffxivmaps.com/img/region-eorzea-large.png. O'ghomoro is actually referenced as the home of the Kobolds ingame (unless I remember wrong) and Paglth'an sounds Amal'ja enough, plus it's close to where Zahar'ak is.

Yeah, and I think the Ixal come from somewhere near Agalatia's Spine if memory serves.

[Niiro]

Every time I look at the world map I can't figure why Ul'dah has no sea port, it thrives on trade (both lore wise and in game) yet it has no route to/from Limsa even though it's on the coast.

[Gokulo]

Every time I look at the world map I can't figure why Ul'dah has no sea port, it thrives on trade (both lore wise and in game) yet it has no route to/from Limsa even though it's on the coast.

Yeah, the outside port is such a weird thing it's just baffling.

[miokomioko]

Wait, what? Ul'dah has its back against a mountain, behind which is a massive sandy desert (Sagolii Desert). The trade route to Limsa Lominsa is the Ferry docks to the west, not a great distance away. The only thing that bugs me about the locations is that the Silver Bazaar is supposed to be an outpost/checkpoint along that route that caravans often stop at...on the way from Limsa Lominsa to Ul'dah... yet it's almost completely out of the way.

[Vuitton]

Hi-rez images:

http://na.square-enix.com/ffxiv/imag...onghold_01.jpg

http://na.square-enix.com/ffxiv/imag...onghold_02.jpg

http://na.square-enix.com/ffxiv/imag...onghold_03.jpg

http://na.square-enix.com/ffxiv/imag...onghold_04.jpg

[Niiro]

Wait, what? Ul'dah has its back against a mountain, behind which is a massive sandy desert (Sagolii Desert). The trade route to Limsa Lominsa is the Ferry docks to the west, not a great distance away. The only thing that bugs me about the locations is that the Silver Bazaar is supposed to be an outpost/checkpoint along that route that caravans often stop at...on the way from Limsa Lominsa to Ul'dah... yet it's almost completely out of the way.

The maps being stylized as they are makes it kinda ambiguous at a glance I guess. Nothing is in proportion so that "massive desert" could just as well be a football field with no proper frame of reference.

Besides the Ul'dahs built mines all over the place, they coulda made themselves a direct sea port to the south. Lazy bastards.

[miokomioko]

Well, I only say massive, since from the only point in Thanalan where you can actually see this desert and the direction it lies in, it is illustrated to about half the size of Central Thanalan itself with enough room on the current map to extend to be comparable in size.

Alas, most of this discussion is irrelevant... I am really looking forward to the map redesigns. I hope they indeed get more actual structures, landmarks, terrain types, scenery, etc.