Comments from the Devs

[Hyan]

Idk where to post this, doesn't warrant it's own thread I guess.

Anyway, they posted some lore on the lodestone, called The Last Word – Storm over Gridania (04/27/2011)

http://static.finalfantasyxiv.com/to...edeeeb89f19e6e

http://lodestone.finalfantasyxiv.com...e66c98f455b272

The Raven, Gridania’s leading tabloid, alights today, bearing words as dark as its wings.

Strange anomalies have been surfacing across the region—subtle changes that have escaped the notice of much the citizenry. Not so the watchful eyes of reporter Kipih Jakkya, who has taken to the field to cast light upon the shadowy truth.

She writes to us now, baring the disconcerting fruits of her investigation for all to see

The heavens seem hell-bent on inundating Gridania of late. While the Twelveswood is no stranger to willful weather, something is afoot that sits ill with this reporter. Driven by an inner disquiet, I set out on a mission to give shape and form to intangible trepidation.

Ere long, I pick up the trail of irregularity, catching curious whispers on the wind that deaspected crystals have been circulating. Yes, you read true: these crystalline manifestations of aetheric energy are turning up utterly divested of aspect. Even a wee tot could tell you that such a thing is an affront to the very laws of nature.

Perchance this development does not suffice to chill spines, the frightful rumors being propagated by a camp-bound transient could well prompt folk to run for the hills. This shady figure is said to manifest with nary a warning, preach feverishly of impending doom, and then vanish like a phantom only to reappear elsewhere. Though the ramblings of this seemingly touched soul are largely lost to gibberish, such is the zeal with which they are delivered, more than a few citizens are like to be taken by fear.

Far be it from this reporter's intent to incite panic, but if history has taught man aught, it is that we dismiss portentous signs at our peril. Are these incidents merely isolated occurrences? Or are they a dire warning of disaster? This I leave to you, our informed readers, to ponder.

Kipih Jakkya

This reminds me of Vana'diel tribune somehow.

[Hiroishime]

so if i dont misread, they are destroying gridania with style and do not simply replace the current map?

[Zettofaia]

Was hoping it was just a new picture for the letters.

[Hyan]

so if i dont misread, they are destroying gridania with style and do not simply replace the current map?

I think the destroying of gridania will (maybe) come later, but this is pretty cool way of integrating it to the lore. I'd guess that the empire will launch it's attack there soon, and bomb it later, ramming all those evil copy-pasted tunnels into the ground.

How convenient that The Black Shroud is so close to Garleans. Justifying La Noscea's changes would have been tougher.

[Kurokikaze]

Nuke Gridania!

[Lordender]

I really hope they do, the zone is so god awful. I can't even stand to go there anymore.

[Hyan]

Eh, it has it's moments. I just hope they'll make it more compact, and add a bit more variety and landmarks. Right now there's so much filler tunnels to go through to get to the cool looking places.

Does this "article" also hint at the materia manifesting through the crystallines?

[Hyan]

double

[Shuichi]

Idk where to post this, doesn't warrant it's own thread I guess.

Anyway, they posted some lore on the lodestone, called The Last Word – Storm over Gridania (04/27/2011)

http://static.finalfantasyxiv.com/to...edeeeb89f19e6e

http://lodestone.finalfantasyxiv.com...e66c98f455b272



This reminds me of Vana'diel tribune somehow.

Interesting: This shady figure is said to manifest with nary a warning, preach feverishly of impending doom, and then vanish like a phantom only to reappear elsewhere.

I myself find the Black Shroud layout to be about accurate for a forest maze of giant trees filled with who-knows-what. Given that my first character was based in Gridania it is definitely one of the most beautiful zones in the game and is much less maze like once you spend a some time there. You learn where the ramps up and down are, ect, ect. Looking forward to what this message leads to.

[millionsknives]

so if i dont misread, they are destroying gridania with style and do not simply replace the current map?

Imo that's reading the letter with some wishful thinking. I don't really get that message from it :/

[Katlan]

I highly doubt they will change any city / terrain. Would only figure they will put more thought into future areas / cities

[Hyan]

He (Yoshida) already said they would. That doesn't mean it will actually happen, of course, but we aren't solely basing our speculation on this ambiguous bit of lore.

And what's taking so long with the gdamn letter!

[Katlan]

He (Yoshida) already said they would. That doesn't mean it will actually happen, of course, but we aren't solely basing our speculation on this ambiguous bit of lore.

And what's taking so long with the gdamn letter!

Oh, didn't know that. I only recently starting paying attention to XIV again since I know the battle changes should be relatively soon and interested now

[Lucavi]

Apparently the devs are going to run a bulldozer through a lot of the Grid terrain. Dunno how much good it'll do, and I've never heard of a game flat-out redesigning a starter zone due to how terrible it was laid out, but hey, first for everyone.

[Hyan]

That's understandable since iirc it's one of the few posts that weren't officially translated. I'll look up for an unofficial translation and edit the OP.

[Katlan]

Apparently the devs are going to run a bulldozer through a lot of the Grid terrain. Dunno how much good it'll do, and I've never heard of a game flat-out redesigning a starter zone due to how terrible it was laid out, but hey, first for everyone.

I think its needed. I like the city. but the surrounding areas is/was torture. I liked Yuhtle/Yhoat Jungle (sp), but I just didn't find Gridania's surrounding area enjoyable at all. I think part of it had to do w/how bland it was. At least the XI jungle was lush, while 90% of XIV's looked like rock pathways. and XI's jungle may have been copy/pasted to some extent, but it impressive and detailed

Dunno.. Seems like a big update is on the way.. w/battle changes.. gridania stuff, dungeons.. seems like a lot of stuff is otw (hopefully soooner then later)

[Gulkeeva]

Maybe/hopefully they will change the 3 starter like area's a bit through the "dangers facing eorzea"type... campaign yoshi p was talking about.

Also I can't wait for battle changes,really looking forward to and hoping its decent. Kinda sucks tanking hard stuff, and having to just use defensive abilities to survive instead of attacking basically ;/

[Shuichi]

Isn't Yoshi's specialty battle systems? I thought he said that in some interview a while back. Might just be my hazy memory.

[Gulkeeva]

Isn't Yoshi's specialty battle systems? I thought he said that in some interview a while back. Might just be my hazy memory.

Lets hope so, since we'll be seeing it soon enough.

Also about gridania, I did see on a JP board a image of a Cracked Dark crystal thing, I think I missed it searching through the dat stuff, will try to find it and post it if I find it after work. (talk about finding random stuff on a JP hentai site)

[Hyan]

The whole managerial team consist of either game or battle directors...

Shintaro Tamai was battle graphic designer for FFX afaik.

Akihiko Matsui is familiar to everyone (post-ToAU XI battle designer)

Hiroshi Takai, director of the last remnant

Hiroshi Minagawa, director of XII.

And Yoshida, directed some weird as fuck DQ related titles for arcades iirc. They were combat heavy and the battles were quite "dramatic".