Will Al Zahbi be Thrown to the Wolves?

[Sabaron]

When the WotG expansion gears up, it is quite possible that Whitegate and the surrounding environs will become significantly less popular especially if the new areas become the favored grinding grounds, and with a new Besieged-like massive battleground system in the new zones, what ever shall become of poor Al Zahbi? Will it's Bastion crumble and fall? Will the Serpent Generals become permanently entombed in the beastmen strongholds? What of Chochoroon the Appraiser and his friend Gajaad?

It will be interesting to see what happens to Whitegate and how SE deals with (possible) dwindling Besieged populations.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Will Al Zahbi be Thrown to the Wolves?

I don't think Al'Zhabi will be entirely abandoned, its a nice center for crafting in contrast to having to run around to other guilds spread out all over the middle lands. I also think some people will remain stuck on the burn camps.

What's really important is that we're getting 30 new zones as opposed to a handful of them. That's not to say that what was added on other expansions was a slouch, but 30 more zones is probably the most we've seen in any expansion, cosmetic repaint of old zones or not. This is like taking the Zelda Light/Dark or Past/Future World concept on the online level.

Hopefully this will move some people back to the mainlands and make Whitegate less congested. Hopefully it also keeps all you "bored" people out of my BSTs camps, giving your bored ass something to do besides kill off all my pets. Thank god my pets are getting high level enough to where you stop doing that out of boredom, but be nice to the younger BSTs >.>;

[Shadowneko]

Re: Will Al Zahbi be Thrown to the Wolves?

Nah...It does however depend on how popular the new form of besiged is but the old one will still have it's fans....and posibly less lag(now I can get my silly Astral flow off before may Avatar dies too fast due to lag)

[Malacite]

Re: Will Al Zahbi be Thrown to the Wolves?

Given that there are no AH in the past I doubt it. It'll all depend on how good the Sigil bonuses and exp camps are.

[Nuriko]

Re: Will Al Zahbi be Thrown to the Wolves?

Al Zahbi may be something of a crafting center, but if people start letting the beastmen run wild, the guilds aren't going to sell, and it could positively CRIPPLE Corsair. I've seen the Clothcraft guild closed for days because nobody cared to rescue Allard ... and before you say that I should have done so, could you see a WHM70 (now, I was lower at the time) managing that feat? That's my highest job by FAR.

[Caspian]

Re: Will Al Zahbi be Thrown to the Wolves?

I think it depends mostly on how easy it is to move back and forth through times (warp tarus), as well as if there are any meriting areas that meet or are better than the current ones in AU. Right now people want to keep the AC so that you can make it to merit camps quickly, if the new ones are better, I doubt most servers will hardly ever see the AC again.

[raidenn]

Re: Will Al Zahbi be Thrown to the Wolves?

Alzhabi should be like in perpetual darkness.... Just to run from the mog house to the chocobo girl should be an adventure! You have to dodge lizards and undead just to get out...

[Juiced]

Re: Will Al Zahbi be Thrown to the Wolves?

We know that there will not be AH's in the past. However, what if these zones turn out to be the new hunting grounds? Could we start to see the starter nations fill up like the OP stated? Or better yet, an increase in the use of the AH's in the present time nations? More so than just the use of crafting needs.

[Sabaron]

Re: Will Al Zahbi be Thrown to the Wolves?

The other possibility is that WotG areas turn out like CoP areas--only ever visited to do quests, NM Hunts, and missions. Are we supposed to be able to level low-level jobs in the new areas or are they high-revel onry like ToAU?

[Caspian]

Re: Will Al Zahbi be Thrown to the Wolves?

The other possibility is that WotG areas turn out like CoP areas--only ever visited to do quests, NM Hunts, and missions. Are we supposed to be able to level low-level jobs in the new areas or are they high-revel onry like ToAU?

Good question, I've been wondering that for awhile. I guess we'll know something for sure in the next day or two. My guess is it will be more like AU areas.
Also, could be nice if the whole 4 person party thing works well in this area. If it works the way they want it to, then we might have a winner.

[Pteryx]

Re: Will Al Zahbi be Thrown to the Wolves?

I expected high-level zones only, but apparently the impression of the starting zones' past versions at the Fan Fest demo was considerably lower -- low enough for a 60 mage to melee a mob to death in 6-7 staff hits. That suggests far more of a mix than I expected. Maybe we'll get our Western Altepa beetle camp alternative this time around after all? -- Pteryx

[Sabaron]

Re: Will Al Zahbi be Thrown to the Wolves?

I would personally like a small party alternative to Valkurm/Buburimu as well.

[Naheo]

Re: Will Al Zahbi be Thrown to the Wolves?

Necrobump, but this question seems relevant now. My server lost the Astral Candescence a couple days ago. Last night, I went to form a group for EXP and it was still gone. >< Everyone's doing Campaign, but I can't stand how slow the exp is.

[Feenicks]

Re: Will Al Zahbi be Thrown to the Wolves?

I would say that it's still not an issue. We've lost the AC a few times since WotG was released but generally we win Besieged 99% of the time. There will always be people going to Al Zahbi to participate in besieged for a number of reasons. Firstly it's a great way to skill up and secondly it's the only way to get Imperial Standing outside of XPing in Aht Urhgan areas and non-repeatable quests.

Loads and loads of people still idle in Whitegate for the AH and to listen to the shouts. So all in all, no, I wouldn't say that this is relevant at all.

[Sabaron]

Re: Will Al Zahbi be Thrown to the Wolves?

I tend to agree with Feenicks. On Asura we retain candy well into level 8 besieged. It usually takes a quick double or triple header to seize it. It can take 2-3 days to retrieve in many cases though especially midweek.