Vana'diel Surveyor Map Pack v1.2 - [MAPS]

Download the latest version here.

Browse the maps here.

Maintained and updated by Swavely on Shiva.

C:\Program Files (x86)\PlayOnline\SquareEnix\FINAL FANTASY XI\

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ffxi\SquareEnix\FINAL FANTASY XI\

Looks like an awesome project.

Any chance this is going to be extended to include more of the older maps in the future?

Thank you!

Adding more maps other than SoA is definitely an option. I know Abyssea maps would be handy as well. My original map project started with East Sarutabaruta and West Sarutabaruta, but we couldn't get them working without some hex editing so the project sort of died there.

Unfortunately I can't add any more information to the original post, but there is some information/verification I need help with currently:

Kamihr Drifts

• Added hidden terrain. Need accuracy confirmed.
• Need locations of Lost Articles and Harvest Points.

Ceizak Battlegrounds

• Added hidden terrain behind Wildskeeper Reive. Need accuracy confirmed.

Thanks Caradog for the confirmation and information!

This is so exciting, thanks Swavely!

Some feedback about the Kamihr map

1) Mining point at Biv #3, go north from the tent, it will be on the left, just before you drop

2) Mining point at Biv #3, go east from the tent, it will be in the tunnel on your left, midway through. Can target it from the tent.

3) (not confirmed 100%), Mining point at biv #3, south of the tent, just before you drop

4) Close to biv #3, in the tunnel at G-7. If you head there from Biv #3 you will find it on y our right, after a left turn, after the ice pillar thingy (graphic element, non targetable)

5) There's another targetable-from-tent Mining point, it's at either #1 or  #2. Tried to find it again but it wasn't up =/

6) Similarly to above, there's a Lost Article which spawns right next to a bivouac but I can't remember if it was 1, 2, 3 or 4

Might want to wait for other people to provide additional feedback before putting points 3, 5 and 6 in the map.

Also if I can suggest another map to be working on next, do Yorcia please!

The current modified dat map sucks before SE changed some things after it got released and see the results on my PC here => http://tinypic.com/r/30tkle1/8

.dat map didn't get updated after SE changed that thing, so all the coordinates are off and there's a part of the screen viewable (uppern part of the screen) even while in map mode, lol

Also my very very personal thoughts on how to improve maps:

Personally I hate too much stuff/colours on modified maps (which is why your maps are so incredibly awesome), but at the same time a smart use of shapes and colours (limited!) allows you to provide a lot of information with a very limited amount of "shapes". And since the resolution on these dat things suck (pixels everywhere!) it's better if you can keep the shapes as simple as possible (but of course you know this better than me)

Also please put #numbers close to the Bivouacs.

What else? Uhm, can't really think of anything else lol

I appreciate the feedback and the information!

Those points you've listed, if possible could you save a copy of a map of that area and add some colored dots on it and send it my way? It would make updating it much easier.

The resolution for these maps is 512x512, so considering the size of the areas it doesn't give me a lot of room to work with. A lot of the maps that were exported from other map packs look like they took a 512x512 map image, blew it up to 1024x1024, added information to it, then shrunk it back down to 512x512 and put it back in a .DAT. That pretty much takes the font that was fine at that larger size and makes it barely legible when it's sized down. The same issue happens with their legend symbols. My maps are all being created in their native resolution, eliminating the illegibility issue. The legend symbols are done in the same sense, in a way doing pixel art for them. Creating the symbols at this size also makes them much clearer on the map. It's hard to, for example, create an icon for some roots in such a small work space. The color palette isn't a huge issue, but keeping with the consistency of the look of the maps, saturated colors might stand out more but don't work with the old and worn art style. It's a balancing act, to be honest.

Also, the Bivouacs are actually numbered with roman numerals either on the top or bottom.

I'm currently working on the Outer Ra'Kaznar Lower Floor but we can do Yorcia next, sure!

My maps are all being created in their native resolution

aturated colors might stand out more but don't work with the old and worn art style

Sorry folks, just got back from vacation!

I recently talked to Arcon about the future of this project, so for the time being I'm just working on this map pack until we can somehow incorporate FFXIDB information.

Akumasama, thanks for the info! If possible, could you download a copy of Kamihr Drifts and add some colored dots on the map in Paint or something and send it my way? It will make updating that map much easier.

Also, did you find the Bivouac numbers on the map? I want to make sure I didn't save that map with them turned off by accident.

If the locations to the 5 delve NMs could be put on these as well, that would be spectacular!

I have the same problem with yorcia map, its positioned slightly down from where it should. my marker appears where it should on the /map but not where it should on ffxidb map. im not sure how its possible but unless i can find a correct dat as other people say they dont have the section you can see thru at the top i will be patiently awaiting this version of yorcia maps.

EDIT: Someoen provided me with a fixed 66.dat for yorcia. So now i have a pathless useless map but its fixed!

i really like your maps so far. though i found a version of outer rakznar that i like a bit better. they used color to mark sections off noting where barriers will be so to move to other sections u have to use a vine or elevator. this is most helpful i think. i actually accidently found it when looking thru maps i had downloaded previously to fix my yorcia issue. I am not even sure where i got this version of outer rakznar but if i could show u it to illustrate what i mean by colored sections i would.

Schliematt, could you send me the .DAT files for your preferred Outer Rakznar and fixed Yorcia maps? I can take a look and see what I can incorporate.

Also, adding delve NM information is doable but if we can hold off for a bit they could be labeled later automatically with information from FFXIDB. For now I was just doing maps with information regarding terrain and transportation, specifically avoiding bestiary related notations. If we can't get the FFXIDB to automatically display monster locations for whatever reason, I can go back and add them.

I like your plan. With the amount of work to be done, it's better if we (well, YOU ) avoid useless hours of editing.

Would the FFXIDB integration put data only in the FFXIDB minimap or also in the /map screen?

As for Yorcia I can confirm that issue, that's why I suggest that as your next map to be working on.

If you want a better insight as to why that happened you can read THIS post, should give you a short explanation of the wrong positioning issue.

there is no lost article in ceizak at g-8, that was mistake on spira/arceila colonization maps.

i capped 4 characters doing these  in this zone.

either way, this is awesome, keep up the good work

OK the fixed version of the yorcia map is basically spiras but fixed for the positioning. I think my friend changed a few other things as well.

I put the dats in a zip file but not really sure how to get it to you, i dont have any megadownload type places (dont really want to sign up for one either) is there a way to send you a zip file? Not sure if messages sent thru the forum let u send files as well.

Also in kamihr drifts your lambert pillar and loch of flux are switched on your map. And a few hidden tunnels are a bit off. I found a couple but can only recall the one at G-7 off hand.

I got those changes in, thank you everyone!

Schliematt, I think there is a way to send files on here but Dropbox is probably the easiest. It's free and signup isn't a headache.