(06-17-2015, 07:22 PM)Griffith! Wrote: Combatant characters who aren't good at combat? It seems like every other lancer, gladiator, marauder and dragoon is super elite or teh bestest evah. You almost never see a struggling soldier or a fresh recruit Red Badge-ing it up out there. Just lots and lots of hyper-competency.
Meet Klynzahr!.... no seriously.
She is a career gladiator, adventurer, and odd jobs girl, who can barely scratch the level of mediocre in combat. The fact that she has lived to be almost thirty can be explained by her strong sense of self preservation, which has seen her beating many an ignominious retreat. It is debatable if she is a complete coward, or simply knows when she is in over her head.
It definitely leads to some interesting RP moments, because no one expects their 'tank' to turn tail and run in the middle of a RP scene, or a 'veteran gladiator' to be out maneuvered by an amateur. Better yet it leaves her with miles of room for character growth and development, unlike most sixteen year old geniuses*.
As for what I would like to see more of... I will echo what others have already mentioned. I would love to see more frequent portrayals of how harsh Eorzea can be. This doesn't necessarily have anything to do with character death. It has more to do with the acknowledgement of danger, hardship and their effects on a character's mental state.
I would like to see more characters who have experienced hunger and constantly harbor the fear of starvation in the back of their minds.
I would like to see more characters, who have been forced from their homes and remain deeply affected by the loss.
I would like to see more characters who have lost someone close to them in battle and find themselves wondering if a friend will return each time they step outside the city walls.
I guess what I am saying is that danger and struggle can be portrayed very realistically, without ever removing your character from their cozy city home. The key lies in allowing hardships from their past and the struggles around them to influence their actions and world views.
*Disclaimer: As with anything, there are ways to play the sixteen year old genius type very well and very badly. It can be more difficult finding room to grow but it is certainly not impossible.