(04-01-2015, 12:36 PM)Graeham Ridgefield Wrote: [ -> ]Perhaps I'm in the minority but I actually wanted the Warrior of Light to align himself with Gaius rather than Hydaelyn. Although Gaius resorted to extreme methods he never really struck me as being completely rotten to the core and the Eorzean leadership has proven time and time again that it leaves much to be desired.
Well, you've at least made me realize that the MSQ
could be worse. Thank you Graeham ^_~
(04-01-2015, 12:28 PM)Aya Wrote: [ -> ] (04-01-2015, 12:26 PM)Graeham Ridgefield Wrote: [ -> ]It's largely why I'm hoping that when we finally see the Garlean Empire in all its full glory it'll be in a more sympathetic/morally grey light rather than 'standard evil empire with no redeeming qualities'.
Something along the lines of Archades in FFXII would be wonderfully satisfying! It'd certainly tempt Graeham to embrace his heritage...
I think the chance of that happening after they literally dropped a moon on Eorzea is nill. I certainly hope that's the case.
It may not be, considering the man responsible for it was considered mad even by the empire itself! Gaius never really struck me as a BAD guy so much as he did a ruthless guy who did what he had to do to reach his goals. I really like how both sides of the conflict are really -grey-.
(04-01-2015, 12:37 PM)Aya Wrote: [ -> ] (04-01-2015, 12:36 PM)Graeham Ridgefield Wrote: [ -> ]Perhaps I'm in the minority but I actually wanted the Warrior of Light to align himself with Gaius rather than Hydaelyn. Although Gaius resorted to extreme methods he never really struck me as being completely rotten to the core and the Eorzean leadership has proven time and time again that it leaves much to be desired.
Well, you've at least made me realize that the MSQ could be worse. Thank you Graeham ^_~
To be fair I've never really been a fan of aligning with the 'good guys' who can do no wrong. I have a lot more respect for the developers due to how they had multiple 'good guys' screw things up. I feel like it makes the overall storyline more believable and less predictable than having everything work out alright.
It seems like the new Garlean Emperor is bad news though hopefully there will be a Gabranth or Drace in there somewhere to give us a more sympathetic look into the Garlean's military/society.
(04-01-2015, 12:40 PM)Berrod Armstrong Wrote: [ -> ]Gaius never really struck me as a BAD guy so much as he did a ruthless guy who did what he had to do to reach his goals.
Honestly... I would probably define "bad guy" as "a ruthless guy who does
whatever he has to do to reach his goals."Â That sounds pretty spot on! :-D
I do realize that what he's done is not fully endorsed by the Garlean Empire, but they are nonetheless
acts of the Garlean Empire in Eorzea, and as far as any Eorzeans are concerned are official acts of the Empire. Regardless, one cannot excuse the leader for acts of his subordinates (something we can draw parallels to easily with historical context).
The Roman Empire did expand its imperium through intervention in such local disorder (their conquest of Greece and Macedon, is a prime example). They were also capable of acts of utter depravity - and so you can draw parallels. But it would be very hard for me to swallow the idea that because their are corrupt Ul'dahn's (a tautology isn't it?) working together with an aggrieved racial group to bring Chaos to Ul'dah, that suddenly Eorzeans would (or should, in the grey-area proposition) prefer rule by the moon-droppers than by their own indigenous sort.
(04-01-2015, 12:44 PM)Graeham Ridgefield Wrote: [ -> ]To be fair I've never really been a fan of aligning with the 'good guys' who can do no wrong. I have a lot more respect for the developers due to how they had multiple 'good guys' screw things up. I feel like it makes the overall storyline more believable and less predictable than having everything work out alright.
Agreed, agreed, agreed!!!
(04-01-2015, 12:46 PM)Aya Wrote: [ -> ]But it would be very hard for me to swallow the idea that because their are corrupt Ul'dahn's (a tautology isn't it?) working together with an aggrieved racial group to bring Chaos to Ul'dah, that suddenly Eorzeans would (or should, in the grey-area proposition) prefer rule by the moon-droppers than by their own indigenous sort.
Better the voidspawn you know, eh?
(04-01-2015, 12:48 PM)Gegenji Wrote: [ -> ]Better the voidspawn you know, eh?
Exactly! And there's this whole issue that its only one city, and a city with a very resilient cultural structure that will probably survive the shock and continue to be the wealthiest and most comfortable in the land. Ul'dah has nothing to gain via Garlean rule, and the others have even less so
Anyway, I'm just like rambling blah blah blah. They could certainly craft a story whereby the Garelans become the heroes, but I don't really think the direction its gone so far is a case of that. What they've done is set up a very dramatic and very believable situation based on political and cultural conflict in their most interesting city-state. I really had my doubts about their story writing, but I'm really impressed by this last patch
"May you live in interesting times" never felt so relevant to an MMO.
Yeah, this latest patch tied everything together very nicely whilst also leaving a lot of mystery as to what the future will bring. I haven't felt this excited about an MMO for years - so I can't begin to express how great it feels.
After WoW's 'story' began to take a questionable turn I was really starting to fear that I'd never feel the way I did back during WoW's 'golden age' but FFXIV has delivered again and again.
The biggest mystery to me is just who was pulling the strings behind everything. The Ascians, for once, seemed like nothing more than casually interested observers who simply shrugged after the events had played out and decided to move on toward interests in Ishgard.
But on the other hand the after the credits scene showed that for whatever he might have gained, Lolorito was not at all pleased.
Lolorito definitely didn't seem like all went according to plan. That shot of his mouth definitely made it seem like he was displeased. With what? According to the lady-in-waiting he planted, everything went well. So...????
Has anyone taken a new look at the Heavensward trailer after 2.55? What do you think?
The ending really hit me. My main started in Ul'dah. Every alt I've made has had their Ul'dah starting point. So to essentially be on the outs with the Brass Blades of Ul'dah (Most in Ul'dah such as the guilds, momodi and the Flames seem to be on your side) hits hard. Leaving Ul'dah the same way I came in. @_@
(03-31-2015, 08:49 PM)OverlordOutpost Wrote: [ -> ] (03-31-2015, 07:56 PM)K Wrote: [ -> ]I'm glad I have an excuse to ask this now actually since I've seen it elsewhere today as well and the idea just absolutely boggles me, especially since you're certainly far from alone in this, but why on earth would you look up spoilers to a story if you're both interested in it and intend on experiencing it yourself?
I can actually answer this for myself since I'm the same way. Just *knowing* something is going to happen is very far removed from actually experiencing it. For me knowing whether or not a death was forth-coming (and in Nanamo's case, it was foreshadowed so much it was barely a spoiler) doesn't change how it affects me.
It may lose it's shock value (though in Nanamo's case, it really didn't with how vicious that animation looked); but it doesn't lose any of the emotional value. After all, I spent the past 50+ levels getting to know these characters, it doesn't matter if someone told me at Level 1 Thancred is a jerkface, Blue-Guy betrays everyone, and Princess gets her comeuppance; it won't un-immerse me or make me grow cold to the characters.
You guys get it.
In all seriousness, spoiler-phobia has spiraled
out of control. The grand majority of the time (if not ALL the time) "spoilers" (which are, frankly, very poorly named)
don't actually decrease one's enjoyment of a fictional work. It's not what happens that's important, but the
how, and the particular execution of it all. That's why we can tell the exact same stories, mixing up a few elements here and there, and still have them be incredibly compelling
despite knowing exactly how things are likely to end. The whole point is to get you invested into the story. You don't need
mystery for that. You can build up suspense even while the audience knows it's all a ruse simply by doing so with class and nuance.
Now, obviously, if your work's entire purpose is built around
the twist, you probably don't have a very good story to begin with. It's everything surrounding it that's more important. Too many folks don't seem to understand this and go absolutely crazy over spoilers FOR NO REASON. It's bonkers and it drives me up the flippin' walls.
I'd much prefer to be able to discuss plot details for recently released media without having to resort to private or specially segregated channels, but this madness has fully taken hold, and it seems there's no letting go.
(04-01-2015, 01:03 PM)Intaki Wrote: [ -> ]But on the other hand the after the credits scene showed that for whatever he might have gained, Lolorito was not at all pleased.
I wonder if that has to do with the WoL escaping. The idea was to have him framed for the poisoning along with defaming the Scions as a whole. Instead, he got a conflict that resulted in an effective lynch mob needing to be sent out to detain them, supposedly massive losses to the Scions, and the WoL currently beyond his grasp in Coerthas.
There's something to be said about providing a scapegoat when things go south, and his only remaining option is Raubahn - the right hand
(sorry not sorry) of the deceased Sultana. It was mentioned that it would be hard to get the populace to turn on the WoL... harder still against one of their more notable local figures.
Or, perhaps... just perhaps... not all of this was his doing. Guidance by another as you suggested, but it's also possible that Teledji either overplayed his hand or made changes that affected Lolorito's endgame. Maybe the Sultana wasn't supposed to die, perhaps Raubahn was to be a tool instead of a prisoner, perhaps Teledji was supposed to remain as Lolorito's front man.
Definitely a lot of potential explanations, and just as many unanswered questions to get us hyped for Heavensward.
Different strokes for different folks. Some people are fine with spoilers, others aren't - it's a matter of etiquette and common courtesy at the end of the day.
(04-01-2015, 01:06 PM)Kage Wrote: [ -> ]Has anyone taken a new look at the Heavensward trailer after 2.55? What do you think?
What Heavensward trailer? The hell do you find it?
(04-01-2015, 01:31 PM)Chris Ganale Wrote: [ -> ] (04-01-2015, 01:06 PM)Kage Wrote: [ -> ]Has anyone taken a new look at the Heavensward trailer after 2.55? What do you think?
What Heavensward trailer? The hell do you find it?
The one they showed at Vegas fanfest. Where the Derplander becomes a Dragoon
[youtube]68CNzwinqlg[/youtube]
Oh, that one. Somewhere I'd gotten the impression that we were going to get the full version after the conclusion of 2.55.