ZindelloTarantella

This is tough since anime isn't as much my thing as it used to be--I'm not familiar with the more shonen action genre either (I prefer my Ouran High Schools and my Azumanga Daiohs). On that note though, a large part of Tarot's thought processes are based of Kyouya Ohtori from Ouran High School Host Club. From his accounting and business acumen to his way of catergorizing folks and information about them for use later, Tarot is actually rather like the Vice President of the Host Club--he also tries to keep a cooler head hen business needs to be done and even does his best to keep CERTAIN people in the company he's involved in on the track to getting the job done. I'd also like to add in Yuuko Ichihara from xxxHolic who is not only a businesswoman but also far more knowledgeable about the world, its secrets and people then most are--this is the type of thing Tarot prides himself on. Her business model of granting wishes is also very much like Tarot's.

This is half a prompt, half a question, half a toll to help write? I dunno. That's one and a half things. Anyway, since I don't know exactly where something like this would fit, I figured here was as good a place as any--if it needs to be moved, that's fine! My semi-question is this; what is the general tone of your character and RP? Would you character(s) be considered comedic? Gritty? Realistic? I've looked around in various places that a large majority of the community roleplays within and I find that most everyone seems to stick to a general tone. A sort of generic (and not in a derogatory meaning) feel that anything in moderation is permissible. My question is though, does this suit the tone of YOUR character. To further my example, think about Batman. We have various Batmans with various tones--we've got the 60s/70s Batman with its heavy comedy and action scenes that are goofy and campy to the max--and then we've got Nolan's films in which we have people living in a world where a man in a bat suit is terrifying to criminals. General Eorzea would, I think, fall in the middle, like Batman: The Animated Series; moments of camp that are sudbued and dark moments that are subdued. So, what about your characters? Are they over-the-top action characters ala Devil May Cry or Bayonetta? Maybe more the hard realism of, say Dark Knight or Watchmen? If Eorzea was built around your character to tell THEIR story, how would the setting be effected? How do you write your character if they don't necessarily fit entirely into the Eorzea setting? How does it effect things like action scenes? Do you write tem as quick and dirty? Huge and explosive and over-the-top?

It'll happen eventually. BELIEVE IT! I know I set myself up for that but I hate you anyway U Mad Bro?

It'll happen eventually. BELIEVE IT!

The problem, sadly, is that it's just how it is! We're bracing ourselves for Winter--er, Naruto references. It's like, if you could get DBZ styled hair in the game, guarantee we'd see tons of Gokus running around. Though, now that I think about it, Ki Beam WAS a Monk ability...

Character from the Far East? Ninjas soon to become a Job? I know witch hunts are typical in Ishgard but I think the rest of Eorzea is about to experience an Uzumaki-Uciha hunt very soon.

Dear Not a Writer, Use the paper to dry your tears and you can consider your money well spent. Signed, The Phoenix P.S. What in the hells is this Tonberry's Lantern? Never heard of it.

Dear Askier, The egg. I had it for breakfast and chocobo for lunch. Signed, The Phoenix

The Lifestream is canon to both FFVII and FFXIV. The Lifestream in XIV, like VII, is the lifeblood of the planet. It flows in specific currents beneath the surface of the world and feeds all life. I talked a little more recently about aether in this thread on Teleporting. But you are right, XIV draws very heavily from VII throughout. To the point where a fair argument could be made that Mako and Aether are one in the same. It's been a long time since I've played VII though, so I won't try to make any specific distinctions between the two right now. Actually, now that I think about it, wasn't Mako refined lifestream juice? Like the big Mako refineries in Midgar? If that's the case, Mako would be equivalent to XIV's ceruleum, which is refined aether. Suffice it to say that Aether is the lifeblood of the planet Hydaelyn and all living things. When we die, our Aether returns to the Lifestream and is carried back to Silvertear Lake in Mor Dhona (think Iifa Tree in IX) where it passes to the Aetherial Plane, before returning to the Physical Plane as new Life. In 1.0, the natural cycle of the Lifestream was interrupted by the falling of Dalamud, where, the very lifestream ebbed away from it's natural course and fed Dalamud instead. Which is why the planet was dying and couldn't support the summoning of the Twelve at the Battle of Carteneau. To expend what little aether remained in the planet would have killed Hydaelyn. As far as Midgar in XIV, maybe you're thinking of Midgardsormr? Though, related to what we're talking about, Midgardsormr was the Keeper of Silvertear Lake and guardian of the fount of all aether in Hydaelyn. EDIT: Also, Nael van Darnus = Sephiroth. Final Fantasy's favorite villain has already been Fourteen-afied. Meteor project, bringing down the moon, walking through some really hot fire and laughing about it... yep, all Nael van Sephiroth's doing.

I was wondering why there was no reference to Square's favorite milk-sop, Sephiroth. I guess they're saving him for when he descends from on high to single-handedly wipe out all the bad guys and lead us all to a glorious second-life of leather jackets and well-maintained hair. Or he took over the Garlean Empire and won the battle of succession. In all seriousness, I wouldn't be surprised if they're crossover into VII (which is inevitable) didn't involve Dalamud being reconjured somehow.or the OTHER moon being dragged down out of the sky by Sephiroth.

I would KILL to see Arithmetician. It would literally be almost impossible to use in the game based on how it works but oh my GOSH it would be great for just the Lore alone. Though, I suppose that the book-learned mages would be considered Arithmetician already, though they don't use math in their actual abilities. But I could see Samurai being maybe 'Lancer 15 (for the discipline) + Marauder 15 (two-handed weapon) + Gladiator 15 (sword training)'

I was wondering why there was no reference to Square's favorite milk-sop, Sephiroth. I guess they're saving him for when he descends from on high to single-handedly wipe out all the bad guys and lead us all to a glorious second-life of leather jackets and well-maintained hair.

Gold Saucer is coming to the game shortly as well. As for Lifestream = Aether? Yeah, I believe that's a good way of putting it. I know the way they describe death is very similar; you die, your aether returns to the 'Stream' or 'Hydaelyn' and then that energy is recycled into a new life.

Given that Rogue is an entirely new set of weapons (dual wielding) and is a combo of Lancer and Pug, it's very possible that what could end up happening is a base, secondary and then Job. Ninja is a combo of Rogue, Lancer and Pug if I recall correctly. For instance, Dancer could be 'PUG+ROG+ARC=Dancer' You have two base classes and then the 'secondary' or tirtiary or whatever. A class could require three different classes to make one of the 'Advanced' classes which then opens into a Job. So Dark Knight could easily be, 'Gladiator 30 + Thau 15 + Maurader 15' This would teach the character the basics for using a sword, using dark arts and using an over-sized weapon, all of which could create a 'Greatsword' trained class.

Dear Jancis, In regards to your suggestion, I will say this: It is quite possibly one of the most humiliating, degrading and absolutely jouvenile things I have ever heard in my life. To march out a group of men or women (or both) for the sole purpose of being culled from the heard one by one for any number of reasons is abominable enough--but to do it in front of an audience for a simple chance to titillate them or engage them in what is already reprehensible behavior is the most-underhanded and emotionally void things I have ever heard of in my life. I love it. Let's get together to discuss it before anyone else takes this idea. I have a feeling we could make quite a large amount of gil based solely on advertising this thing alone. Signed, The Phoenix.

Traditionally, the Dark Knights have been greatsword or sword and board. But considering how Yoshi feels about 'tradition' in the series, the odds are just as much in favor of it being Marauder.

Well I don't play D&D. I play Pathfinder. But seriously, I did use Pathfinder for this simply because it's the system I am more accustomed to, though they are essentially the same anyway. I used the actual point system to lay this out--using 'Epic' points given the setting of Final Fantasy XIV and all. For Crooked Tarot his stats are as follows: Strength: 11 - His strength is only above average by a small margin, and this comes mostly from training for combat more than anything. He relies more heavily on moving quickly or avoiding combat entirely and so this isn't something he's dedicated himself to very much beyond just enjoying looking good. Constitution: 12 - Again, this comes mostly from living healthy and training his body daily. He does this mostly to help with his work--beyond the dangerous life of a smuggler, invading crypts and long sealed tombs obviously yields various health hazards of their own and so he needs to keep his body at least good enough to fend off the various nasty things floating in the air while he's down there. Dexterity: 18 - This is where Tarot shines (and where I put his free +2 for being human!). Ambidextrous, flexible, quick and nimble, Tarot is difficult to catch when he wants to be caught and damn near impossible when he doesn't want to be. It stands to reason though--a man who believes first and foremost in his own personal freedom doesn't like the idea of being tied down by anything, even physical limitations. Intelligence: 14 - Tarot is quick to learn and very good at picking apart puzzles. Maths are fun to him (at least things involving counting profit) and he's prided himself on being able to do math even while in combat, though he's not focused enough to bother learning how to do magics. Trap picking or building though? That's more his speed. Wisdom: 14 - Most of his Wisdom is bent solely towards observational skills, as people who know him know he tends to talk first and think later. He's picked up a lot of knowledge over the course of his life, mostly through observation and this lends to his know-it-all attitude. Charisma: 12 - He's a salesman, what more is there to say? His Charisma is based more out of force of will and sheer audacity, so this isn't higher. People that don't get along with his personality type likely won't be charmed by him--but those people are few and far between right? RIGHT!?

"Please tell it again! Please!" Bright eyes, one gold the other blue, looked up at their owner's beloved pappa. Leaning forward on his hands, the small boy gave a smile that could melt hearts as he pleaded for a story, one of his favorites, to be recounted again. It was a tradition, every year, though he asked for it every now and then when he really wanted to hear it but his father was just so good at telling it that the boy made it a special Namesday wish of his. He loved the way his pappa told it because of all the funny voices and the little magic tricks and just--it was just the best, it really, really was! "Are you sure? You ask every year! It's not getting too old for you, kupo?" "No! No!" the small boy cheered, shaking his head emphatically. "It's tradition! And tradition is important because otherwise it wouldn't be traditional!" His tone was very grave on this point--it was both sound and legit logic to him. "So we have to follow tradition! Traditionally!" "Alright, alright!" Koopin Kop nodded, raising his little paw to calm the child. "If you want it so much then I suppose it's alright to tell you again." This was met with another cheer of glee from the small boy who had settled down, leaning back on his hands as he sat on the carpet of leaves within the small house that served as the Moogles' home--and his. "Once upon a time, long, long before any Moogles that are alive today were in Eorzea, all the Moogles lived high in the sky, amongst the stars." Koopin Kop raised his hand creating a bright burst of tiny, glamoured stars over head. "And all the Moogles lived as servants to the gods and they were happy. Above them all reigned Good King Moogle Mog XII who was the biggest, bravest and kindest of all Moogle-Kind." At this, the various insignias of the Twelve were formed from the tiny stars. Beneath them, the image of a tiny, crowned Moogle floated, looking very regal (and yet cuddly) at the same time. "The Moogles liked being servants to the gods?" the child asked curiously, tilting his head. That was one thing he had never understood--how someone could be happy serving another for their whole lives. "Of course. The gods were good to the moogles, and the moogles, in turn, enjoyed serving the gods who protected them. There is notihng wrong with a simple and humble life, kupo!" This didn't clear up the boy's confusion but he didn't interrupt again. "As I was saying, the Moogles lived very happily, eating and drinking and serving...until the great war in the heavens began. It was very dangerous and the moogles were in danger since they were simply servants and not gods. And so, Good King Moogle Mog XII--" "Wanted to help them be free!" "Wanted to help them escape the danger, kupo--" Koopin Kop corrected. At his words and a few motions, the stars turned slightly red and the signs of the gods became clouded and distorted, twisting into uncanny shapes. "And so he determined that the only place they would be safe was upon the land below. And that meant escaping down to Eorzea." "So they made a loooong rope, right?" the child grinned, seeming to like this part. "And they all climbed down!" The boy loved climbing trees--it only stood to reason this part was his favorite part. To think about such a long rope that could go all the way from the heavens to the ground below...that would be an amazing rope to climb! "Because moogles have wings but they can't fly that far so they had to climb down, right? Right?" "Yes! But sadly, there was no way to tie off the rope in the heavens and so one moogle would have to stay behind to hold the lifeline so that all the other moogles could escape, kupo. And the only moogle strong enough was--" "Good King Moogle Mog XII!" The boy was completely enamored with the story, his mis-matched eyes watching as the large moogle in the glamoured story lowered a long tether and tiny moogles began their long scury and slide down to the 'earth' below. He was leaning forward again, eyes following the show with glee, counting the moogles in his head as they descended one after the other--every year it was a different number. Last year it was six...the year before it had been five and this year it was...seven! "That is just so. And so Good King Moogle Mog XII remained in the heavens because he had no way down. And all the Moogles safely escaped the war in the heaven to lead happy lives here on Eorzea; though they were very sad to lose their kind and benevolent king." "What does that mean?" "What does what mean, kupo?" "Be--ne--ve--lant?" "Benevolent means 'someone known for doing good things', kupo. And it is why all moogles should try to be just like Good King Moogle Mog XII. No matter what, we must always be good and kind so that even though our king is not here with us in person, he is with us in spirit, kupo." "So...that means that I should be good and kind too, right?" "That it does, kupo. It's important that you always do your best to be kind to everyone. It is the 'Right' thing to do." "The 'Right' thing to do..." the boy nodded again, going deep into thought. He liked doing the right thing--and if being like Good King Moogle Mog XII was the Right thing then he would do it too. "Then I'll be a good moogle just like Good King Moogle Mog XII. I promise!" Koopin Kop nodded sagely and twitched his whiskers. One of these days they would have to tell the boy he wasn't a Moogle. He was certain that the child already knew--he had always been very clever and observant and so the moogle and his wife had trouble determining if the boy was simply playing along for their sake or if he really believed it--for being a small Hyur child, Tarot was astoundingly good at sarcasm and even better at being more than a bit cheeky and patronizing. ================= "Might I ask, then, when you figured it out, kupo?" Koopin Kop asked, cracking open a nut and nibbling on the meat inside, looking at Tarot from across the way. It was his Namesday, after all, and Tarot had wanted his traditionally traditional story. Afterwards though, the older moogle decided to finally ask the question. "What do you mean?" Tarot replied, sitting at the counter and looking very smug and pleased with himself, as he always did. "When did you figure out that you weren't one of us? That you weren't a moogle?" "I'm not a moogle!?" Tarot feigned shock and horror before making a little grin and chuckling in his throat at the frown his adopted father gave him. "I figured it out my seventh year--the year I figured out that the number of moogles descending down the rope matched my current Namesday--I suddenly realized that a lack of wings, pom-pom, fur, whiskers, paws and that I had to force myself to say 'Kupo' were all indicators that maybe, just maybe, I was a Lalafell and not a moogle. Still didn't keep me from imagining myself to be the second coming of Good King Moogle Mog--Good King Tarot Mog XIII. Has a nice ring to it, no?" He gave his father a wink and took a drink from his coffee. "You still have your cheekiness, that's for sure, kupo. But I don't think that will be going anywhere any time soon." The Moogle got up and drifted over to Tarot, giving him a fond pat on the head with his paw. "You're still my boy, even if you're ten times my size, kupo. Don't you forget that. Happy Namesday, kupo." "Heh, thanks." Tarot paused and then carefully pulled his pa into a hug. "Thanks, papa."

I like these ideas and ways of putting it, especially the wiki idea. That way everyone gets to have their little thing that Echo users are allowed to use with worrying about them snatching meta info. I find this much more useable than outright telling someone 'No you can't use the Echo on me' or having to go through every single person that asks and tell them word for word over and over what they MIGHT see.

Well then are there degrees of the Echo? From the sound of there are--if you're playing the Main Story then you have all dah powers--but if you're not and you have the Echo you're only allowed one of the three? What's more, what about Moogles? WON'T SOMEONE THINK OF THE MOOGLES?! No but seriously, I've had Tarot, ICly be buddy buddy with moogles. Up until now, I've always just hand-waved his chumminess as being the reason why he can see them but others can't. Hell, it's why TAROT hand waves it. But now with this discussion I have to wonder if it IS the Echo and he's not aware? He does hella dangerous stuff all the time; he's an explorer and treasure hunter. After reading this thread, I've come to the conclussion that 'the Echo' is to Final Fantasy in the way that 'Mutation' is to X-Men. It's a pat word used to define extra abilities that cannot be explained by the typical rules of the setting (because I don't care what you say, you can't make me believe that a genetic mutation allows [insert ridiculous X-Men power here].) So until we get a definite answer for the Echo, what do we treat it as? A set of powers that you only get one of? A group of passive abilities called 'The Echo' because there's no other name for it? We know it comes from being tempered by the Crystal but beyond that...

:evil:He figures that if he says it enough times, people will start believing it.:evil:

Although Square, with the whole 'No classes meant solely for support' idea has made Conjurers and White Mages (technically) lethal to the point where one could play them as essentially 'White Magic Thaumaturges' While you can, gameplay wise, shove rocks into people's faces for a fun bit of reverse-healing their faces off ... none of the Conjurers in the game or in lore tend towards that personality or attitude. The only close to qualifing is Edda, who was insane and using corrupted white mage as necromancy to heal/revive the long dead. Don't remind me... /hates Necromances at even the best of times

Tarot breaks the tread of the gloomy Lancer type, being more of a rogue anyway. In fact it's why I started this entire thread and discussion was mostly because I wasn't sure if people would believe he could be a 'rogue' without actually having the class. As for being a non-gloomy lancer, he will play pretend he's gloomy with the right people. "So we ready to go exploring--oh, wait, I'm a lancer, ah..ahem. 'Let's go'...Heh!" But the thing is that I do stereotype for all the reasons you said, even going so far as to apply them to people I know personally. Monks/Pugs are the beefy types to be sure, though oddly I've never RPed much with Warriors. All the paladins seem to be the more 'strategic' thinkers if they aren't 'knightly'. Even then I know ONE who is neither but he's a weirdo! WEIRDO!

Although Square, with the whole 'No classes meant solely for support' idea has made Conjurers and White Mages (technically) lethal to the point where one could play them as essentially 'White Magic Thaumaturges'

No. They still made up the culture in the first place. It's still possible for the fictional culture they created to be completely unbelievable and/or nonsensical. Not to mention at least some of it was because of development constraints (i.e. they can't be arsed to make dialogue specifically for players wearing that gear, or doing so would take up too much memory etc.). I'd appreciate it if you didn't try to defend or explain away obviously sexist armor designs. The coliseum sets actually have a justification (i.e. both males and females are mostly naked) but stuff like the "magic bikini" are just dumb, period. It's an excuse to throw more straight male-oriented fanservice into the game. Now, I personally, don't mind if they do throw in that sort of fanservice, but I would appreciate some balance (that is, if you throw in a magic bikini you should be throwing in a magic speedo as well). Ah I see so when I mention something involving bikinis it's wrong and sexist but it's not 'slut gear' if YOUR character wears it. Got it. And that is not what I said, at all. I don't support sexist male fantasies. What my point is that this game, this setting, was created by two companies known for A. Outlandish clothing B. Scanty outfits that are not considered 'stand-out' in the culture of the world. Meaning that we, the players should expect, in lore, to have nothing keeping us from dressing however we want so long as it isn't straight up smallclothes and be able to get away with it, in setting. Whether other players feel this is right or wrong, I don't care. I enjoy seeing characters expressed through their clothing. I enjoy the mystery of it--is this person dressing like a stuffy knight but actually a relaxed man-about-town? Is this Lalafell REALLY a gladiator or is it a disguise? Is that Hyur in the bikini just a silly girl or actually an assassin. Clothes add just as much to a character as anything else, and with the introduction of glamours, no one has any reason to not dress how they want. Being told a person is 'sexist' or a 'perv' because of it is just as wrong as calling it 'slut gear'.