Gegenji

Nope. In fact, I think that's part of the running gag (or something) about why there's no RP in Ishgard: not enough places to sit.

There's another whole continent to the west, the New World, where the Mamool Ja are from. So you can't just go that way. By the looks of things, Othard should be almost on the opposite end of the globe. Maybe Gosetsu's samurai training just made him that badass that he made the journey in a fishing boat? I... THINK it's a Japanese trope of some sort? You see a samurai character do the same thing in Bravely Second - travel around huge distances in a rowboat. I think that's kind of what they were going for.

Eh, I see it working better if it was packaged into the Collector's Edition bundle than just giving it away. Would make for an added bullet point to get folks to buy the pricier version, too, so I could actually see SE doing it.

It's... also not that bad if you're skipping cutscenes. The only "harsh" bit, to me, is the sudden pause to do required Guildhests during ARR... and perhaps a couple of the required dungeons. Everything else - the running around and fetch quests and whatnot - can be done pretty mindlessly while you watch something else or chat with friends.

... It's the server everyone knows is the RP server, the one people know to flock to, has a thriving RP population to the point that it's overcrowded... and SE didn't have to lift a finger to do it. Yes, it sure didn't work.

Yep. They gave example of Thunder: Thunder 1 and 3 are going to be single-target, whereas Thunder 2 and 4 will be AoE. So you'll need two hotbar spaces: one for Thunder Odd, one for Thunder Even. The game will automatically use the highest level one available to you at the time. Okay, I'm interested again. ... Though, if I recall correctly, only Miasma has the single-target I vs the AoE II comparatively on the ACN+ (ie, ACN, SMN, and SCH) side. Bio and Bio II are both single-target. So will those get merged as well? Considering ACN+ is a lot about DoT-stacking, I kinda hope there'll be a Bio III or something that'll be AoE if so. Otherwise that's a bit of a jab at the ACN+ DPS numbers. I suppose I'm just a bit nitpicky for my main class set (even if I'm gonna play the heck outta RDM).

I'm surprisingly thankful for this. Always had to keep, like Ruin I on a bar somewhere for if/when I got synced down too far on my Mentor roulettes. ... Though, now that I think about it, how will that work for SMN? You don't want to Ruin III spam unless you're Trancing. And will that affect the Miasmas/Bios/Aeros where you'd usually stack both levels on them? Plus, doesn't the BLM cycle involve just using the IVs for the max stacks before going back to the threes? Or is it just for things that are literal straight upgrades (which, really, Stone is the only example of that comes to mind)? Clarification plz.

That's my thoughts on the matter, too. I have enough character ideas to fill three realms, I'm sure. The issue, of course, is leveling them enough to dress them up appropriately... and juggling my time on them. I'm bad enough with the three that I have on one server, I'm sure I'd have an even worse time keeping track and tabs across multiple. I'd still try, I'm sure, if I had some good RP in potentia on both.

In further clarification of this question, I have to give a relatively vague answer. How "strong" and "powerful" people play their characters tends to vary from group to group. A decent chunk of the folks at the RPC like to play their characters more low-powered, being of the populous rather than a figure noteworthy in their might. However, that is by no means the majority and even among our own number there are people who play characters that could punch their way through a wall with little effort. While a majority of folks don't play as "the Warrior of Light" (although, some do or specify themselves of "one" of the Warriors of Light or his allies), there's still plenty who play themselves as having powers likely comparable to his. Going to any of the fighting tournaments (especially those that involve spellcasting) tends to highlight this, even though there are also those who cleave to a lower power base there as well. And people who will smack each other around with rolling pins and fishing rods, so take all that with a grain of salt.

So the obvious answer is that there will be a Puppetmaster class like in FFXI, and they'll be from Sharlayan.

... This looks like a painting that should be on the wall in the game. Super lovely. o Ao

Sounsyy's lore dump actually has me wondering a few things. The Spine is the mountain range that basically serves as the northern border of Eorzea, right? So, if I'm reading the map right... it extends all the way into Gyr Albania. The lore book doesn't specify exactly where in the Spine they fled from to escape the barbarism. So, what if the hidden locale that RDM spawns from (I'm going to keep calling it Thamasa until proven wrong/right) was a splinter faction of the group that became Sharlayan? A group that stayed behind instead of following Nyunkrepf or whatever his name is (hitherto known as Nyankatte). So while it wouldn't be strictly Sharlayan, it would be the tool of... basically an offshoot of their ancestral group. I doubt that's going to be the case, but it's a fun little thought. And would explain why Alisaie would be able to develop something similar-looking, she's simply retreated ground a splinter group of her own people already walked.

Well, considering they're survivors of a war that ended with the planet basically trying to drown them all to get rid of them... it wouldn't be that big of a stretch that they'd look into ways of using their magic in ways that won't get them discovered or - more importantly - killed. Which could feasibly include making it so their magic doesn't straight kill the planet.

Thamasa you say...? But there's no one who uses magic in Thamasa! What're you talking about? (Actually the town being called Thamasa would be an amazing callback if it were true just based on what Thamasa in FF6 is. I want it to be true now.) In all seriousness, wasn't the type of Astrology taught to the Ishgardians a different kind than the one that is being spread in the AST questline? I vaguely remember that being the sort of sticking point - "Ishgardian" Astrology helps forewarn of Dravanian attacks and the like and is generally passive and non-combatant. Meanwhile, "Sharlayan" Astrology is actually utilizing the power of the stars in an actual combat medium - which is a no-no for teaching according the Sharlayan principle. So it wasn't that Astrology was being spread that was the problem, but it was the combat-oriented style of it. Or at least, that's how I recall it. I could be wrong. ... Also I totally thought Sharlayan would be where RDMs would've been from as well, even before the revelation of it being wrought of practitioners of both White and Black magic. I guess having two combat styles slip to the world from Sharlayan would've been too much for them to bear.

I would point out that this is someone letting the Warrior of Light continue to do what he's doing. You know, the great and powerful snowflake who gets all the special treatment. The fact that he is who he is probably plays a huge role in the decision to let him be. I wouldn't doubt said character would hesitate little to stop anyone else from using Black Magic. Same kind of thing kinda exists with White Magic. Again, it's the WoL being the unique snowflake who gets special consideration. The Padjali aren't exactly opening up the idea of teaching more people the techniques. At least, as of yet. As for Red Magic, the reason it might not be seen as dangerous or taboo is because it's a relatively unknown thing to the general populace. We know that it is borne of White and Black magic because we have a lore dump on it. Your standard denizen of Hydaelyn might not even realize it - they might think it's just some flashy Thaumaturgy mixed with a little swordplay. So, even if Alisaie is "openly" a RDM, there's no indication that the in-world onlooker would make the connection to what she's doing and two taboo schools of magic. And I completely forgot about Necromancy, since that's indeed a bad thing... and to the point that it isn't even something a player character can do... unless they include a Necromancer class at some point in the future like Diablo III is apparently doing. :lol:

How I see Chachan: How my FC sees Chachan: How my friends see Chachan: How the community sees Chachan: ... What?

Gotta try going in fancy! 1. Mogstore Credit 2. Of the Round Weapon (DRK, for Judge!) 3. Company Tabard

FROG (Chrono Trigger) - This one is surprisingly fitting if you read the dissertation a fellow by the name of Quovak does in his screenshot LP regarding Frog. He posits that the silly ye olde accent Frog uses in the original US release (but removed in the remakes) helps show the type of character Frog was at the onset: someone who, almost like a caricature, acts like how he thinks a hero should act. And yet, failing in his duty can get him quickly questioning his own purpose and putting down the sword. Despite all that, once he realizes that he’s needed for his own strengths rather than what he thought he needed, he reveals a determination and will that can cleave mountains. WATTS (Secret/Sword of Mana) - As a smith, you’d figure there’d have to be a smith somewhere in this equation. I was tempted to just put a DnD dwarf (since that’s kinda what the Gegenjis are based off of), but Watts does this and more. He’s the character who goes around helping the heroes of the game by upgrading their gear. And, in Sword, there’s a scene where he realizes he should sell what he makes to who he wants, rather than just whoever pays him (like most dwarves). The fact he also helps provide better and better gear is also a sort of theme Chachan has going (if the Super Smith video a little while back wasn’t proof enough of that). Plus, the Watts in Legend of Mana is a bit of a youngster and a goofball, and Chachan’s definitely those. X (Mega Man X) - Some may think I picked X for his “unlimited potential” or his insane adaptability. However, X is in this formula for another reason - his personality. X is also a pacifist at heart, wanting nothing more than to see the end of all the fighting and seeing both sides live peacefully together. He cares deeply for not only for his friends (which is already very Chachan-y), but for the victims of war. The fact that X is also considered hotheaded, committed, and strong-willed also gel pretty well with Chachan. But Gegenji, you cry, you just mentioned the lack of confidence with Frog! As a counterpoint, Chachan’s confidence can and does waver, but he stubbornly sticks to his belief of non-violence and seeking a happy ending for everyone. (... I may have also put this up on mah Tumblrs)

I think that's the biggest downside to all this. Was this lockdown mentioned anywhere so that people could be aware it was coming? Having some heads-up beforehand probably would've helped a lot with this sort of "fallout" for the decision.

... Can't both situations exist? It doesn't seem like one has to deny the existence of the other. Yes, there's a lot of RP potential here and that attracts people who want to get in but can't due to the sheer number of people on Balmung. Conversely, those that do get in looking for RP might get overwhelmed by the sheer number or left on the wayside because there's so many RPers that folks may often just stick with the handful of regular buddies to hang out with. To go back to the buffet allegory (because it's almost lunchtime for me, I'm hungry, and I'm strangely jonesing for some mac and cheese now )... setting up another server as an RP one is more like opening a second buffet. Or at least attempting to - you have to get enough food there and get the word out enough that it becomes popular. That way, you have two buffets to choose from for where you want to eat. So if you (or your friends) like that original buffet more, it's still there to partake from. But if the lines are too long, you can move to the other. And hopefully, eventually, from this talk about cross-server groups and stuff becoming more commonplace.. the two buffets will have a sort of open-air neutral dining area for everyone to hang out in.

Just as a heads up, albeit delayed, I'm still looking forward to us having our Othardian smiths run into each other. I waited for quite a while on the day we had originally scheduled, but you never logged on. If you're still interested, just reach out to me at some point. :blush:

If it helps, I found that the thing that really got me more comfortable with MMO RP and the like was... well... getting some actual RP under your belt. I just started RPing in MMOs with FFXIV, and it was pretty daunting and I spend a good part of the first day wondering if I had gotten in over my head and made a big mistake. As I did more RP, though, I got a bit more... used? to using my character and kind of honed him and his personality into what it is now. I would hope the same happens with your character, or you figure out quickly enough that things aren't fitting quite right so you can switch to something more enjoyable. The main point of doing all this is to have fun, after all, right? :blush: (And even if you're not playing a Lala, you can still RP with 'em!)

... It should be noted that Yda unmasks in the last patch of the current content - it's a flashback scene of stuff we've already seen - just like the bit with Papalymo. I think I saw some of the Benchmark stuff in there too, just with the Derplander in his usual slot. What did catch my attention was that whole little bit with what looks like an entire Xaela tribe - including what looked like both a Xaelan chief and an elder. So, those hoping for some more lore on the Xaela and how their tribes work, that might be a glimmer of hope. Plus, given that little bit of swordplay with Alisaie, it looks like those theories that she was going a RDM-y route might hold some water.

Do you mean in real-time since if you put it on Eorzean time it ticks by so quickly? I'm fairly certain that's mainly just to allow you to experience the night/day cycle and the various weather effects (which come into play for actual content - certain fish only appear in certain weather patterns and time ranges for FSH). I don't think anyone really holds to that as the "real time" for the character. We have plenty of hours-long RP events, and most usually stick to a more relative time-frame throughout. So there's no worries there. Heck, we don't always cleave too closely to how many years have "actually" past due to the time bubble situation that goes on due to time technically only passing as we get more content that explains what year it is. Or something. I'm rambly.

I'm mostly excited about the Doma stuff - go figure. For one, Chachan gets to be a Samurai, which is something I joked he was for a long while. And, if the Benchmark is anything to go by, he's going to be an adorable one. Plus all the Doman-style outfits that all entails should be nice too. Speaking of Doman-style, I'm hoping the Doman-style housing look is available elsewhere, so I can have Chachan's little Doman smithy in the Goblet.