Disaster! SE just ruined your headcanon!

[Warren Castille]

Hypothetical panic thread!

 

So the conversation meta of the week so far has been how we utilize lore or character devices to immerse ourselves. We've had small flares of the old DRG and WHM fights, and we've had people speculate on what DRK's power source will be, and we've all done a good job of explaining what our headcanons are made from.

 

So what do you do when SE obliterates that headcanon with hard, undeniable in-game proof? I'm talking so very specific that your backstory just got derailed, dumped into a compactor and turned into a teensy two-by-two cube of hopes of dreams.

 

Examples: SE states point-blank that any non-Padjal Succor-user goes insane and kills themself, and only the WoL is the exception.

 

SE reveals that all of the Sultansworn except Jenlyns are on Lolorito's payroll, and they were explicit in allowing the events of 2.55 to play out as they did.

 

SE reveals that anyone touched by the void has their soul consumed and they are just a puppet body being used by demons.

 

SE reveals that Dark Knight is a faction that's comprised of twelve people, similar to the Sith, and the story quest shows that only WoL is the new 12th man.

 

What do we do when the grey areas we write in suddenly get a spotlight shown on them and then eradicated? Do we retcon ourselves to avoid the fallout? Do we ignore it and march on in the face of exceptions? What's your worst-case scenario that would force you to respond in big, sweeping changes?

 

To answer my own question, if the Free Paladin/Sultansworn were revealed to be irredeemable bad guys? I'd maybe fluff it so he wasn't actually a Free Paladin (either by ignoring the title, or just making it a complex lie that he has to reveal to friends and family)? On the other hand, I could roll with it and turn him into a villain. On the other other hand, I could play him as naive and somehow out of touch with the scheme.

 

So... yes. In a nutshell, what's the worst thing SE could do to render you "noncanon" and how do you respond?

[Desu Nee]

Accept it and move on. Maybe try and find a lee-way around it if it's possible, but if it's undeniable, unavoidable truth...well, some aspects of retcon are in order, I suppose. And again, it will depend on how lore-heavy is the group after all.

[Gegenji]

I think the easiest way to obliterate my headcannon would be if SE somehow ended up stating that Lalafell cannot - and never could - have lived in Doma ever. Since Chachan and Gogon are both Doman Lalafell, that would neatly screw up that point of their background (and Gogon's whole "descent into madness" thing).

 

... Or would it?

 

I like to think I've kept most of my characters' details "flex" rules in various situations loose enough to adapt to anything that could be thrown at me. In the "No Doman Lalafells" ruling? Then the Gegenjis could have lived in a small Othard town near Doma and often considered part of Doma... but not. Or if there were never any Lalafell in Othard at all? I could possibly go Caspar's route and create an island near Othard that was originally settled by Lalafell and then introduced to Doman culture by Doman explorers.

 

If they did all that and then gave us a map saying "These are the continents, islands, and nations and nothing else"? Then I suppose I'd just have to "special snowflake" it a bit - the Gegenjis are the ONLY Lalafellan family in Doma, a family line thought to be little more than a legend of a wee folk that produced weapons for great heroes and some such.

 

It would take some "recon" tweaking here and there, but I don't it would affect them to enough of a degree that it would change the character too much. And if it does? Heck, I used to be a DnD DM - I'm used to having curve-balls thrown at me.

[Desu Nee]

I think the easiest way to obliterate my headcannon would be if SE somehow ended up stating that Lalafell cannot - and never could - have lived in Doma ever. Since Chachan and Gogon are both Doman Lalafell, that would neatly screw up that point of their background (and Gogon's whole "descent into madness" thing).

 

... Or would it?

 

I like to think I've kept most of my characters' details "flex" rules in various situations loose enough to adapt to anything that could be thrown at me. In the "No Doman Lalafells" ruling? Then the Gegenjis could have lived in a small Othard town near Doma and often considered part of Doma... but not. Or if there were never any Lalafell in Othard at all? I could possibly go Caspar's route and create an island near Othard that was originally settled by Lalafell and then introduced to Doman culture by Doman explorers.

 

If they did all that and then gave us a map saying "These are the continents, islands, and nations and nothing else"? Then I suppose I'd just have to "special snowflake" it a bit - the Gegenjis are the ONLY Lalafellan family in Doma, a family line thought to be little more than a legend of a wee folk that produced weapons for great heroes and some such.

 

It would take some "recon" tweaking here and there, but I don't it would affect them to enough of a degree that it would change the character too much. And if it does? Heck, I used to be a DnD DM - I'm used to having curve-balls thrown at me.

Pretty much what I say with much better argument. And ew, DnD

 

Pathfinder is the truth.

[Berrod Armstrong]

When it turned out that Raubahn and Ilberd weren't actually heavily physical and insatiable lovers I was devastated, but a good cry in the shower made me feel better.

 

On a more serious note though, I just look at where I have to make adjustments and announce it to those I roleplay with before implementing them!

[Steel Wolf]

That really depends on the severity of the lore carpet-bombing, honestly. If the Dark Knight quests say you're The Twelfth Man, then...well there's gobs of class stories that state the same nonsense which is outright ignored.

 

Now if, say, the Dark Knights only allow people to be counted as a Dark Knight if they succumb to a voidsent completely, then that's something that might cause me to retcon some things, as Steel seeks power but isn't willing to bend into servitude.

[Martiallais]

Zarek's fairly safe from any kind of lore bombs I can think of...unless they say something along the lines of only Highlanders can open chakra/become monks or Highlander/Midlanders could never have children.

 

With Martiallais, there's a few possibilities like maybe if they said that Duskwights don't live in Ishgard (which would be contrary to some other things they've said) or if Dark Knights are actually (as Steel mentioned) empowered by Voidspawn or, even worse, dragons. 

 

But yeah, I think I can roll with whatever they might drop on me one way or another.

[Kage]

For a long time the only headcanon that would fuck with my head is if the current Sultansworn were -all- evil and shit, all working for Lolorito.

 

I would have could have played with it. Kage joined the Sultansworn knowing there were some issues with it already. He would have said that he joined because he idolized others and Nanamo and wanted to try to be the change.

 

And failed.

[Gegenji]

or if Dark Knights are actually (as Steel mentioned) empowered by Voidspawn or, even worse, dragons.

 

Would that be all that bad, though, or unmanageable? Technically Dragoons already do the same thing. Taking in the power of the enemy to defeat the enemy. Same could possibly be said for Voidspawn-empowerment! It'd take some adjustment, I'm sure, but I think Martiallais would be able to cleave to this new reveals and still remain the character you imagine them as.

 

And if it doesn't work? Make something up! "Hey, I'm a Umbral Blade. We're like the Dark Knights, but splintered off when they started delving into the powers of the Void. So, while we are similar... we are not the same."

 

(Totally wanted to use "Nightblade", before remembering there's two FCs who use that as a name. :lol: )

[D'aito Kuji]

I think the only way my headcanon could be derailed was if SE said that Miqo'te were just Hyur in costume.

[Martiallais]

or if Dark Knights are actually (as Steel mentioned) empowered by Voidspawn or, even worse, dragons.

 

Would that be all that bad, though, or unmanageable? Technically Dragoons already do the same thing. Taking in the power of the enemy to defeat the enemy. Same could possibly be said for Voidspawn-empowerment! It'd take some adjustment, I'm sure, but I think Martiallais would be able to cleave to this new reveals and still remain the character you imagine them as.

 

And if it doesn't work? Make something up! "Hey, I'm a Umbral Blade. We're like the Dark Knights, but splintered off when they started delving into the powers of the Void. So, while we are similar... we are not the same."

 

(Totally wanted to use "Nightblade", before remembering there's two FCs who use that as a name. :lol: )

 

Given that Dragoons are sanctioned by the See and fight for/protect Ishgard if Dark Knights did the same while turning that power -against- the corrupt (but likely appearing good) officials/nobles/etc it would drive the wedge in that much harder IMO. He's an Ishgardian and while (behind closed doors) he doesn't agree with everything the See does and the people leading it, taking the power of dragons and turning it against his own people would pretty much be jumping over the line to heretic-land.

 

Doable but not quite what I had in mind. I'd roll with it somehow, agreed but it would definitely take the character down a different path. It would be more 'any means necessary' than 'do the right thing at personal cost' if that makes sense?

 

Also Nightblades are from Elder Scrolls, too. I think both guilds have a space in their names while the ES class doesn't.

[Mercer]

This is one of the few instances I'm glad I've kept my character outside of most of the lore factions. He's Aether numb, a sellsword, a marauder and whoreson. None of the organizations are exactly clamoring for his talents.

 

That said he is undertaking training to be a warrior. If it came out that only the WoL could withstand the beast within I think a good amount of good ol' fashioned bezerker RP is in order. If it comes out that only the WoL could ever take the training, then it all comes down to being trained by a fraud.

[Max]

Retcon, rewrite, compromise, etc.

 

I honestly wouldn't be that disappointed if a headcanon of mine is debunked. I tend to expect it beforehand when roleplaying an ongoing series. I usually just adapt by rewriting it to fit the new lore. Either that or doing away with certain aspects of his story completely.

 

IE Max's Ala Mhigan background. If the story takes us there, there's a HUGE chance that a lot of his backstory could be invalidated (which is why I'm currently in the process of genericizing him, so his character is less likely to be rocked horrendously by future developments in the story)

[Jonexe]

The only thing that could really 'ruin' Zozo is if they made an announcement that it's physically impossible to know more than one form of magic. 

 

I never say that he's a WHM/BLM/otherwise; merely that he has extensively studies the base class forms. While some of his actual back story could be compromised by certain changes; he never directly comes out and tells people any of them. More, he becomes vague and skirts around the subject.

 

Anything that ruins what I have developed for him I could pretty easily discard. Even if the above (only one kind of magic) was put out, I could pretty easily say he's studied the other forms, but can't actually perform them.

[Unnamed Mercenary]

SE kinda already did. I made my character with that in mind.

 

NOTE: You'll be metagaming if you "find out" what I'm going to say without actually working with me on this.

 

Franz is Garlean. As in, he's a pure-blooded Garlean, can't use aether, has the third eye, grew up in Garlemald, blah blah.

 

BUT! BUT!!! BUT I've seen Franz healing people with a book at the Grindstone and stuff!!

-yup- I went there. Franz can do magic-y things.

 

So! How'd I get around that? (The truth is, I never really needed to).

 

Franz never actually had the inherent ability to use aether. He never learned any spells, went to mage school, or any of that. What he did do was act like a dumbass and sign up for an experiment in Garlemald for artificial aether reserves. You know, like a magitech device that would draw in aether and then allow someone to weild it. Aether comes in, magic goes out. (For FF8 players, think sorta like the draw system). But it was a prototype. And it broke. Poor Franz. The Garleans deemed the thing a failure, killed the couple other surviving test subjects, and left him to go die in the desert after someone capable of magic basically fried his brain.

 

So this big angry hyur wakes up with a mind-splitting headache, a broken magitek device jammed somewhere in his body or maybe some personal aetherial field (like a soul) or something, and no memory of who he is. And he's highly unstable. That magitech thing is just not working properly. But he kept fighting on.

 

Fast forward through LOTS of just -wonderful- events and suffering, and we've got a person who's kinda sorta figured out how this device worked tacitly, had a few "accidents" with people who were more knowledgable, and has gotten control of his life aether. Sorta. He goes around casting spells without really knowing why they work, but he has a visceral understand of how they're supposed to work. So he just wings it and makes his own as he goes. Totally safe.

 

small edit: That's just the tip of the iceberg. Find out more in RP! (maybe)

[FreelanceWizard]

Accept it and move on. Maybe try and find a lee-way around it if it's possible, but if it's undeniable, unavoidable truth...well, some aspects of retcon are in order, I suppose.

 

This is pretty much how I handle it. The lore's theirs to define, and when we play in grey areas, the possibility of getting steamrolled always exists. When that happens, you have to find a workaround or retcon if you want to stick with the lore (and thereby maximize your RP opportunities).

[Mikh'a]

I think what I'd do is gradually start phasing that part out of my character's life. Just very slowly start easing off of whatever it is through roleplay, don't completely destroy it right off the bat just stop using it as much, stop mentioning it as much. Pick up a new hobby or a new skill, or shift the focus to something new for their backstory over the course of a few weeks to a couple of months until it's all but forgotten. I really hate retcons. I don't hate anyone else for using them, but personally unless they're an absolute must, like to the point that my character will be absolutely non-functional because of something outside of my control, I won't retcon, I'll just start slowly and carefully shifting away.

 

If it ever came up OOCly I'd just remind the people bringing it up that it was well established before lore on it was and I moved away from it with hand waving.

 

On the other other hand' date=' I could play him as naive and somehow out of touch with the scheme.[/quote']

 

Or I'd do that. Because that is 100% in character for Mikh'a to the point of face smashing in to wall frustration for some people, sometimes.

[Flickering Ember]

Ember's background operates almost entirely outside of the boundaries of lore. She has a fairly simple back story: she's basically Gau from FFVI. There are other magical elements to her but I feel those elements are general enough that if SE brings down a lore bomb, I could just tweak her story a little bit without it completely ruining her character.

 

The only thing that I could think of that could completely wreck her character would be two things:

 

1.) They bombed the Hellsguard lore. Abalathia's Spine is magically warded from the rest of Eorzea. Or other types of lore that would make Abalathia's Spine inaccessible.

Although, even if that happened, I suppose I could just select a new birthplace for Ember.

 

2.) They changed how aether and magic work to the point that Ember's second sight/6th sense isn't lore friendly. I really like how I have designed Ember's sixth sense, even if it is kind of hard to explain at times. I would be really sad if I had to change it. (For those who don't know, Ember is a blind character)

[D'aito Kuji]

I was flippant before but I think I have a real answer.

 

If SE added to the Southern Sagolii so that one could completely cross the desert and find a new zone, that could be problematic as D'aito is from that area.  As the location of her tribe is outside the map, no one else can confirm that it does or doesn't exist.  A new zone south of the Sagolii could possibly make D'aito's background unworkable.

 

I don't have a very complicated concept so the Lore changes a lot of you mentioned wouldn't change much about D'aito.

 

Then again, if the mating habits of traditional Seekers were changed in some way to make it more conventional - that would change her origin completely.

[T'shina]

I've known a few people to already be quite upset with the fact that Dark Knights don't draw from the void as that is what they were already doing. So this is quite the lore break and bomb for them so now there has to be some form of reworking.

 

As for Dark Knight only being twelve people I can already see that there will be other small groups who do the same thing, just that they aren't part of the main group and perhaps give themselves another name and purpose or maybe a similar purpose.

 

Though, nothing in particular could really be a lore bomb for me and break my character. I've kept most of her history close to what could be considered Seeker ways and unless they say there really aren't any Seeker tribes in the Shroud then there will be issue (which I see that there has to be some there considering there are too many tribes for there not to be some in the Shroud).

[Aya]

Find find find find a way! ♪

[Darien Cadell]

I'd just say my character's a snowflake and keep on keeping on. She actually already is in many ways. Her background touches on what's in the lore, but the core of it is intentionally "unusual" (far from ludicrous, but certainly atypical). Unless they say something like Keepers never left the Shroud in the past 50 years, I'm not sure what they could really say that would mess me up much.

[Altitis Acquired]

Well, if Dark Knights are ONLY those 12, then just be a warrior who wields a two-hand sword and wields the power of the void. A Dark Knight in every aspect other than actually being a Dark Knight.

 

Be creative.

[Chris Ganale]

I kind of already expect to take a 2000lb lore bomb to the face over Seno should more of Doma ever be brought forward. His and his wife's swordsmanship school can already be defended from utter destruction via lore by emphasising that the Shinmei-ryū are reclusive. What I fully expect to have destroyed is the semi-extensive timeline we came up with for Doma's revolution.

 

That said, I'm as likely to Adam Savage anything that comes along to demolish the work I've put into my characters.

[Khadan]

I think the biggest key to avoiding taking a lore-based uppercut to your chops is to simply not take too many far-reaching liberties with the lore in the first place. 

 

Many see SE's FF14 lore as "too little to work with" or at least not clear enough and in this I somewhat agree; there are some things that are very much not defined that could use some serious embellishment. That being said, however, the things that SE does give us are pretty substantive and with a bit of historical knowledge applied and some potential 'logical deduction' if you will, one can easily make calls while still sticking into the boundaries of the lore. i.e. back in 2.0 I had made my character a "Temple Knight" of Ishgard, or at least former Temple Knight to explain why he was in Thanalan. But this was long before there was ANY mention ANYWHERE of Temple Knights being a thing in lore; I looked long and hard and nothing. I don't think Temple Knights as an Ishgardian concept were introduced until 2.4 or so, in fact. Also hoping SE isn't raiding my hard drives for content because this isn't the first time this has happened. Hell it's not even just the third time >=|

 

So there was an example of me using the themes and concepts within the game to come up with a character concept that, even if SE had NOT made the Temple Knights a faction in the game, I still would have been okay since in my character's story his sect or "regiment" had all been wiped out, anyway. Truthfully my only concern was if they were going to call them "Temple Knights" or "Templars" which in either case is an easy fix to maintain story continuity. =)

 

The point is that taking liberties with lore for the sake of trying to be unique or special is like building a runway on a plateau: You only have so much ground available to you for taking off and landing and the more you stretch the lore the less runway you have and thus run the risk of sliding off and crashing into a canyon never to be heard from again =P

 

tl;dr headcanon responsibly because the more you put out there the easier it will be for SE to inadvertently shoot holes in by just doing their jobs.