To the prospective Ishgard RP'ers

[Zelmanov]

This is more to sate my own curiosity if anything. My current perception at the moment is that a majority of Ishgardians are combatant roles, be it templar or Dragoon or rank and file. This is understandable in times of war but we also see a good deal of "civilian" NPCS milling about Coerthas (notably many females but that's aside the point) and a lot the civillian RP'ers are deserters/declared heretics.

 

so my question is, do you plan to RP a more mundane character upon the gates opening in Heavensward since you'll have an actual region to hang out in?

 

If my question seems strange, I just want to put it in context to Ul'dah. Not EVERYONE is a sultansworn or Brass Blade, all sorts of life are there, granted Ishgard may be more constrained but I am curious if the population will even out.

 

Not a complaint or anything, just musing.

[Aya]

Aya's definitely a non-combatant, and an Ishgardian.  Where she ends up during Heavensward is still wide open though.

[Siha]

Personally I don't, I'm really looking for some combat which a lot might be with the whole theme of Ishgard right now! BUT that being said, there has to be non combatants and definitely will be I'm sure, everyone has families and they can't all be fighters! Well...not yet. Who knows, maybe that's a requirement due to how strenuous the war is. (That's mostly a joke. I'm not good at lore. Don't bite me. D:) Plus there are a lot of wonderful people on this forum that really like to explore the more 'mundane' rolls, which aren't really mundane at all in most cases, and they make them great. So if people intend to, I can't wait to see what they do with it.

 

It's a good question though! I look forward to reading responses!

[LiadansWhisper]

Liadan heals people.  I recommend you don't hand her any sharp weapons, as she's far more likely to accidentally stab herself than to stab anyone else.

[thesunalsorises]

Ophelie's a non-combatant and from Ishgard, though whether or no she's actually in Ishgard for Heavensward will have to wait. I'm pretty sure there's a few people out there who play Astrologians, minor nobles, clergy and such.

[Blue]

Long as I don't see any happy party event happening in Ishgard (I've wanted a dark/tragic RP hub for over a year, gimme!), I'm fine with whatever people choose to roll for their characters.

[Aya]

Long as I don't see any happy party event happening in Ishgard (I've wanted a dark/tragic RP hub for over a year, gimme!), I'm fine with whatever people choose to roll for their characters.

People live in Ishgard.  Its not some cliched city of utter grimdark tragedy.  If there were no celebration or fun in the city it would be utterly unbelievable as a setting.

[Martiallais]

Martiallais is a combatant, no doubts about it. 8-)

 

I agree, given how nobles usually tend to be (aka far removed from what's really happening) in fantasy settings, I can imagine them putting on events here and there honestly. That or 'underground' parties of sorts, which would make sense if you compared it to WH40K (complete with optional heretics!).

[Aya]

Martiallais is a combatant, no doubts about it. 8-)

 

I agree, given how nobles usually tend to be (aka far removed from what's really happening) in fantasy settings, I can imagine them putting on events here and there honestly. That or 'underground' parties of sorts, which would make sense if you compared it to WH40K (complete with optional heretics!).

Aya knows where all of the underground parties are.. (or at least where they used to be!)  The nobles can have the snooty fun to themselves.

[Proud Dahlia]

I was talking to someone about this very thing last night, and I have a more complicated answer to this question than a simple 'yes' or 'no.'  Nadine is not a fighter by trade. She is a smith and inventor. She is not a mercenary for hire and only adventures as far as to retrieve materials for her trade or test her (primarily combat-related) inventions. That said, she is still able to handle herself in a fight and is trained enough in the use of weapons to defend herself or join a militia rally, and is actually pretty good with siege and artillery. More than that, she would not object to running active maintenance for a military unit that sees a lot of action. She's not afraid of leading a more dangerous life.

 

Ultimately, while she's not a primary combatant or a front-line fighter, she's not entirely a civilian as I would like to see her playing an active role in the Dragonsong War.

[TheLastCandle]

*glances at Yvelont, the walking weapons arsenal, with sword, mace, axe, and spear at the ready*

 

Yeeeeah, combatant here.

[Zelmanov]

In response to the grim dark, Remember Ishgard is responsible for Valentione's day.

[Grott]

Uther's a combatant Ishgardian. 

 

Because we live in a world where anyone can drop into being a knight without any fuss. So that's what I did.

[111]

I think it only makes sense that most Ishgardians you see are rather 'Special Snowflakes'

 

Because if they weren't then they'd be in Ishgard still.

 

Once the gates open I think it will be easier to have more 'common' characters.

[Crisiet]

In response to the grim dark, Remember Ishgard is responsible for Valentione's day.

 

Also the starlight celebration, iirc.

 

They have a lot of traditional festivals and stuff. It's a morale thing - Gotta keep the populace happy if they're going to endure all the awful stuff going on.

[Blue]

I'd agree if this was Ishgard on normal days, but we should remember why the gates are being opened. The war has gotten worse. The city is on the brink of destruction, the last barriers protecting it could fall at any time and have a bunch of dragons burn the city to ashes. To not be worried would be, on my part, a leak of OOC knowledge that the city cannot be destroyed and I cannot die because it's a game.

 

I don't know about your own countries, but during world wars Italy suspended all celebrations. It was considered a waste of expenses and a distraction. The nobles may celebrate, yes, but we're talking about stuff happening in their private halls, not outside in squares or in the lower streets of town.

 

EDIT: Besides, it's not like we don't have three other cities in which parties can be thrown at. To have a hub for more serious/tragic roleplay would be a nice change.

[Shieldmaiden]

Yes, Ser Gwyn is a combatant, she's a knight, but the RP I'm interested in is distinctly non-combat. I want noble intrigue, manipulative clergy and courtly romance. The vibe I get from the Ishgardian stuff we've seen so far is that kind of classic medieval drama, where it's all shiny on the outside and utterly rotten to the core.

[Virella]

Vi's being forced back to the civilian life for the time being. Of course that does not mean she will sit back if dragons would flap over her, spitting fire at everything. Once HW hits she will be forced to teach people the way of the astrologian, and still do her calculation nonsense next to that.

 

But for now she is not going to do a thing unless forced into combat.

[Momoka]

Yes, Ser Gwyn is a combatant, she's a knight, but the RP I'm interested in is distinctly non-combat. I want noble intrigue, manipulative clergy and courtly romance. The vibe I get from the Ishgardian stuff we've seen so far is that kind of classic medieval drama, where it's all shiny on the outside and utterly rotten to the core.

 

 

I feel thats what Ishgard is though. Playing through the MSQ you can see how messed up their whole society is, and Id think that yes, it is utterly rotten. My character is a minor noble who has an interesting outlook on her home and people, though knows much better than to speak out in public all too much.

[Dravus]

Ishgard's not without redeeming qualities and none of the city states have been painted in a particularly good light so far. That's what makes FFXIV much more interesting than me to other MMO's because there's no 'black and white' when it comes to nations. I wouldn't be terribly surprised if when we get a better insight into Garlemald we actually find it to be more like Archades from FFXII than the generic evil empire many paint it as being.

[Aris]

I can see many more people roleplaying Ishgardian civilians once the gates open. Previously I don't think it was a very easy option to do, as there was little lore about the city and it was mostly from a military side of things. Now there will be endless opportunity - we'll see all sorts of characters emerging from Ishgard in the year to come, I expect.

 

Hopefully the Heavensward hype will encourage people to leap on this opportunity for a new main roleplay area. I agree, it has a different atmosphere from the other main cities so could be really interesting in roleplay in.

[shotgunbadger]

Yea as of now there's not a ton of Ishgardian civvy stuff to do other than refugee and runaway stuff. I imagine when the gates open we'll see more of those come though.

[Aaron]

I just want Mor Dhona to be more rp accessible.

 

But then again I like Mor Dhona when there's a shout chat

[Proud Dahlia]

Ishgard's not without redeeming qualities and none of the city states have been painted in a particularly good light so far. That's what makes FFXIV much more interesting than me to other MMO's because there's no 'black and white' when it comes to nations. I wouldn't be terribly surprised if when we get a better insight into Garlemald we actually find it to be more like Archades from FFXII than the generic evil empire many paint it as being.

 

Are you sure? Because that only seems to be true of Ishgard and Ul'dah. Limsa and Gridania seem a lot nicer than their 1.0 counterparts.

[Zelmanov]

Well, Limsa may be nicer if you are alright with harboring pirates openly, Having a secret society that operates outside the law to execute justice which may be execution in general and a what is effectively a military dictatorship (Merlwyb is an Admiral, she only is in control because she has the biggest guns)

 

Same goes for Gridania with their blue and orange moral scale where an elemental can just decree that a sick child cannot be healed because they feel like it.