"Lore-Wrecking" Mounts

[Kismet]

In fact, I believe you cannot have time skipped from Carteneau without having it.

 

I was under the impression that not all Warriors of Light had the Echo...? I would appreciate it greatly if someone could clarify that.

[Warren Castille]

Re: The Echo

 

If I'm remembering correctly everyone in the Path of the Twelve had the Echo, but the trick was that "The Echo" meant a lot of different things. Everyone was privy to visions, maybe, and everyone was able to speak beast tongue, maybe, but it didn't manifest in the same way in every person. It's plenty possible to have the Echo and the effect to simply be that you never get sick; We're so unclear about what "Echo" constitutes it's silly to weigh in on one side or the other.

 

It's also true that, in a shared community like Balmung, having every single functional roleplayer being The Chosen One makes for a very... Well, the environment quickly becomes the royal dick-waving contest amongst power gamers. Maybe. I think people tend to gravitate away from super powers because they make more trouble than they're worth.

[Aya]

we're all just typical denizens of Eorzea.

 

I reserve my character's right to look at the rider askance!!

 

I'm not necessarily targeting this response at either of you

You'd better not be!  If anyone thinks that a character shouldn't look askance at something incredibly rare (and quite likely dangerous!) they're the ones being quite silly. I mean you're quite literally riding a monster into town. What normal person wouldn't look askance at that? (if they were not busy running in fear, which is another potential Aya response!)

 

There's no edict, judgement, or anything in my statement.  Merely a point about how a character whose rather common in demeanor (as opposed to heroic) would likely view such a thing

[Zyrusticae]

But merely having the Echo is not necessarily the same thing as being a "Chosen One". It's just one power (or collection of powers) granted by Hydaelyn to her many blessed chosen, the same way the Amal'jaa are granted powers over flame by Ifrit, Sahuagin given power over water by Leviathan, Kobolds given power over earth by Titan, Sylphs given power over lightning by Ramuh, and Lady Iceheart given power over ice by incarnating as Shiva.

 

Just as there are a LOT of Tempered, Drowned, Touched, and whatever Titan does is called, there are a lot of Blessed out there that may not even necessarily be aware of their condition or status but nonetheless help push Hydaelyn's agenda in various subtle fashions. (Key word: subtle!)

 

Unlike the obvious Chosen One privilege, I think there's a lot of room to play around with groups of people with the Echo. It's not nearly as problematic as a bunch of WHMs spamming Holy everywhere, or BLMs spamming Flare with reckless abandon.

[Gegenji]

You'd better not be!  If anyone thinks that a character shouldn't look askance at something incredibly rare (and quite likely dangerous!) they're the ones being quite silly.  I mean you're quite literally riding a monster into town.  What normal person wouldn't look askance at that? (if they were not busy running in fear, which is another potential Aya response!)

 

Chachan gets odd looks enough for walking around with what may or may not be a baby behemoth!

 

And getting odd looks is an amusing way to start RPs and possibly relationships. Chachan and Koporo's kinda-sorta grump-rivalry started over the latter's shock and alarm at Gran puttering around. I'm sure the same could be done with exotic mounts if you have the proper story behind it.

 

Something beyond "Take a look at my horse, my horse is amazing" of course. ... Though that song is obnoxiously catchy. Dangit, Weebl.

 

Just as there are a LOT of Tempered, Drowned, Touched, and whatever Titan does is called

 

If it isn't "Rocked," I'm going to be very disappointed.

 

"You've been Rocked by Titan!"

[K'nahli]

 

Here, look, a random Internet picture validated my opunion. I must be right, then.

 

Hahahaha, that's a very interesting perspective.

 

I think people tend to gravitate away from super powers because they make more trouble than they're worth.

 

I think this sums it up quite well. Also, Eva's well-written response shares exactly the same perception that I do of the matter. I won't ever try to dissuade people from their choices unless they're in my own community and I think something really doesn't fit(and only then, if I feel I am close enough to them to safely make such a remark) but it's their lack of place in Eorzea that impacts my own enjoyment.

 

Riding a Behemoth or Reaper around the world as though it were natural just doesn't make sense in my eyes. Where is it supposed to stay? What are onlookers supposed to make of it? At the very, very least it would surely terrify people and that would get one into trouble not with the mere authorities, but the officials of an actual Grand Company or two.

 

In Lili's example where the Behemoth is restricted to Coerthas and therefore(I'm assuming) only used for traversing the difficult and harsh terrain out there, then it seems more acceptable. There's a lot of unoccupied territory out there so there shouldn't be a great deal of panic even if it happens long numerous civilians/soldiers.

 

It's not about imposing one's views on anyone else. It's simply a differing opinion on what seems right and lore-friendly. For 90%+ of those kinds of item descriptions, I don't personally think you're honestly supposed to take it seriously. It's just a fluff-born plug to give non-RP'ers any explanation for why the mount even exists.

 

For example(MSQ 2.0 spoiler):

 

 

The item description for when you retrieve the bodies of the fallen scions suggests that you are carrying all four at once and fitting them into your bag(the driver suggests the quantity part).

 

This is obviously something written out of jest but I don't see why mount "lore" would be taken more seriously when it's presence only exists to offer content to the users.

 

 

 

 

Emphasis on personal opinion!

[Kage]

Re: Echo I am pretty sure that the lore discussion touched base on this in Vegas a tiny bit but I don't remember completely.

 

I love you Sounsyy.

http://ffxiv-roleplayers.com/showthread.php?tid=8695&pid=117271#pid117271

 

Scions have Echo?

-NO! they do not. Cannot elaborate. Most scions have echo, because they are part of Path of the Twelve. Whereas Circle of Knowing are archons from sharlayan.

 

Circle of Knowing actually Archons?

-Circle of Knowing ARE Archons! Archons goes back multiple eras. Near end of astral era, people that remembered the past will come to eorzea and inform them that Umbral eras are coming. Those prepared people will survive. This happens repeatedly every astral era closing. Different Archons every time. Circle of Knowing BECAME archons. Tattoos on their neck will be explained 2.4

 

((I already forgot what the tattoos mean. oops. Also iirc, Circle of Knowing + Path = What we have now?))

[Havoc Snow]

Re: Echo I am pretty sure that the lore discussion touched base on this in Vegas a tiny bit but I don't remember completely.

 

I love you Sounsyy.

http://ffxiv-roleplayers.com/showthread.php?tid=8695&pid=117271#pid117271

 

Scions have Echo?

-NO! they do not. Cannot elaborate. Most scions have echo, because they are part of Path of the Twelve. Whereas Circle of Knowing are archons from sharlayan.

 

Circle of Knowing actually Archons?

-Circle of Knowing ARE Archons! Archons goes back multiple eras. Near end of astral era, people that remembered the past will come to eorzea and inform them that Umbral eras are coming. Those prepared people will survive. This happens repeatedly every astral era closing. Different Archons every time. Circle of Knowing BECAME archons. Tattoos on their neck will be explained 2.4

 

((I already forgot what the tattoos mean. oops. Also iirc, Circle of Knowing + Path = What we have now?))

I don't recall them EVER explaining what the tattoo meant in 2.4, so maybe it got pushed to 2.5? I always just assumed it meant they were an Archon and nothing more, I mean it was already established that the Circle of Knowing were all Archons in 1.0. Also yes, the Scions of the Seventh Dawn are the combined forces of the Circle of Knowing and the Path of the Twelve. The big difference though was that in the past (1.0) the Circle of Knowing had an agenda to defeat the Primals, and the Path of the Twelve had an agenda to protect and cultivate adventurers with the Echo. Now that they have become the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, the Circle of Knowing's agenda has pretty much taken over completely, and you no longer get the feeling that there are others like you in their ranks but that you are the Chosen One.

 

Back on topic however, the fact of the matter with special mounts is that RPers live in individual little bubbles where all of their story goes on for them, and only occasionally do their bubbles collide with other peoples bubbles. Just because one guy is riding around on a Behemoth doesn't necessarily mean he is aware there are 50 other people riding around on Behemoth's as well, and just because you've met all 50 other people doing it doesn't mean you should treat him any worse than the first one you met.

 

Just on Balmung alone there are HUNDREDS of RPers, we are not a small tight knit community where everyone knows what everyone else is doing, there is bound to be overlap on things that are supposed to be rare, making them not nearly as rare as they should be, but that's simply the nature of the beast.

[Sounsyy]

((I already forgot what the tattoos mean. oops. Also iirc, Circle of Knowing + Path = What we have now?))

I don't recall them EVER explaining what the tattoo meant in 2.4, so maybe it got pushed to 2.5?

 

The meaning behind the tattoo was very briefly explained in the 2.4 quest "A Simple Plan" with the arrival of Moenbryda. It wasn't said in a cutscene though if I remember correctly, but if you talked to Yda or Y'shtola while they're standing around Minfilia's desk they'd tell you. But anyways, the gist is that the tattoo signifies the wearer has achieved the highest learning on a specific subject. Kinda like earning your Doctorate IRL. Moenbryda is a specialist in aetherial manipulation and aetherytes, for example.

 

 

In 2.0 the focus is primarily on the Archons, Minfilia, and you with little acknowledgement that there are supposed to be others out there who have your gifts, and the fact that the Scions are now primarily focused on fighting Primals and Ascians, and no longer concerned with the protection and nurturing of people with the Echo it makes it feel even more like they are trying to make the PC into a special snowflake for having it.

 

As for the whole Echo thing...

In 1.0, the Path of the Twelve (as has been said already) was an organization composed entirely of people who possessed the Echo. In 2.0, the Path of the Twelve combined with the Circle of Knowing (Archons) to form the Scions of the Seventh Dawn.

 

My theory on why the Scions of the Seventh Dawn are less "Echo-focused" as you say, is because shortly after you join the Scions of the Seventh Dawn in the MSQ, the Garleans invade and kill everyone, leaving only the former Archons alive and a few scant members of the Path of the Twelve. So seeing as how really the only survivors of the MSQ "All Good Things" were Circle of Knowing members it would make sense that the Scions' goals during the majority of the MSQ are more akin to 1.0's Circle of Knowing goals.

[FreelanceWizard]

So... as those who've read the "What does your character ride?" prompt over in Character Development know, L'yhta often rides an old, patched up, heavily modified Reaper around. That's something that should raise some eyebrows, especially in places where adventurers aren't a significant part of the population (as they would be in Revenant's Toll). Despite the fact that it's painted a garish metallic gold and the rider is most definitely not wearing Garlean colors or gear, I expect and welcome people looking weirdly at it, because it is weird. I generally view it as something that NPCs view as strange, a bit scary, and somewhat off-putting, and that L'yhta is generally fairly oblivious to that. I don't see it as something that would get her attacked because it would take a lot of errors to mistake it or its rider for a Garlean, but I'm sure it results in some hassles for her entering villages, and she typically has to hide it a bit away and walk when traveling -- or, if she's really concerned about it, she'll just take her chocobo.

 

In the general sense, I don't really mind what people ride so long as they have a narrative justification for it. There's lots of stories for how one could acquire a trained coeurl, run into a baby behemoth, overfeed a chocobo, etc. Rarity doesn't bother me because we're already playing rare beings (successful adventurers, even excluding the rarity of the Echo). In much the same way that the popularity of miqo'te (by lore, rare) isn't thrown because player characters make up a tiny percentage of the Eorzean population, "special" mounts retain their rarity because their riders are a tiny percentage, too.

 

Though, honestly, that means strange mounts should probably get even more raised eyebrows than they do. However, we also have to remember, IMO, that Eorzea is weird, wild, and magical place, where gods are summoned, intelligent machines wield laser cannons, ancient clones guide people into battles with 30 foot tall genetically engineered beings from thousands of years ago, and portals open up between dimensions. Weird is the norm in many ways, I think.

[Marisa]

I've been using Sleipnir IC since the day it came out. I present it as a normal warhorse, and nobody has ever had a problem with that.

[Havoc Snow]

shortly after you join the Scions of the Seventh Dawn in the MSQ, the Garleans invade and kill everyone, leaving only the former Archons alive and a few scant members of the Path of the Twelve.

I can't believe I actually forgot about this, but yeah you make a very valid point. It's likely that most if not all the members of the Path were killed off leaving you and Minfilia as the only people left that we know about who have the Echo.

[Merri]

I'm more of a Chocobo guy, personally. Merri almost exclusively rides his bird, as they've been together for years. Since Merri was in the boat of being a 1.0 character that I did not want to be forced to artificially age five years, he wound up being one of the many adventurers time-skipped at the Battle of Carteneau. I found myself more or less adopting a variation the legacy Chocobo lore because of that, so he and his buddy are near inseparable after his return~

 

 

That being said, I'm of the mind that so long as people enjoy what they're doing and are fine with dealing with the potential IC consequences of certain characters witnessing them riding whatever they're riding, I don't mind what people choose as their mounts. Whatever people enjoy!

 

Some things just have inherent consequences, of course. For example, Merri being a Magitek Engineer for the better part of his life, owns a suit of Magitek Armor he constructed alongside his best friend, who is also an engineer. However, given the nature of armor, Merri doesn't just ride it around everywhere. Both the cost of upkeep, fuel, and the stigma attached to it are prohibitive enough as is. On top of it all, I like to take into consideration travel. Merri isn't dumb enough to ride an armor into the shroud, as he'd just wind up trampling precious plantlife and making a mess of things -- and we all know that'd simply incur greenwrath. He also doesn't ride it on Vylbrand, because transporting it over to the island would be silly.

 

Only place he's ever ridden it has been around Thanalan, and only for his own amusement. Like taking an expensive car out for an afternoon drive. Only ever leaves it in his workshop, and nowhere else~

[Tiergan]

In the general sense, I don't really mind what people ride so long as they have a narrative justification for it. There's lots of stories for how one could acquire a trained coeurl, run into a baby behemoth, overfeed a chocobo, etc. Rarity doesn't bother me because we're already playing rare beings (successful adventurers, even excluding the rarity of the Echo). In much the same way that the popularity of miqo'te (by lore, rare) isn't thrown because player characters make up a tiny percentage of the Eorzean population, "special" mounts retain their rarity because their riders are a tiny percentage, too.

 

Though, honestly, that means strange mounts should probably get even more raised eyebrows than they do. However, we also have to remember, IMO, that Eorzea is weird, wild, and magical place, where gods are summoned, intelligent machines wield laser cannons, ancient clones guide people into battles with 30 foot tall genetically engineered beings from thousands of years ago, and portals open up between dimensions. Weird is the norm in many ways, I think.

 

This.

 

I fully understand RPing your character arching a brow at someone riding something other than a chocobo around. Tiergan would be arching a brow too and wondering where the heck they got [x] beastie. All of my characters ride chocobos - seeing someone cruise by on a bomb chariot or a horse or a bear would make them boggle like nobody's business.

 

That said, I personally find it a little disheartening that something like someone riding a horse (not Odin's horse, but just a regular warhorse) or a drake, or a coeurl, a lion, or magitek armor is something that people would consider immersion breaking considering what regularly goes on in the world of the FFXIV universe.

 

To me, if everyone is riding standard yellow chocobos IC - it's boring. The variety and differences are what make RP fun. As long as people spin it in a way that doesn't break the lore, and give things some thought to really craft a great story - I feel it just spices things up and keeps things interesting.

[Sailor July]

I don't have a mount yet ;.;, but honestly, in every MMORPG, if there is said creature in the world... I don't mind one bit. I know on Guild Wars 2, there aren't horses, so I don't have my character ride a horse. 

 

If these are made up creatures, well, they're still in the world! So it's cool with me. I love 'em all, creature, machine, etc.!

[Kismet]

I'm more of a Chocobo guy, personally. Merri almost exclusively rides his bird, as they've been together for years. Since Merri was in the boat of being a 1.0 character that I did not want to be forced to artificially age five years, he wound up being one of the many adventurers time-skipped at the Battle of Carteneau. I found myself more or less adopting a variation the legacy Chocobo lore because of that, so he and his buddy are near inseparable after his return~

 

 

Aww, I never knew that was the text for the Legacy Chocobo mount! That's actually really sad! D=

 

(And God, I would kill for that mount. I don't have one because I'm one of those strange 'hybrid legacy players' that didn't sub during that final window... But they still gave me all the other rewards.  <_<  #salty)

[Berrod Armstrong]

You'd better not be!  If anyone thinks that a character shouldn't look askance at something incredibly rare (and quite likely dangerous!) they're the ones being quite silly.  I mean you're quite literally riding a monster into town.  What normal person wouldn't look askance at that? (if they were not busy running in fear, which is another potential Aya response!)

 

Chachan gets odd looks enough for walking around with what may or may not be a baby behemoth!

 

And getting odd looks is an amusing way to start RPs and possibly relationships. Chachan and Koporo's kinda-sorta grump-rivalry started over the latter's shock and alarm at Gran puttering around. I'm sure the same could be done with exotic mounts if you have the proper story behind it.

 

Something beyond "Take a look at my horse, my horse is amazing" of course. ... Though that song is obnoxiously catchy. Dangit, Weebl.

 

Just as there are a LOT of Tempered, Drowned, Touched, and whatever Titan does is called

 

If it isn't "Rocked," I'm going to be very disappointed.

 

"You've been Rocked by Titan!"

Titan actually doesn't enthrall at all -- he just protects his 'children' as best as he can .

[Havoc Snow]

You'd better not be!  If anyone thinks that a character shouldn't look askance at something incredibly rare (and quite likely dangerous!) they're the ones being quite silly.  I mean you're quite literally riding a monster into town.  What normal person wouldn't look askance at that? (if they were not busy running in fear, which is another potential Aya response!)

 

Chachan gets odd looks enough for walking around with what may or may not be a baby behemoth!

 

And getting odd looks is an amusing way to start RPs and possibly relationships. Chachan and Koporo's kinda-sorta grump-rivalry started over the latter's shock and alarm at Gran puttering around. I'm sure the same could be done with exotic mounts if you have the proper story behind it.

 

Something beyond "Take a look at my horse, my horse is amazing" of course. ... Though that song is obnoxiously catchy. Dangit, Weebl.

 

Just as there are a LOT of Tempered, Drowned, Touched, and whatever Titan does is called

 

If it isn't "Rocked," I'm going to be very disappointed.

 

"You've been Rocked by Titan!"

Titan actually doesn't enthrall at all -- he just protects his 'children' as best as he can .

According to the lore Q&A though he does enthrall, they stated that was how the Company of Heroes defeated him.

[Kellach Woods]

Likely he just doesn't do it unless provoked, whereas most of the others will actively do that.

[Gegenji]

Likely he just doesn't do it unless provoked, whereas most of the others will actively do that.

 

So he's like Ramuh, then? Ramuh struck me as a pretty chill beard elemental who doesn't really actively hunt for folks to temper.

[Aaron]

Ifrit is the best primal.

 

Is not tempered.

[MrPoopyButtHole]

I just want a mount made of lalafell slaves to use Icly.

[Kage]

I just want a mount made of lalafell slaves to use Icly.

 

:cry:

[Gegenji]

I just want a mount made of lalafell slaves to use Icly.

 

Only if I can get a Riding Roe.

[Kage]

I just want a mount made of lalafell slaves to use Icly.

 

Only if I can get a Riding Roe. [Everyone]

Fixed.

 

unless you were going for a sweet rhyme then I failed.