A Rough [Very Rough lol] Transcript of the German Gamescom Q&A
Stream Q&A starts at: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/471099646?t=02h14m27s
Edit: not official but a pretty good transcript has been posted - http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...-transcript%29
It's a rough transcript in part because I didn't want to spend forever formatting to exactly what they said and that made doubly more true because I had a fairly hard time understanding the translator at some points, not sure if her mic needed to be louder but there was some challenge there for me. If an official Q&A is produced let me know and I'll edit that link to the top because that'd be awesome lol.
Hopefully this can be helpful for those who want to know vaguely what was asked, and if something really interesting was asked you can go to the question yourself (via above stream link) if you feel like you needed the unabridged non-butchered version ;).
If you want to check what she said, or if you wanted to correct something in my loose transcript, you can use the question numbers I gave +1 to find the question on twitch. (First question slide starts at 2 on stream).
slide numbers are seen in the bottom right like this -> https://i.imgur.com/4JsbX56.png
Also a tl;dr- they're all lore questions. Which isn't too surprising but it means I'll have to decide if I want to copy paste my questions again XD.
Edit: Oh and massive spoiler warning if you haven't finished shadowbringers :p.
1. How fun to write out characters like Emet-selch, Vauthry, and Crystal Exarch?
B: Hard to say, I try to have fun anytime I write characters.. (lol)
Y: What makes it unique and cool is that you can create the fate of these characters
B: These three characters most part was created by Ishikawa so I try to be faithful to their setting when writing about them
2. Did crystal exarch stop physically aging when he merged with the tower?
B: People must have seen his face without hood.
Y: Because he's there to save the world so he has to live longer, so he infused himself into the tower and at that moment he stopped his growth and cannot age anymore. That tells how big of a decision he made was.
3. Are there hidden hints in game about the identity of our original soul?
B: Maybe some hints but I cant say anything more for now.
Y: In stormblood there are some hints here and there, if we say anything more we might take away the fun. So speculate and find out yourself. We see a theory that the origin of light is Hythlodeus (I'm going to misspell this name through the whole thread, enjoy lol), that is not the case.
4. Emet-Selch says we are of the source, seven times rejoined, is that our soul or the world? If rejoined does that mean everyone has been rejoined or are we special?
B: Each time a rejoining happens people rejoin too, not the case just for you. It happens to everyone.
Y: It's for the whole world rejoins.
5. What was difficult of adapting Viera and Hrothgar into XIV lore/story?
B: For Viera a lot of Ivalice world with help and guidance of Matsuno San (Viera creator / FF T )
B: For Hrothgar we worked hard to make them not feel like they popped up out of no where, adding space and touching upon story.
6. Ran'jit has more strength than his soldiers, but did Ran'jit get any extra strength from Sin Eaters or was it his own?
B: He learned his strength through his own intensive training and unique fighting style (being empowered by his dragon). He's from outside of Novrandt, which is gone now by the flood of light. His martial arts style is from there.
7. Did Ascian look the way we see them in Emet-Selch's illusion or is he making them look different for dramatic effect?
B: Except that they look glow-y ghost effect it was a tradition to wear that sort of outfit (robe/mask), the reason why they wear it is reminiscent of ancient tradition (?).
Y: Maybe some confusion, Ascian is not all ancient people. So those citizens in Amourot are illusions of ancient people. One thing for sure is the ancient people wore the robe like and [not that kind of mask?] (can't tell if she said positive or negative to wearing mask lol). If you're looking at them they don't have distinct features, their outline is blurry and a bit alien like but that's not the case- the actual people had distinct facial features as well and all different. They look the same as a visual representation. There is a confusion that the illusion we see of Emet looking at us looks like Hydoro-dop-o-lop-lus but that's not the case (Hydo isn't us), and the mask is different from hydro.
8. Are all Ascian / Ancient names based on greek Mythology?
B: Just to say first and for most if we say Hydo-whatever is everything about greek mythology that'd be incorrect. Might get that impression because the name sounds greek based word but whether or not the greek thinking.... translator trails off. We try to use greek names.
Y: is there a reason?
B: there is a reason for this that they can't say at the moment.
9. The Ascians in ARR are referenced as mournful voice of creation, how long was this plan for them in place?
B: We have Ascians and some concepts in 1.0, but not everything was set then.
Y: We had some general ideas back then but these things were added to. When developing Ascians Oda San went back to make sure to carry all these facts forward (so it was seamless).
10. What's the true name of Lahabrea?
Y: NOPE
11. Elidibus referred as Lahabrea as unique, did he have less favorable judgement of some of their colleagues in recent years?
B: More details about this will be revealed in the future story development, the plot has already been submitted to Yoshida and Yoshida is reviewing it. If he green lights it, then we will explore this stuff more.
Y: This ties closely to future story, not much more we can say. I believe there is respect between them, Lahabrea is a workaholic and there is more care than judgement with Elidibus.
12. Tell us a little bit on the decision to bring Gaius back.
B: We thought it was time to learn more about the Garlean empire. Similar case is that Estinien to help tell the story of Ishgard.
Y: ARR you remember a big explosion and people thought if he died or not, and we thought "we don't know" but that if he did died they thought they would tell players.. And they purposefully left it vague which allowed them to use him later.
13. We've seen a lot of Garlean men of the Imperial family, what of the women?
B: Its coincidence that so many men appear, and of course they exist and they are not kept in the background. The wife of Varius died after she gave birth to Zenos, so she's out. The only possibility would be to talk about her in side story.
Y: We have plan to release side story on lodestone. (not sure if that means it'll be about the wife specifically but yeah side story will be coming at some point lol)
14. In the Chrysalis the meteor phase of the fight has a crystal formation similar to the tower, as well as a figure that looks like Hydaelyn's portrayal. Could you please tell us what is going on there and why the Ascians chose to portray scenes of both gods?
B: The cave painting was not done by Ascians, it was done by a person who had memory of before - probably through a dream and then made a mural. The reason why the crystal shape is used for Ascian related things is because they're based on the Zodiark crystal (that purple crystal, vs our nice purty blue one- blue team ftw ;)).
15. Will we ever learn who or what Sabik is? (Heart of Sabik powers ARR ultima attack)
B: Secret, but the source of power is tied with the next storyline.. Maybe. Maybe not.
16. Over time jobs have been adjusted, causing a drift from the story of the job, do you see any chance in the future to re-align them?
Y: Yeah we know.. you're right.. through changes we see the gap created and we are aware of it.. we sort of give it a blind eye but also acknowledge that it exists and is a challenge. If we adjust the story and then adjust the action and then adjust the story and then.. then..
17. None of the new job actions get any lore in the game, I would like to know about them.
Y: We decided not to because of the above question's answer- if we make story and then have to make changes it creates a lot of issues.
18. We have little info on the keeper of the moon or duskwight clans, how about more?
B: If we start adding quest or info on one group and not the other then people will ask why their race didn't get attention. This makes it difficult.
19. In naming conventions for keeper of the moon it stated some family surnames have survived since the first astral era. Can you tell us about that?
Y: People are pretty sharp to observe such things.
B: People who remembered the battle of Hyd and Zodiark... and then something that didn't make sense. Hard to understand. Using words to employ meaning to their names or something lol. You can have a listen here: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/471099646?t=02h56m45s
20. FFXIV civilizations have been influenced by Mayans, Aztecz, etc, etc, is there any culture influence you haven't done that you would like to do?
B: when we make new areas or countries we often have influence from real history, as for the next we can't say as it would be a big spoiler
Y: For FFXIV it's super fun to have world history and culture, we can't give any hint because people will go in and search that.
21. As an aspiring fantasy writer, what is your process, how far in advance do you plot your outlines?
B: It preference and it wont always really apply to others, so keep that in mind but- he starts with the core factor of the story (what kind of story), it feels better if there is a key message that can be summarized into one line, like HW the story is about the dragons and humans which has lasted for a millennia. Then elaborates, and questions like what, why, details, and make answers for all these questions. Then the order the questions are answered. For characters they are created for their roles and what they are needed for, like to help tell certain perspectives and stories. The amount of writing depends on how much he needs to concentrate on other things. Back in HW he was able to create 10 quests in one day.
Y: The team plans out the msq just after the recent expansion, creating two years of content, top line details. They lock themselves in and come up with ideas for the next plot. For Shadowbringers the theme and driving back the light with dark was decided in 2017. While working on patches they also come up with lots of ideas for the future.
22. Will there be another colab between Banri Oda and Natsuko Ishikawa for MSQ?
B: As long as I don't get fired I will be working on MSQ, but speaking of writers not only Natsuko but others are working on it.
Y: For the MSQ it's important and you need a high skill, more than side quests. However, those two people who are in the scenario team gain experience and while working on the patch scenario they try to skills for that and in a same position as Oda and Ishikawa.. (What?) lol. The difficult point of cultivating a carrier in gaming, for Yoshida too, he wants to think of everyone's carrier path and wants to get people new challenges and grow. If people really want to work on it then of course its good but it's also important to give the team support to work outside of FF14 if they want (so they can challenge and grow, and SE can keep talent happy lol). [Sounds like maybe Ishikawa wants to go into one of the other FF games or something. They didn't say that, just my strong vibe and this sort of evasive "maybe/no"/long explanation- although it's a nice explanation as it shows SE is trying to both grow, keep, and keep happy their talent. That's good.]
23. Are there any plans Eorezea Encyclopedia III?
B: Would you like one? [like one person says yes, basically lol]
Y: Do you want the new one?? [weak crowd clap XD]
B: He'll pass it onto the publisher, but it's tough work and he gets no revenue for all that hard work.
Y: It's a rare opportunity to create your own book, it's a good chance! (lol talking back to "I don't get paid for it" hahaha)
B: Before he joined FF14 he worked for a publisher company, had no experience publishing his own hardcover book and with experience with FF14 he has and that's been one of his dreams.
Y: If you can work on it without affecting MSQ... ..
B: Let me carefully think about this. (rofl)