So New years event npc is a viera boy because the rabbit year...

Fel Cleave intensifies

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Originally Posted by Avoidy

It's a shame.

I genuinely wonder if it's because of how hard the bozja storyline was slammed by critics. Like, what if instead of attributing it to poor presentation, a dull buildup, a writing style that barely tries to pull you in, and an unsatisfying (borderline enraging) conclusion, they just assume people hated it because there were lots of burly hrothchads? Can you imagine? What if they perceive boybuns as just an easy win? A slam dunk, if you will, because their perception of male viera fans is "oh they'll just enjoy anything," but the one time they went all in on the hroth stuff they got panned so hard that they had to kind of finish it in a tweet and the writer behind it hopped on a train and left.

This isn't a call to never be critical again, mind you. This is just me loosely wondering if we'll ever see serious hroth centered side-content ever again or if bozja will have left such a sour taste in everyone's mouth that the devs will be too paranoid to utilize anything but dainty pretty boys from here on out unless it's hildibrand. God, can you imagine an MSQ quest where we force feed Graha a fantasia and turn him into a hrothgar instead? Because something in the plot demands it, of course. Or maybe into a male roegadyn? Or a male au ra? Haha. Imagine. Anyway

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I have several theories, a lot of which might only be true in hindsight.

- The devs genuinely don't care to listen about feedback about XYZ content and prefer ABC content, thus they cherrypick what they want to focus on and make up excuses for the rest
- The devs were too busy dealing with lost time and resources to Covid and FF16 (don't even @ me, we know we lost members of the dev team to 16, so production for 14 was definitely affected) to properly make something. And now that that got screwed over they'd rather just bulldoze through it like nothing happened.
- The writer leaving the project due to creative differences was problematic as it was and led to issues where they didn't have anyone willing to touch on the story from then on
- They wrote themselves into a corner and likely don't know what to make of it and its future
- They weren't expecting the storyline to factor into anything else
- Feedback from fans overall was lukewarm at best, so they just ditched it and assumed that lack of popularity for an item was tantamount to every time we told them "X content isn't popular, stop caring for it"...

None may be true, every one may be partly true, who knows.

One thing is certain though. There's no major representation for Hrothgar. Not even Runar counts, as Y'shtola literally never says his name out loud despite being her main motivation for searching for a way to return to the First. It's not curiosity alone that drives her, she always specifies to people who never met Runar that she wants to keep a promise. And even if he did, he's literally off in another world. Viera at least have Erenville as a representative of their race (gender nonwithstanding) in the Source. And they got him when Male Viera numbers hadn't reached the same amount as Hrothgar yet; they do now, according to the census, but even earlier at the middle of this year during the Hrothgar hairstyle fiasco, they did not outnumber us.
So Bozja? They wash their hands of the whole deal. Even freaking Eureka had more of an impact in Sharlayan dialogues, whereas Bozja doesn't in Garlemald. Which is odd because THAT'S WHERE CID'S DAD DIED.

This, coupled with how they've handled the race overall, just goes to show favouritism and neglect.

It's just a shame that Square Enix isn't giving half a darn about this race. If they even cared, communication would have been far better and certain things would have been handled better. But alas: no such thing happened. And odds are no such thing will.

Oh well. Happy new year's I guess. I just hope that it won't take 3 more "happy new year"-es after Femgars are released for us to see anything done for us again.

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Originally Posted by Avoidy

It's a shame.

I genuinely wonder if it's because of how hard the bozja storyline was slammed by critics. Like, what if instead of attributing it to poor presentation, a dull buildup, a writing style that barely tries to pull you in, and an unsatisfying (borderline enraging) conclusion, they just assume people hated it because there were lots of burly hrothchads? Can you imagine? What if they perceive boybuns as just an easy win? A slam dunk, if you will, because their perception of male viera fans is "oh they'll just enjoy anything," but the one time they went all in on the hroth stuff they got panned so hard that they had to kind of finish it in a tweet and the writer behind it hopped on a train and left.

This isn't a call to never be critical again, mind you. This is just me loosely wondering if we'll ever see serious hroth centered side-content ever again or if bozja will have left such a sour taste in everyone's mouth that the devs will be too paranoid to utilize anything but dainty pretty boys from here on out unless it's hildibrand. God, can you imagine an MSQ quest where we force feed Graha a fantasia and turn him into a hrothgar instead? Because something in the plot demands it, of course. Or maybe into a male roegadyn? Or a male au ra? Haha. Imagine. Anyway

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I mean its kinda telling when you see a TON and I mean a BUTTLOAD of positive reception and love to somebody like Erenville whom had such a miniscule role in EW where people attribute him to be such a great character when really he doesnt have much interesting going on for him. He's cool and he has an appealing look for sure but what about the other minor characters whom had just as much screentime if not even more. What about Julius, what about Matsya, what about Nidhana or Kokkol or Wilfsunn and Bloewyda? Little to no attention is given to them in the community despite having the same amount of impact as Erenville.

Oh well its just telling that people really only care about a character if they conform to the standards of whats "hot" anyway. I try to not let it bother me too much.

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Originally Posted by Atelier-Bagur

what about Matsya, what about Nidhana

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Hey, I prefer those two over any other NPC in the Endwalker MSQ :(

Nidhana is just the best person ever and deserves all the hugs. Damned be Fandango for putting her in that tower.
And Matsya had one of the most heart-stirring scenes in the whole expansion, especially after something done for the shock as Vanaspati and the mother bit.

Could just be because Hrothgar aren't native to Othard, where the Far-East and the whole group celebrating the holiday are from, but Viera are. Bozja is in Ilsabard and their culture is based on the Slavs. Last I checked, Bosnia doesn't celebrate Far-Eastern New Years traditions.


I don't think there's bias against Hrothgar from the devs and that feels like this is creeping into conspiracy theory territory. Last expansion had a whole storyline surrounding the race and their homeland on the Source. The Viis may have had some MSQ spotlight, but the Viera as a whole have not. Erenville and Loifa did pop up in EW, but so did playable male Viera so it makes sense for them to sprinkle a couple into the game here and there, otherwise there would be no male Viera NPCs at all.

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Originally Posted by Midareyukki

Hey, I prefer those two over any other NPC in the Endwalker MSQ :(

Nidhana is just the best person ever and deserves all the hugs. Damned be Fandango for putting her in that tower.
And Matsya had one of the most heart-stirring scenes in the whole expansion, especially after something done for the shock as Vanaspati and the mother bit.

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Those two arkasadora are the most precious things ever to have existed in this game. And they're flippin elephant people. I love them~

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Originally Posted by MikkoAkure

Could just be because Hrothgar aren't native to Othard, where the Far-East and the whole group celebrating the holiday are from, but Viera are. Bozja is in Ilsabard and their culture is based on the Slavs. Last I checked, Bosnia doesn't celebrate Far-Eastern New Years traditions.


I don't think there's bias against Hrothgar from the devs and that feels like this is creeping into conspiracy theory territory. Last expansion had a whole storyline surrounding the race and their homeland on the Source. The Viis may have had some MSQ spotlight, but the Viera as a whole have not. Erenville and Loifa did pop up in EW, but so did playable male Viera so it makes sense for them to sprinkle a couple into the game here and there, otherwise there would be no male Viera NPCs at all.

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Technically, Viera are as far removed from Othard as they can get culture-wise due to them being so isolated.

Also, they come from the lands around Ivalice, which is loosely based on India and some additional middle eastern stuff. They're otherwise cut off from Othard via mountains, the nation of Valnain and, again, isolation.

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Originally Posted by MikkoAkure

Either way, I don't think Hrothgar nor Viera could even wear the New Years helmets and it would be a bit awkward to have an NPC running the thing who can't wear the quest reward regardless.

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They can't. It's why there's no NY Helmet this time >: D

Also o,o I thought Valnain itself was the region, and that Léa Monde was the city.

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Originally Posted by Midareyukki

Technically, Viera are as far removed from Othard as they can get culture-wise due to them being so isolated.

Also, they come from the lands around Ivalice, which is loosely based on India and some additional middle eastern stuff. They're otherwise cut off from Othard via mountains, the nation of Valnain and, again, isolation.

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Valnain isn't a nation, that's a port city that's still a part of Dalmasca and would probably have Viera in it as well. Living in a port city near-ish to Hingashi is still closer than any Hrothgar gets to the Far-East. Especially considering the closest port city to Valnain is Kugane, where the event NPCs are from.

Either way, I don't think Hrothgar nor Viera could even wear the New Years helmets and it would be a bit awkward to have an NPC running the thing who can't wear the quest reward regardless.

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Originally Posted by Midareyukki

Also o,o I thought Valnain itself was the region, and that Léa Monde was the city.

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Dalmasca is so large that the Garleans made 2 regions of it: Dalmasca Superior and Dalmasca Inferior. That might be what you're thinking of. Valnain shows up on maps and is also in cutscenes in the Bozja quests. It was the IVth Legion's capital as well and where Schrodinger's legatus, Gabranth is simultaneously dead and not dead until a story comes back to it, or not. It was described in the lore book as the major port city at the very least and is also in the jungle where the Viera live too.

From what I remember, Lea Monde was supposed to be a regional capital, but it was never on the maps and seems to have disappeared from the narrative in favor of Valnain.

The Bugyo isn't even the Viera. It's a Male Roe.

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Originally Posted by Milus

https://tenor.com/pt-BR/view/the-dar...y-gif-18212973o_o what happened here...

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Hats lol always hats

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Originally Posted by ronibosch

As much as I like male Viera, it's weird that we got back to back events starring one in the main role. It would've been nice if a Hrothgar was the main NPC for the 2022 Starlight event.

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Aren't male viera supposed to be like really rare in the lore or something like that?

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Originally Posted by SturmChurro

Aren't male viera supposed to be like really rare in the lore or something like that?

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Yeah, but i guess JP(and others) loves them, so screw the lore!

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Originally Posted by SturmChurro

Aren't male viera supposed to be like really rare in the lore or something like that?

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Tbf they threw that out with miqo'te too. IIRC it's supposed to be pretty rare seeing a male miqo outside of his tribe.

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Originally Posted by Zebraoracle

Tbf they threw that out with miqo'te too. IIRC it's supposed to be pretty rare seeing a male miqo outside of his tribe.

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Yup very rare to see male miq

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Originally Posted by Misplaced_Marbles

Yeah, but i guess JP(and others) loves them, so screw the lore!

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Is that why they look like ladies?

Weren't the male cat guys also supposed to be rare to. Female Ronso must be very rare since haven't seen one yet.

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Originally Posted by Atelier-Bagur

Au Ra being the groomers hahahaha thats a new one for me

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Dark Knight storyline.

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Originally Posted by Conadrium

Dark Knight storyline.

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Saving her from being murdered by her own fanatical mother is grooming?

Erm, I think the male au ra being groomers is from a controversy about a FC leader grooming an actual minor who had a female miqo'te helping him out. At least that's what I read some time ago.

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Originally Posted by Misplaced_Marbles

Yeah, but i guess JP(and others) loves them, so screw the lore!

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*sighs*

I swear, I have to give this statement almost once every 3-4 months.

By the game story accounts, the player character is the only one of that rare race that will be accounted for in lore. You do not see any other players in story cutscenes in highly populated areas, you don't see them in dungeon cutscenes (outside of entrance, duty complete, and rofl Prae). As far as the game is concerned, no other player exists but yours. Thus, it does not break the lore of the world.

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Originally Posted by Bunnycake

Erm, I think the male au ra being groomers is from a controversy about a FC leader grooming an actual minor who had a female miqo'te helping him out. At least that's what I read some time ago.

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Aye. I've heard that too. I think it requires more than one person to do a thing for a stereotype to form and yet this guy managed to do it all by himself. I'd be impressed if I was absolutely disgusted by his actions.

Other adventurers exist, but other players are non-canon. Depending on the instance, you're either going it solo, picking up some random friends/mercs/Grand Company recruits who just happen to be around, or from ShB onward, the Scions were with you.

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Originally Posted by RyuDragnier

*sighs*

I swear, I have to give this statement almost once every 3-4 months.

By the game story accounts, the player character is the only one of that rare race that will be accounted for in lore. You do not see any other players in story cutscenes in highly populated areas, you don't see them in dungeon cutscenes (outside of entrance, duty complete, and rofl Prae). As far as the game is concerned, no other player exists but yours. Thus, it does not break the lore of the world.

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That may be true, but I'm fairly certain that even not counting seasonal event ones, I've seen more male Viera npc, or Viera in general, that I've seen Hrothgar - they're all locked up in Bozja, apparently.

Also, I thought the Au Ra thing was because the males are practically twice the height of the females

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Originally Posted by Renalt

Aye. I've heard that too. I think it requires more than one person to do a thing for a stereotype to form and yet this guy managed to do it all by himself. I'd be impressed if I was absolutely disgusted by his actions.

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'-' by those standards, the Au Ra guy who kept asking for a Miqo'te wife on PF in Zodiark back in Stormblood should have been a wider meme...

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Originally Posted by Bunnycake

Erm, I think the male au ra being groomers is from a controversy about a FC leader grooming an actual minor who had a female miqo'te helping him out. At least that's what I read some time ago.

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Really? I thought it was because of the massive size difference and au ra females having rather young/teen looking faces in comparison to the males. I remember my bf having to bow down to hug me, kind of like a dad or grandpa xD.

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Originally Posted by SassyAssassin

Really? I thought it was because of the massive size difference and au ra females having rather young/teen looking faces in comparison to the males. I remember my bf having to bow down to hug me, kind of like a dad or grandpa xD.

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I've heard the stereotype that male Au Ra players are groomers for a long time now in the RP community. Something about the race tending to gather those types, just like the stereotype that Lalafell players are jerks.

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Originally Posted by Midareyukki

'-' by those standards, the Au Ra guy who kept asking for a Miqo'te wife on PF in Zodiark back in Stormblood should have been a wider meme...

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Ok that's just amazing. I've never thought of using the PF as a means of Tinder.

An "in a nutshell" version would be: imagine if the main Scions were treated not even like the B team, but like the randos who died at the Waking Sands at lv 34 - it's a trope, sacrificial lion I think? where they kill off a strong character to show how bad the bad guy is, but it was done in such a sloppy way that the average player's reaction was "meh"

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Originally Posted by Allegor

An "in a nutshell" version would be: imagine if the main Scions were treated not even like the B team, but like the randos who died at the Waking Sands at lv 34 - it's a trope, sacrificial lion I think? where they kill off a strong character to show how bad the bad guy is, but it was done in such a sloppy way that the average player's reaction was "meh"

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The thing with that analogy is that the Blades aren't the main Scions, they are the randoms who died at level 34 – introduced early, looked kind of important at least in an ensemble way, got killed off unexpectedly early as a gut punch. They weren't killed off because they're Hrothgar; they're Hrothgar because the majority of the cast there is Hrothgar, and because it would be strange for them not to be.

The Scion equivalents – the lead characters introduced at the beginning and surviving through to the end – are Marsak and Bajsaljen.

Also, Rostik is a bit of a special case because he drifts in and out of a few different plotlines: he's Thancred's mentor, he appears in the GNB questline and he is in the MSQ for the Garlemald infiltration force.

Jesus christ, the lengths you go to to die on this hill...

Man, the lengths people go to to discount the perceptions and feelings of the vast majority of an entire player base of a race. It's wild.

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Originally Posted by Iscah

The thing with that analogy is that the Blades aren't the main Scions, they are the randoms who died at level 34 – introduced early, looked kind of important at least in an ensemble way, got killed off unexpectedly early as a gut punch. They weren't killed off because they're Hrothgar; they're Hrothgar because the majority of the cast there is Hrothgar, and because it would be strange for them not to be.

The Scion equivalents – the lead characters introduced at the beginning and surviving through to the end – are Marsak and Bajsaljen.

Also, Rostik is a bit of a special case because he drifts in and out of a few different plotlines: he's Thancred's mentor, he appears in the GNB questline and he is in the MSQ for the Garlemald infiltration force.

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No...? they are most defintiely the 'main Scions' because as Blades they were the elite of the elite, even if to us they were Random Soldier #52412 we saw once, that was my point - to US they were unimportant, but to the resistance and Bozja as a culture, it was as if they just lost Aymeric or Raubahn, so it most definitely shouldn't have felt "meh" that they were all killed off like that.

Marsak and Bajsaljen ere important characters, sure, but in the bigger picture, they're Hoary Boulder and Coultenet, at most

damn.., this thread did kinda divert slightly from what it originally was..,
<not a bad thing of course, since it's all adjacent..,>

I have yet to do complete bozja<got full recollection, but got blocked by not having done the 1st DR>

But even if one didn't take the story into account or the lack of well executed usage of Hrothgar Lore/Representation. one could see the various examples, and the shellshocking 1st of April as signs of how SE didn't seem to be on the same Wavelength with this race, than they typically do with the rest of the story.

Had they messed up that little miscommunication of story in EW or MSQ, the majority of the community would have started tearing into them.

As one anticipating a potential Rothgal Alt, I sure hope they get their acts/chapters together. It's sad they messed up pretty badly<putting it lightly> in this races relevant content. Had this been in any other section of the game in terms of story(even more players would be incensed about the topic in general. Reminds me how some recently got mad how their RPR lvl cap was not referenced at all, unless you played it exactly during that dialog without prior notice. Though different, Hrothgars have a Tower getting top heavy/Balanced on a single piece, if it hasn't tipped over in a fully negative way yet.)

Hopefully the Hrothgars now consistent feedback does well positively for both the players and devs.(and hopefully when I got the time, and get that DR done I can keep going and enjoy the rest of Bozjan Lore without road blocks)

A what gar?

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Originally Posted by Pratini

A what gar?

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Eugh! Why is this Hrothgar child bald?! Someone fetch her some tonic, her fur dropped all over the floor alongside her sense of humour!

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Originally Posted by Midareyukki

Eugh! Why is this Hrothgar child bald?! Someone fetch her some tonic, her fur dropped all over the floor alongside her sense of humour!

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Minoxidil, now for cats.

https://i.ibb.co/3vbcPFw/fibYBsa.png

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Originally Posted by Renalt

https://i.ibb.co/3vbcPFw/fibYBsa.png

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Same energy
https://images3.memedroid.com/images...8fb30978a.jpeg

Ok you got me with that one. That one seriously made me LOL.

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Originally Posted by LianaThorne

Thank you for confirming what I was referring to. I think the only race that doesn't have a disgusting stereotype attached to them are Hyurs and maybe Elezen, unless you count them being called boring and giraffes respectively as disgusting.

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As far as NPCs and non RPers go, I actually love every race in this game. However, there are certain races that attract certain types of people in RP circles in my experience. I have had considerable trouble from people playing one sort of race/clan/gender to the point where I'd avoid characters of that type in RP settings--but also one of my favorite characters is that race/clan/gender.

But also it's not just this game, every MMO I've ever played, everyone shits on everyone for anything. Race/clan/faction, etc. Hell, back in my MxO days, if you were with the Zion faction, you were considered boring by the Machines and Mervs.