Valentines day event fail

I think honestly the reason why I'm upset about the results is fourfold

1. People don't actually care and just wanted the red suit because most are too lazy to go and get red dye, or they don't read the quest text anyway.
2. Astrid was already a known character + a girl so all but gureenteed.
3. Looking at the other two quest conclusions, they all fail but at least the other two are "funny". Bert's ends up with him actually getting a new hobby (by mistake!) and blue guy has him being helped with hygiene. This one has him being essicentally a slave in an abusive relationship....
4. The other two didn't win anywhere else, which seeing them would have been a perfect use of World Visit or alts, but nah.

I'm really disappointed, because Astrid's advice was the absolute worst and it ended predictably bad. Marcette is an awful woman and doesn't treat anyone as a human... poor Ywain. It wasn't funny at all. I would have much rather see him find friendship with Beatin or Sylvie.

I only voted for Astrid since she was closest after I read the quest. I don't bother reading text of events I don't like.

I picked blue because I'm not a sucker for child and/or female characters and Lyse was enough walking nepotism for me to stomach. Yellow felt like it would lead to something boring and I found blue's surgical approach refreshing and interesting.

But, we all knew who would win, and I wonder if the people writing the others scenarios thought to themselves "Why am I doing this again?"

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Originally Posted by myahele

Not surprising that the only girl won. She faced against a Highlander and an Elezen which aren't liked by many people.

On the plus side, I found out that Geva is married and with 2 children so thats a nice bit of new information.

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The information about Geva already had children is already available elswhere (I think may be Leatherworker quest) but yeah, Ywain deserve better, I feel sorry for the guy and regret voting for Astrid.....

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Originally Posted by Tsumdere

I'm really disappointed, because Astrid's advice was the absolute worst and it ended predictably bad. Marcette is an awful woman and doesn't treat anyone as a human... poor Ywain. It wasn't funny at all. I would have much rather see him find friendship with Beatin or Sylvie.

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Because it's hilarious when the abuser is a woman! /s

I mean really, I wouldn't have a problem with it if Ywain even hinted that newly found kink of his, and Lisette saying lots of guys loving being treated like lackeys after I chose "I worry for the man..." didn't help.

I may just be overthinking this, but there's being the assertive one, and then there's being treated like someone's...slang for female dog, and that's totally how Marcette is going to treat him.

I just voted for Astrid because I didn't care about the event. I just do it for w/e items are available, then forget about it. Astrid winning isn't a surprise, this 'is' Final Fantasy.

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Originally Posted by Allegor

Because it's hilarious when the abuser is a woman! /s

I mean really, I wouldn't have a problem with it if Ywain even hinted that newly found kink of his, and Lisette saying lots of guys loving being treated like lackeys after I chose "I worry for the man..." didn't help.

I may just be overthinking this, but there's being the assertive one, and then there's being treated like someone's...slang for female dog, and that's totally how Marcette is going to treat him.

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Yeah, it's one thing if the guy likes that or Marcette actually had feelings for him but it was literally "oh boy! A new slave!!"

It simply cheapens Ywain as a character. They should stop involving serious characters in seasonal events, ideally.

I chose Rodrigault and I am happy knowing it was ultimately the best choice for a real chance at love. He would have lead Ywain to someone who could have legitimately helped him. Instead Ywain becomes a victim. Great Job SE. You're perpetuating stereotypes and advocating male relationship abuse for a laugh..

Astrid's idea was TERRIBLE. How is this acceptable? How did this pass QA? (emphasis mine)

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MARCETTE

Hmm...? You there! Yes, you with the vapid, empty stare on your face and the sack of animal hides in your meaty paw. Open that bag at once and show me the contents! Now!

YWAIN

Me? B-But of course. These are the skins of a variety of beasts procured by members of my guild in the vicinity of the Gelmorra Ruins. I daresay there are some rare specimens among...

MARCETTE

I do not recall asking for commentary! Have you ever heard the saying, “It's better to keep your mouth closed and let the whole realm assume you are a fool and a half-wit, than open your mouth and remove all doubt”?

Allow me to translate for your feeble mind: shut your maw, grab that sack, and come along with me, Research Assistant Seven Hundred and Eleven!

YWAIN

Research assistant...?

MARCETTE

Is he talking again? Why, oh why do they insist on talking? As of today, you have the honor of joining Marcette, realm-renowned naturalist and esteemed authoress of the New Eorzean Geographic on her latest expedition into the unknown!

So do be silent and come along now, Research Assistant One Hundred and Twenty-four! And try to pick up the pace, will you? Science waits for no man, especially not some meathead like yourself!

YWAIN

W-Wait a moment...just what is the meaning of─? I said, pray wait!

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Bad humor is bad.

Honestly we should have been able to see all three of their suggestions in action and THEN vote for the "winner". That way everyone can see everything in this event and still vote for their favorite.

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Originally Posted by Deceptus

I chose Rodrigault and I am happy knowing it was ultimately the best choice for a real chance at love. He would have lead Ywain to someone who could have legitimately helped him. Instead Ywain becomes a victim. Great Job SE. You're perpetuating stereotypes and advocating male relationship abuse for a laugh..

Astrid's idea was TERRIBLE. How is this acceptable? How did this pass QA? (emphasis mine)

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You're correct in that it's terrible, though a lot of forms of Japanese media (be it movies, video-games or anime) do indeed push the idea of emotional and/or physical abuse being directed at men as something that is hilarious. In this case it's particularly unsettling as Ywain is a serious character and someone who has taught the Warrior of Light valuable techniques that led to the very world itself being spared from destruction.

He's certainly deserving of being treated with more dignity. Worse yet, the protagonists in this game spend a significant amount of their time lecturing others about what is 'right' and 'wrong' only for something like this to be implemented...with absolutely no in-universe backlash whatsoever.

Honestly, my problem with how the event ended isn't that Astrid won by a landslide across all servers for whatever reason, or the fact that Lisette still shows immense bias to her.

It's that all three of the quest's endings, quite frankly, suck.

All three wind up with Ywain the butt of a joke and the emissaries both failing in executing on their advice, as well as failing to find him an actual solution. Sure, there's an argument one would've gotten closer than the other, but it ends up remaining a fact that the guy wasn't really helped in the end. There's even an argument to be made that any one of the outcomes made his situation worse.

And this would be fine if Lisette then turned around and actually reprimanded the supposed Emissary of Love for it and decided to hoist it all on her own shoulders for the year regardless, but she doesn't. She pretends everything's fine when it's clearly not, and she gives the title to someone undeserving regardless. Sure, the nepotism argument makes some sense for Astrid, but not the other two, and even then, they didn't go hard enough on the comedy factor for it to really count in Astrid's route.

I just wanted an actual resolution to the event, regardless of who won. This really wasn't it, in my opinion.

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Originally Posted by Theodric

You're correct in that it's terrible, though a lot of forms of Japanese media (be it movies, video-games or anime) do indeed push the idea of emotional and/or physical abuse being directed at men as something that is hilarious. In this case it's particularly unsettling as Ywain is a serious character and someone who has taught the Warrior of Light valuable techniques that led to the very world itself being spared from destruction.

He's certainly deserving of being treated with more dignity. Worse yet, the protagonists in this game spend a significant amount of their time lecturing others about what is 'right' and 'wrong' only for something like this to be implemented...with absolutely no in-universe backlash whatsoever.

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Isn't that research assistant character like a side quest giver who treats you the exact same way? I don't think I would go so far as seeing it as "being abused" either way.

Yeah, here:
https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodes...t/18b33b5b919/

She actually just wants him to do her sidequest, and isn't interested in a relationship.

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Originally Posted by SturmChurro

Isn't that research assistant character like a side quest giver who treats you the exact same way? I don't think I would go so far as seeing it as "being abused" either way.

Yeah, here:
https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodes...t/18b33b5b919/

She actually just wants him to do her sidequest, and isn't interested in a relationship.

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The game never accepts that it's inappropriate for Ywain to be treated that way and there's a track record of the game taking a firm stance against men being emotionally or physical abusive towards female characters, to the point where there is always punishment inflicted upon the offending parties in such cases.

It may or may not lead to Ywain actually getting into a relationship with Marcette, though the game certainly pushes it as the intention and something Astrid and Lisette take pride in. Something tells me Lisette would never allow Astrid to be treated in such a manner, but even if you pick the least disapproving option of Ywain's circumstances in dialogue it'd just hand-waved away.

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Originally Posted by Theodric

You're correct in that it's terrible, though a lot of forms of Japanese media (be it movies, video-games or anime) do indeed push the idea of emotional and/or physical abuse being directed at men as something that is hilarious. In this case it's particularly unsettling as Ywain is a serious character and someone who has taught the Warrior of Light valuable techniques that led to the very world itself being spared from destruction.

He's certainly deserving of being treated with more dignity. Worse yet, the protagonists in this game spend a significant amount of their time lecturing others about what is 'right' and 'wrong' only for something like this to be implemented...with absolutely no in-universe backlash whatsoever.

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Good ol' East/West mentality divide. Cases like Haurchefant were changed out of precaution. No such precaution was taken here, and look at the forums go.

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Originally Posted by Gula

Good ol' East/West mentality divide. Cases like Haurchefant were changed out of precaution. No such precaution was taken here, and look at the forums go.

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I'm out of the loop here, what happened with Haurchefant?

I liked the conclusion to the event. I agree Astrid choice was bad, but she is very young so I was hoping she would make a mistake and learn from it...which you know was a somewhat of a success since he is now an unwilling researchers assistance to Marcette. Who knows what will happen next, I’m hoping maybe they’ll bring them back next year for love council or at least get Marcette to open up to Ywain.

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Originally Posted by Ammokkx

I'm out of the loop here, what happened with Haurchefant?

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He was t h i r s t y for the WoL

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Originally Posted by Theodric

The game never accepts that it's inappropriate for Ywain to be treated that way and there's a track record of the game taking a firm stance against men being emotionally or physical abusive towards female characters, to the point where there is always punishment inflicted upon the offending parties in such cases.

It may or may not lead to Ywain actually getting into a relationship with Marcette, though the game certainly pushes it as the intention and something Astrid and Lisette take pride in. Something tells me Lisette would never allow Astrid to be treated in such a manner, but even if you pick the least disapproving option of Ywain's circumstances in dialogue it'd just hand-waved away.

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It does, that's why they chose her probably (an obnoxious past quest giver). My character has always been a female and from what I vaguely remember of that quest when I did it, she treated my character the exact same way as what I read here (I haven't logged into the game today yet). It's supposed to be funny because Astrid and Lisette are dumb, and have no idea how to actually make a match even though they claim they are match makers or whatever. Actually, that would be the joke of the whole event, none of them know what they are doing despite claiming they are "match makers" or whatever. I think people are really stretching here.

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Originally Posted by Allegor

He was t h i r s t y for the WoL

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I looked it up and... my god...

...that's absolutely hilarious. I'm sad they changed that, the man's bold and knows what he wants.

It irrationally frustrates me that other voters lack of caring (which has been admitted several times in this very thread) affects my gameplay and quest outcome.

Make a stupid popularity contest for the costumes and decorations if you must but don't let it decide which cutscenes I see in the game. I play this game for story, immersion, and atmosphere- that is what is important to me and that shouldn't be affected by others.

I literally had to seek out an outside source website to determine the outcome of the event from the other choices and that doesn't sit very well with me.

Please reconsider this for events in the future.

I'm glad the quest text for Astrid's result is available:

https://ffxiv.gamerescape.com/wiki/Astrid%27s_Acumen

Now I don't have to endure the quest itself.

This is not cool, SE. Playing abuse for laughs and even hinting that men LIKE to be abused is over the line. Reverse the genders and this would never have seen the light of day.

If you think I'm taking this too seriously because it's "just a game," then fine. You're entitled to your opinion. For me, I refuse to even complete the quest.

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Originally Posted by Teeko

It irrationally frustrates me that other voters lack of caring (which has been admitted several times in this very thread) affects my gameplay and quest outcome.

Make a stupid popularity contest for the costumes and decorations if you must but don't let it decide which cutscenes I see in the game. I play this game for story, immersion, and atmosphere- that is what is important to me and that shouldn't be affected by others.

I literally had to seek out an outside source website to determine the outcome of the event from the other choices and that doesn't sit very well with me.

Please reconsider this for events in the future.

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Yeah that's definitely one of my complaints. Sure, some of the events are dumb (I barely remember Heavensturn) but I love the bit of lore we get in each, and some of the funny interactions.

Their ideas and outcomes were all terrible.
Anyway, I just think it's a silly little event so I wouldn't take it too seriously.

If this is true, it is very disappointing to hear. I would also like to see the voting results for each NPC on the servers.

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Originally Posted by Deceptus

I chose Rodrigault and I am happy knowing it was ultimately the best choice for a real chance at love. He would have lead Ywain to someone who could have legitimately helped him. Instead Ywain becomes a victim. Great Job SE. You're perpetuating stereotypes and advocating male relationship abuse for a laugh..

Astrid's idea was TERRIBLE. How is this acceptable? How did this pass QA? (emphasis mine)

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Oh gods, that is truly terrible.
I come from a country that has a serious problem with domestic abuse, (and has been a serious problem in my extended family) and I actually feel physically sick reading it. I know it's just a game, but poor Ywain.

It's a shame we didn't have the option to have our own character flirt with Ywain. He's very much my type of guy to begin with. Even if he wasn't interested, it'd at least be a big confidence boost for the Warrior of Light to compliment him.

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Originally Posted by Theodric

It's a shame we didn't have the option to have our own character flirt with Ywain. He's very much my type of guy to begin with. Even if he wasn't interested, it'd at least be a big confidence boost for the Warrior of Light to compliment him.

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Considering I pick the sauciest response every single time I can as the WoL, yes. I was even thinking it when I did the initial quests. Imagine, having the Warrior of Light as someone asking you out. Naturally, for neutrality, he could refuse and just like Magnai would lead nowhere. But it would have been an option I'd have picked without a second thought.

Perhaps next year we should be the emissary of love, but this time, interviewing potential partners for Ywain, setting up dates, and maybe voting for whatever man or lady seemed the nicest.

Because gods, anyone but Marcette.

We shouldn't of been surprised though I guess, Lisette WAS pretty horrible to the man she ended up marrying. Of course she wouldn't see anything wrong with Marcette -.-

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Originally Posted by Gula

Considering I pick the sauciest response every single time I can as the WoL, yes. I was even thinking it when I did the initial quests. Imagine, having the Warrior of Light as someone asking you out. Naturally, for neutrality, he could refuse and just like Magnai would lead nowhere. But it would have been an option I'd have picked without a second thought.

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Mm. As far as I recall, we don't even get the option to acknowledge that we know him even if we've completed the Lancer class quests. Even after his, uh, 'disguise' is taken away. Which kind of defeats the whole point of using an existing NPC for such a quest in the first place.

I hope to the Twelve that the three options we have aren't constant like the Songbirds are, because none of them are really appealing and they're all equally disappointing to me. I highly doubt Astrid will be shelved, though.
If they're going to do something like this again, they should pick better representatives.

I did genuinely like Astrid's suggestion the best personally. However I still voted Bert because....BERT! 'Nough said. I did think his was the second best suggestion, though. I didn't like Rodrigault's suggestion at all personally.

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Originally Posted by Ammokkx

I looked it up and... my god...

...that's absolutely hilarious. I'm sad they changed that, the man's bold and knows what he wants.

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What happens? I'm out of the loop so hard. :c

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Originally Posted by Canada_bangs

What happens? I'm out of the loop so hard. :c

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His personality in JP is basically for a Japanese audience. It's their kind of archetype that to the west, sends out bad vibes. I believe it's been described as lovable debauch.

This was changed in the west to just have him as our fanboy, minus the thirsty advances.

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Originally Posted by Theodric

You're correct in that it's terrible, though a lot of forms of Japanese media (be it movies, video-games or anime) do indeed push the idea of emotional and/or physical abuse being directed at men as something that is hilarious. In this case it's particularly unsettling as Ywain is a serious character and someone who has taught the Warrior of Light valuable techniques that led to the very world itself being spared from destruction.

He's certainly deserving of being treated with more dignity. Worse yet, the protagonists in this game spend a significant amount of their time lecturing others about what is 'right' and 'wrong' only for something like this to be implemented...with absolutely no in-universe backlash whatsoever.

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It's kind of an unfortunate combination of jokes.

Marcette has been a questgiver since 1.0, so she has something of a reputation of being a terror and somehow gets away with being horrible in-universe. Either her first (or second) quest that she gives to the Warrior of Light involves having them collect some spore samples from a fungus that could potentially take over their body and kill them. Which she doesn't inform them of until after the fact.

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Marcette: The spore sacs you supplied provide indisputable evidence in favor of my theory! You see, the spores they contain are identical to those which infested the brains of those poor gnats and puks I killed!

Marcette: Ah, yes, it seems I forgot to recommend that you keep your mouth covered, and your nose, ears, and...so on, suitably plugged while slaying these beasts. Yes, well...er...sorry about that! I'm sure there isn't a spore nesting down in your brain even as we speak. Quite sure, yes.

Marcette: Well, you appear to be right as the rain for the time being! A good sign, I should think. Anyway, here is payment for your services─and your silence. No doubt the Gridanians would not take kindly to our slaying forest denizens without proper leave. Should you ever feel guilty about what you've done, just remember this─science! Oh, and should you ever feel unaccountably drawn to humid regions... Er, forget I mentioned it. Science!

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2.0 gives her similar quests in Central Shroud, complete with a guy who continually begs you to save him from her whenever you chat with him, if I'm not mistaken. One of her quests involves having you kill one of those huge Morbols over by Haukke Manor for its stomach, after which point she basically calls you useless and refuses to thank you. The next quest involves collecting some fungus, after which she immediately forgets you did anything for her. And then comes her final quest to collect a Lightning Sprite...

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Marcette: Research Assistant Six. Yes, I am speaking to you, Research Assistant Six─that is the title I have deigned to bestow upon you after your humble contribution to my latest scientific breakthrough.

Marcette: Mind you, now that you are officially my slave─er, research assistant─there will be no slacking off. I require a live lightning spark. Here is a jar. Now hurry─I haven't all day!

-The Warrior of Light captures the sprite.-

Marcette: The mere fact that you dare to interrupt me means that you must have the live lightning spark I require. Well, hand it over, then!

Marcette: Oooh, aren't you a cute little one!? Just think of all the fun I can have with you! The next assistant who dares shirk his/her duties is in for quite a shock! Muahahaha!!!

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Eventually, a Postmoogle quest was added for her and the Moogle is absolutely terrified at the prospect of delivering a letter to her, having you go in his stead. What follows is a quest wherein she threatens both you and another assistant (Hobriaut) with bodily harm multiple times while insulting you. The quest ends with her tormenting a live mole as well, purportedly in the name of science.

She also has an acquaintance, Atelloune, in the Stormblood Leatherworker questline. I believe she's name-dropped for the first time in the Postmoogle sidequest, but she may have been mentioned earlier. At any rate, while she is initially set up to seem like a terrible person by virtue of being said to be an acquaintance of Marcette's, the rug pulled from under you when Atelloune is revealed to actually be a pretty decent person who actually treats you with respect and never really throws you into dangerous/potentially life-threatening situations.

Marcette also cheats at Triple Triad, incidentally. And, I mean, most NPCs do, but it's still worth noting as a black mark against her!

My point is that when you see Marcette in the Valentione's quest, the message is less "It's okay for Marcette to treat Ywain like this" and more "Oh Lord, not her; Astrid, please reconsider", with the gag being that Ywain has no idea what horrible situation he's getting himself into. Unfortunately, without the benefit of knowing Marcette in advance and/or the fact that this is supposed to be an event where you're trying to match Ywain with his ideal partner based on the outcome of a vote, it can come across more uncomfortably than the writers probably intended! It's kinda like the whole "Rowena keeps Gerolt in eternal servitude" thing all over again.

Well, at least someone is happy about who won.

https://i.imgur.com/0tKCArD.png

I blame dalamud dye pricecfor that.

ill be hones i didn't even read it i just chose astrid cas reds my favorite color normally i do read them i just didn't have a lot of time when i did it so i just skiped it