[spoilers]3.2 MSQ Discussion/Reaction thread

Nalien, I want to say that you're awesome and I wish I could like posts more then once.

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Originally Posted by Cilia

We actually... don't know that's all they'd tell us. That's all you want to take from it, OK, but we should have both sides of the story before we decide on a course of action. While we know what they want, but not why or the whole story behind the split of Light and Dark. All we got from Hydaelyn was "I banished Zodiark because he wanted more power;" that is extremely simplistic and severely lacking in detail. In this game, it's never that simple. We don't have the whole story yet, and while I have no intention of joining the Ascians or sacrificing anyone, it wouldn't hurt to hear them out.

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Here are the facts: The Ascians want to revive Zodiark. To revive Zodiark they need to initiate Rejoinings. To initiate Rejoinings, they need Calamities. I currently don't see how all this can add up to anything but a Very Bad Thing for Eorzea and the world as a whole likely.

We don't know the full story, true. But ask yourself this: What would knowing that change? Would it really be enough to divert us from Hydaelyn? Or would it just strengthen our resolve to her. Look at Urianger, for example. He apparently learned some degree of the truth from Elidibius, but when talking to him in the Waking Sands his reaction can be summed up as 'Yeah, this changes nothing.'

The story from the Ascians would likely be even more twisted then the one we heard from Hydaelyn. The Ascians, after all, have a proven themselves to have an extremely vicious manipulative streak. Whatever they say would be tailored to get try to get us to believe that the Calamities are 'nesscary' or something along those lines.

Hydaelyn's story may be a simplified version, but I am far more inclined to believe her version of events, by virtue of her being more trustworthy then the Ascians.

We have have killed the servants, we have stopped their plans. But things are getting worse, not better. The question seemingly being asked by the events after Minfillia is are we willing to become worse people for it?

Out of Hydelyn's actions we might see us being torn between our title and our own lives. We do not know the nature of Minfillia's "sacrifice" other than how effective it is(n't) and comparable acts of magically forced servitude, like tempering.

imo, Something is not adding up. Which is partially why I agreed with saving Estinien(more like, I responded "we will find a way to save him" as opposed to attributing it to a purpose or being mute on the matter.). The Scions are risking the loss of their perspective, and we need to do something to pull them back from it.

That, and I think we enjoyed the time with just Alphinaud, Ysayle, and Estinien, with the burden of being the WoL and a Scion just farther away than it is now. To have that moment of freedom crushed at the last "in the name of Eorzea/Hydelyn ", would probably be more than our characters can stand. I can think of no worse injustice than being forced to applaud the same deception we exposed in Heavensward.

Taking a break from the Minfilia topic, I was doing some considering on Unukalhai.

I think we can confirm that totally-not-Second-Best-Ascian-or-his-servant doesn't want the Garleans messing with the Triad either, not just the Primals, as was confirmed before. So basically, he wants them dealt with, no touchy by anyone (Including Thordan, since he caused this mess in the first place and we're stuck helping Eli clean up after Lahabrea and Igeyorhm. Yes Moose, I'm bringing that up again.). The Scions weren't there to see him interact with Regula, it was well within his options to just ignore him or walk away. But he didn't, implying the Garleans are an annoyance as well.

That leads us to: Why?

I have some thoughts that can be considered somewhat baseless musings.

Elidibus (who doesn't always represent all of the Ascians) recognizes that you cannot have one without the other. Hydaelyn and Zodiark must both exist for his goals to come to fruition - As it once was, as it ever should have remained. I'd say the same is necessary for Hydaelyn as well; either we have a Promathia-Altana creation lovers thing going on with H/Z, or Hydaelyn recognizes Zodiark as an equally essential part of existence - which I believe is more likely.

So, he is basically asking us to help keep Hydaelyn on life support, since he knows we're good at what we do and he can then turn his attentions on objectives that are more important to him. It's safer to leave the Slayer of Gods to slay Gods while either he (or his servant) oversees the process than having us or the Garleans bumbling around like idiots and release them on the world.

Belated edit: It's extremely irritating that these aren't considered cutscenes by the journal. SE, SE plz. I just want to see Unukalhai being cute.

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Originally Posted by CyrilLucifer

Belated edit: It's extremely irritating that these aren't considered cutscenes by the journal. SE, SE plz. I just want to see Unukalhai being cute.

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This. At least I capped it.

I suspect Eldibus has an Exdeath gambit up his incredibly long sleeves, honestly, and that he will drop the last F of BFF once he's done with us. He wants to claim something in the reunited world, most likely a godhead, but who can say, really? His machinations are not our first priority, though, so if his assistance will see us through the current storm and minimize damage on both sides, that's a good thing.

For all we know, we may end up in a Soul Sacrifice Delta situation where we end up actively trying to elect our frenemy as a replacement to the current divine order.

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Originally Posted by Theodric

The WoL can't really afford to be suspicious of every single person that they encounter though.

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It would still be a good idea for a famous hero to err on the side of caution until they can be reasonably certain of the people they interact with.
I guess with the WoL being both invincible and dumb, it isn't surprising what happened.

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Originally Posted by Fenral

This. At least I capped it.

I suspect Eldibus has an Exdeath gambit up his incredibly long sleeves, honestly, and that he will drop the last F of BFF once he's done with us. He wants to claim something in the reunited world, most likely a godhead, but who can say, really? His machinations are not our first priority, though, so if his assistance will see us through the current storm and minimize damage on both sides, that's a good thing.

For all we know, we may end up in a Soul Sacrifice Delta situation where we end up actively trying to elect our frenemy as a replacement to the current divine order.

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The bolded upsets me, but it's probably true. He'll always remain in my heart, though.

That being said. . .
Unukalhai actually has new dialogue!
He elaborates a bit on himself:

I see that you still question the true purpose behind my presence here. I am but my master's servant, bid to accept Urianger's invitation to ally with the Scions. There are those such as Archon Y'shtola, of course, who are sensitive to sudden shifts (can someone with another language of the game retranslate the "sudden shifts" part? That's a really odd phrasing, even for an Ascian), and remain suspicious of my motives. . .We are bound by common enemies - by the threat of the Warring Triad and the Garlean Empire. Are such ties not sufficient enough to explain my actions, Warrior of Light?

Which doesn't really tell us anything other than directly confirming he doesn't want the Garleans near the Triad. He could be using fancy wordplay saying "my master's [Zodiark's] servant" rather than "my master's [Elidibus'] servant." It does make me wonder how active a role Urianger is playing here, though.

Also, that book on the table is his Journal, supposedly. He likes us so much he's writing about us in his free time - and that's not even a joke or sarcasm! He says so. Or he's inscribing fate.

If you guys didn't check out Unukalhai's notes on the table, he explains Sephirot's abilities quite well, he can "induce spontaneous growth in organisms (including himself.)"

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Originally Posted by CGMidlander

It would still be a good idea for a famous hero to err on the side of caution until they can be reasonably certain of the people they interact with.
I guess with the WoL being both invincible and dumb, it isn't surprising what happened.

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Be honest, the only reason you had to question a maid in a tavern bringing you a drink is that she had a voice actress.

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A hero, tried and true.
If only I had possessed such strength...

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What are you implying their, Kidibus?

"You Garleans never learn"... Makes it sound like he has history with Garlemald... Wonder if Elidibus just took in an orphan, or if Kidibus is taking a leaf from the Bravely Default school of stupidity while stuck reliving the same events... I suggested Elidibus cosplaying Airy once before, right? Somehow it seems even more fitting now...

I'd hope Kidibus is just an orphan though... It would make for a nice conclusion, given we have the Doman Adventurer's Guild right there (where any of them orphans? This game needs more "You're an orphan too?!" moments), plus Elidibus doing something good? I need to see that... So far the moonmen have all be comically evil and utterly unredeemable...

Elidibus is no doubt playing us like fools. I'm not entirely sure I buy into the idea that the 'mini' Elidibus is actually Elidibus. If he is then he's clearly playing us like fools. What do Ascians do best? They sow the seeds of distrust and chaos to achieve their goals.

Someone must have told the Garleans what Thordan was planning. How else would they know to pursue him, especially when only a handful of Thordan's most loyal followers knew what he was up to? Elidibus also clearly mentions that the Garleans will 'play their part'. Which suggests that he has plans for them. It's highly likely that they're not allies given that their goals do not align. Garlemald throwing its weight behind the WoL and the Scions would screw up pretty much any plan the Ascians had in mind, thus I suspect that the future conflicts with Garlemald will be completely manufactured.

It's also worth noting that Garlemald as a whole is not responsible for what Nael or Gaius did. They were wildcards and not supported by Garlemald as a whole. I just hope they're not going to be exploited as generic villains who will be painted as incompetent - because that is very much a recent viewpoint and I don't feel as if their might and influence has been done justice so far with that in mind.

Don't let my musing on Unu stop any discussions, or any other ones, I don't want to control a free-for-all-thread.

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Originally Posted by Nalien

"You Garleans never learn"... Makes it sound like he has history with Garlemald...

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I get the feeling it's less that and more that he has seen the type of actions before in history. I also would not be surprised if the Ascians are working in the background in Garlemald at the moment. I felt like he was expressing frustrating with the type of individual Regula is more than anything.
Forgive the tiny tangent, but that's part of the reason why I see Lahabrea as so bitter and spiteful to mortals. When one works with the worst, most power-hungry mortal representatives for millennia, I think I'd become spiteful as well. The same goes for Elidibus, hence why he does appreciate it when he has to work with a decent individual like our character, something he actually mentions to us.

As for actually being a kid, well, as cute as Unukalhai's actions are, if he's actually Elidibus' servant, that implies he's a Lesser Ascian. Lesser Ascians only inhabit corpses. Yeah. You better hope it's actually Elidibus, or you're not getting your happy ending.

Now that we have his journal though, that's his death flag. He's leaving us, probably at the end of 3.X. For me the best possible path would him actually being a Lesser Ascian, so SE demonstrates that they aren't all evil and can be sympathetic, despite our differing situations, since I doubt we're going to be BFFs with Eli until the game shuts down. I could be wrong, though! Things can change. R-right?

Anyway, if Unukalhai isn't related to Elidibus, you (general you, not specific) have three things to explain to me:
1. His name and why it is directly related to Serpentarius, the "13th," which Elidibus represents - namely, he's a star in Serpens, which is the serpent part of "serpent-bearer."
2. Urianger's support, despite saying things like "he's on our side - for now."
3. Him directly quoting Elidibus from 2.55 repeatedly ("The fate of this very star.")

(edit: never mind, in 12 he is listed as a keeper of precepts, which suggests laws.)

it may be possible that the masked kid may have A version of the Garlean Empire from a parallel world, if not Derplander's.

I'm re-editing this post, because Kallera posted something and edited out, it's just crackpot though and not really related to anything now that the post has been edited, so feel free to ignore it:

Guess what is also involved in time?

Alexander.

Which, amusingly, possibly explains why totally-not-Elidibus is helping you with the Triad, because the Triad are potentially strong enough to stop Alexander, assuming he fully awakens. I don't think we could stop Alexander if he went fully operational.

That, and as I alluded to on the very first page of this thread, those Gobbies are spouting some really Elidibus-like, Gerun Oracles-styled lines. If you weren't told specifically it was the Enigma Codex, it would be really easy to conflate the two. That is, of course, assuming that SE is going to make Alex's story mode required to complete the MSQ down the line, which I am almost positive they will for Unukalhai and the Triad due to Garleans being involved, but Alex? I have no idea, but it doesn't seem likely, even now that we have the easier mode.

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Originally Posted by CyrilLucifer

Edit: Awww, you edited your post. I had a crackpot typed up specifically for you, too.

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well go ahead, the gerun oracles did state history being cyclical. it could very well be that time manipulation could be involved in this.

I can't help but wonder if that was Ilberd that took the mask. It would make sense: he's rather infamous for being part of the coup in Ul'dah, but he's still for Ala Mhigan independance. A mask is perfect to hide his identity.

That and we've not heard about him in ages

If time is cyclical then I am kinda reminded of Legend of Korra where Light vs Dark happens every 10000 years; the victor having free reign until their opposite gains strength. Each needs each other, more or less. That and there's duodecim with roughly the same concept.

My guess is on Ilbred as well with the mask, at the very least it looked like it took place in Little Ala Mhigo. Course they could be pulling a fast one on us and its Wilred (one of the NPCs in Rising Stones mentioned him. Apparently still hasn't gotten the memo that he's dead, we probably should be sending those out...)

A part of me has been entertaining the notion that Hydaelyn and Zodiark actually aren't opposed to each other, and that Zodiark has been having just as hard a time communicating with his followered as Hydaelyn has, just with even worse consequences. This patch doesn't completed throw me off of it, just now its changed to him having indeed done something stupid in the past, had time to think, then lots of panicking as the calamities started and he couldn't do anything about it till recently, when he FINALLY has started being able to talk to one of em (Elidibus), though it works about as well as Hydaelyn has had after she blocked Ultima.

I doubt that it'd be Wilred. He was clearly described as being dead if I recall correctly - and the guy in the mask didn't look to be a Midlander. It's likely Ilberd, I reckon. Though I don't quite like the idea of working alongside him. Many atrocities have been justified in the name of Ala Mhigo, however, so I'll be saddened if they go down that route again but let him off the hook or have him make peace with Raubahn. I want the Garleans to be more than just a convenient antagonist that crops up to be used as fodder for the story after all.

(I know, I know. People are likely getting weary of seeing me post that but I even went so far as to design a proper 'Garlean' in-game!)

You know what really made me just go "WTF"?

When Aymeric was asking the WoL (thy player) to have a drink with him sometime, and the WoL kinda is, at first, "EHHHHH....Do I really want to?", or something like that. Cause I think they were recalling back on when Nanamo got rekt by the sleeping potion in the wine. But of course, being the WoL, we thought she was dead. So I think the situation of Nanamo being "dead" is still drilled into their memory. I was thinking something similar was going to happen in my gut, but I wasn't exactly sure if it was going to happen or not.

Then, just before the conference in Falcon's Nest, the WoL gets rekt by being drugged by the 'Earnest Maid' with that mug of liquid (Dulled wine I think it was called in the Quest Journel?). which of course, puts them to sleep for a while. Talk about Deja vu though.

I have to say, I kept expecting Alisaie to show up. I was disappointed when she didn't. 3.3, maybe?

Alisaie's role in the story fascinates me, because all signs point to her becoming a major player in the MSQ eventually, but aside from the Binding Coil storyline we've seen and heard surprisingly little from her. They really played up the 'mysterious-but-inevitably-plot-important twins' angle with her and her brother early on in 2.0, complete with their ARR portrait/art/render showing them together. Interestingly, she's actually more prominent then Alphinaud in that. Then she stormed out early in the ARR storyline, and effectively vanished from the MSQ.

Twelve only knows what she's been up since the Binding Coils, but given the stinger at the end of 3.1, she's apparently somehow gotten embroiled with the Ascian/Warrior of Darkness plot separately from us. Which reminds me, Yoshida said this during the 4gamer interview about 3.2:

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Although we have a lot of main characters in Heavensward, not all of the active major players have appeared yet in the 3.X series.

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I wonder if Alisaie is one of those 'major players' that have yet to appear?

Either way, it's nigh guaranteed that she's going to have a major impact in the MSQ when she formally re-enters the stage. And likely in a way that's going to be *very* good news for us and the Scions in general. The story has taken an increasingly dark and depressing turn, but my current theory is that she's the hidden 'trump card' that's going to help turn things around for us. I don't know how that will happen, but that's the feeling I'm getting.

On a related note, Alphinaud's character development in this patch was fantastic. Not only did he directly address how we've been losing friends left and right, but he's going out of his way to acknowledge us as the individuals we are, rather then the Warrior of Light. To quote, "There are things I must say. Not to the Warrior of Light, or even my fellow Scion, but...to you, Forename. My friend." And also, "I am wont to rely on you overmuch when we are together..." The kid has come a long way from the (not my words) 'arrogant prick' he was in 2.x. In the wake of Haurchefant's death, he's probably the WoL's closest friend right now.

I was attached to Alphinaud by the end of 2.0, but a part of me is kinda afraid that he might leave the story. Not by dying, but just simply going...elsewhere. I'm probably overthinking it though.

Someone mentioned in the 'Questions about the Warrior of Light's current state' thread that we might be reaching a point in the story where we start making our 'own' choices, rather then just passively following others. That got me thinking that Alphinaud's character has reached a point where I can conceivably see him following *our* lead, rather then the other way around. The WoL is still a 'heroic mime', so they do still kinda need someone do to our talking for them. I can see Alphinaud filling that role, even if it's something as simple as saying 'no' because the WoL seems incapable of that at the moment. And with his talent for diplomacy, we probably couldn't ask for anyone better to serve as our 'voice' if/when we start pursuing some of our own goals in the MSQ.

The changes in Alphinaud's character is actually another reason I'm eagerly anticipating Alisaie's return. The twins have been rather estranged for a while, though that improved a bit during the Binding Coil storyline. Their short story in Tales from the Calamity shows part of Alisaie's beef with her brother is she views him as somewhat cold, emotionally. She also had a few issues with his ego in playing politics, given how she talks about it during the Binding Coil storyline. Now, post-2.55, we have Alphinaud both more openly emotional, and *massively* humbled from the Braves' betrayal. Not to mention the irony in him wanting to save Estinein however necessary, after looking down on Alisaie's determination to do the same for Louisoix in the Binding Coils (I think someone once mentioned a possibility of this happening). How the twins' dynamic shakes out given all this is going to really be something to see.

Whew, sorry for the essay! I just love the twins so goddamn much.

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Originally Posted by myahele

I can't help but wonder if that was Ilberd that took the mask. It would make sense: he's rather infamous for being part of the coup in Ul'dah, but he's still for Ala Mhigan independance. A mask is perfect to hide his identity.

That and we've not heard about him in ages

If time is cyclical then I am kinda reminded of Legend of Korra where Light vs Dark happens every 10000 years; the victor having free reign until their opposite gains strength. Each needs each other, more or less. That and there's duodecim with roughly the same concept.

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I went to little ala'mhigo, they all know that Wilfred was killed. You can be well sure that Ilberd may not be welcome to the resistance, after killing one of his own country men.

If case nobody remembers, when we first meet Wilfred he wasnt so much different from Ilberd. But he changes, he saw the wall and saw him as an inspiration, he knew he could be better than that.
Now why he was killed? beacuse he was loyal to us? Not only beacuse of it, for being an ala'mhigan is mostly probably that Ilberd tried to convice him to join his "conspiraty band" but he refuse and probably was going to inform us, even if Ilberd's actions was for the good of Ala'Mhigo.

"Tearing down the barriers" is... exactly the definition of the Echo, too, right?

So, both 3.1 and 3.2 end with a Sharlayan ally observing the Warrior of Darkness (Alisaie, and then Thancred). Perhaps the defection of Scions to the Zodiark side isn't so far-fetched.

It's conceivable with the supposed death/loss of Ascilia and his prior possession has begun to really take a toll on Thancred and would be swayed by "the walkers of a different path." We know Alisaie is out there looking for her own reason to fight--perhaps Elidibus and Urianger's tacit support of him will sway her.

WoL + Alphie + Y'shtola vs WoD + Alisaie + Thancred; MATCH CHECKS OUT.

Maybe Krile instead of Y'shtola, she seems much more like to sport Team Hydaelyn colours (or lack thereof, I guess)

I wonder if Alisae will take Minfilia's place as the Antecedent? Many have noted that the absence of Minfialia have made the Scions less cohesive. Maybe Alisae will be the one to set them forth in actively fighting the Asciens.

Just like Alphinaud has the idealistic side of Louisoix that wish to bring all together, maybe Alisae will have her grandfathers arcane knowledge that'll help out?

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Originally Posted by Rocl

*snip*

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I really, really doubt Alisaie is going to be on the WoD's side. She was eavesdropping in the Gubal Library and clearly wasn't 'supposed' to be there. Yes, she was looking for a purpose last we saw her, but you also have to remember she's as stubborn as all hell. If she's working against Elidibius and the WoD, she would be the last person who would defect.

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Originally Posted by myahele

*snip*

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I doubt she'll become Antecedant. She explictly *hates* playing politics. To quote:

Alphinaud
And as you never fail to remind me of my fondness for diplomacy, I feel it only right that I remind you of your aversion to it.

That said, I wouldn't be surprised if she's the one to help rally the group together. I'm half-expecting it, in fact. Among several other theories.

It's a shame Alphinaud and Alisaie only really worked together that one time... Would be nice if we seek her out for help with saving Estinien...

Actually... I can see him failing to save Estinien, acting much like he did after the Crystal Braves fell apart, only for Alisaie to storm in, slap him something fierce, and together summon Phoenix-Egi to save Estinien...

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Originally Posted by Zul

To Quote a character im very fond of,

"A Drink..." "tis long overdue!"
/sigh
/faint

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OMG! I know right! I had the worst fangirl moment then.. It felt so.... Good.. Eeekkk!!

Also, I haven't gotten that far yet, but I have to admit that Thancred seems changed after he found out about what happened to Minfilia.
I don't know why, but now he feels even more... Hostile. And I was not fond of certain remarks he made about me helping Ishgard.
What does he care anyway? Scions had their fair share of using me too. If I want to help someone, I will. Ugh... I also don't like how my character needs to wait for a NOD from a scion before proceeding to explain. What am I really? Just a convenient warrior to have by your side? To carry uniforms to your mercenaries? Ugh, I'm so irritated. But just one look at Aymeric makes me feel a lot better. Heh.

Honestly, it would be nice to know if they expect a 3.5 or not. I remember them saying they wanted more compaction between expansions, which could mean they intend to finish up 3.X with 3.4.

If we knew this we could at least make some partially educated judgements on how/when events are going to play about. If they keep the filler down, they can finish it up pretty quickly, it's more a question of if they want to.

I would assume a 3.5, though I guess they could finish up the Shadow of Mhach saga in 3.3... Even if it is a three parter, they could also just stick it in 4.x... Patch naming only has to follow the story, update 4.0 could include "[3.0] New Shadow of Mhach quests have been added", for example... Wish they'd do that, actually... I like Heavensward in general, but all the new content is very much Heavensward focused... I don't want Ifrit (Savage), but something similar as 2.0 content in a 3.x patch would be nice...

The number of dungeons also points towards a 3.5, now that I think about it... 3.1 Pharos Sirius (Hard), 3.2 Lost City of Amdapor (Hard), 3.3 Hullbreaker Isle (Hard), 3.4 Snowcloak (Hard) (please let us save Ysalye somehow!), 3.5 Keeper of the Lake (Hard). That perhaps correlates nicely with some of the story elements they've hinted at, aside from ending the Dragonsong War, we're also meant to be stopping the Ascians and finding out the truth about Silvertear Falls, and with WotM mentioning a Source, I can't help but wonder if there is something to the old myths surrounding it...

I think it's going to be 3.5 as well, but I do think the potential to finish it by 3.4 once existed. But then 3.1 was so, er, shall we say, sluggish in plot movement that we lost the opportunity.

I would expect Alisaie to play out Moenbryda role this time, so I don't expect her to appear at least until 3.4, unless 3.3 shifts gears entirely away from the war entirely for whatever reason. To me 3.3 will have a pure Dragonsong focus, and then, like 2.X, we may start building on the next expansion's events with 3.4.

(PS: This "Role Waiting #" in the queue is nice. It let's me know how long I have to BS and type things up on the forums with the window minimized while not missing my queue.)

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Originally Posted by Rocl

So, both 3.1 and 3.2 end with a Sharlayan ally observing the Warrior of Darkness (Alisaie, and then Thancred). Perhaps the defection of Scions to the Zodiark side isn't so far-fetched.

It's conceivable with the supposed death/loss of Ascilia and his prior possession has begun to really take a toll on Thancred and would be swayed by "the walkers of a different path." We know Alisaie is out there looking for her own reason to fight--perhaps Elidibus and Urianger's tacit support of him will sway her.

WoL + Alphie + Y'shtola vs WoD + Alisaie + Thancred; MATCH CHECKS OUT.

Maybe Krile instead of Y'shtola, she seems much more like to sport Team Hydaelyn colours (or lack thereof, I guess)

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Hehehe, I'd actually see Y'shtola And Alisaie's spots switched, but Derplander might give his frowny face at that. :)

One of the concerns in "Dragonsong"(and ironically, One of the things impeding Aymeric's goals for peace) is the desire to erase the past altogether, among other things in the last verse, rather than learning how not to repeat the tragedies born of blind faith and vengeance. If the Scions's disaggreements did come to this, the opposing side might see the WoL's views or behavior as more trouble than it is worth to Hydelyn.

By not supporting Hydelyn as blindly they do, they would see us as too dangerous to live as Warrior of Light(and thus a existing siphon on her strength, like a primal). By that same token, we might see them as the death of Minfillia's legacy, and knowing they would no doubt ask us to do the heavy lifting in their new outlook. One we can't reconcile with the hope Minfillia sought to have for those around her.

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Originally Posted by CyrilLucifer

To me 3.3 will have a pure Dragonsong focus, and then, like 2.X, we may start building on the next expansion's events with 3.4.

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Agreed, although Yoshida has made some comments that make it seem like 4.0 will not be following on from 3.x, so I expect 3.4 onwards to just be concluding the current plot with the Ascians/Zodiark/Hydaelyn rather than pushing us towards some new area like 2.55 did.

Then 4.0 can either be a grand old Treasure of Aht Urhgan style adventure to some new land (Thavnairia would seem to be our Aht Urhgan, complete with a few hints towards Blue Mages...), or it can be a push into Ala Mhigo and conflicts with Garlemald independent from our interactions at Azys Lla (since the Gration is stuck there thanks to the Sightseeing Log), though that might not make much sense (3.0 has Illberd complaining about the fate of Ala Mhigo, would seem even more stupid if he is doing that while we're liberating if 4.0 is independent from 3.0...), unless we don't actually side with Ala Mhigo in such a scenario. Personally I'm still hoping for a Beast Tribe/Grand Company expansion to flesh out Eorzea with all the other regions that are sitting so close like Paglth'an...

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Originally Posted by Nalien

Personally I'm still hoping for a Beast Tribe/Grand Company expansion to flesh out Eorzea with all the other regions that are sitting so close like Paglth'an...

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If a Beast Tribe expansion let us play beast races I would be so for it.

Im a bit disappointed with 3.2, I like the story and where it is heading but 3.1 and 3.2 is all setup for whats to come. There is very little resolve or progression to anything storyline related.

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Originally Posted by Nalien

Agreed, although Yoshida has made some comments that make it seem like 4.0 will not be following on from 3.x, so I expect 3.4 onwards to just be concluding the current plot with the Ascians/Zodiark/Hydaelyn rather than pushing us towards some new area like 2.55 did.

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I've actually heard to the contrary. I went and dug up some relevant interview quotes.

Quote:

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Yoshida: Players enjoyed the story and leveling in 3.0, and patch 3.1 will aim to cover up many of the holes which became apparent. The main scenario will also begin to proceed towards 4.0, so please stay tuned.

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Quote:

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Yoshida: This patch will extend the 3.X series and begin the gradual path to 4.0.

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Thinking about this a bit, looking for any opinions because I might be overthinking this.

Hydaelyn claims (and let's assume for the moment it's true, because we don't know otherwise) that Zodiark became power hungry and had to be banished.

But taking a step back, this makes me what?

I'm working on the following assumptions:
1. This occurred before creation.
2. Zodiark embodies the moon, which implies he's a crystal like Hydaelyn.
3. There was once balance between light and darkness, equal and opposite, rising and falling.

This might be a bit of a stretch here, but: He's a crystal. They're floating rocks - sentient rocks, but floating rocks. A rock just doesn't go take a float down the galaxy and decides he wants some extra power for breakfast.

How and why does a crystal become power hungry?

My guess would be that, perhaps, they weren't crystals all along and there might be more shared with the XI creation mythos than we originally expected - eg, it was the event of splitting the mothercrystal, among other things dealing with the Twilight God, in XI that eventually led to creation; alternatively, in XIV, it may have been the change to mothercrystal that allowed for creation.

The crystallization may actually be a side effect of the split. These Gods were not always crystals.

Or am I just totally crazy and have been thinking too much about XIV at work?

Wasn't there a scene where Hydaelyn glowed red? Or am I misremembering? If so, perhaps Hydaelyn is no longer Hydaelyn...

I don't know. I don't buy Zodiark being irredeemably evil. His servants, perhaps, but not Zodiark. That there was once balance suggests that the scales can tip to either side...and perhaps Hydaelyn is weak as a result of screwing up and banishing Zodiark? I think there's much more at play here. That Hydaelyn isn't telling us everything. That we don't know what the WoL actually is worries me because I feel like we're building up to the point where we screw up immensely because we're so powerful as to be break something that should not be broken.

I don't remember her glowing red at a particular time, but we did see a black and purple crystal that was either an empty Hydaelyn (which is honestly seeming less likely at this point, considering she's just as empty now and she was still blue) or Zodiark at the very end of 2.0.

That we potentially saw Zodiark through the Echo was never followed up on. Yet.

Though I agree. I don't think we know enough about Zodiark to make a value judgement on his mortality and "evilness" either way. We have a lot of questions and no answers - in the end, Hydaelyn (and SE) didn't really tell us anything at all. Though this is my bias speaking, I'm inclined to believe Lahabrea is in the right though and that Zodiark and Hydaelyn potentially shouldn't have ever been separated, as they were intended to be together. It's obviously causing some problems with reality, much like Altana in XI almost collapsed the multiverse in Her love for Her children.

But it's just so hard to say for sure because, as I said, what if it was the split in the first place that caused the crystallization that allowed for creation?

I'm actually going to toss all my previous theories to the wind for this one. Ramuh said that in the age before man, light and darkness were as one. Think about it: if that's true, that split can't have created man, because it came after.

Mankind split the mothercrystal. Possibly even the Twelve themselves.

Too sleepy to follow this train of thought coherently at this time, but I think I might be on to something.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fenral

I'm actually going to toss all my previous theories to the wind for this one. Ramuh said that in the age before man, light and darkness were as one. Think about it: if that's true, that split can't have created man, because it came after.

Mankind split the mothercrystal. Possibly even the Twelve themselves.

Too sleepy to follow this train of thought coherently at this time, but I think I might be on to something.

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Or, possibly, Hydaelyn and Zodiark were once one and the same, and THAT being, whatever it was, became power hungry. It eventually realized what it was doing in a moment of clarity, and split its "dark" half away in order to stop itself. The process also, essentially, "killed" itself while also making two new beings.

Essentially, Kami and Piccolo from DBZ, though with more power hunger causing the split.

Little offtopic.

Once you finished MSQ 3.2
Where are the ncp of the Scions? I dont find them anywhere ( Y'shtola, Thancred and Krile )

in 3.1, i saw Y'shotla on the outskirts of Idyllshire. Try there?