Ardbert's Party vs the Scions Analysis

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by aveyond-dreams

Thank you for affirming that interesting visual designs do much in the way of increasing the palatability of these characters, even if they have limited screentime. However, I do think that these characters had sufficient depth for the story they were trying to tell and as you mention, each had distinct personalities and quirks that helped set them apart from each other. These are some positive design principles which should be considered for the makeup of the Season 2 cast.

---

I strongly disagree that Organization XIII had "sufficient depth" in their stories. Like I said, they're almost all just one-note characters with nothing else going for them. They lack any substantial arcs, they lack solid prevalence in the series (besides Roxas, Axel and now apparently Xigbar...), theyre all just basically glorified jobbers.

But you're right that I would love to see fresh new faces that'll tag along with the main FFXIV group (give me another hearty roegadyn, I miss Gosetsu so badly in this story) however I dont think I would want for the Scions to just end right here with Endwalker either since they've done some setup for interesting future arcs (we're currently experiencing one with Y'shtola atm if you havent noticed)

Admittedly my tolerance for any future storytelling surrounding Y'shtola was greatly diminished after the spectacle she made of herself in 6.1, which did not serve her character in a meaningful way. As I mentioned in my earlier post, the way in which Organization XIII was handled worked for the story they were trying to tell - as in a story intended for consumption by an audience far younger than the one FFXIV aims for. Even so, they were able to express more creativity in terms of their designs and personalities than the current scions. They had stakes and more consequences for their actions than in FFXIV's Season 1, which is why it is important to reflect back on why this piece of media was able to accomplish what FFXIV didn't.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by aveyond-dreams

Admittedly my tolerance for any future storytelling surrounding Y'shtola was greatly diminished after the spectacle she made of herself in 6.1, which did not serve her character in a meaningful way. As I mentioned in my earlier post, the way in which Organization XIII worked for the story they were trying to tell - as in a story intended for consumption by an audience far younger than the one FFXIV aims for. Even so, they were able to express more creativity in terms of their designs and personalities than the current scions.

---

A lot of KH fans (including myself) would still disagree with this statement. The individual members of Organization XIII were underplayed very heavily in the games to be taken as a better example to your argument over the Scions in terms of personality and depth.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by aveyond-dreams

Admittedly my tolerance for any future storytelling surrounding Y'shtola was greatly diminished after the spectacle she made of herself in 6.1, which did not serve her character in a meaningful way.

---

The... spectacle? Casting the nixie spell, you mean?

That's actually probably the most character-ish thing she's done in a while. I can totally relate to the embarrassment I would feel if I had to recite something I'd made up as a seven-year-old but as an adult in front of other adults. The key thing isn't the spell itself but the discomfort she has before reciting it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Iscah

The... spectacle? Casting the nixie spell, you mean?

That's actually probably the most character-ish thing she's done in a while. I can totally relate to the embarrassment I would feel if I had to recite something I'd made up as a seven-year-old but as an adult in front of other adults. The key thing isn't the spell itself but the discomfort she has before reciting it.

---

I think the key question to ask is why such an event is even taking place in the main story at all. How was this event supposed to grow her character? It would have been a better use of screen time to see her display something in the way of emotional vulnerability or opening up about her feelings on Runar, even if no other characters are there to witness it. A monologue to herself away from prying eyes where she could express the things she's buried deep inside herself. Possibly even cry, or reflect on the cost that her journey has truly taken on her so far.

Not the Nixie spell.

Simple enough, not every moment has to be a deep examination of character. The lighthearted details are as much a part of them as the serious ones.

A sad soliloquy about her deep feelings doesn't belong in the part of the story they were telling there. Maybe some other time, but not then.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by aveyond-dreams

Admittedly my tolerance for any future storytelling surrounding Y'shtola was greatly diminished after the spectacle she made of herself in 6.1, which did not serve her character in a meaningful way. As I mentioned in my earlier post, the way in which Organization XIII was handled worked for the story they were trying to tell - as in a story intended for consumption by an audience far younger than the one FFXIV aims for. Even so, they were able to express more creativity in terms of their designs and personalities than the current scions. They had stakes and more consequences for their actions than in FFXIV's Season 1, which is why it is important to reflect back on why this piece of media was able to accomplish what FFXIV didn't.

---

Actually as cringe inducing as that scene was, it did establish that she wasn't the snarky hard mage character her whole life. That somewhere down the line before life got to her she was your usual little girl. A short window into her life before the circle of knowing. It was ham-fisted but effective.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Thaciscokidd

Actually as cringe inducing as that scene was, it did establish that she wasn't the snarky hard mage character her whole life. That somewhere down the line before life got to her she was your usual little girl. A short window into her life before the circle of knowing. It was ham-fisted but effective.

---

the scene is so much better with her French VA lol

Tbh that little scene told me a ton about her. To make such things hints she was a lonely child. She also wasn’t bitter as the whole incantation seems happy in nature. The care she shows the two constructs after, even though there are just constructs shows a tiny bit of how much they once meant though granted… she had them go into the void but they were constructs XD. I learnt more from that scene about her then I did in storm blood. That is the crime if you ask me.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Comrade_uri

Tbh that little scene told me a ton about her. To make such things hints she was a lonely child. She also wasn’t bitter as the whole incantation seems happy in nature. The care she shows the two constructs after, even though there are just constructs shows a tiny bit of how much they once meant though granted… she had them go into the void but they were constructs XD. I learnt more from that scene about her then I did in storm blood. That is the crime if you ask me.

---

Honestly this.

That scene showed a lot about her. You may still not like her and that's fine, but I found the whole thing to be a good character moment.