Kugane Castle

The Expert Roulette sent me there this afternoon,and I am currently trying to figure out what's with some of the hired goons ninjas we fight. Most of them appear to be hyuran like most Far Eastern denizens, but some have rather odd proportions. Any idea what is up with those unusually tall shinobi? They're about as subtle as those gigantic tonberry stalkers in Wanderer's Palace.

They are mechanical afaik, since they are unusually tall and are missing a part of their waist. Robots wouldnt be too far fetched either as their is other robots in the dungeon.

Yes, I was quite perturbed by those giant ninja mooks. But based on the ability names that the boss version utilizes, we can surmise they are clockwork automatons of Hingashi Construction. Both the Hingans and the Domans employ heavily armored golems hefting blades so these clockwork automatons are simply more advanced versions (maybe imbued with a spirit) which is capable of more advanced attacks.

I imagine the threat of employing such mechanical menaces on the field of battle is a partial reason for why the Garlean Empire had not bothered trying to invade Hingashi. The ones we fight were employed by a wealthy merchant, the ones the Bakufu Government retain are probably extremely dangerous on the attack.

Which makes me wonder. Would it be better to employ shinobi or just make a ton of these cloackwork ninjas instead? Considering they don't need to eat, sleep or drink, they could stakeout out a place for an indefinite amount of time. Then again a person would be more subtle than a nine foot giant with a huge shuriken on its back. Guess it would depend on the mission.

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Originally Posted by Alsbet

Which makes me wonder. Would it be better to employ shinobi or just make a ton of these cloackwork ninjas instead? Considering they don't need to eat, sleep or drink, they could stakeout out a place for an indefinite amount of time. Then again a person would be more subtle than a nine foot giant with a huge shuriken on its back. Guess it would depend on the mission.

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If these giant clockwork ninjas are expensive to maintain and field while lacking the things that make a Shinobi truly useful to their lord (subterfuge) then their use would be as situational as with any other golem. And in Doma, we saw the Empire somehow capture and re-purpose the metal golems originally created by the Domans and use them as sentries to patrol a destroyed town with simple kill orders. Which I for one consider a major drawback.

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Originally Posted by Kyran-Varlsen

I imagine the threat of employing such mechanical menaces on the field of battle is a partial reason for why the Garlean Empire had not bothered trying to invade Hingashi. The ones we fight were employed by a wealthy merchant, the ones the Bakufu Government retain are probably extremely dangerous on the attack.

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Hingashi made a pact with Garlemald if I recall correctly. Garlemald also doesn't raze or oppress every nation it comes across - it's been confirmed in-game that some places remain completely unchanged by Garlemald's presence and that life can go on as normal.

Well of course. No Empire can conquer non-stop and even should the provinces of Doma and Ala Mhigo have been pacified the more likely target for Garlean expansion would have been the Eorzean City States. But assuming the Garleans conquered all of Eorzea and pacified Doma, then an invasion of Hingashi would be inevitable - if not an attempt at least. The Garleans see little need for trade, largely because they are self-sufficient but also to prevent the possible leak of magitek technology to the other nations. We wouldn't even have proper airships in Eorzea were it not for Cid and Garlond Ironworks - which sells to everyone from Ul'dahn Merchants to Sky Pirates (the latter most likely through front buyers). So it's not like they value Hingashi as a trade partner. Rather, an embassy is maintained for mundane diplomatic matters as well as espionage or subterfuge activities.

What I mean to say is, the Garlean Empire would rather attack the divided Eorzean City-States who only boast cannons and regular infantry as opposed to the United Country of Hingashi with Cannons, Golems, and an organized fighting force with a disciplined samurai core.

I'm believe both the doman and hingan "machina" for lack of a better term are similar to mammets from a technological standpoint based on one of the sidequests in yanxia

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Originally Posted by Kyran-Varlsen

Yes, I was quite perturbed by those giant ninja mooks. But based on the ability names that the boss version utilizes, we can surmise they are clockwork automatons of Hingashi Construction. Both the Hingans and the Domans employ heavily armored golems hefting blades so these clockwork automatons are simply more advanced versions (maybe imbued with a spirit) which is capable of more advanced attacks.

I imagine the threat of employing such mechanical menaces on the field of battle is a partial reason for why the Garlean Empire had not bothered trying to invade Hingashi. The ones we fight were employed by a wealthy merchant, the ones the Bakufu Government retain are probably extremely dangerous on the attack.

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The final boss is also some sort of automaton, though clearly more advanced and at least partially self directing. It would appear that Hingashi are quite far along in this particular field.

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Originally Posted by Kedan

The final boss is also some sort of automaton, though clearly more advanced and at least partially self directing. It would appear that Hingashi are quite far along in this particular field.

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I'm not too sure he's supposed to be an automaton. As to what he IS in XIV, I'm not sure but I highly doubt he's inorganic.