Evercold MSQ Party

In the last, the dev team noted player-wide dissatisfaction with how the Scions were shoehorned into the plot. It was originally done because they didn't want to upset players who were fans of say Alisae but she didn't appear in the expansion. After the backlash, they floated the idea of shelving some cast members so the game's plot wouldn't suffer the foced inclusion.

With that in mind, who do you want to be your traveling companions for Evercold? Let's go with your top four.

My personal line up likely won't happen. Of the main Scions, I want Urianger and Estinien. Urianger in particular is one of my favorite characters in the game and I found the Estinien drop kick hilarious in the trailer.

My second two are less likely: Feo Ul and Erenville. We likely won't see Erenville for a while, if ever again. But I love his voice and I think DT didn't treat him well at the end so I want to give him some more time. And Feo Ul fights Uriamger for my favorite character. They are delightful! Here we are, about to go on a journey to a shard unseen and she refuses to be left behind again by her heartless sapling.

I mean, look at Dawntrail. They essentially sidelined Thancred, Urianger, and G'raha Tia for the vast majority of the main plot.

They need to work on keeping the active traveling party to four people. It keeps the focus tight, matches a standard light party, and stops the story from feeling too crowded. In theater, you generally want to only have characters on the stage that are actively contributing to moving something forward. Instead of locking in one static group for an entire expansion, they need to rotate characters in and out as the journey moves along.

We’d get to see different pairings and actually deepen the relationships between Scions who don’t usually get a lot of one-on-one screen time together.

None of them. But they'll probably make them come with us anyway, given they were in the trailer.

Just Estinien and Alphy hopefully...

I'm hoping for new companions from The Fourth that aren't blathering academics.

I think one of the Cat-dwarves, a Duskwight(Svartalfheim), a Roegadyn(Jotunheim) and an AuRa(Muspelheim... If two Roe is too much for the devs...) would make a nice refresher rotation!

Having the Catfolk covers the appeal to Miqo'te and Lala without overusing them.

I did a little tally of duty supports from a while ago and though not the best indicator.

• Alphinaud 34 duties 31 dungeons, 3 trials
• Alisaie 32 duties 28 dungeons, 4 trials
• Y'shtola 25 duties 22 dungeons, 3 trials
• G'raha Tia 20 duties, 17 dungeons, 3 trials
• Thancred 18 duties 16 dungeons, 2 trials
• Urianger 16 duties 14 dungeons, 2 trials
• Estinien 13 duties 11 dungeons, 2 trials
• Krile 13 duties 10 dungeons, 3 trials

Even then you can't be too sure on what they'll do. Take Thancred and Urianger for example in DT. First right here, they appear on the key art poster for it.
https://i.imgur.com/wxqSo1M.png

Next, on the DT website, they are labeled as key characters.

https://i.imgur.com/InLq8F2.png

Following that you have these descriptions

https://i.imgur.com/NQpGRCd.png

https://i.imgur.com/7YMayLx.png

And ultimately at the every end, these two were the two scions you could of easily scrapped from the story and it wouldn't of made a difference. (You could make an argument for Thancred but Urianger had nothing going on for him in this story.) Heck, they had to make these two the most prominent for patch 7.5 despite them not appearing for the patch artwork there.

So it's just at the whims of the writers here.

The day they'll realize that keeping the Scions sucking all the air and leaving crumbs for secondary new characters is literally part of their formulaic design that makes everything feel stale over time...

We have some clear evidence that the Evercold portal we opened was used by multiple people (Krile's parents, and the many lalafells that went to the Ninth). So sadly that means there's a way for us to take them along. All they have to do though is write it in a way that only we can go and then we can handle it ourselves and meet a new team.

I love the Scions and don't necessarily want them benched but I'd like them to be plot-relevant when they appear, and more importantly, in-character.

That said, if I had to pick four, mine would be:
- G'raha (obviously)
- Estinien
- Thancred
- Urianger

I don't think this group would happen (I mean, it's already confirmed we'll be with Alphinaud at some point per the trailer), but those would be my picks. Regardless, I'd rather they pick completely different characters if they're more relevant to the plot and/or going to get character development from it.

I would give anything for G'raha to be shoved in the locker, tossed into the bottom of the ocean, and never be brought back out into the light of day ever again for the MSQ. Nor do I really want any of the current scions in a party. Though just by the trailer we are already going to be forced to endure Alphinaud for another expac, at least Estinien is new enough to not be a dead drum.

When we need is the B team Scions to be our new team. Hoary Boulder and company to front!

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Originally Posted by Valence

The day they'll realize that keeping the Scions sucking all the air and leaving crumbs for secondary new characters is literally part of their formulaic design that makes everything feel stale over time...

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To be fair, they've basically commented on this before but had to acknowledge that to a large portion of the player base The Scions are basically The Game. They would riot if their husbando or waifu wasn't around in some way or form (I mean, just look at the uproar over Graha's voice actor maybe having been changed in a single patch). It's a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation.

For the record, though, I definitely agree that I want to see less Scion involvement and not more. If I had my pick of returning characters coming back to take a bigger part of the story I'd jettison the regular Scions and bring back Fordola and Arenvald (and yes make more room for new characters).

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Originally Posted by Valence

The day they'll realize that keeping the Scions sucking all the air and leaving crumbs for secondary new characters is literally part of their formulaic design that makes everything feel stale over time...

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Huh? When did this happen in DT? If anything Scions sucking up air may have done some good. I liked Iceheart. I did not need her to talk for 3000 lines. In fact I would argue this never happened in Heavensward either. Its 100000% carried by xpac characters.

Me, my daughters Ryne and Gaia, Gaius, Jullus, and John G'raha.

I'd bring the twins but I refuse to do so until they go through a time warp and become adults taller than me. Also, Estinien can show up here and there if he wants because he's cool like that.

Everyone else can stay with Tataru and play TETRIS on their tomestone or something.

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Originally Posted by Brynne

I love the Scions and don't necessarily want them benched but I'd like them to be plot-relevant when they appear, and more importantly, in-character.

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This. My criticism with the Scions in DT was not that they were there. They’re my friends, I want them there! But there were many places where they felt “not themselves,” and their writing fell flat.

The trailer shows Alphy and Estinien so those two are probably a given. Not sure Alisae would allow herself to be benched if Alphy is going! lol which is fine with me. I have missed Thancred and Urianger lately though. And I really hope poor Krile isn’t just going back to Sharlayan forever.

I don’t understand the love for Graha! All that dude does is glaze us! That is NOT a true bro behavior. Can someone please explain?!?

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Originally Posted by JohnLakeside

I don’t understand the love for Graha! All that dude does is glaze us! That is NOT a true bro behavior. Can someone please explain?!?

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Don't worry I don't get it either. I wish they would have let him die in ShB instead of giving him a mcguffin escape back to life just to become the ultimate fanboi simp that is just so exhaustingly over done.

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Originally Posted by JohnLakeside

I don’t understand the love for Graha! All that dude does is glaze us! That is NOT a true bro behavior. Can someone please explain?!?

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Are you really curious or do you just want to argue with the reasons? Everyone has different tastes in characters - I'm happy to respect your opinion if you respect mine.

It's time for Ryne, Gaia, Ciella/Cylva, and Unukalhai to enter the scene. Let them play a part going forward.

For the Scions, it seems Estinien and Alphinaud are guaranteed, given the previews. I would also want G'raha Tia. Krile would be nice to receive more plot relevance.

I'm kinda cool having less of the others. I really want to team up with denizens of the actual shard, with only a few scions playing a role. We need fresh faces that can have room to grow.

I adore the Scions, but we can't have them around all the time. It's stifling.

I've always viewed the Scions as your party members in a typical RPG, and FF14 is a heavily story-focused MMORPG. They're my trusted friends that have helped me out through thick and thin and would be the first ones I'd turn to whenever I need help. To unceremoniously kill them off and replace them with new characters just doesn't feel right, in my opinion. I'd be a pretty terrible main character if I just let my friends all die off. And yes, there are people that play this game wishing for death for the Scions. I remember back in ShB seeing a few people that wished Thancred died after his fight against Ranjit, and in EW some were upset that they didn't all pointlessly die in Ultima Thule. I get people being annoyed about the fake-out, but some people were outright angry that they didn't actually die.

They need to be relevant though... DT basically sidelined most of them and put too much focus on Wuk Lamat and Sphene, especially for parts of the story where they're no longer relevant. The Scions themselves were just kinda there in the background to help fill up spots in Duty Support.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't mind if the Scions take a short break once in a while, but I wouldn't want to see them become completely irrelevant for all future storylines and replaced with a rotating cast of new characters for every new expansion going forward.

Out of the Scions, Estinien and Alphinaud are a given from the trailer. I'd love to see some of the secondary crew like Hoary Boulder get a chance to step up. They gave him a voice actor, let him get some mileage!

But, like others have said, only if the Scions actually get to DO THINGS, instead of just being hangers-on.

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Originally Posted by Espon

I've always viewed the Scions as your party members in a typical RPG, and FF14 is a heavily story-focused MMORPG. They're my trusted friends that have helped me out through thick and thin and would be the first ones I'd turn to whenever I need help. To unceremoniously kill them off and replace them with new characters just doesn't feel right, in my opinion. I'd be a pretty terrible main character if I just let my friends all die off. And yes, there are people that play this game wishing for death for the Scions. I remember back in ShB seeing a few people that wished Thancred died after his fight against Ranjit, and in EW some were upset that they didn't all pointlessly die in Ultima Thule. I get people being annoyed about the fake-out, but some people were outright angry that they didn't actually die.

They need to be relevant though... DT basically sidelined most of them and put too much focus on Wuk Lamat and Sphene, especially for parts of the story where they're no longer relevant. The Scions themselves were just kinda there in the background to help fill up spots in Duty Support.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't mind if the Scions take a short break once in a while, but I wouldn't want to see them become completely irrelevant for all future storylines and replaced with a rotating cast of new characters for every new expansion going forward.

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I don't think anyone is saying that they need to be killed off (though, to be fair, it would be nice if they didn't all have such obvious plot armour and multiple "shoulda died but didn'ts" between them). They could be rerouted to different narrative purposes. They could essentially be retired (or at least noticeably sidelined) when their personal storyline has come to a close. They can be given lives outside of just being a WoL Tag Along whose life only actually moves forward in time when in proximity to the WoL. Just give them something to do outside of being a Party Member.. and, yes, allow that to open the space for more characters both new and old. I do agree, though, that given the reputation Wuk ended up with (deserving or not), I imagine they're probably reluctant to hang major story events on another new side character again and could see them actively retreating to the Scion Closet for the time being.

Hoary Boulder, Coultenet, Aenor, Riol, Alianne

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Originally Posted by Yuella

Aenor

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I don't think I could stand a whole expansion's worth of "i so horni i need roegadyn dicc so bad" jokes... even I have my limits...

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Originally Posted by VeyaAkemi

I don't think I could stand a whole expansion's worth of "i so horni i need roegadyn dicc so bad" jokes... even I have my limits...

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Spending time actually focusing on the character would be a good way to add some depth there, rather than leaving her as a gag.

I would love to see us take an almost completely different team into Evercold, unfortunately I expect us to go in with the same old Scions.

i just want Wuk Lamat, i think her character hasn't been explored all that well yet.

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Originally Posted by StriderShinryu

To be fair, they've basically commented on this before but had to acknowledge that to a large portion of the player base The Scions are basically The Game. They would riot if their husbando or waifu wasn't around in some way or form (I mean, just look at the uproar over Graha's voice actor maybe having been changed in a single patch). It's a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation.

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Tbf, the only ones who truly can't let go of the Scions are the writers themselves.
The normal players would be happy with breaks for some characters and adding new ones.
Sphene or Golbez for example are really liked characters and show that you only need to write those in a good way.

The extreme G'raha fangirls will never be happy until they get some kind of love story in canon or such.
They'd always ask for more and that's something the writers actually need to ignore when telling a story.
That guy had his adventures with us. He can still come with us and all but people really need to stop acting like he gets the short end of the stick all the time.


I don't really care for the Scions staying TBH as long as it's not all of them the entire time and agreeing with every single thing, even if I am extremely tired of the twins at this point.

I'd like for characters like Nero and Cid to come back, Ryne and Zero to matter again or even for someone like Julius and Sphene to join up for some time, even if just in a complimentary way to some Scions or in some zones.

I enjoy Urianger but he really needs an outfit change by this point. The sleeveless Arcanist robe look is getting old fast.

Speaking of a change up I am hoping Estinien is getting the new Tank role treatment. I can't stand dragging around a Dragoon for yet another expansion. He hasn't changed roles since we met him in HW.

Most of the Npcs in general I could take or leave, none really stand out as interesting, and some are just annoying.

Maybe just give me a small Turtle following me around everywhere I go on the 4th always staring at me... judging me... trying to steal my soul...

Sorry what was the question?

Bring back Gaius, he's a badass.
I can fix him.

If I had my pick, Estinien ofcourse. Alphinaud and Thancred. Rest can stay home for all I care.

- Hoary Boulder (as the new tank job)
- Coultenet (because you can't have the Boulder without his little green wizard boyfriend)
- Alphinaud (already confirmed)
- Estinian (already confirmed + aibou)
- Alisaie (best girl)
- At least 1 other party member who isn't an Elezen (just to balance it out)

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Originally Posted by Underscore

- At least 1 other party member who isn't an Elezen (just to balance it out)

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This thing:
https://imgur.com/T4L2b2M.png

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Originally Posted by DiaDeem

This guy:
https://imgur.com/T4L2b2M.png

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which half are we taking?

Seems like a rather divisive suggestion.

Don’t really need any of them, tbh. But Erenville definitely would be nice to bring. He needed more screentime in DT. Meeting a new viera and a new aura could be fun in the new place. Maybe we’ll finally see a proper snowy veena village.

Aside from that, I do like Alphi and Estinian. And seeing Thancred and Urianger doing their thing together is cute but a mention is also fine. Graha and Yshtola are always good if they’re contributing. I can do without Alisae or Krile.

Might be an unpopular opinion, but I think they should expand the main cast again. In particular Riol and the other B-team scions should probably have more important roles. Current scions should still be involved. We already lost Minfillia, Moenbryda, Papalimo and Lyse, and Gridania players have really gotten screwed. :( Either bring Lyse back, unpopular opinion, sure, but she's literally all Gridania players have left at this point :( either that or add some character that Gridania players would know (unfortunately it's difficult think of anyone who stands out, besides Lyse)

Anyway, I think the 5 main scions we have are too small of a main cast to have in a 350 hour+ story. We already know them well, and it doesn't seem difficult to keep track of more when the story is as long as it is.

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Originally Posted by Yuella

Aenor

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That's the solution, she's gonna meld the 4th just by being her horny self.

They're never getting rid of the scions because scions are THE JRPG party of ours, and unless they do another ARR-level story reset, best we can hope for is extremely slow-moving ship of theseus to the main cast, which is in itself unlikely because every scion has its own rabid fanbase that will riot if signs of them being genuinely sidelined start showing.

Ultimately, I do want more focus on G'raha and Estinien, so those two. I also think we need more 'main' party joiners, so I wouldn't mind seeing Erenville show back up with a new job and a new purpose, but I doubt it's happening next expansion with his send-off having happened so recently.

krile, zero and a few new characters

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Originally Posted by HammAndCheese

which half are we taking?

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I say the legs, at least that half can probably keep up.

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Originally Posted by HammAndCheese

which half are we taking?

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Both somehow survived and each half has been reconstructed. They're now both forever locked in an existential battle over who's the real one.