Quote Originally Posted by Hiruke View Post
I respectfully disagree that this (concerns voiced by OP) is a problem. I do agree that it would be silly if we had characters from other FF games popping up all over the place, but I think it's a bit unrealistic to think just because Lightning showed up that everyone else from every other FF is suddenly going to be all over the place. Especially since I can only imagine that the story of Lightning being here would relate to the fractured reality of her world, which isn't exactly a running theme in all of the previous FFs. Either way, I think it's kind of a stretch to think anything revolving around Lightning or any other FF character would be anything more than a series of sidequests. It's not like the main scenario is suddenly going to be all about Lightning and Cloud and Sephiroth or something.

That said, I think one of the best things they could possibly do is make something like the Coliseum in The Void Beyond, somewhere you can fight characters from other places/times, which would give an opportunity to design battles against villains and hero parties from previous FF games. You could have everyone from the White Raven to Cloud and his crew to old school Garland. This would, incidentally, keep the "ridiculous fan service" compartmentalized so maybe fewer people freak out. Probably not, though.
I have to disagree with this post. Like the OP sad, it's not whether or not Lightning can be well-written into the story of FFXIV (as we all know well she can). It's whether or not she should be written in. And I personally don't think it's a very good idea.

Each Final Fantasy, while connected in the way that it continues the series, is it's own story set in it's own universe. FFXIV is a good enough story. So, why have Lightning in it at all? It's just a move that seems to me to pander to the fan service of other Final Fantasy games, and that, in my opinion, makes the story you bring that kind of stuff into seem dated, at best.

And no, having a coliseum-like arena in which you fight with or against old Final Fantasy characters from other games doesn't seem to me like a good idea either. I think A Realm Reborn is good enough to stand on it's own legs without needing to pander to fan service. While it might be okay to have a character come in for a second and then leave (like how I hope Lightning ans Snow in this game will be handled) having them become an integral part of the story or a mainstay for any reason is just... well, it gives a lackluster "meh" quality to the story. And yes, I'm sure the story will still be good. But having a cameo by another main FF character will be a cheesy spot in the story.

That's just my humble two cents on the subject.