The way Square Enix depicts our characters...are we helpless, or are we heroes?

[InuraBera]

Well, minus the fact that we travel around the region armed and kill animals and the occassional bandti, we aren't very much yet are we? Be that you are a high Ranked Archer, or merely a Botanist, compared to a well organised and disciplined foe made ready for a true war, you are but a bug to be squashed.

Heck, at the beginning you have effectively just jumped off the back of a turnip truck and now you expect to be the Hero? Even in the main story they keep letting you know that there is plenty of others like yourself on The Path - you are not any more powerful or special than anyone else in the world, minus the ability to use the Echo - yet.

Saying that, my character hasn't appeared to be a 'slack jawed gawper', generally taking things in her stride and being generally pretty stoic - at least compared to my Path Companion, who is a bit of a coward (Lalafell Male). Once we truly begin reaching power above that of your average person, I would agree with you, but as of now we are merely 'Adventurers' getting paid to bring beasts to heel and keep the City-States generally secure.

With the story ongoing, I believe we will get our chance to truly shine, rather than just be caught up in the transition from peace to war, I truly feel that the current Story-Quests are pure foundation work (even though we can't reach the next ones unfortunately). Also, I doubt you would see your character ever actually do anything in a cutscene - even World of Warcraft, with your nigh untouchable power, has you beaten like a small child and cower whenever anything happens, plus, the fight is your fight when you play, rather than standing toe-to-toe in a cutscene then getting instantly beaten down in the actual gameplay.

Not that I wouldn't like to see it mind, I just don't see it happening!

[Betelgeuzah]

Everything about single-player story modes in an MMO is essentially retarded. Even if it makes you feel like a hero, you arent. FYI.

This.

We are ordinary adventurers that find themselves in the turmoil of the world-changing events. We can not be the "heroes" because that would be ridiculous. We are in a world inhabited by tens of thousands of people, and they are all "the chosen ones"? We fight against fearsome bosses with our friends (at least in the future, I hope) and in the end "I" am the hero that saves the day?

If there are true "heroes" or "legends" or whatever, those are chosen by the community. Making us all "heroes" is just part of the Western unique individualized snowflake mindset that does not translate to an MMO at all. Me and my 20 000 friends are all heroes, because there can't be any losers!

It does have great potential for a comedy however.

[Cendres]

Everything about single-player story modes in an MMO is essentially retarded. Even if it makes you feel like a hero, you arent. FYI.

That's pretty much the main problem with starring you as the hero, this is an MMO you and everyone else that's an adventurer defeats the very same baddies? No, I always liked that it made more sense for adventurers to assist the actual heroes of the game, the NPCs. It even bothers me that we are referred to as the prophesized hero in the easter event I just see it as tongue in cheek but I have a feeling they might do exactly what the OP wants regardless if it makes any roleplay sense because people think it's cool.

[Demacia]

Why even fight the enemies when you can play a little mini game that wins the fight for you. I will agree that FFXI never made you feel like the hero until the very end of CoP and throughout most of WoTG. At least in WoTG the cutscenes show your character fighting (with the limited animations they were able to use).

[Randis]

maybe it is a matter of taste but i am not particularity interested in being some support for a NPC Hero.
It is a MMO and not a single player RPG, true that but playing a single player RPG you also know that there are million others playing the same game, the same character even, it does not bother you.

If i watch a movie i also want the main character to be the hero of the story, i want to see what is going on, i want to be placed at the center of action. This is just another entertainment medium after all.

The argument that being the center of the story does not work because this is a MMO and not a single player game is lazy one at best. Just because there are thousands others it does not mean that the story has to be generic and that you can not be part of the action. Thats BS imo.

[Shikaree]

This topic has reminded me of back in FFXI when my character would pass out every other cutscene.

[Elexia]

It is a MMO and not a single player RPG, true that but playing a single player RPG you also know that there are million others playing the same game, the same character even, it does not bother you.

They don't exist in the same world as you.

The argument that being the center of the story does not work because this is a MMO and not a single player game is lazy one at best.

Care to explain how you can be the hero if you're not the center of the story? It's like saying Johnny from FFVII was the hero of the game.

[Dreamer]

I agree completely with the OP. Although I didn't care much for the entire 'chosen one' theme the main storyline had in Aion, watching my character battle cinematically was always a treat.

[Mitsuhide]

Im not A Hero... but We are Heroes.
At the Moment there isnt much Content which is "Heroic" but i hope there will be something that will show everyone who participate in a large scale Event or what-so-ever that we accomplished something so that we actually can be called Heroes.
I think its good as it is, alone im some no Name Adventurer but the moment i help and Team up with others and kick asses together with others, thats were the Game should show you that you were part of something big and part of the Heroes who saved Eorzea or something like that.
This is better than being the "Hero" alone, since FF was always with fighting alongside friends there werent a single Hero but they were the Heroes.

But i wouldnt mind some scenes with starring one Character only, but mainly i think there shouldnt be too much of someone alone.

[Nuru]

If cutscenes exist in the future Company quests, I'm sure that our characters will HAVE to look like they are ready for action.