Let's make a bet: Does Gaius van Baelsar survive the game's first main scenario?

[Shadowblind]

I certainly hope not. He's an interesting character, in how he's clearly an antagonist who wants to conquer Eorzea: But he's interested in conquering Eorzea, not a smoking crater, so he's quick to ally with us (In a way) when a bigger evil rears its head.

^this. He's such a good/bad character based on his attitude and speech that you can't REALLY tell what his intentions for Eorzea are exactly (peace? war? slavery = peace?), although the brutality he allows his subordinates to take are another matter. Honestly, the chick in white gear ( forgot her name already) is so bland and unoriginal, especially in manga/anime culture, I couldn't care less if she goes. Nero is the cliche "why do YOU get the respect" villain archetype so . . . don't care. But Gaius is neat.

[shinros]

I thought it was also cool when he asked why do we fight. Or if we believed in eorzea and I think he was pretty much correct about the twelve they are pretty much like primals why do you think louisoix was saving summoning the twelve as a last resort for the dalamud? Lets not for get that kid trying to get crystals to summon rhalger and the old highlander said he would just end up like those tempered wretches if he did that.

Plus his english voice actor was really good my favorite one actually he is the only reason why I did not switch to Japanese. XD

[Riposte]

I think he's dead; but he'll come back in a different form, maybe even a form against his will.

. . .

I like him for the same reason you do. I don't believe they used him to full effect in ARR. He (and certainly his tribuni) needed more screen time. They shoved too much in his characterization in the final dungeon. I imagine people who didn't get to see (or haven't sought out) his 1.0 cutscenes haven't been able to fully appreciate him. I wanted him to be my favorite Final Fantasy villain when ARR is over, but I don't think they delivered on that potential.

EDIT: I'm also really annoyed we never got to use the power of echo on him. Echo seems to have been pushed to the side for ARR. It was a much more important part of the storyline in 1.0 (hell, in the original storyline, it was the main part).

[faris]

I like him for the same reason you do.

Very agreed. Baelsar is the Black Wolf that wields the Heirsbane - the gunblade that's completely destroyed nine aspirants to the Emperor's throne. I was waiting on Echo stuff depicting how exactly he became so loyal to an infirm, ancient Emperor that's permanently on his deathbed - since Baelsar, if anything, is proactive. Yes, the Emperor built the Empire in one lifetime. But now he can't even control his own court. That loyalty needs explaining.

Furthermore, I wanted to know about the assassinations Baelsar performed, and I wanted to know most of all the dealings (in intricacy) between him and Midas nan Garlond. It's mentioned in the Praetorium that Midas transformed before he died. Given how crystal and monsters in close proximity to Dalamud have seemed to have transformed, (Coblyns by Dalamud's Talons around Bluefog are Doblyns / Gigas around Dalamud's shards in Mor Dhona are Ogres as well as Mirrorknights around the Burning wall in general, which the game says in their FATEs come from Dalamud) Dalamud's purpose seems a little more than just holding a very angry Primal.

I suspected as well with the little teasers the devs gave at the end of 1.0 about people grafting Magitek to their bodies, that Baelsar might not fully be human any longer. Thinking about it, we have three points in time FFXIV gives us. The first is the conquering of Ala Mihgo / Silvertear falls and Midgardsormr incident, which iirc happened 15 years before 1.0 storyline. Assuming Baelsar was 25 at the start of that (A little young to be head of the XIVth legion, but you know SE and their unrealistic ages) at 1.0's storyline he was 40. Five years later in 2.0 storyline, he's 45, which in JRPG terms, is about to push up daisies - and that's the absolute youngest he actually could be. Potentially, he's way older. How is it he can fight so well? Magitek augment?

But we didn't find out. It wasn't mentioned.

There were times where I wondered what the hell the writers were even thinking with Baelsar (such as already mentioned, joining with the Ascians. I hope SE give out some kind of "Ascians bring out the worst in people" Thing with that, because Baelsar teaming up with a bunch of "touched" people trying to bring their Primal/"One True God" to Eorzea, when he himself understands what exactly these "gods" do? Really? Even with the How-To-Ultima-Weapon they no doubt provided through Thancred doesn't justify that) As well as the fact they slapped on plenty of "I must rule" comments at the pre-Baelsar fight which just didn't make sense for his motivations in general, I'll be pretty darn annoyed if that is the end of Baelsar, because he has such potential and was so very well-written in 1.0.

[Meliae]

what I want to know more is who is "She" who isnt named but has Claim over his soul, does she take direct action to save him?

[HalfEmpty]

I think he will survive the explosion. Maybe with 1 or two less limbs, replaced with Magiteck later on.

[AlexiaKidd]

I was actually really disappointed in the way Gaius was portrayed in ARR. In 1.0 before Yoshi P. took over I can remember the first encounter you have with him you have in the mission Future Perfect. Up until that point the story wasn't that great but then you just get hit with this amazing cutscene and this badass dude that has a fricken gunblade and some kind of magic cannon on his arm. It just suddenly changed everything for me in 1.0 and I could not wait for more story involving the Black Wolf. With the addition of Yoshi P. in 1.0 and getting more quests which involved Gaius he was a great character.

Then we jump to ARR and straight off the bat I do not like the voice for him, it just sounded off compared to how it was in Future Perfect. Later on we find he has allowed the Ascians to corrupt him which just seems not right. Then we have his ultimate fate and the whole thing just seemed messy and out of character from this person we were first introduced to.

I hope to god this is not the end of Gaius as the Black Wolf deserves better than this.

[saber_alter]

I think he will survive the explosion. Maybe with 1 or two less limbs, replaced with Magiteck later on.

yeah, his character seemed to be the stubborn kind that refuses to die until an important detail in his past comes full circle.

[Artamie]

I don't think he's dead because this death is way too unceremonious for the Black Wolf. The way they chose to play a remixed version of "Rise of the White Raven" during one of the Black Wolf's phases as the BGM is like a slap to what I find to be one of the most memorable and complex villains of recent time's face and until he gets his own personalized theme song I refuse to consider him finished! I have a hard time believing they spent all of 1.0 building him up for just this.

[Naria]

There were times where I wondered what the hell the writers were even thinking with Baelsar (such as already mentioned, joining with the Ascians. I hope SE give out some kind of "Ascians bring out the worst in people" Thing with that, because Baelsar teaming up with a bunch of "touched" people trying to bring their Primal/"One True God" to Eorzea, when he himself understands what exactly these "gods" do? Really? Even with the How-To-Ultima-Weapon they no doubt provided through Thancred doesn't justify that)

We don't really get to see Gaius and Lahabrea interact much, but given everything we know about the Ascians and Gauis' surprise at Ultima's actual power I doubt they were actually straight with him about what they were up to. Did the empire even know that they were the ones that taught the beastmen to summon the primals? I don't recall it ever being shown. Not much is known about the Ascians publicly so Gauis may not have known anything beyond that Erozeans considered them evil bogymen who could possess people. Considering the empire's stance on all primals, including the Twelve, its probably just an "enemy of my enemy" situation.