Our passive characters and why the 2.55 story fails (BIG SPOILERS) (rant warning)

[Anna_Lannis]

After playing through this last MSQ, I have to say... the OP is absolutely right. Everything about this last patch is horrible. Everything that happens to the MC is nothing short of railroading, and I quite literally lost any respect for any of the GC leaders as well as most of the cast.

Before I go into the banquet, we get a message saying that were supposed to wait for someone and after several hours, we just *now* notice a vial and decide to pick it up. Maybe something about the "ghost of enemies slain and allies fallen".

No explanation for not having my weapon, no explaination how I got it back. No real reaction from ANYONE other than the Ul'dan as the FC leader. I stand there as a player character, bound and helpless as I watch a cutscene. I don't get any choice on what to do, how to act, and so on. I didn't need any physical evidence when I beat up a greedy merchant and his two thugs after accusing a woman for stealing a slice of dodo, I still have my weapon when I was captured by the Amal'ja, Papalymo and co. still had them when I had to untie their arms during a solo instanced fight. I don't get why it was necessary to turn me into a passive window dressing if I'm not even going to interact at all. I get dialog choices other places, which defines what Silent Protagonist is. Other SPs get to make dialogue decisions, even if you do get "But Thou Must" once in awhile. I have had a such emotional connection with Anna when I created her in FFXI back in '06, but control and personality went out the window as all the Scions and GC leaders and everyone I befriended thought all of 2.0, how we stood against the empire, in the very same room, where we were having the "everyone is one big happy family" dinner, and that I was ignored or outright deserted. I didn't even feel like a person after that CS. And not to mention killing off 90% of the cast your were with, with no important game play or anything to end the story with other than a stupid set of cutscenes you have no influence over.

No, I don't buy the story that your character didn't fight back because they didn't want to look guilty. Especally with a game that has more human vs. human violence than FFXI had. Especially that OBVIOUS BAD GUYS walk in after the Sultana drops to the floor after drinking the poison. You could just tear up that annoying underpants gnome and his goons, and then aid Nanamo, instead you let yourself get taken and leave Nanamo to goons.

For those making Superman references, our character is NOT superman. RPG characters, even ones with "magic" are still humans. My character, Anna. Is a human, with human feelings and human motivations. The Syndicate are NOT the U.S. Army. A magic weapon is still a weapon (i.e. you still know have to know how to use one). In Lone Wolf you need a Magic Spear to fight a Helgast, if you don't have one, Game Over (i.e. like you would be Tempered if you didn't have Echo), but you still have to fight him in normal combat. This whole passivity crap is garbage, and now I get to wander Eoreza like a ghost, because the people I trusted did nothing or were killed off for plot's sake. You could have the character "Fight" the guards and "defeat" them. My character wouldn't have been a "monster" because you know Gaius and the imperials soldiers who were conscripted and the beastmen I killed even though many were just defending thier homes don't think of me as a "monster", right? Is Rauhbahn a monster because he killed that lalafell runt? Fighting back against something you know is wrong doesn't make you a "monster", if the Crystal Braves and Brass Blades aren't corrupt they should have actually done something about it and not participate, or did we not learn this lesson back in FFIV with Cecil and Mystidia?

This didn't belong in the 2.5 patch, this should have been inserted into the first MSQ story in 3.0 so we don't have to walk around in the cities without feeling alienated. In the first time since I was a Level 1 WHM back in Bastok, I don't feel like "Anna" anymore. I feel like no one wants me. I feel used. I feel like since I defeated all the primals and the empire, I'm not needed anymore. No, I don't buy the smallfolk will still love me, what happened shouldn't have happened. It was railroading, pure and simple. My character isn't "me", and the people I worked so hard to make a better Eoreza aren't my friends anymore, and we never were. This plot sucks badly and people know it, otherwise there wouldn't have been a 29 page thread on it. Eoreza sucks and it's a land filled with sheep, pure and simple.

Next time, lets not drop a moon on this content, lets drop a whole friggin' planet. Next expansion I'm about me. Better yet, I'll become the next Shadowlord and rally the beastmen against the three nations, because they are scrubs.

One last thing: Alphanaud is a self entited dick who thinks the world owes him a living and people should help him just because of "duty", etc. "Hey, I'm doing something important! Devote all your resources to me, it's not like anyone else is making the world better". An Tataru is a ragequitter who gave up on being an Arcanist and a Miner at the first sign of trouble. If I didn't know any better they remind me of real life MMO gamers.

[Exodus-E]

This whole discussion reminds me of the ending of mass effect 3, and people trying to explain that ''really! the ending makes sense! it does!''. And they made up all these elaborate theories in an attempt to find some sense where there was none.

...Except in Mass Effect 3's case, it was meant to end the series (or at least, Shepard's story), thus, tying all the loose ends.
And it was a disaster, even from behind the scenes ("artistic integrity" as they say...yeah, right).

At least here the story's not supposed to be the end of the entire saga (and carries on into its "sequel", Heavensward).

[RaideDuku]

Yeah, after taking some time and talking to major NPCs (Not just in Ul'dah) basically the Seed Seer and the Admiral has declared that the Warrior of Light is protect while within the borders of their lands. Also, the charter that allowed the Crystal Braves to operate within Gridania and Limsa appears to have been revoked, as they are no longer in those cities. Of course, it's also pointed out that you should stay away from dark allies, secluded areas, and other places where you could conveniently "vanish".

In Mor Dhona, the Domans pretty much say that anyone that messes with you there will be vanished.

In Ul'dah proper, the whole incident is being kept under wraps. All that's being said is the the sultana is gravely ill, the WoL and Scions had a hand in it. Of course, thanks to all the people that you helped, it's being taken with a grain of salt.

The Crimson Flames, who are loyal to Rhubhan, are trying to figure out a way to take the city back from the Monetarists, but want to figure a way to do it without Ul'dah plunging into civil war, more and likely causing the deaths of many innocents and wrecking the hell out of the city. It also why it's why you should continue supporting them. They're the non-corrupt side of Ul'dah's army, so keeping them supplied is a good idea, since the Monetarists probably aren't going to being giving them much in the way of anything, now. Straight up disbanding them would be overplaying their hand, but denying them resources? Sure thing.

The reason the Crystal Braves and Brass Blades just don't arrest you while strolling around Ul'dah is because people wouldn't stand for it, and civil war would likely break out over it. It's also in the Monetarists best interest to not have a civil war start. You can't make money if the city gets wrecked and a bunch of people die. Besides that, you have the backing of the Adventurer's Guild and Craft and Gather guilds if you got those to 50. That's a lot of powerful groups to piss off. Better if they can just make you disappear, which is why I wish S-E would add random assassination attacks while you're out in the boonies.

So the whole thing has become a political stalemate. No one dares to do anything because Ul'dah's become a powder keg ready to blow, and either due to loss of life/destruction of Ul'dah/loss of profit, no one wants that. This is why the WoL can walk freely.

As far as "I'ma white mage, I could have Esuna her!" She was already falling off her chair before the WoL realized something was wrong, and she was dead (or out, for those that think it didn't killer) before she hit the floor. Doubt that even the most quickdraw swiftcast esuna could have saved her.
As far as Rasing...well...when it comes to character deaths, storytelling has always trumped game mechanics in the Final Fantasy series. I mean, how many characters have died in the series could've been saved if you could just Raise them? Hell, by game mechanics, Nanamo should've just been warped back to whatever Aetheryte she was bound to.

Of course, this mess could just be avoided if there was a little blurb before you go into the Sultana's chamber saying "We need to confiscate your weapons" and then afterward Alph saying that he managed to snag them on his way out. In that case, the game mechanics actually works in the story's favor, because the character is completely reliant on his weapons for their powers, which
-would- make him/her completely powerless the whole time. Which now that I think about it, is probably why SE isn't keen on the idea on letting PUG/MNKs being able to fight bare handed.

[Elmeron]

The cut-scenes in this patch really made me rage. Everything was so obvious and a lot of it was just plain painful to watch. They really need a better writer in my opinion because it's getting GW2 S1 Living Story, levels of bad... And that's just freaking awful.

I hate Alphinaud. I just... Hate him so much. He's so dumb, and he has the personality of a rock. The whole time he was feeling bad I was super happy. Maybe this is harsh... I hope you die Alphinaud. You're an awful character. Whoever wrote you into existence is the worst. Same with Minfilia, the useless chick who somehow got to be a leader of an organization by... Constantly needing to be saved? I was shocked she stayed behind to protect me. I bet she dies from tripping on something though.

I agree with the OP about most of what she wrote. The fact that our character was so passive to the point of just letting himself/herself be tied up by a bunch of loser goons, and how he/she really didn't do much to profess his innocence... It's just so freaking painful to watch.

Oh, and don't even get me started on how Kan-E-Senna and Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn abandoned me and someone whom I assumed was a good friend of theirs, Raubahn Aldynn! For hell's sake, all three of them went through the calamity together, and came out the other end with one another! What the actual f*ck?! Horrid writing.

At least this time it was all mostly voice-acted so as bad as it was it sounded nice...

[Airget]

The cut-scenes in this patch really made me rage. Everything was so obvious and a lot of it was just plain painful to watch. They really need a better writer in my opinion because it's getting GW2 S1 Living Story, levels of bad... And that's just freaking awful.

I hate Alphinaud. I just... Hate him so much. He's so dumb, and he has the personality of a rock. The whole time he was feeling bad I was super happy. Maybe this is harsh... I hope you die Alphinaud. You're an awful character. Whoever wrote you into existence is the worst. Same with Minfilia, the useless chick who somehow got to be a leader of an organization by... Constantly needing to be saved? I was shocked she stayed behind to protect me. I bet she dies from tripping on something though.

I agree with the OP about most of what she wrote. The fact that our character was so passive to the point of just letting himself/herself be tied up by a bunch of loser goons, and how he/she really didn't do much to profess his innocence... It's just so freaking painful to watch.

Oh, and don't even get me started on how Kan-E-Senna and Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn abandoned me and someone whom I assumed was a good friend of theirs, Raubahn Aldynn! For hell's sake, all three of them went through the calamity together, and came out the other end with one another! What the actual f*ck?! Horrid writing.

At least this time it was all mostly voice-acted so as bad as it was it sounded nice...

This honestly shoudln't need to be explained again but you are playing with politics.

Sure this isa Final Fantasy but what are the consequences if the other nations showed their allegiance during the engagement. They help Raubahn and the Syndicate could mark them for traitors for assisting in a regicide and on that same front they could order the Crystal Braves to attack LL and Gridania and blame it on the Scions. Since for all intent purposes the Scions are the one that put the Crystal braves together had the two leaders interfered and helped Raubahn it would just take one LP call to say "attack" and then civilians in LL and Gridania would die as they tell the Crystal Braves to say "FOR SCION". Then to put a better face on Ul'dah they could tell the Brass Blades and Crystal Braves to fight and to have "some die" on each side but overall to have the Brass Blades easily overcome the threat of the Crystal Braves and fortify the defenses of Ul'dah.

Now with Ul'dah protected via a "fake fight" but LL and Gridania still dealing with the Crystal braves there they could then send out airships flying out from mor Dona with more Crystal Brave soldiers to attack LL and Gridania, while they are under threat both leaders forced to head back would now have to deal with the consequences for what they did. In the end the Syndicate could say we will pacify these Crystal brave but only if you surrender your leaders whom attacked the Syndicate within the chambers alongside Raubahn.

Not that easy is it? Not everything can be accomplished by beating up the otherside, actions have consequences and they were aware of what could happen if they decided to act.

[Riepah]

To die? There's very strong evidence that they're just in jail.

What is your "very strong evidence" that the scions are just in jail...? Is it that cave-in with talk about being entombed there for all eternity?

[Elmeron]

This honestly shoudln't need to be explained again but you are playing with politics.

Sure this isa Final Fantasy but what are the consequences if the other nations showed their allegiance during the engagement. They help Raubahn and the Syndicate could mark them for traitors for assisting in a regicide and on that same front they could order the Crystal Braves to attack LL and Gridania and blame it on the Scions. Since for all intent purposes the Scions are the one that put the Crystal braves together had the two leaders interfered and helped Raubahn it would just take one LP call to say "attack" and then civilians in LL and Gridania would die as they tell the Crystal Braves to say "FOR SCION". Then to put a better face on Ul'dah they could tell the Brass Blades and Crystal Braves to fight and to have "some die" on each side but overall to have the Brass Blades easily overcome the threat of the Crystal Braves and fortify the defenses of Ul'dah.

Now with Ul'dah protected via a "fake fight" but LL and Gridania still dealing with the Crystal braves there they could then send out airships flying out from mor Dona with more Crystal Brave soldiers to attack LL and Gridania, while they are under threat both leaders forced to head back would now have to deal with the consequences for what they did. In the end the Syndicate could say we will pacify these Crystal brave but only if you surrender your leaders whom attacked the Syndicate within the chambers alongside Raubahn.

Not that easy is it? Not everything can be accomplished by beating up the otherside, actions have consequences and they were aware of what could happen if they decided to act.

What? No. The Crystal Braves and Ul'dah don't even make up enough guards to take on both Gridania and Limsa Lominsa. I don't know if you somehow think that the Crystal Braves and Ul'dah guards are now everywhere in Eorzea, just ready to slay random civilians (which would be really obvious...), but they aren't. Or did you fail to see the stream of soldiers coming out of Ul'dah? That is where they are residing in since they aren't even allowed in Gridania or Limsa Lominsa (you learn this by talking to NPCs in both of those cities).

You also cannot explain away the utter abandonment of Raubahn by both Kan-E-Senna and Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn, just by saying "politics." They'd been working with Raubahn for years, he was someone they had experienced traumatic events with, and someone that they were friends with (probably Raubahn won't want anything to do with either of them if he is ever freed... I know I wouldn't, but knowing FFXIV's writing it'll all just somehow be glazed over). What they did was turn their backs on someone who obviously needed them. I can't even look at them with any respect now, and it's sad because I liked both of them before.

[Sushikins]

Of course, this mess could just be avoided if there was a little blurb before you go into the Sultana's chamber saying "We need to confiscate your weapons" and then afterward Alph saying that he managed to snag them on his way out. In that case, the game mechanics actually works in the story's favor, because the character is completely reliant on his weapons for their powers, which
-would- make him/her completely powerless the whole time. Which now that I think about it, is probably why SE isn't keen on the idea on letting PUG/MNKs being able to fight bare handed.

This right here pretty much nails it. Our class/job is tied to our weapon, and pretty much all of our skills and techniques either use our weapons or we channel our power through said weapons. And while it's true Monks fight with their fists, I imagine without a weapon to channel strength to and absorb some of the impact of the blows, you would break your hands pretty quickly, especially against armored opponents. All in all, we may be the Warrior of Light, and blessing or no, I imagine we're only slightly more competent in unarmed combat as the next person, especially against an army of armed guards.

But I agree, if this is the explanation SE was relying upon for our character's general helplessness during events, they did a poor job of calling attention to it.

[myahele]

I feel sorry for Raubahn the most:
1. Homeland is gone
2. His 2nd in command betrayed him
3. Nanamo is assassinated
4. GC leaders just leave him (though as a GC leader he might understand)
5. Former friend betrays him also
6. The place he called home (Ul'dah) is now repeating the same mistake as Ala Mhigo

[Limecat]

The more I think about it, the more it rustles my jimmies. Seriously, we're given no options, we just have to sit back and get the business from lackeys and mooks during an obvious setup. It's like you're in a diner having breakfast, and several tables away there's a stereotypical evil dude with a cape, top-hat, and long mustache that he constantly twirls while going "MWA HAHAHA! MWA HAHAHA!" He gets up, grabs a stool, and bludgeons one of the waitresses to death with it; the other two dozen people in the place sitting a few feet away keep eating and never notice her shrieks or beating. Then he glides up to your table, gently sets the stool seat-down on top of your waffles, and rushes back to his chair with a final "MWA HAHAHA!" All of a sudden one of the other patrons looks up at you and yells "OH MY GOD, YOU JUST KILLED THE WAITRESS!"