Dedicated Thread for Patch 2.55 Story Discussion/Spoilers

[Belhi]

Keeping it brief: I've always been of the mind that a fade to white simply means a return to the Lifestream (that's still a thing, isn't it?), and a fade to black being unconsciousness.

If the Sultana and the Scions are suddenly alive and well, I would see that as simply bad writing, and the worst kind of deus-ex-style garbage. This isn't Homestuck, you know.

I disagree. The fading thing really means nothing and the lack of clarity on survival actually strengthens, not weakens the story. We don't know who has lived and that creates suspense and uncertainty.

Regardless of if they have lived or died, we are scattered, discredited, hunted and betrayed. Them being alive doesn't diminish that. Particularly if they are held by Lolorito.

[Kikoten]

I think the Scions are alive, only because of this guy right here:



I don't think he's talking about the player when he uses "Scions of the Seventh Dawn."

At least one of them has to be alive.

Edit: And have gotten away.

[Leowilde]

Was I the only one getting really strong Red Wedding wibes before that banquet? I'd cought on that some shit was gonna happen thanks to the forums, but not exactly what. Now I know. :I

[Velhart]

Just to add more to the theory that Ilberd is Gaius. Both characters are voiced by Richard Epcar. It does not 100% confirm it, but it sure makes it seem so. Like I said, I believe Gaius fled and used the disguise he used during the Ala Mhigo takeover (that is how he knew Raubahn as a war buddy) as Ilberd and used it to gain the trust of the Scions and Ul'Dah while working with the syndicate in the background to take down the sultanate, which would cause chaos and disorder, giving Gaius(Ilberd) the opportunity to take over Ul'Dah similar to how he did in Ala Mhigo. It...makes sense to me at least.

[MilesSaintboroguh]

Gaius being alive is a massive stretch. How does one even escape from what is basically a nuclear power plant blowing up? He even accepted his defeat before the entire place blew up with him inside.

[RyuDragnier]

Gaius being alive is a massive stretch. How does one even escape from what is basically a nuclear power plant blowing up? He even accepted his defeat before the entire place blew up with him inside.

An Ascian did it. Nothing else to say, really.

[Velhart]

Gaius being alive is a massive stretch. How does one even escape from what is basically a nuclear power plant blowing up? He even accepted his defeat before the entire place blew up with him inside.

It is a fantasy game with magic, crazy technology, and various scenarios that can be considered a stretch in the real world. It can happen.

[MilesSaintboroguh]

Just because it can doesn't mean it has. Heck, 2.55 was heavily criticized for having bad writing, but your theory would make it seem quaint by comparison. What you're proposing is simply bad writing; it amounts to nothing but "welp it just happened, so there."

[Valar-Shadowmourne]

As hard as I can imagine it being for them to write a narrative that is on-par with what players are capable of ingame, I'm getting sick of my Warrior of Light. All I do is nod, be everyone's errand boy, slay the land's deadliest adversaries, and stand there dumbfound and helpless whenever the plot demands it. They really need to come up with a better way to transition player capabilities between the story and in-game.

I am the Warrior of Light! I have burned through Ifirit, rocked Titan to his core, and blown Garuda away! I have drowned Leviathan, and shocked Ramuh! I have decimated King Mog and frozen Shiva! I defeated the Ultima Weapon, and destroyed Bahamut's Heart. The Garlean generals knelt before me in defeat. I am the mightiest adventurer and savior of Eorzea.

Yet on this day, I face the deadliest adversary in my life: The Brass Blades and their rope!

Honestly, I have never been angrier with my own character's lack of ability in a final fantasy story. It's ridiculous. Even if they took away my weapon. Even if all of my accomplishments were with 7 others. You'd think the Warrior of Light could handle some Brass Blades and some goddamn rope. It's laughable. The might of the Ascians and the Garleans weren't enough to defeat the Scions, yet Brass Blades and Rope were? The writers went a bit too far in our character's helplessness.

[Velhart]

snip

So if a villain comes back from an assumed dead state (which makes sense by the way), it is considered bad writing? We only think that Gaius died in the explosion? But did we actually see it? I reviewed the CS again and the only thing that happened was he fell to the ground after we beat him, then we fight Lahabrea, then we escape, without showing again what happened to the body. He could of escaped during that. Despite being in ruins, it is still his base and could know what is where at the bottom of it.

I always had a feeling he would come back, he seems much bigger as a character than what we think was given to us in the 2.0 storyline. The Garlean Empire, according to SE, rather if they are the main focus or not, will always be on the antagonistic side of the story, and Gaius of all Legatus is truly the only one who has interest in conquering Eorzea unless one of the others decide to gain interest.

Not to mention, I think it is clever writing if Gaius is using the same tactics he did in Ala Mhigo to take down Ul'Dah. They could of just made it where he just knocks down the door and takes everything in a giant new machine and he is all like "mwa haha I am back!", no, he is taking down Ul'Dah from the inside out and then seizing control once there is enough chaos.

An idea itself is not bad writing, it is how you implement it if it is good or bad.