Dedicated Thread for Patch 2.55 Story Discussion/Spoilers

[Gyson]

The other being that it would, as Fernehalwes (head of Lore and Localization) has said before, simply consume too many resources to be a worthwhile investment. You underestimate exactly how much besides one CUL quest needs to be altered after 2.55, and simply changing the biggest "error" would only make the smaller "errors" more obvious.

Yes, that is completely possible and falls into the category of "can mean several things". Just to be clear, I never implied it wasn't a possibility, I merely suggested there are several possibilities and admitted from the start that I may be giving the developers too much credit. When writers make a decision to kill off a character, I like to believe that they review all the cases where said NPC makes an appearance in other storylines, debate how best to deal with that, and then act on that decision. In Nanamo's case she pops up in a few stories (not just one CUL quest), and yet it's quite possible the reaction of the writers was akin to "oh well, doesn't matter/don't care". If that is the case then I feel that's disappointing and sloppy writing, and the team can take that as feedback. Or, it could be that Nanamo is really still alive (a few of the NPCs closest to her seem to believe so), rendering this observation/complaint as moot.

Again, those are all just my opinions. After all, this is the story discussion thread, not the "agree Nanamo is dead or GTFO" thread.

[Fenral]

If that is the case then I feel that's disappointing and sloppy writing, and the team can take that as feedback.

I hope they are listening. I really do. Don't mistake my cynical pragmatism to mean I don't want to believe otherwise.

[Belhi]

Yes, that is completely possible and falls into the category of "can mean several things". Just to be clear, I never implied it wasn't a possibility, I merely suggested there are several possibilities and admitted from the start that I may be giving the developers too much credit. When writers make a decision to kill off a character, I like to believe that they review all the cases where said NPC makes an appearance in other storylines, debate how best to deal with that, and then act on that decision. In Nanamo's case she pops up in a few stories (not just one CUL quest), and yet it's quite possible the reaction of the writers was akin to "oh well, doesn't matter/don't care". If that is the case then I feel that's disappointing and sloppy writing, and the team can take that as feedback. Or, it could be that Nanamo is really still alive (a few of the NPCs closest to her seem to believe so), rendering this observation/complaint as moot.

Again, those are all just my opinions. After all, this is the story discussion thread, not the "agree Nanamo is dead or GTFO" thread.

Have a situation where you must adapt any content characters appear in when their are major alterations to that character creates a situation where storytelling becomes extremely restrictive and the problem compounds as the game gets longer. Let use Estinien as an example. Lets say something happens to him that changes him or kills him in say 3.2. That would create a situation where the developers would have to go back and change pretty much the entire DRG Job storyline from scratch. That's a huge amount of work. Its not feasible without a serious impact on new content. For example for such a thing would you be happy to give up say the entire Dark Knight storyline? Imagine if it happened in 4.0 or 5.0. They would have 2 to 3 expansions worth of storyline that they would have to rewrite.

Such a thing like this requires either Main Scenario and Non main Scenario NPCs never interact in any way and there is no crossover between the two or any crossover that does happen effectively makes such NPCs immune to major changes happening to them. The first situation leads to a sense of disconnect in the world as the Main Scenario doesn't feel relevant to events in the side stories and vice versa. The second leads to an undermining of any tension in the story because players would now that certain characters have plot armor.

This isn't about the writers not caring about story. In fact the opposite is true. They aren't willing to let a problem keep them from creating tension in a story and making that story connected and engaging.

Since she's the current subject of discussion, I'd like to point out that there's one disturbing aspect of Nanamo's death that seems to have gone pretty much unnoticed (please correct me if that's untrue).
This is a game rated 16+. Even in games with more ''mature content'' that FFXIV, there is still one taboo in the entire videogame industry: directly showing the death of children, or sometimes even creatures resembling children.
So, yes, I know Lallafels are not necessarily infants, I play one myself, and I've had to kill quite a few Garlean/Pirate/etc ones throughout the story, but those were kill or be killed situations, not to mention most of these Lallafel models had a moustache or other things indicating older age.
Nanamo's actual age on the other hand is unknown, especially since she has to act mature because of her role, but a. she looks like a child ( she even has pigtails) b. she sometimes displays the emotions of one (bursting out in tears, running into Raubahns arms) c. she still sleeps with her plush toys for gods' sake!
Contrary to what most people assume about the female gender, I'm not ridiculously sensitive or even fond of children, but Nanamo's death scene is as disturbing as the image of a little girl choking to death actually is. To make matters worse, it was a largely unnecessary act of violence, as she was about to resign from her position anyway.
I would very much like to have an official response to this.

Nanamo is in her 20s. Many Lalafell act in a childlike manner.

However from a story position Nanamo's assassination was necessary. Firstly she wasn't just resigning. Her action would have seriously undermined the power of the Monetarists. Secondly, this whole thing was a power play not just to remove her but to remove the Warrior of Light as well.

Its supposed to be shocking and horrifying because its an evil act and honestly an actuate depiction of anyone dying from choking to death on poison would be disturbing.

[Twilite]

Secondly, this whole thing was a power play not just to remove her but to remove the Warrior of Light as well.

Because saving the world is totally going to ruin Lolorito's plans apparently.

[MilesSaintboroguh]

Because saving the world is totally going to ruin Lolorito's plans apparently.

I'm sure he didn't want any risks that would hurt his power and profits in the long run. He knows that the Warrior of Light is on the side of Nanamo and Raubahn (and by extension, the common people) and would defend them, so if the Warrior of Light is casted off as a bad guy, that risk is gone. Naturally, things did not go exactly as planned.