3.1 MSQ Reaction [SPOILERS]

[Fenral]

Has this point (that echo users have different abilites) been discussed about before?

It's legacy info, actually, dating back to the 1.0 story quest "Fade to White." Up until now, most of us just assumed that 2.0's take on it was a retcon, as (2.0) Minfilia seemed to imply the Echo was the same for everyone, and was even doing stuff with hers she wasn't in 1.0. Perhaps the simplest explanation is that it starts differently for everyone, but always grows towards the same end result.

[Laerune]

First I want to mention that the writing was great this patch, the conversations between Alphinaud, Krile and Matayo was funny and showed that Alphinaud might be a commander/tactician, but he is still a teenage boy, with teenage boys urges.

Pros
- The story was great, we saw what happend after the big reveal.
- New and returning characters have great designs, I like their outfits and hairstyles.
- I have seen alot of character developments with some of the NPC, which makes me glad to see that SE does not only focus on the Scions.
- A certain minion at the end of the questline.
- No pointless filler content, we got story and they delivered.
- Preview for 3.2 was revealed.

Cons
- Story was great, but the MSQ felt very short this patch.
- The WoD and his companions, did not impress me. The dialogues was very cheesy, which is odd, because the dialogues between Aymeric and the Count or Alphinaud and the ladies was well written.
- Once again the WoL (us) is doing nothing, but giving a nasty glare. I know that the encounter was used to introduce both the WoD and Thrancred, but I disliked how once again (like in 2.55) my character is doing nothing. I would have preferred that the WoD and WoL were fighting and the WoL started to lose and then BAM Thrancred showed up and we see the cutscene of them fighting. This way it shows that the WoD is a threat, but also show that the WoL has a rival and needs to become stronger.
- Alot of things are not being answered, like the Blindness of Y'shtola and how she is going to die, if this does not get solved. Why was Thordan so afraid of us, we saw the black shadow as our character, but I want know more.

For 3.2:
- its pretty obvious that we are going to see Yda and Papalymo and help them with their troubles.
- A certain twin sister will probaly contact her brother and she might reveal that Urianger is working or on friendly terms with the Ascians (still confused, they killed his best friend/lover).
- Another encounter with the WoD and another glimps into their past.
- The relationship between the Ishgardians and the Dravenians. Maybe Nidhogg will start to attack the Elezens, which inturn starts the drama between the two nations.

I realy hope they keep the whole no filler stuff, but I wish we had more story. I liked 3.1 storyline, but it felt very short and aside from meeting new people and finding old friends, we have not made any progress.

[Cilia]

OK, since there's been a lot since I said anything last and I was too tired / busy to do anything but snark last night... or yesterday morning... or whatever (time's weird when you do night shift), I'll be a little more objective now that I'm not excited from the new story content (and I can't waste time playing Lord of Verminion right now for... reasons).

Only on two main points, though, since there were scant few details elsewhere.

On Thancred
-He is, functionally, now a Garlean. Y'shtola's Flow could have blinded him in his one eye (left, I think), but his one is still functional - I'll need to review the still shots of him with nothing but the Nutkin to cover his naughty bits. Either way, he has lost the ability to use even the most basic of magic, and is now visibly aging as a result. I think it was stated somewhere long ago that the Archons were all using some sort of magic to halt their aging, and now that Thancred can no longer do so he may have quickly reverted to his true age.

No matter. He won't allow it to stop him and as far as I'm concerned he's just gone from "handsome" to "ruggedly handsome."

On The Chronicles of Gerun
-It seems to be a book of fate, with everything that has happened and will happen written in it. I admit I jumped the gun and was being too subjective when I blathered about changing fate, but the Ascians have so far seemed intent on "correcting the world" into what it was meant to be, and as Hydaelyn's agent (and thus her acting will) they constantly antagonize us. More importantly, if it is an accurate predictor of the future the Ascians should know that trying to fight us is futile; if that's so, why do they continue to do so? Without knowing that the Chronicles says the end of this all will be, it's impossible to say what we're going to need to do, but there may be some destiny screwing in there.

But then again, there may not be. Time will tell. Perhaps 3.2 will finally give us that carrot they've been dangling in front of us since godsdamned 2.1?!

Probably not...

You must not lose hope, Augurelt-kun!

[Anonymoose]

I find all these theories on the Gerun book to be pretty fascinating.

It looked to me like Elidibus was just saying,
"Of all the tales, this one is the one you need to be reading. That's the true genesis of this world, and its destiny. Surely it's obvious that not the power of the Warrior of Light, the Garleans, or even the Triad can change anything. All of our histories have been preordained."

[Yuyuka3]

On Thancred
-He is, functionally, now a Garlean. Y'shtola's Flow could have blinded him in his one eye (left, I think), but his one is still functional - I'll need to review the still shots of him with nothing but the Nutkin to cover his naughty bits. Either way, he has lost the ability to use even the most basic of magic, and is now visibly aging as a result. I think it was stated somewhere long ago that the Archons were all using some sort of magic to halt their aging, and now that Thancred can no longer do so he may have quickly reverted to his true age.

Already tried to post one, but for some reason the picture won't show in the post directly.

I think he said he was careless for a moment and 'almost lost an eye'. Hence, it's there, but bandaged?
Besides, I don't see where it's coloured lighter than the other one? http://imgur.com/yhMLI6p


And please, for the love of god, someone explain to me how I actually make that picture visible... the function doesn't seem to work... (and yes, I try to use [IMG])

My original post.

[StarDrake]

I agree on Thancred; he lost an eye because he was fighting godsdamned bears naked with rocks. In a way it's impressive that's all he lost. There's nothing mystical about it.

- A certain twin sister will probaly contact her brother and she might reveal that Urianger is working or on friendly terms with the Ascians (still confused, they killed his best friend/lover).

I still don't get why people think he's being "friendly"; across multiple languages, it's been obvious that he's saying he'll hear them out, not get friendly with them. He's hearing them out because every damned thing went to hell in 2.55 and even if they're responsible for the death of Moen, at this point there's no harm in at least hearing what Elidibus wants to say.

And this is reinforced in 3.1, because Urianger sounds deeply skeptical more than anything. And I suspect he's finding more backbone now that the team is slowly being found.




What I want to know is - why on earth are they so adamant about not showing Yda's face? They've always, always been extremely guarded about that, and what we saw of her eyes didn't seem THAT exotic. And since when is she so down with Rhalgr? One gets the impression there's some history here we haven't heard about before...

[DarthSanguine]

What I want to know is - why on earth are they so adamant about not showing Yda's face? They've always, always been extremely guarded about that, and what we saw of her eyes didn't seem THAT exotic. And since when is she so down with Rhalgr? One gets the impression there's some history here we haven't heard about before...

Maybe she's a Garlean, or an Ala Mhigan Half-Garlean.

[Anonymoose]

I still don't get why people think he's being "friendly"; across multiple languages, it's been obvious that he's saying he'll hear them out.

Agreed. Even if it someday goes that way (and I don't think it will), it has never moved beyond skeptical, protected meetings with an emissary. There are ancient, sacred rules of nonviolence for such a meeting. Remember how offended Elidibus was when he thought you might strike him? And that he was remorseful for having darkblasted Minfilia for trying to restrain him?

I used to have to cite multiple languages to give the rounded idea that he's there by invitation for discussion - Elidibus proffers a point of view, Urianger considers it while learning what he can. But this patch, it's clear. This is what you had me come all the way out here for? Hmph. Apocrypha. (A word meaning either that the author is unknown or its claims are considered inauthentic, and thus it is considered outside of a given established canon.)

why on earth are they so adamant about not showing Yda's face? They've always, always been extremely guarded about that, and what we saw of her eyes didn't seem THAT exotic. And since when is she so down with Rhalgr?

Having seen flashes cheek, eye, forehead, and hair (enough to make a composite portrait), unless SE retcons in something we've never seen where it "should" have been covered (and they very well might), Yda just seems to prefer to have her face covered. In 3.1, I think they were just hiding it out of tradition - that we haven't seen her before and it's better to do the revelations in 3.2 - her patch (and Papalymo's).

While it might be a hint about connections with Ala Mhigo, she's at least down with Rhalgr because he's the god of destruction and patron deity of people who punch things. She may not be a monk (as far as we know), but Eorzea is all about the Twelve and he's a good match for her; she likes punching more than puzzles. Imho, separate, her and Papalymo weren't really cut out for the Circle's purposes, but together they were among the best the Circle had to offer.

Maybe she's a Garlean, or an Ala Mhigan Half-Garlean.

Or that - following the retcon over the "shouldn't have seen" forehead we've "seen" previously idea. Cid's third eye was added in ARR, as well, since you shouldn't have been able to see his forehead in 1.0 (though you could if you just clipped his goggles). She does have blue eyes...

[Cilia]

I find all these theories on the Gerun book to be pretty fascinating.

It looked to me like Elidibus was just saying,
"Of all the tales, this one is the one you need to be reading. That's the true genesis of this world, and its destiny. Surely it's obvious that not the power of the Warrior of Light, the Garleans, or even the Triad can change anything. All of our histories have been preordained."

And that's why I immediately responded with the "anything can change" line - he's sounding an awful lot like Fire Emblem: Awakening's Validar at this point, a villain who is obsessed with following a preordained destiny to the ruinous future. (Cf. the protagonists, who are absolutely against this path to the point the main protagonist's battle cry becomes "Anything can change!" compared to Validar's "It has all been written!") Even if The Chronicles of Gerun is an accurate history of the origin of the world, and has been accurate thus far, armed with the knowledge of what is "supposed" to happen it should be possible to change it. A future isn't something you choose, after all - it's something you create, and there's no reason we can't create a future that's not written in the Chronicles.

Well, besides the fact that this is a game and the story is not in our hands, but... details, details.

Maybe [Yda]'s a Garlean, or an Ala Mhigan Half-Garlean.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say she hails from Ala Mhigo.

[VargasVermillion]

I doubt yda is garlean mainly because she didn't have her face covered around the refugees, which would very unlikely let a garlean help them if they knew about it.