[spoilers]3.2 MSQ Discussion/Reaction thread

[treuhavik]

Is the math finally started to make sense?

[Nalien]

So... What happened to Midgardsormr? Dude just flew off at the end of 3.0 and we haven't seen him since... Dude is the worst father ever... He is the Britta of Dragons... You'd think being as old as time would mean you'd have learned how to discipline your damned kids...

He's trying to put his Silvertear Seal puzzle back together. Unfortunately, he doesn't realize it's a lot simpler if you start at the corners...

The one he broke? Still can't get over that... All the ways to take out the Garleans, and he opts to crash their ship into his seal... Even if that was a "Primals will get summoned and that'll slow them down!" like I've seen suggested in the past... No, he is a giant serpent who can coil around their ship and crush it, nevermind the mouth beam of death... I'm pretty sure he could scare them off alone if he didn't opt to coil around a crashing ship and "die" with it...

"Where the serpent lies" in Sephirots lyrics is becoming more and more questionable the more I dwell on this... I'd rather have a suddenly evil wyrm, than one that is seemingly as incompetent as Middy is coming off as...

[Rocl]

So... What happened to Midgardsormr? Dude just flew off at the end of 3.0 and we haven't seen him since... Dude is the worst father ever... He is the Britta of Dragons...

He's trying to put his Silvertear Seal puzzle back together. Unfortunately, he doesn't realize it's a lot simpler if you start at the corners...

[Kallera]

Minfillia

The first thing I thought of when we saw Mifillia was that she is Tempered, or worse. However the difference, she is no longer herself(by Hydelyn's behest pretty much) which leads to my next point.

The Possible Radicalization of the Scions

There was something about Alphinaud's concerns that spoke to me, even as it was about the events of Estinien and Minfillia. While it sounds like the mark of loyalty to stay with a cause past the point of reason, to "Do whatever it takes" to further it(Specifcally, Matoya's speech scene after the Antitower), There was something cold and dreary about it, like we could slowly become our own monsters, all with justification of being the planet's defenders. (I don't find it a coincidence that now the token and crafted gear is using materials blessed by primals, assumedly for more common use) There was nothing comforting about what needs to be done, and maybe that was the point...but I saw no light out of that tunnel they were selling. Alphinaud's desire to save Estinien is the sort of thing I would have laughed at in 3.0, but I'd rather believe in that than turning into a scourge.

Trigger warning: Offering Drinks

Kallera: "I swear, At this point, I'm gonna just pretend to have it."

The more I think about, it kinda plays into the whole of the 3.2 scenario!

The first time,
Aymeric offers a drink when the celebrations are over, our hesitation in agreeing meaning that we are still holding to a part of the past.
Then during the first conference, we take the drink, and fall into a scheme all over again. Our trust broken yet again, as it happens during the conference.
Finally, when Alphinaud offers drinks and talks about his feelings. We...well depending on the response, remember different times, of friends long past, and put trust in his words...perhaps even have that warm drink.

I'm glad some measure of characterization is finally coming into play here for our character.

[CyrilLucifer]

In regards to Mide and Alex:

I noticed a nice little tidbit between the MSQ and the second Alex quest. Aymeric goes on and on about how it's only the future that matters, but Mide is exactly the opposite. She says straight out that it was her complete focus on the future that destroyed her and her dreams.

That being said, I don't think there's anything SE can do to salvage Mide at this point. She'll always be special snowscars to me.

[myahele]

To Quote a character im very fond of,

"A Drink..." "tis long overdue!"
/sigh
/faint

Oh, lol I completely forgot about the last time we shared a drink with a leader of a city ... no wonder my character made a face. I thought he was just being angsty due to what happened to Minfilia.

Also ... poor Vidofnir seems as if many people from 3.0 is dying: Her, Ysayle, etc.

I guess the "good" thing is that Ishgardians know that Nidhogg and his brood are the true enemies and are united in their hatred against him.

I was hoping we'd get more answers out of Minfilia, but it's the knowledge we've know for a while now :/ Though I guess it's nice confimation

[Cilia]

Shit, man. Just... shit.

Antitower

Worst fears realized - Minfilia's not really herself anymore. Instead, at least for the time being, she is "The Word of the Mother," Hydaelyn's mouthpiece.

... well, can't say I didn't see it coming. Something something Zodiark wanted power, something something I banished him as the moon. None of that... really matters. Why did our dear friend have to sacrifice herself? What have we been fighting for all this time? A world with no place in it for Minfilia?

I just...

I...

...

Dragonsong War

Emmanellain is unsure of what to do, having been told his entire life. This actually hit pretty close to home for me, because it's something I'm struggling with as well.

Despite the best efforts of traditionalist holdouts, we almost get a peace treaty through... and Estinien-Nidhogg crashes the party. Bastard. Well, we knew from the outset he'd still be an obstacle to peace... best to deal with him now, and if he's going to challenge us all that remains is to rise to the challenge and end his quest for vengeance. If we just pry those grotesque eyes off Estinien's armor, I bet we could bring him back... easier said than done, but even so.

Tourney fight with Raubahn. Easy as pie!

The final showdown with Nidhogg coming in 3.3, I bet. Time for the Aery (Hard)?

Warring Triad

Still not sure what to make of Unukalhai. He seems to have connections to the Ascians, but we have yet to get any concrete information, and I don't want to jump to conclusions.

... still, you can tell the stress is getting to the Warrior of Light. Aside from the dialogue choices being not so optimistic and peppy as usual, s/he is taking time to respond and lacks the usual smile and nod. Probably just wants to get that freakin' drink from Ameryic, or maybe go cry in a corner for a few days... but a hero's work is never done.

Well, at least I still have Wind-up Nero.

[Fenral]

3.0 MSQ:

Emannelain had the character arc I wanted for G'raha Tia. Really happy they finally went there with someone, still really sad how they handled the first character driven to subservience by his inferiority complex.

Minfilia's gone Daniel Jackson on us. Dammit Heidi, you commanded her to you expecting her to make the call to sacrifice herself willingly. That's a dick play and you should feel bad. And she definitely didn't tell us everything.

Alphinaud has finally reclaimed the crown of most precious bby from his overachieving sister. Hot damn. Feeling a little vindicated, and more than a little grateful that finally someone in-universe has caught on to the stuff that's been bugging me since 2.5. He's probably right in thinking there's more to the Light and Dark than what we've been told, else why would Eldibus even exist? Even if it turns out he isn't, I'd rather stick with someone who didn't just go on blind faith.

Y'shtola is earning antagonist points. It was easier for me going off of the Japanese voicework, but Matoya 's Small Talk made it pretty clear that she was most definitely not trying to steel our resolve. She was being the judgmental old crone she always was, and Alph got the hint, but rebellious pupil Y'shtola, as usual, thinks she was right to begin with. Glad to see her finally find a character flaw.

Estinienhogg is bad news, but I'm with Alph on this one. You can't save anyone if you write them off before even trying. It'll be hard, and potentially ridiculous, but we have to at least try. That Alph brought up Ysayle again makes me wonder if we'll get one last dance from her before this is done.

SO MUCH BETTER than 3.1. Still need to do Alexander and Sephirot and Hildibrand, but those will get done. I may go through the Japanese script later in the week, too, for people who are interested.

Also ... poor Vidofnir seems as if many people from 3.0 is dying: Her, Ysayle, etc.

Vidofnir survived. So did the lady Emannelain ordered shot down, for that matter. It looks like the writers are finally ready to let medical science catch up with the rest of our late-industrial tech. Not to mention healing magic is an in-universe thing that never gets mentioned out side of class quests about healing.

[CyrilLucifer]

Yeah, we're definitely not getting the full story when it comes to light/dark. Even Alphinaud sees that we're missing things.

That's not just my bias speaking, either, that's SE pounding the foreshadowing into our heads via the most visible source.

I'm actually getting FFXII Esper unreliable-narrator vibes from it. Altima was demonized by history because she challenged the Gods themselves (that's not to say she had good intentions, mind you, given what we see of her in FFT); history condemns her as evil because you have the Gods' side of the story.

[ZQ875456]

Thancred.......

The way Thancred looks at the WoD near the end makes it seem like he wants to join forces with them, since he has a chip on his shoulder regarding Minfillia. Not because he hates the Scions, but rather the way Hdaelyn directly interceded with Minfillia, and put her in a position to make a choice she would obviously make (self sacrifice). I also don't think this is the way it'll play out but it would be interesting having to duel Thancred with the WoD, since I don't really see the WoD's as "bad" guys anyway (apart from being dick'ish).