Something I notice on the recent Live Letter

[Fenral]

No, not for the sake of 'drama'. For the sake of antagonists actually being a genuine threat and succeeding from time to time. War isn't pretty - and that's a theme that the game is hinting at. Matoya's speech springs to mind. I just hope they're going to follow through with it this time around rather than pull another 'Ul'dah' where the status quo doesn't change.

You need to lighten up a little. I suggest watching One Piece. The number of characters who die outside of flashbacks can be counted on one hand, but it nonetheless manages to fairly consistently illustrate and escalate the threat of its main antagonists.

If you feel a story is failing to convey threat levels properly, that's a problem that killing people won't magically solve.

[Theodric]

I don't feel like I need to 'lighten up' though your concern is very touching.

On a more serious note, though? I'm very passionate about FFXIV's story. I just feel like all the awesome world building is all going to be for naught if we get another 'Ul'dah' situation.

[Lauront]

You need to lighten up a little. I suggest watching One Piece. The number of characters who die outside of flashbacks can be counted on one hand, but it nonetheless manages to fairly consistently illustrate and escalate the threat of its main antagonists.

If you feel a story is failing to convey threat levels properly, that's a problem that killing people won't magically solve.

It's not the only way to convey a threat, but it's certainly a very good way, and one SE has employed to an extent. After all, Aymeric will be very high on the Horde's target list, and he is not an exceptionally great combatant. Good, but not great. It's not like they haven't got a very good replacement for him, in the form of Artoirel, if need be.

Not sure what "lightening up" has to do with it.

[Morningstar1337]

No, not for the sake of 'drama'. For the sake of antagonists actually being a genuine threat and succeeding from time to time. War isn't pretty - and that's a theme that the game is hinting at. Matoya's speech springs to mind. I just hope they're going to follow through with it this time around rather than pull another 'Ul'dah' where the status quo doesn't change.

He [Theodric] has a point, especially since the whole point of Heavensward is to change the status quo of Ishgard from "zealous theocracy" to "member of the Eorzean Allience", plus the plot has to leave this place eventually and focus on other places like say... Ala Mhigo or Sharlayan, and lets be honest, I think people would rather leave in a worse position then leave it unchanged.

[Lauront]

Yeah, however Ishgard has suffered quite a bit. With that being said, the deaths we have seen were inflicted by Garlemald and the Heavensward itself. So far, the Dravanian Horde has done one thing and that is to prise Estinien from Ishgard, but nothing beyond that. Now that he is at the apogee of his power once more, I think we can expect some death, since that is primarily what Nidhogg is known for, and what his powers result in... I have a feeling that they might kill Lucia before Aymeric, though.

[Fenral]

It's not the only way to convey a threat, but it's certainly a very good way, and one SE has employed to an extent. After all, Aymeric will be very high on the Horde's target list, and he is not an exceptionally great combatant. Good, but not great. It's not like they haven't got a very good replacement for him, in the form of Artoirel, if need be.

If somebody who dies ends up being replaced that easily, the entire value of that character's life becomes undercut to the point of rendering their death meaningless. I know series like A Song of Ice and Fire get held up as "ooh, so edgy and realistic, people can die and stay dead!" but those same people seem to miss that death matters in ASOIF precisely because the world will never find a replacement for people like Rhaegar Targaryen or Eddard Stark. Instead, everything just slides further and further out of control for lack of the people who were holding it together, and portraying that sort of world is beyond the limitations of FFXIV's system.

[MilesSaintboroguh]

In regards to the idea of "the bad guys should win sometimes", it's not a "bad" idea per se, but how it is executed can be a very delicate matter. While the story is strong here, we are the ones that are controlling the Warrior of Light and feel that we are them. If what we do or did gets easily undone by the antagonists for whatever reasons, people will cry foul because "they could have stopped it/[insert reasons here]", just like people did when the Sultana "died" and the WOL got arrested. I get that some things need change, but handled poorly, it's going to look cheap.

[Culfinrandir]

Don't forget that they have the ultimate switcharoo card that can be played at a choice time - The Warrior(s) of Darkness. It could go Evil Willow at any moment!

[Frederick22]

Estenien will die.

[Laili]

Estenien will die.

Its gonna be really weird doing the DRG quests after 3.3 if that's the case.