Patch 3.3 (Trailer) Discussion (2.x - 3.2 Spoilers)

[Cilia]

I'll start off with something I haven't seen anyone else mention yet; Estinihogg's Ultimate. Or, rather, the Blood of the Dragon effect that surrounds him as he charges the attack. Now, I had assumed that the coils was representative of Midagrdsormr, a show of him granting you some of his power and all. But it seems to be something that maybe all of his children can do as well. (Then there's the whole Nael Deus Darnus thing, but others have mentioned it; I'm leaning towards that transformation being related to the Celestial Dragons as well. Primals do retain some bit of the one they're made from...)

I actually did notice that Estinien-Nidhogg charging his new super looked an awful lot like the Blood of the Dragon buff, I just didn't know how to describe it since I don't even have the basic DRG Jump, hehe. I noted that it looked like a supercharged, ultra-destructive variant of the Dragonsong Dive, which also includes the energy tendrils associated with the Blood of the Dragon. Estinien-Nidhogg's are just Nidhogg's signature purple/pink instead of the blue/white that comes from Midgardsormr's power.

I'm not quite ready to say that all of the First Brood are capable of the sort of things Nidhogg is doing / has done. It seems unprecedented, really, which is why Alphinaud is so desperate to find a way to save Estinien. deus Darnus is pretty unprecedented as well, though (a[n opposite sex] clone tempered by a Primal vs. a normal mortal possessed by a dragon), so who knows. Still, I'm going to chalk deus Darnus up to Bahamut's Primal status when we encounter him as opposed to outright possession in the case of Estinien-Nidhogg.

I find it curious that Nidhogg starts the fight in his pure draconic form, then shifts into a hybrid form for his super. I wonder if he'll remain in that state...

I can already imagine Fray's opinion on that. :P

"Recognize that which is important... and forsake all that which is not."

... wasn't that it?

[Jojozan]

At the moment, I suspect Ozma is the MCP of the Weeping City, for those that remember Tron.

I had an initial mistake when viewing the trailer - I thought Aymeric had changed into the Dragoon gear to oppose his old friend (and have that tie in the "Azure" title he has). On the other hand, that means we do not need to babysit Aymeric in the fight.

As for the Nael form.... gut says that is actually the WoL having worn down Nidhogg's control and fake body to the point that Nidhogg can no longer fully manifest. This means that he has to rely on Estinien's skills to continue fighting, hence the Dragon Dive.

I think the Palace can gate the quests by upping the levels on deeper floors so you should have cleared the dungeon/story by then. Or at least have an additional cutscene like some of the seasonal events do.

[Cilia]

At the moment, I suspect Ozma is the MCP of the Weeping City, for those that remember Tron.

...

As for the Nael form.... gut says that is actually the WoL having worn down Nidhogg's control and fake body to the point that Nidhogg can no longer fully manifest. This means that he has to rely on Estinien's skills to continue fighting, hence the Dragon Dive.

That's actually the best guess anyone has. Of particular note is that the sky in Ozma(?)'s room seems to be projected; it changes as Ozma(?) uses moves.

I'd guess that the hybrid form Nidhogg uses for his super is because he can't maintain his full dragon form... but he's also throwing out his super while using it, so he's got to have enough power left to do that. I just don't want to think it's that simple, given how big a deal they've made out of Nidhogg possessing Estinien. Nobody has any idea if anything can be done about it (except maybe Hraesvelgr... and maybe Matoya), so I doubt it'll be as easy or simple as "beat on Nidhogg until he vacates the figurative premises."

[TinyRedLeaf]

Everyone's all hyped about going DRG for the Final Steps of Faith, but what is a WHM like me supposed to wear?

Well, I know only that I'd be busy laying down the Akh Morn on Esti-hogg, with my dragon-inspired book.

[MilesSaintboroguh]

Well, I know only that I'd be busy laying down the Akh Morn on Esti-hogg, with my dragon-inspired book.

Nobody loves us WHMs /sulk

[Belhi]

Nobody loves us WHMs /sulk

Hey, I already have my WHM glam sorted. Its just thematically DRG suits the fight better. After all, you are the Azure Dragoon.

[Fenral]

Dragoon level 50 spoilers ahead, but I still think this could be the key to the entire thing:

What I said was an untruth. The power did not abandon me, [...] It was I who abandoned it.
Being derived from our mortal enemies, the power of the Azure Dragoon is a double-edged sword. Even as it lends us the strength we need to smite dragons, it heightens our communion with the creatures, rendering our minds more susceptible to their seduction than ordinary men.
[...] Fearing that I might turn traitor, I chose to purge myself of the power that the Eye had bestowed upon me.
[...] The desire to protect and the desire to avenge are opposing forces that can ill be reconciled. Worse, the latter serves only to cloud his sense of self.
When next Estinien and I meet, I intend to confess all, though it mean the loss of his good opinion. The outcome of the coming battle─and his very life─may well depend upon his readiness to relinquish his powers.

Alberic is remarkably vague as to exactly how he did what he did, but I'm thinking that Alphinaud may only need to reach Estinien with the Power of Friendship and convince him to let go of his powers. Failing that, Ysayle had/has the Echo, so her soul is still intact out there somewhere, right? Can't we renew the bond between man and dragon with a bond between heretic and dragoon?

We can save him, dammit.

[PArcher]

Dragoon level 50 spoilers ahead, but I still think this could be the key to the entire thing:

Alberic is remarkably vague as to exactly how he did what he did, but I'm thinking that Alphinaud may only need to reach Estinien with the Power of Friendship and convince him to let go of his powers. Failing that, Ysayle had/has the Echo, so her soul is still intact out there somewhere, right? Can't we renew the bond between man and dragon with a bond between heretic and dragoon?

We can save him, dammit.

Actually...I wonder if he could do that because he is a Hyur, and thus does not possess Ratatoskr's blood. So Nidhogg can only influence him when he is in possession of the Eye...

I should go back through cutscenes though, I *think* all the people we saw drink dragon's blood/transform were Elezen

[Frederick22]

My only guess on how we could free Estetinien ( if thats even the case ).

Well what could happen if we force Nidhogg to drain all his aether from his eyes?

[MilesSaintboroguh]

My only guess on how we could free Estetinien ( if thats even the case ).

Well what could happen if we force Nidhogg to drain all his aether from his eyes?

I thought the aether from it was limitless?