3.4 speculation

[Jackald]

I reckon 3.4 is going to tantalise us with some Ala Mhigo plot threads in the same way that 2.4 teased us with some Ishgard plot threads. Perhaps we'll receive a message from the Ala Mhigan resistance. My gil's on maybe Yda sending us a message about some dire circumstance or revalation that makes the liberation of Ala Mhigo possible, and we go to investigate.

Then in 3.5 we fight for control of said thing; maybe it's a primal-powered machine that the Garleans used to mind control a load of Ala Mhigans, and once we take that thing out, suddenly we have a rebellion on our hands.

Then 4.0 is about the Liberation and Rebellion of Ala Mhigo. I reckon Gridana and Limsa wouldn't do anything to help, and obviously it's a sensitive issue for Ul'dah, but maybe we'll finally get our chance to fight Ilberd with Raubahn by our side.

Either way, 3.4 and 3.5 are going to be justifying why we go to Ala Mhigo. Whereas in 2.5 and 2.55, we were forced to flee to Ishgard, in 3.5 we will be going there of our own volition.

[Kallera]

Am I a fan of Garlemeld? Not really.

Do I want to decimate whole cities and spearhead an effort to wipe them off the face of the earth? Again, not really.

Indeed, when given a glimpse at their perspective, they think we're either ignorant or backward, that we are slapping away the chance to be saved. There has to be some facts that make them believe this, and I doubt its "magically induced brainwashing", especially after the story of Ishgard and given the presence of Cid and other NPCs. Facts that would get people from other nations to believe the Garlean cause.

Will there be those that will think that annihilating the Garleans will be the only way? Probably. And It'll be just as unnerving if they get their way. Because as far as our immortal chessmasters hoping to sow death and destruction are concerned, does it really matter who does the deed, so much as it is done by someone?

(And if Cid would end up totally on board with destroying his own country well that would just piss me off. )

[seekified]

There won't be some genocidal anti-Garlemald campaign, it's not the Scions' way. There will be a dismantling of Varis zos Galvus and his reign, of course, but there need not be explosions involving civilians.

Garlemald surely does have civilians who are as upset by the war effort as those subjected to it, and I'm also going to guess that at least a few garleans who took part in the invasion of Ala Mhigo will have some regrets about what took place there. Lucia and Cid can't be the only empathic garleans out there.

[Jackald]

To be honest, I think an assault on Garlemald and patch 5.0 would be a great time to introduce not only a civil war between the Scions, but World PVP; something that's been talked about for a long time. I mean if there's one issue the Scions would be split about, it would be how to treat the Garleans; Cid, Alphinaud, Y'shtola would probably be in favor of trying to save the Garlean people, but Yda, Urianger and Thancred probably would be in favor of a much more aggressive campaign of attack.

[MilesSaintboroguh]

I seriously doubt open world PvP will happen. And even if the scions are in a disagreement, it would be resolved in the MSQ anyway.

[Jackald]

Maybe not Open World PVP, but I'd like the ability to challenge people to duels or something similar. Would certainly help make the world feel a little less lifeless.

[Tracewood]

snip

It could be, but if I remember it was the Twelveswood that erected the wall, they probably wouldn't be too happy to drop it to let people pass. You might get to play in the zone for a little while, maybe Castrum Oriens (or the ruins of it) might make for a good dungeon. So after some trial and error we might be promted to find another route. Either through the mountains of Xelphatol which is to the north of Gridania or the Sylphlands if I'm looking at this right according to the world map or...

We have to follow the resistance (They might be in possession of a means to summon a primal, which would goad us to follow them in disguse, only after they use said primal to wreck things in Eorzea first) to the Sea of Jade but first have to cross the mighty desert of Paglth'an. There is also the matter of the Warring Triad, I don't know if they're going to weave that in to the MSQ towards the end or not.

[Jackald]

What if the Ala Mhigan resistance summons a primal to try and destroy their Garlean oppressors, and we have to not only break into a heavily fortified Ala Mhigo, but stop the resistance-summoned primal? That'd make for one hell of a dynamic entry.

[Nalien]

What if the Ala Mhigan resistance summons a primal to try and destroy their Garlean oppressors, and we have to not only break into a heavily fortified Ala Mhigo, but stop the resistance-summoned primal? That'd make for one hell of a dynamic entry.

I'd be fairly disappointed if a Primal is involved... We've effectively done that, twice... Either the Resistance is reduced to babbling zealots because of the summoning, thus being incredibly boring, short lived antagonists, or they have an Echo user and we're repeating pretty much the same plots we've dealt with already...

That said, my ideal pretty much repeats 2.0 in some ways, so whatever... I'd rather see Ilberd/the Resistance activate an Allagan Weapon, Yoshida loves his VII references for #.0 final bosses, so I think having Diamond Weapon stomp towards Garlemald, through Ala Mhigo for some cruel irony, only to ultimately be destroyed not by us, but by Garlemald firing the Sister Ray... Yeah, that would be fairly epic... Sets up a fairly nice "We're going to have to stop that" plot point for 4.# to lead into 5.0 with, too...

I would imagine 3.# wont actually end with something directly related to the next expansion, like Steps of Faith did... It would seem we're clearing up the Ascians at this point, so I imagine we'll be stopping Elidibus and the Warriors of Darkness, while events in Ala Mhigo are out of our hands and just happen while we're concluding the Hydaelyn/Zodiark plot... I would expect Y&P wont be coming back to us until the very end, perhaps only one comes back and that's what pulls us into the new region for 4.0 along with whatever plot they've been investigating... Perhaps the attack the Resistance are planning fails, Yda gets captured and taken to Ala Mhigo... That could actually make for some nice leverage to open up negotiations... "We have your friend, help us or else", that would keep Garlemalds leadership as a solid set of dickish antagonists, while giving us an interesting dilemma to tackle and giving us a chance to see Garlean occupation without us being entirely antagonistic to them...

I hope that we enter Ala Mhigo somewhat like that, I don't want to be marching in as a liberator, because then any of the Ala Mhigans who are OK with Garlean rule will simply view us as enemies and we'll be stuck with the same narrative we've been getting all this time... We've got the "Garlemald is Hitler!" side of the argument enough, I'd like to get another side of the picture now... Don't get me wrong, Garlemald is still in the wrong for their conquests and I don't think I've seen anything acceptable from their military, but if Garlemald puts even a fraction of what Gaius put in to improving various regions of Eorzea independently, to improving its acquired territories... Then we have a slightly more interesting narrative... Gaius build a bleedin' train in one of the most dangerous areas in the region, and all these soldiers have to be getting food from somewhere... I would hope what we see in Ala Mhigo can actually justify the constant "Savages..." Regula throws at me every other Lv60 Roulette... If we can walk out wanting to correct their leadership/military, rather than annihilating them, I'd be happy... Been a long time since Cid displayed what Magitek can do to improve quality of life...

[Alleluia]

So, you think the Nazis were justified with World War 2 and the Holocaust, right?

Its not the same thing exactly, but there are plenty of similarities.

Did you seriously just try to pull the "So, you support the Nazis." card? When someone was supporting a fictional empire's motives being portrayed as more justified for the purposes of interesting storytelling? You do know that wanting a more interesting story in no way even implies that someone is ok with genocide in real life, right?

Wait, hold on...implications were made that I'm a Nazi supporter and believe that the Earth is flat and I'm the rude one? I'm not quite sure how that works...

Where someone said that?
Put the comment where someone said that you are a Nazi supporter. Nobody said such a thing.

He means these, Frederick:

Or...maybe, just maybe...everyone is against you because you are so wrong we can't believe how you're able to keep going.

Its as if you believe the earth is flat.

So, you think the Nazis were justified with World War 2 and the Holocaust, right?

Its not the same thing exactly, but there are plenty of similarities.

Its PArcher tossing around the ridiculous personal attacks.

On a different note:

And I know it'll never happen but if we get another "crew" together like we had through most of 3.0 I really want the Deftarm to come along wth us.

I've just recently started the Vath Beast Tribe stuff and I'd LOVE this idea so very very much.