Spoiler-ful advice to SE's Writing Team for Future Content.

[Tharne]

That being said, the only "villain" I can see genuinely lasting a while is the new emperor and Nero (since he's filling the trope of anti-hero).

Watch Zenos kill his father and become the new "new emperor" in 4.55.

[Naunet]

I guess the end of Moenbryda doesn't count as development for Urianger, somehow?

Ah, yes, the classic: Woman introduced and shown to be quite competent (and confident) and has an unspoken romantic connection between a main male character. Woman is quickly killed to provide motivation for male character.

Not exactly great writing.

[JunseiKei]

Watch Zenos kill his father and become the new "new emperor" in 4.55.

I'm half leaning toward him starting to turncoat after encountering the Scions and the WoL. I think that chick with the pipe (I..... am not going to remember her name for a while) is the real villain for the Far East. Afterall, come time to march on Garlemald, we'll need someone who knows the innermost workings for the city. As much as I love Cid, it's been nigh on 6 years since he's been in Garlemald, lore-wise. I'm working off the statement made that Zenos is "not like the others." A pretty vague statement that leaves many doors open.

I suppose there's always Nero, but with Garlemald being so militaristic, I can't see him still having as much access or influence as he once did.

[Narthice]

I don't like killing characters only to bring them back later, why even kill them in the first place? Or worse yet, kill a character and then bring out a perfect twin, which even specializes in the same areas.

Please Square, if you kill someone they better be dead for good.

[Viridiana]

Ah, yes, the classic: Woman introduced and shown to be quite competent (and confident) and has an unspoken romantic connection between a main male character. Woman is quickly killed to provide motivation for male character.

Not exactly great writing.

Not saying it was great. I'd've loved for Moenbryda to stick around a while. I'm just saying it doesn't seem right to ignore what seems like valid development. Especially since, as I recall, the Moenbryda incident informed Urianger's later interactions with the WoD.

[Felis]

-Warriors of Darkness - l o l

They are not dead oO
They went home, together with Minfilia

[Eli85]

ITT: armchair writers who think they know how to tell a story. (Disclaimer: I am a published author).

Deaths are a very effective means of telling a story. In fact, there isn't enough death (as another poster has stated, we have too many characters who receive little and / or insufficient character development).

If FF XIV was a novel, it would be less egregious; but as it is, a slew of characters need to be cleared off the board so the writers can focus on meaningful character development.

[CyrilLucifer]

Im far more concered with the villiains dying tbh. before they are etablished

Im fine with the other deaths. Doesnt mean everyone was executed very well or something but im fed up with going against a world ending threat against something and nobody dies or one token character like in in most rpgs and especially mmorpgs

This.

This is exactly what happened with Igeyorhm and Igeyorhm is responsible for creating the void. A ttidbit that wasn't even mentioned in-game, but had to be told to us through the lore book, despite the fact that it makes her perhaps the most influential antagonist in the lore we've met so far. More villain development is exactly what we need at this point rather than a larger cast of protagonists. A smaller, properly trimmed cast would be beneficial to the writing of this game.

(Another example would be that 3.56 instance villain who just appeared out of nowhere and was so cartoony it isn't even funny).

I don't really have high hopes for SB in this regard.

[JunseiKei]

Not saying it was great. I'd've loved for Moenbryda to stick around a while. I'm just saying it doesn't seem right to ignore what seems like valid development. Especially since, as I recall, the Moenbryda incident informed Urianger's later interactions with the WoD.

Moenbryda served as a bridge of sorts. She came from Old Sharlyan, right? That's even more west than the Dravanian Hinterlands and I suspect we'll eventually end up there. The lore book mentions relics, Tupsumati being such a relic and that there are many more around. We don't exactly have a store of white auracite and we were only able to cut down the Ascian with what was equivalent exchange: a life for a life. As it is, we currently lack a means of eradicating an Ascian, still, yet the story has shown 3 instances of ways to kill them, possibly 4:
1) Moenbryda's sacrifice (a life for a life as stored using white auracite- extremely temporary);
2) Nidhogg's Eyes;
3) Relics that can funnel and call upon large amounts of Aether, like Tupsumatic (the Lousoix's staff that Papalymo last had, so yes, I also lean on the possibility of him maybe being alive. I would assume the spell would kill you, otherwise, if you didn't have that particular relic).

With the echo'd statement from Lousoix (also said to Alisae) to find a reason [of your own] to forge your own path. Pretty sure that's why Urianger played the role the way he did with the Warriors of Darkness.

... Plus Moenbryda's minion made Urianger look like a pervert, which I thought was funny.

[Esper]

It's starting to feel a little to much like a boring episode of game of thrones. Where next to nothing happens until they kill someone.

Ultimately I get the feeling that the entire plot for heavensward was to get rid of the remaining scion group as they were and replace with what they call "better" or more... broke versions of the characters we once had.

Thancred use to be fun, now he's just .... boring. Y'shtola is killing herself because "reasons, Alphys growing up and Urianger suddenly became awkward and slightly cheerful. Oh and spoiler, Yda is not Yda. Because Surprise! Soup opera!