Fordola (spoilers)

[wereotter]

Slightly tangential, but I promise it ties back. Castrum Abania was full to the brim with references to the Magitek Research Facility in FFVI down to the bosses and seeing people that were enhanced by some process I still don't entirely understand.

Fordola agreed to this procedure even though it's still experimental after which she mercilessly kills her own people just to make sure that her enemies die. This is another FFVI allusion from when Kefka poisons the water source of Doma Castle to ensure an empyreal victory knowing that his actions would not only kill the Domans but also his own men. While there are definitely distinctions between the two, I do suspect that we're seeing the beginnings of this game's version of Kefka, and we're definitely not done with her. Kefka was also locked away for his crimes only later to be let go and he then went on to destroy the entire planet.

[Akonyl]

Frankly, compared to Gaius and Regula, Zenos is just a really bland villain.

I kinda agree with this. I have nothing against villains who act on whimsy and just wanna have fun / stomp people / etc, but this seemed like kind of an odd incarnation of that role, with how it was merged with a villain who's apparently been efficiently snuffing out rebellion for years. The kind of "mad dog" villain (for lack of a better name) is best when they answer to no-one, which is the case with Kefka in the last half of FF6. With Zenos though, while he certainly does things his own way, he's ultimately shackled by the job he's been given, even if he does make use of that job to his own ends.

It makes it feel like he's two villains who're kinda just smashed together, the guy who's this cold rebellion-crushing dictator, and the guy who couldn't care much less about a province rebelling if he could trade them for a good fight. (Which...)

[Lambdafish]

Frankly, compared to Gaius and Regula, Zenos is just a really bland villain.

The last few cutscenes hinted at zenos becoming a very memorable villain IMO, though we we won't get to see that

[Reynhart]

The last few cutscenes hinted at zenos becoming a very memorable villain IMO, though we we won't get to see that

For me, it felt like a cop-out.
"See, I'm not a total jerk after all, my one and only friend" What ? Friend ? Ok, give me that katana, I'll cut your throat for you...

[Kallera]

Do you think Fordola is going to be the start of people building resentment towards people with the echo? This was once hinted at in 1.0 and hasn't really reared its head yet.

It could be possible that Fordola, after being rejected by both ala Mighans and the The Empire and seeing the Accolades being given the WoL, start to grow an obsession for the person that took everything away from her starting with Gaius....and attempting to wreck both sides for it.

[Aquaslash]

Do you think Fordola is going to be the start of people building resentment towards people with the echo? This was once hinted at in 1.0 and hasn't really reared its head yet.

It could be possible that Fordola, after being rejected by both ala Mighans and the The Empire and seeing the Accolades being given the WoL, start to grow an obsession for the person that took everything away from her starting with Gaius....and attempting to wreck both sides for it.

I think that the method used to take down Fordola might be kept around to use on the WoL in case they go out of control. They could easily become the next Zenos under the right circumstances

[Dualgunner]

I think that the method used to take down Fordola might be kept around to use on the WoL in case they go out of control. They could easily become the next Zenos under the right circumstances

Why didn't our using Urianger's Patented Aether Boom(tm) to knock Fordola about rebound on us as well, as we also use the Echo?

Zenos also made some interesting allusions to the fact we haven't even started to tap into what our Echo is capable of.

[Kallera]

Why didn't our using Urianger's Patented Aether Boom(tm) to knock Fordola about rebound on us as well, as we also use the Echo?

Zenos also made some interesting allusions to the fact we haven't even started to tap into what our Echo is capable of.

It wasn't pointed as us, it looked to be a targeted tool.

Also, Zenos is but one example of many who have seemed to tap into the echo far deeper than we have, although they have a running theme, these uses seem to be at a terrible cost to either humanity or mortality(figuratively "selling your soul"). It is almost certain that the gift, wherever it comes from, it isn't one that is granted by Hydaelyn, since the Ascians use it as well.

[waifugenerator]

Urianger explained that the reason why the Aether Boom only effected Fordola was because her body wasn't used to manipulating aether and whatnot. So it created a disruption in the aether which overloaded her senses.

[Kallera]

Urianger explained that the reason why the Aether Boom only effected Fordola was because her body wasn't used to manipulating aether and whatnot. So it created a disruption in the aether which overloaded her senses.

Not exactly, it was because her senses were turned to pick up the minute aether movements that came with an attack. It was like using a flashbang on someone.

It could be possible that a similar device can be made for us,but since the main worry was Fordola anticipating the attack if we knew how it worked, changes would have to be made to make sure it is something we do not see coming or cannot avoid.