Tales from the Storm Discussion

[Cilia]

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Cliche? Yes.

Offensive? Only if you want it to be.

You're exaggerating what I said, or ignoring the spirit of what I meant to get your point across. This "not passing the Bechdel test" can make people uncomfortable, but sometimes women will discuss romance in fiction, Bechdel test be damned. There's nothing wrong with that and it's not a constant or defining trait of any of the characters in the story. I see no need for controversy over this.

[LineageRazor]

Because it's irritating as all hell that people believe that all small talk between women should involve or default to romance.

I'm kinda sorry I brought up the Bechdel test in the first place, now. Let's be fair: FFXIV as a whole does QUITE well on the Bechtel scale. The fact that a side-story scores badly does not change this overall fact. While I found the story a bit eye-rolling, I don't think that it's a horrible travesty that should never have been written. I consider it to be harmless fluff. I wish that it had been something more substantial, but I'm not offended by what we got.

Women in real life don't always talk about men, this is true. And women in this game ALSO do not always talk about men; in fact, they hardly ever do. Women in real life DO sometimes talk about men and romance, if not nearly as often as some men like to think that they do. There is no harm in the women in this game spending some time talking about romance - and, purely out of personal preference, if it WAS going to happen, I prefer to see it in a side-story, rather than in the actual game.

And, whatever we here in the forums think, I'll bet there's a sizable chunk of the playerbase (consisting of both males AND females) who really are interested in what the characters thoughts are when it comes to romance. This entry was likely intended for their benefit. While it wasn't my cup of tea and clearly not yours, you can't please everyone...

[Modrew71]

Thancred x Y'shtola... the ship that sank even before it sailed. And, no, she doesn't think of the WoL that way either.

As somebody who shamefully ships these two together, but also doesn't really see them becoming a thing, it still hurts like heck to see this ship actually sink TwT

[Kyran-Varlsen]

As somebody who shamefully ships these two together, but also doesn't really see them becoming a thing, it still hurts like heck to see this ship actually sink TwT

I was always under the impression Thancred never dated women he worked with or who's mother he had met. Also, I thought Thancred and Yugiri were being made a couple considering their chemistry as rogues (she's technically not a Scion, no rule break).

As for Y'shtola, I don't see her expressing an interest in Thancred save as a friend. I don't truly think she would hold the man's constant dalliances against him (though he does seem to have slowed down), but her interests might be elsewhere.

While Scions have either died or moved on, we've never seen the developers inject much into their characters beyond wardrobe change. Though considering how few Scions there are left, we would need new members before any true relationship dynamic could be put in place. While many people consider Alphinaud a proper replacement as Antecedent, I think it more likely that Y'shtola will retire from fieldwork and take full command of the Scions if required.

[Theodric]

I've never really cared much for 'shipping'. I've seen brilliant characters utterly ruined by supposed fans and the appeasement of those same individuals for the sake of a popular 'ship'.

With that said, I don't mind that the subject of romance was brought up by the characters. I just question the timing more than anything - because after everything that happened in Gyr Abania, Kugane and Othard it feels like the protagonists should be a bit more concerned about what may be awaiting them. Lyse being free to travel all the way to Vylbrand from Ala Mhigo suggests that things back in Gyr Abania are fairly calm. I can't help but question if that should really be the case, especially with the concerns that the liberation of not one but two nations happened a little too quickly and cleanly.

[Kyran-Varlsen]

Lyse being free to travel all the way to Vylbrand from Ala Mhigo suggests that things back in Gyr Abania are fairly calm. I can't help but question if that should really be the case, especially with the concerns that the liberation of not one but two nations happened a little too quickly and cleanly.

The end of Stormblood is naturally a calm before the next storm <Insert Patch Update>. Both places were left as ruins and the Garlean response has been muted. However, there will likely be the threat of renewed civil unrest as both Doma and Ala Mhigo try to sort out the political situation. First, we will see divisions between those people who worked with or sided with the Imperials (the Fordola Factions) and infighting between the factions that helped defeat the Empire (Republic versus Monarchy).

Then, we have to consider that conscripts from both nations will likely be trickling back home - should they be welcomed back or isolated for fear of Imperial infiltration efforts? But the biggest question by far may be what to do with the Imperial technologies and weapon caches left after the 12th Legion was defeated. Who should control them and to what end? This is especially the case with Ala Mhigo, where alliance leaders may want to have a say as to where that giant cannon in the Peaks is pointed.

And when all is said and done, the Empire will still likely retaliate against the rebel provinces. Everything we know about Emperor Varis seems to suggest he is open to reason, but he may yet surprise us.

[Cilia]

Bein' totally honest, I don't care for the shipping or discussion of romance either. In reality I'm very much like Estinien - not big on sentiment, cynical and focused on getting the job done. The shipping is just an annoying distraction to me.

That said I understand why others like and enjoy it, though if I wanted I could get derisive in explaining why. I also don't think this one minor, tiny, web story incident of the women briefly discussing possible romantic prospects is a major problem in the writing... just, the conversation drifted there, as it may or may not in real life. It's the first time any of the Scions have discussed the topic, aside from Urianger's posthumous declaration of love for Moenbryda.

[T]he biggest question by far may be what to do with the Imperial technologies and weapon caches left after the 12th Legion was defeated.

I'm more concerned about Aulus' research falling into the wrong hands, or even what's in it period. Castrum Abania looked like it had been turned into his personal laboratory, he had a facility in the Ala Mhigan Quarter, and almost certainly some kind of facility in Ala Mhigo proper. There has to be a paper trail somewhere... though being totally honest, I'm kind of afraid where it could lead.

[Belhi]

I think the idea was for them to be having a moment of peace. In truth, after the fall of Zenos, there is probably a lot of time where everyone is trying to figure out what is next and get organised. First you probably have a lot of scouting, sending messages, organising meetings and generally trying to figure out where everyone else stands. Doma will be somewhat different since Hein can quite easily step back into the power vacuum. Until recently the pre-existing government system was in place, abet as a proxy for Garlemald. As a result there will probably be very little internal conflict and political unrest as a result of Hein's rise to power. Ala Mhigo on the other hand has not had a non Garlean governance for over 20 years and prior to that they had just finished pulling down the one that existed. They need to build a Government structure from scratch and that is far more difficult. However the forces at work there would probably take time to build, particularly with a sizable Alliance presence in Ala Mhigan territory.

Fundamentally, many of the Scions would be turning their attentions to other matters until their expertise or assistance is needed. Case in point is the WoL themselves. Really this is probably the first time in a long time they have had a chance to just sit down and 'hang out'. I wouldn't put too much stock in Lyse's travel being a huge deal considering we have Airships and Aetherytes. While very few people can teleport around as freely as the WoL (due to not having outrageously large reserves of Anima like the WoL) I am sure Lyse can manage a port to Limsa and back.

[Yuella]

Lyse's mystery guy can be Arenveld

[YianKutku]

Lyse's mystery guy can be Arenveld

Highly unlikely. The Scions all know Arenvald, so Lyse won't need to refer to him obliquely as a member of the Resistance. And Arenvald is a Scion, so Lyse would have described him as such.

The more I think about it, the more I'm wondering who this mystery advisor is. Most of the candidates which come to mind are accounted for (eg Meffrid's comrades from our time in Quarrymill) or improbable.