4.1 Hype and Speculation

[Balipu]

I like to use the word "pseudocanon" (as canon as one wants them to be). They break the "Hydaelyn is isolated, period." standard that Yoshida-san has stood by thus far, and thus they're probably not to be considered hard-canon deep-lore that helps you figure out the world and inform other story arcs. But does that mean we should just disregard them if we enjoyed them? Of course not! One can be called by a pseudonym and without denying that there's a deeper truth. It's important to remember which things are in those bubbles in the big picture, sure, but if you enjoy them and want your character to identify with them, that's your business.

I think it was said that it was canon, just not an official part of the Lightning Saga. Like Rogue One. It is totally canon, but not a part of the main starwars series.

[Remedi]

Reading on a site, a guy said that the legend returns might actually just be a nod to yasumi matsuno since the quest to kill yazmat was named farewell to a legend and now the patch where he came back is named the legend returns, maybe it's not just that ofc but it could be related

[Lutefisk]

So the ruins in the lake have a name now...

Though I kinda doubt that they have anything to do with the Allagans. They always struck me as some sort of a remnant of the people who were already living in Gyr Abania when the Mchachi and Amdapori made their way there. Perhaps Anshelm himself was descended from them and the choice to construct his new city on top of the old historical capital of the region could have been a way to symbolically rebuild what the flood had destroyed.

[LineageRazor]

In the context of FFXIV the 'Return to Ivalice' raid is going to be actually based on an "old Garlean legend", emphasis on legend, so to me that means we're going to end up with something like the Minstrel's Ballad on a raid scale, in other words, someone will tell the story of it to the player's character and their imagination does the rest (hence we wouldn't actually be going to Ivalice in reality, merely imagining it).

The fact that the Live Stream specifically referred to the tale of Ivalice as a "fairy tale" (at least, assuming the translation of the Live Stream was accurate in this regard), it immediately caused me to draw parallels with Omega and its experiments. Could it be that the entire Ivalice raid might be yet another such experiment?

Requiring players to complete Omega V4.0 normal to access the 24-man raid would be unprecedented, but not exactly a tall order. And, anyway, if they framed the story right, even that requirement might not be necessary; they could keep the originator of the fairy-tale-come-to-life vague while still making it obvious to folks who've completed the Omega questline.

[Anonymoose]

Patch 4.1's Special Site has gone live!

Garlean theatre troop! Fifth Astral Era city in Loch Seid confirmed!

[WhiteArchmage]

What is this FF9 reference doing in my Ivalice-themed raid? I kid, I kid, but it is a nice touch and brings more fuel to the theory that the Ivalice raid tier will be a more elaborate Minstrel's Tale-like recollection of Garlean fairy tales or history (that or the Prima Vista crew ends up taking us alongside a not-really kidnapped princess to Rabanastre). Also, I was astounded by how much Rabanastre looks like...Rabanastre, those canals don't give me Garamsythe Waterway but whatever, I WAS expecting a more XIV spin on the setting.

Also also, now I'm thinking "The Legend Returns" is actually about Rauhban returning to Ala Mhigo...we'll see...

[Anonymoose]

I WAS expecting a more XIV spin on the setting.

As I understand it, Matsuno's ambition is to take the blank space on Hydaelyn's canvas that he was offered and paint a 1-1 copy of a small section of his world onto it, changing only what absolutely needs to be changed for it to fit, much like Crystal Tower. I imagine that a lot of it will be strikingly familiar, but with changed context.

[Theodric]

I speculated a while back that Garlemald itself is likely to be very cultured and not necessarily as bleak in terms of architecture and so on where the inner territories are concerned compared to the outer territories. A Garlean Theatre Troupe - complete with a lovely take on the Prima Vista itself - serves to cement that and humanises the Garleans further. We already know, for instance, that Regula was fond of music as per the revelation in the lore book. That many Garleans are fond of theatre shows that they are not solely consumed with war and conquest like some try and portray.

Exploring the ruins beneath Loch Seid will be interesting, especially with the talk of 'mysteries unsolved'. It makes me wonder what we'll find down there.

[Mieck]

I wonder if talk of Skalla being 5th Astral rules out the connection to the burial place of Ultima Weapon? I mean, I know we've got Allagan-esq domes (like at Saint Coinnach's Find), but the blurb mentions it being built into the walls of the gorge, rather than being built upon pre-existing ruins? Could be just an omission to keep a secret, or an indication that this is just a side story dungeon, and nothing to do with the MSQ.

Also, I love the idea of the Prima Vista being involved in Return to Ivalice. Hopefully there will be some scope for ATE sword fight scenes?

[Rocl]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Tantalus Troupe is the one who utilized the Prima Vista in IX, right? And they weren't strictly a theatre troupe and used it as a front for more nefarious/dubious means?

I can't help but wonder if our escorts in the airship are similar treasure hunters or revolutionaries.