The WOL and Mass Murder

[Tridus]

I've only progressed the MSQ to 3.1, so my current impression of the WoL, and the direction my WoL is going may differ from those who are further along with the story. For me, the death count, both caused and endured has made the WoL question her purpose. After the events of the Vault and the Antitower, enter the DRK questline for my version of the WoL, and after that, she vanishes off of the face of Eorzea; leaving only her signature aftermath of battle as a means to confirm that she is still alive.

In short, if my version of the WoL was canon, the MSQ ends after the Antitower and she disappears. Not necessarily because the death count has become so high (I can only imagine how much higher it is for those who are caught up), but because she chooses the path of deciding for herself who is the greatest threat to the planet.

She sees the MSQ struggles as 'a fight amongst ally cats', and focuses on the Voidsent who she feels threatens not only the entire planet, but existence itself. The questlines for both ARR and HW 24-man raids are a great example of where she shows up out of the blue to take care of a threat that SHE chooses. I can just see the smile on Alphinaud's face as he examines the wake and thinks, "What remains here are the ashes of the true enemy to our true friend."

Stepping outside of self-written lore, I have troubles as a healer main, dealing with all the blood the WoL spills. So enter DRK and a dual personality and it facilitates progression of the MSQ.

I have the same issues, also as a healer. It doesn't help that the MSQ generally doesn't acknowledge healers at all (except in the one case where it does), and you stand around like a doofus while people are dying instead of, you know, healing them.

It's a side effect of the gameplay being so focused on killing things. The narrative goes the same way, and characters NOT focused on doing that don't fit that well.

I know in my head (and RP), my character sticks around after those large battles to take care of all the wounded on the battlefield, from both sides. It's exhausting, depressing work, especially as all the killers leave the scene to leave her (and the other healers) to it. The game rarely tends to play that up and never really expects the WoL to do it, but I tend to feel it's exactly what a healer WoL would do. If the war is inevitable, save what lives you can.

[Gemina]

I have the same issues, also as a healer. It doesn't help that the MSQ generally doesn't acknowledge healers at all (except in the one case where it does), and you stand around like a doofus while people are dying instead of, you know, healing them.

It's a side effect of the gameplay being so focused on killing things. The narrative goes the same way, and characters NOT focused on doing that don't fit that well.

I know in my head (and RP), my character sticks around after those large battles to take care of all the wounded on the battlefield, from both sides. It's exhausting, depressing work, especially as all the killers leave the scene to leave her (and the other healers) to it. The game rarely tends to play that up and never really expects the WoL to do it, but I tend to feel it's exactly what a healer WoL would do. If the war is inevitable, save what lives you can.

You hit the nail dead center. I'd imagine many career healers share the same difficulty and frustration we do and have to develop an intricate background for their WoLs in order to accept that their healer is a killer.

Maybe in 5.0, healers will get a little more spotlight, but can understand it can be difficult to implement them into MSQ cutscenes as the WoL.

[Delily]

You hit the nail dead center. I'd imagine many career healers share the same difficulty and frustration we do and have to develop an intricate background for their WoLs in order to accept that their healer is a killer.

Maybe in 5.0, healers will get a little more spotlight, but can understand it can be difficult to implement them into MSQ cutscenes as the WoL.

You're a level 60 white mage. Did you pay attention at ALL to the quest lines?

[Gemina]

You're a level 60 white mage. Did you pay attention at ALL to the quest lines?

You betcha! But we're talk about healers in relation to the WoL and the MSQ. You might want to pay attention to the thread.

[Tridus]

You hit the nail dead center. I'd imagine many career healers share the same difficulty and frustration we do and have to develop an intricate background for their WoLs in order to accept that their healer is a killer.

Yep. In that sense, I appreciate that the WoL is something of a blank slate. They don't fill in a lot of gaps, making it something you can do yourself. I imagine some folks may not like that, but it really helps me get into the character because I can build around the MSQ.

Maybe in 5.0, healers will get a little more spotlight, but can understand it can be difficult to implement them into MSQ cutscenes as the WoL.

I kind of freaked out at the Stormblood one where they did in fact acknowledge that I'm a healer in a cutscene. That was super cool. It can be hard to write around because we're the odd ducks to the party.

(Also love your sig. )

[Gemina]

Yep. In that sense, I appreciate that the WoL is something of a blank slate. They don't fill in a lot of gaps, making it something you can do yourself. I imagine some folks may not like that, but it really helps me get into the character because I can build around the MSQ.

We're definitely on the same page. I think it is a wonderful aspect to this game that the WoL is a ball of clay for you to meld and shape how you see fit. We just have to put him/her into the same playpen Many players have come up with some really interesting and intriguing background stories for their characters that blends into the MSQ perfectly. I always love reading them.

I kind of freaked out at the Stormblood one where they did in fact acknowledge that I'm a healer in a cutscene. That was super cool. It can be hard to write around because we're the odd ducks to the party.

An FC mate told me that there is a little healer love waiting for me when I get to SB. This must be what he was referring to. Can't wait!

Thank you!