The Road to 5.0

[WhiteArchmage]

Can we PLEASE not turn this thread into yet another discussion on the morality of Garlemald? We end up going in circles for Thaliak knows how long and reach nowhere.

On to what I HAVE noticed about the Garleans, is it seems they're the favorite dunces of the Ascians: Lahabrea buddied himself to Gaius, who seemed to take him at face value until, oops, this isn't what we wanted Ultima for. Then Varis is frenemies with Elidibus (who, in fairness, is good at making pretty much everyone go "I don't trust you but you seem useful, I'm gonna regret that in 2 patch cycles"), makes me wonder is Solus himself had an Ascian "counselor" (hells, maybe Lahabrea himself), who told him it was a great idea to send his flagship down to conquer this little piece of land called Eorzea, especially fly it over Mor Dhona, nothing can go wrong there, no siree.

I do believe Maxima, "Shadowhunter"*cough*Gaius, and whatever support we get from the Populares faction will be key to the next expansion. I'm even willing to put money on Garlemald itself being a new hub city (as much as I want Radz-at-Han for the new hub), the WoL being invited as part of a peace-keeping treaty backed by the Populares. Even if we need to double back into Garlemald for the final dungeon it can be done by it being, say, the Evil Tower of Ominousness(tm) seen in the SB opening movie.

[Lauront]

Can we PLEASE not turn this thread into yet another discussion on the morality of Garlemald? We end up going in circles for Thaliak knows how long and reach nowhere.

On to what I HAVE noticed about the Garleans, is it seems they're the favorite dunces of the Ascians: Lahabrea buddied himself to Gaius, who seemed to take him at face value until, oops, this isn't what we wanted Ultima for. Then Varis is frenemies with Elidibus (who, in fairness, is good at making pretty much everyone go "I don't trust you but you seem useful, I'm gonna regret that in 2 patch cycles"), makes me wonder is Solus himself had an Ascian "counselor" (hells, maybe Lahabrea himself), who told him it was a great idea to send his flagship down to conquer this little piece of land called Eorzea, especially fly it over Mor Dhona, nothing can go wrong there, no siree.

I do believe Maxima, "Shadowhunter"*cough*Gaius, and whatever support we get from the Populares faction will be key to the next expansion. I'm even willing to put money on Garlemald itself being a new hub city (as much as I want Radz-at-Han for the new hub), the WoL being invited as part of a peace-keeping treaty backed by the Populares. Even if we need to double back into Garlemald for the final dungeon it can be done by it being, say, the Evil Tower of Ominousness(tm) seen in the SB opening movie.

The Ascian overlords are meant to both be very potent foes (which I hope is reflected in 5.0) and also cunning manipulators (ditto). I suspect Varis is attempting a similar trick to Thordan's, and to use Elidibus as far as he can to further his own ends. The difficulty, I believe, will be that Elidibus is by far more cunning than Lahabrea or Igeyorhm.