Alphinaud

[GStargrave]

Hello! My apologies if this post is in the incorrect place.. I tried feedback, but none of the provided categories applied.

I would just like to suggest to the game developers concerning future expansions and patches that perhaps they could explore alternatives to Alphinaud as a primary MSQ NPC. I get the feeling that someone amongst the devs REALLY LIKES Alphinaud.. but there are a plethora of interesting, well-thought out NPCs in the game and it would be nice to have them be used as well.

Other than that, LOVE the game.. great job!

[Phataros]

I care more about his sister because she was away for a really long time. I hope he does too... but for a longer, MUCH LONGER time.

[Iscah]

Alphinaud is the primary MSQ NPC by design. It's not like all these characters were pre-existing and someone said "yeah, we like Alphinaud, let's focus on him" - he was written to be in that role.

The writers aren't going to abandon or downgrade the role of their major character in a long-running and pre-planned story, just because someone on the internet says they should.

And it's a matter of personal taste. I like Alphinaud. He was unpleasant in ARR and I think some people might not have noticed how much he's changed from that point. He went through a long character arc through Heavensward, he learned from his mistakes and he's maturing a lot.

[uvuvwevwevweonyetenyevweugwemu]

Is a primary NPC like a mascot? Y'shtola is the game mascot, though I don't mind if they switch that too. But for story, they change things around, like Lyse took some spotlight at the beginning of SB then now seems it's Alisae's turn for some character growth.

[Naria]

While Alphinaud really got on my nerves back in ARR he is actually one of my favorite characters now and the development that he has been through makes me appreciate what a brat he was back in ARR more. Alphinaud isn't static, more than any other npc character he has changed and grown as the game has continued. Although throughout Stormblood he has been sharing the spotlight more with Alisaie if you want to see less of him. I am guessing by your forum profile that you might still be in ARR's storyline--if so give the kid a chance he goes through a lot of character development and matures in Heavensward.

[Lambdafish]

Is a primary NPC like a mascot? Y'shtola is the game mascot, though I don't mind if they switch that too.

Primary NPCs aren't like mascots, though the two can be, and often are, the same character. Primary NPCs are Nonplayer characters who serve as the protagonist or are central to the plot. Mascots are characters who are central to the promotion of the game, through advertising or external appearances.

Think of it like this: In Monster Hunter World, Zorah Magdaros would be a "primary NPC", whereas Rathalos is a mascot.

[Haxaan]

I really like Alphinaud, and believe me it's taken me a long time to come to that feeling. At first he was haughty and a know it all and low key pretty annoying. But as the story has progressed he has grown a lot. He's gone from being full of himself, to realizing he is young and inexperienced, to doubting his capabilities, to realizing that life isd a journey and he has to grow up and learn from his mistakes. His Sister is very similar in that respect. She has been on a similar journey of self discovery and growth but in a very different way. The two of them really capture the essence of life and growth and trials and tribulations.

That aside, I really wish they would do the same thing with the other Scions. Y'shtola and Thancred have had some growth, which was amazing to see. Once Lyse had her big reveal she kind of became this odd one dimensional character, which was very sad because they built her up to be such a big part of the story and then she fell flat and was one of the most bland personalities in the game so far. I REALLY like Urianger but he keeps getting the shaft. They finally give him a storyline... and it felt shoehorned in to say the least. They gave him a "new outfit" then take it away from him and put him back in the library with his old robes. The scions are in a very weird place personality and growth wise in the story right now. It would be really nice for them to give us more. Even if it is just some side story quests that dive into a little more about them, past, present, future I don't care which, but give us something. Sorry for the rant.

[Iscah]

I don't entirely understand how Y'shtola got to be the mascot in the first place, when there's a specific player-stand-in character (generic Midlander trailer guy) they could use.

I mean, sure, "yay catgirl", but is that really enough to put one out of a group of supposedly-equally-important supporting characters (who has been absent for several chunks of the story) as THE representative of the entire game? Evidently the devs think so, but it seems an odd choice to me.

[Torquil]

I don't entirely understand how Y'shtola got to be the mascot in the first place, when there's a specific player-stand-in character (generic Midlander trailer guy) they could use.

I mean, sure, "yay catgirl", but is that really enough to put one out of a group of supposedly-equally-important supporting characters (who has been absent for several chunks of the story) as THE representative of the entire game? Evidently the devs think so, but it seems an odd choice to me.

What do you call him? You can't call him Warrior of Light because in many of the contexts "mascots" are used (Dissidia, etc) that would clash with the FF1 character. I think it would be hilarious to call him Derplander, but obviously they aren't going to do that.

[Songwillow]

I don't entirely understand how Y'shtola got to be the mascot in the first place, when there's a specific player-stand-in character (generic Midlander trailer guy) they could use.

I mean, sure, "yay catgirl", but is that really enough to put one out of a group of supposedly-equally-important supporting characters (who has been absent for several chunks of the story) as THE representative of the entire game? Evidently the devs think so, but it seems an odd choice to me.

I think it was because of Dissidia. The game needed a face for MMO characters, so they went with NPCs instead of the PCs. In this case it was Shantotto in FFXI and Y'shtola in FFXIV. Honestly I believe that the scions need some good character development.

Urianger was pretty much given an interesting arc which I anticipate us seeing again in Shadow Bringers since I think we will go through what he went through in the Dragonsong/Warriors of Darkness arc.

Alphinaud and Alisaie will both get their time in the expansion and I think it will involve a nice amount of growth for the characters.

Y'shtola has gotten some growth in the last two patches and I think it will get more interesting in the next patch, but I think she will not get much love in the expansion. It is a shame cause she is my favorite scion (especially after the last patch with the Magnai bit)

Thancred looks like he is going to get an interesting story arc finally for the next expansion.

Lyse... well she was more fun as Yda and she is no longer fun after the end of the Dragonsong arc. I have no interest in her anymore.