Revelations from Patch 4.5

[Rocl]

Ivalice:

There is absolutely no way most of this doesn't carry over to the MSQ in a major way. Exciting to see side content getting more spotlight in that manner, and gives hope for the previous ones...

The atmosphere, the bosses, their dialogue, the story overall... very nice... some confusion about the Ultima thing though... so Ultima is simply just an alien form of magick Allag imitated (maybe?)... and Ultima, the High Seraph is basically Jenova!? Well, not really, given we used plane of existence but Cid likened it to Omega which is more alien/star territory. I hope it gets explained further in 5.0 considering the stinger with the IVth Legion.

Speaking of that stinger: I immediately wondered where the hell that Thespian went! He was moaning and brooding the entire time, a very devoted son of Garlemald. It was good to see that even amongst the "defectors" there's dissent.

Tartarus, pocket dimensions, the IVth... it all better come back in 5.0; but honestly I'd feel comfortable betting money it will.

MSQ:

Weird close up of black moths pinging against the lamp during the parley...I didn't suss that one out. The negotiations were well done, and hilarious. Varis laughing in the face of the Eorzean leaders is ... fantastic, honestly.

Solus' interest in the Black Rose is weird. It seemed that the aetherophysics or whatever was what he was most interested in. Also, yikes about Emet-Selch. That means the Source gets TWO overlords, which means one Shard is without. The common assumption being one Overlord for every Shard, Lahabrea for the Source and Elidibus is his own category (since he has the middle pedestal in the Chrysalis). Emet being Solus seems very likely.
A lot of what Solus said this patch rubbed me in such a way that I think he's being a major charlatan, and, in fact, not really Solus. Like, the Ascian pretending to be him is tugging on Varis' strings, since we knew he had great respect for his grandfather--sans that heir bit.
Gaius' explanation is fine. He was resigned to die, but decided to get out and avenge the sacrifice of those who served under him. I liked that. He felt close to at least two of his tribuni (one a little too close if you ask me), and I applaud the decision for him to get up and not let their death be for naught.

Interesting that Krile returns and doesn't appear to have heard the Call. This means it's targetting very specific Scions. I was glad to see Matoya return and almost immediately drop pretense of being a cranky old grandma when Y'shtola's condition was brought up.

More than any #.5, this patch left me wanting in the MSQ department. Neither of the Zenos, no answers about how Gaius slew two Ascians overlords(?), Maxima leads a whole political movement through Ilsabard in a fortnight and it's just glossed over?, an abrupt ending, just feels ... awkward... and a whole 2+ months to go!

The Four Lords

it was okay