Gender locked race?

[Shippuu]

So you really believe the developers deciding to include a gunblade tank in a solo-duty with us is while they are working on designing and coding a gunblade tank is merely coincidence? Or are you merely trying save face after having run your mouth saying a gunblade tank wasn't hinted at?

You're really overstating that it was a tank, many NPC's that are jobs that aren't tanks do tanking in scripted encounters. Do you think White Mage, Arcanist, and Monk are tanks? Because those characters tank things in scenarios all the time.
I think it's far more likely to be a coincidence, yes, because as a job tease it's a pretty weak one for all the reasons I described before. If Gaius was a job tease, then he's been a tease for it for over 5 years. With Regula, Nero, and Fordola also being teases for it.
Still a stretch.

Oh please, your track record when it comes to predictions as to what developers will do is somewhat lack-luster. See when I was doing a search for your posts on the BLU class I stumbled onto a bunch of old posts by you concerning Samurai and how according to you it could be nothing but a tank. Many of them have not aged well at all. For example in response to this post

Putting aside the creepy stalker aspects, I was regretably wrong about Samurai, but that's not because my reasoning wasn't sound, but because Yoshida opted to go with his personal preferences over the way Samurai was represented in past Final Fantasy games. I trusted Yoshida to stick to honoring what past Final Fantasy games had done but instead he went with his own personal tastes as revealed here (bold emphasis mine):

Yusuke Mogi (Lead Character Concept Artist): When I heard we were doing samurai, at first I pictured the armored warriors from FFV. But Yoshi-P preferred the simple, kimono-clad look, and so we ended up with a cultural and visual aesthetic that reflected this, with the majority of NPCs dressed in kimonos.

Q:What were you going for in choosing kimono-clad samurai over armored ones?

Yoshida: I wasn’t going for anything in particular—rather, that’s just how I’ve always pictured samurai. I enjoy the films of Akira Kurosawa,* and his samurai are always dressed that way. I think of armored warriors more as shogun or warlords, rather than what we would call “samurai.” For our international audience as well, I figured kimono-clad samurai would feel more natural to them. That might not be true for longtime FF fans, but I was also hoping to appeal to the masses and draw in large numbers of new players as well.

So I'm actually glad you drudged that up, because see, I learned from my past mistake of believing Yoshida would follow something that made the most logical sense, but instead he opted to make a decision based on his personal preferences first and foremost. I didn't listen when Yoshida talked in interviews before about Samurai and how he always felt it was a DPS, and how his idea in his head about a Samurai was a robe wearing iaijutsu master. I rejected what he said he was likely going to do because it didn't make sense to do it because it wasn't how Samurai were depicted in the vast majority of Final fantasy games. But alas, he did it.

So that's why, when I see Yoshida say things like he'd maybe do a male counterpart for a Viera, and that he finds male bunnies weird, and that they put in lore pointing out how male viera might as well not exist to the outside world, and then completely refuse to show or even acknowledge that male viera are coming, I tend to put more merit into his words.

So it's ironic that you'd drudge that up as some kind of a "gotcha" moment, because it backfired on you pretty bad by revealing that you are the me from back then.

Tell me something did you ever apologize to ErikMynhier for mocking him even though he was correct in his prediction as to what the devs were going for and you were completely wrong in your counter-arguments?

Will you?

[Iscah]

I noticed the viera has a new face tattoo so i'm thinking we are going to see some new expansion option in the CC.

Those could also just be racial tattoos, so don't get your hopes too high just based on that.

Or how Alisaie showcased the Red Mage in her fight with the Warriors of Darkness in 3.4.

I don't think she did, actually. I went through those quests recently and I only saw her using Gladiator stance.

I think she showcases Red Mage early in Stormblood, but not before it.

Astrologian Tower in Lower Coerthas = Astro teaser (they had a very large role in tracking dragon movements)

I wouldn't count that as a teaser. It might be setting up for the story, but the whole point of the Astrologian quest is that we're trying to promote a different branch of astrology - spell-based "astromancy" rather than the purely scientific-observation variety practiced by the Ishgardians to predict the dragons' movements.

The head astrologian at the Observatorium plays a part in the AST questline, but it's also used for story within ARR as well. It's just a setting, not necessarily a giant hint at an upcoming job.

(Was it there in 1.0? I assume so. It doesn't seem like a new construction.)

[Shougun]

Hooded Yugiri NPC = Au Ra teaser
Thancred and Yugiri vs Leviathan in that really old quest = Ninja teaser
Astrologian Tower in Lower Coerthas = Astro teaser (they had a very large role in tracking dragon movements)
No Dark Knight Teasers X
No Machinist Teasers X
Alisae vs Warriors of Darkness = Red Mage teaser
Gosetsu = Samurai teaser (can't remember if he showed up before or after Stormblood started though)
-------
Gaius using gunblade = Gunbreaker teaser
No Blue Mage teaser (that I can remember other than the leaks) X
Tsukuyomi wielding a fan, while also having a move that somewhat looks like Sword Dance = Possible Dancer teaser?

And lastly, Fran npc in Ivalice raid (along with Tsukuyomi's rabbit ears)= Viera teaser

So we all agree they've both teased and not teased stuff and we're all playing with likelihoods and not hard facts? Goo-- no? Oh.. dang

lol, not particularly addressing that to you Red I just liked you listed that a lot of things were teased early and some things not as much . Also I feel a few of those could only be seen in hindsight, since some of the changes didn't quite foment fully till after an expansion/FanFest drop (but I agree quite a few were teased early, hard, and obviously).

I think for a second race, if that will be a thing, the teaser will be in the last patch to FFXIV Stormblood, so probably announced at Japan FanFest in minor detail (and shown in some cliff hanger way in 4.X closing). To the point it might not even be in the benchmark lol. At least I'm assuming there are a few announcement points after FanFest, iirc another live letter at least. Or even more vague if the race is unlocked through the gameplay of shadowbringer, which is possible but certainly quite different.

But I would also add when someone asked Yoshida along the lines "male viera is definitely a thing right? I believe you wouldn't do that to us." he was like "the way that's worded makes me not want to answer, I'm a contrarian - read the lore it's nice and hints at what'll happen". I think while he knows the formula is important he also doesn't want to be sticking the game in a rut.. a very ying yang sort of situation lol.

While I'm very hopeful and would be VERY excited if a ronso-lion-like race was a thing I don't expect it, so luckily I only have upwards hype for that at least . I would be sincerely confused however, if they had no male Viera and no male counterpart race haha.

[Gwenorai]

Oh, yeah, but that's the issue really isn't it? Nothing like having another race step in due to one chaps personal preference. I'm hoping that's not the case and his personal preference is overruled by his fellow developers. While personal preference can be good, it can also be damaging and in most cases it's extremely noticeable.

With Yoshida, it's big red flags - while I don't expect a huge outrage, some of the things he's said in the past to do have some folks cocking a brow. I mean, I cocked a brow regarding the 'weirdness' he brought up regarding male rabbit men. Seemed a bit backwards and something that belongs in r/fragilemasculinity. I'm hoping that's not the case any longer and he's kind of put his own desires behind him. I did have some hope when the art of the male Viera was shown and obviously, he didn't want to show it, but he did anyway. That means someone on the dev team won, or rather he was outvoted.

As for 'ronso like' I feel bad for thinking this, but no... I can't imagine Ronso in this game fitting in without a huge rework of the rigs etc for them to even show a lick of emotion in cutscenes. And this game seems to go overboard with 'emotions' I suppose they have to due to the lack of voiced lines and the like. ESO had the same issue with Khajiit and Argonian, but they're more up to date - but also they don't have in-depth cutscenes which shows emotional ranges like FF14 does. Ronso would look like a stiff emotionless bundle of muscle and fur unless they do some huge work on that whole system. I mean, it sucks. But eh, limitations are limitations.

--

I'm hoping we see either another Viera - a male - or a Hrothgar as an important NPC very soon.

In the end, I'm going to hope and pray that the Blufever leak is correct here and that the fact he didn't mention genderlocks. But Lion race, yeah, I have no hope in that looking too beast-like and more humanoid. I don't think they actually can go beyond that and make it extremely beast-like anyway - due to the plot? Aren't Ronso beast men? And the whole plot the Empire has is having all 'humanoid' races, become one like they once were? This wouldn't include Ronso - would it? No, they'd just be on the empire's 'kill list' because they worship primals.

[Nestama]

If they can make a Yagudo in FFXI show emotion (mainly by using his eyes and body language), then I'm sure they can do the same for Hrothgar.

[Gwenorai]

Heh, we will see!

Now, big question time as this has been bothering me and could be completely unrelated but I thought it was worth mentioning.


Who is this? Of course, I'm talking about the hooded fellow. At first, I thought they were an ascian with the hood, but looking closer the design doesn't match. Then I looked at the arms and the tattoos/bandages/scales - they actually remind me of Viera style clothing, or specifically, the male Viera concept art; the males have these type of things on their arms/wrists? Especially the bandages. The arms look 'male' to me, something about the physiology - the thickness. Especially when compared to female official FF14 art. Then there's the nose...the nose looks like a Viera's nose, small button top like. Then there's the marking on the face/neck - it looks unkempt? At first, I thought it was scarring or something of the sorts, but it also looks like fur? It also looks like they do actually have a scar going from the nose to their cheek, a slash mark like an animal clawed them.

Can Viera hide their ears in a hood? I imagine so since they can be floppy and controlled/flattened down? And then there was the other ear type I remember being discussed which Yoshida cut short before that lovely artist lady could show it.

Watch them be someone we already know, but I couldn't think of anyone so I'm extremely curious on who this chap is.



This is what I'm looking at in regards to the male viera concept art;

[BillyKaplan]

My only objection to your theory is that the lips look more female in that style. But given we don't know what male Viera look like, that's not necessarily a valid objection in the first place, before being a personal observation of mine. And now I'm slightly hyped.
It being a Viera at all, least of all a male one, gives more reason for them to keep that chara hooded and shaded than any other plot reason could XD

[xbahax92]

Who is this? Of course, I'm talking about the hooded fellow. At first, I thought they were an ascian with the hood, but looking closer the design doesn't match. Then I looked at the arms and the tattoos/bandages/scales - they actually remind me of Viera style clothing, or specifically, the male Viera concept art; the males have these type of things on their arms/wrists? Especially the bandages. The arms look 'male' to me, something about the physiology - the thickness. Especially when compared to female official FF14 art. Then there's the nose...the nose looks like a Viera's nose, small button top like. Then there's the marking on the face/neck - it looks unkempt? At first, I thought it was scarring or something of the sorts, but it also looks like fur? It also looks like they do actually have a scar going from the nose to their cheek, a slash mark like an animal clawed them.

You do have a blooming fantasy and while I do not critize it, I doubt a male Viera has anything to do with the expansions box artwork. I do believe its the Emet-Selch, the ascian that has yet to be revealed.

[BillyKaplan]

You do have a blooming fantasy and while I do not critize it, I doubt a male Viera has anything to do with the expansions box artwork. I do believe its the Emet-Selch, the ascian that has yet to be revealed.

What if that Ascian's vessel is a male Viera? The two are not mutually exclusive.

[Iscah]

Watch them be someone we already know, but I couldn't think of anyone so I'm extremely curious on who this chap is.

Funny you should ask.... we've been discussing this over in the Lore forum and there's a definite candidate.

(Well, okay, I'm one of the main people arguing for it. But still.)

Back in 4.4, when we were trying to guess who the mysterious voice might be, I suggested it might be him - mostly inspired by one of the alleged-leaks saying there would be something involving the Crystal Tower in 5.0, and the voice seemed like it would suit him.

And then we get this poster. Credit goes to Fenral for picking up on the resemblance - I'd glanced over it and assumed the figure was female, then didn't think too much more about it until he pointed it out.

So I'm looking forward to finding out what's going on!

Regardless of who it is, I don't think the robes look particularly Ascian besides the hood - which could be just to keep their identity concealed for the poster.