Why Does A Fierce Race Of Female Warriors...

[Iscah]

Why does every female have to be dressed in a Burka to satisfy some people?

Exaggerations aside, there's more to the Viera gear seeming inappropriate than how much skin it covers. For me at least, it's more about the style and the materials - if this secluded jungle tribe were wearing the same amount of clothing in sturdy cloth and leather, that would make perfect sense. But elaborate black metal and sheer fabrics look incredibly out-of-place, if that's what they're supposed to be wearing "at home" and doing whatever it is they normally do.

The high heels definitely don't help the impression, and is entirely about looks over function - if they are naturally digitigrade they firstly shouldn't need the heeled shoe to support it, and secondly should be in a more crouched stance so they can balance properly, not tiptoeing about while standing as tall as possible. It makes sense for a fashion model, but not for a jungle tribe.

(Of course, it's possible once we get to the Viera settlement, they'll be wearing outfits as far from their starter gear as the Xaela nomad robes are to Auri "traditional" starter gear.)


I also dislike the specific choice of using Fran's costume when Fran herself is already in the game - I don't think they've thought through the fact that now and forevermore, from the perspective of a new player not familiar with other FF games, the Viera character in the Lv70 raid doesn't get a unique costume but is wearing the exact same gear that all Viera have been wearing since level 1.

[Colino]

Someone didn't watch Xena: Warrior Princess growing up!

On a serious and probably slightly cynical note: Viera's entire inclusion is purely down to fan service, it makes sense for everything else about them to be about fan service.

I never cared about nor wanted Viera to begin with but that's just how I see it.

[Gula]

You know who else has fierce warriors? The Sentinel Island peoples. You know what they wear? Nothin'. A woven belt generally it seems, oh and a headdress from what I've seen. Not like there's much too see. The lone woman captured on video had those totters hangin' all out.

[Gemina]

1. You carry a sword, you don't wear it just like you carry a firearm. Just because it's on your body doesn't mean it's considered clothing. We aren't talking about private businesses when it comes to what the general public wears, that's an entirely different scenario. If someone finds something another person wears as "problematic" and can convence the right people of why they think it is such then something will be done about it. How do you think laws about what can and can't be worn were made? Someone decided they didn't like something. That's what I mean by "until someone finds it "problematic"".

Ok, fair enough. Then define "problematic". I can dress like a smurf if I wanted to. Someone who has a problem with this while I'm out in public is also within their right to express their discontent with it, but there isn't anything anyone can do about it because there are no laws against it. Unless I enter someone else's property. That is why I brought it up. So if we can't dress how we want, please provide a specific example of how we can't, instead of just saying, "you can't". As people of the western civilization, we are bound by laws and regulations, and those are the only prohibitors I can think of when it comes to what we can and cannot wear. For the most part though, we can wear whatever we want; or rather I should say, I don't have to change my attire because someone simply has a problem with it.

2. Devs are bound to public opinion. Sure they can design a character however they want, initially, but if the public doesn't approve then they're forced to change it or not make sales. Similar to #1 if one person has a problem with it and can convince others then things will be changed.

No, they are not. It is in their best interest to appease the majority of their subscribers, but they cannot make everyone happy. In fact, and as most of us know, they have to outright ignore public opinions; otherwise they would never get anything done. Male Viera, a fourth healer, glamour restrictions lifted, more inventory; all examples of public desire and opinion. We the public are not entitled to anything other than what the devs are truly bound by when it comes to the ToS. They have to provide a game for us to play in exchange for our subscription fee. We however are bound to play the game according to the ToS. We can express our opinions and desires, and based on public majority, the devs may listen. That is how we got things like BLU and the Viera. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying public opinion does not matter, but the devs being bound it; nope, not at all.

3. No, they complement each other. You are allowed to be offened by something, but again, your offense doesn't make that something wrong i.e. demand it be changed.

The reason why I say this is contradictory is because it is in agreeance with what I have stated in my number 1 clause. Therefore it contradicts 'problematic', but I might be misunderstanding what it is you're trying to say.

4. I was refering to the backlash towards the fact that they didn't offer male Viera as a way to highlight that they're not allowed to do what they want. If they could do what they wanted then they could simply say something like "you're not getting male Viera, deal with it." , but they can't because of the negative impact it would have on their sales.

They received the negative impact regardless. Their own subscribers calling them sexist, and threatening to unsubscribe. What would you call that? They didn't say things in the words of, "You're not getting male Viera, deal with it" because they have a degree of professionalism that must needs be maintained. Doing and saying what you want are two different things. We are the ones to blame for creating promises they've never made. Male Viera, DNC as a healer; they've made no such confirmations at any point and we just assumed we were getting them based off of... reasons. We chastised them anyway as if they did. Fact remains that FFXIV is their game that we play. What they decide, we accept, or we move on.

[Joven]

Yes I can. Here: It's a problem. I find it a problem, a particularly unsatisfying one. Other people find it a problem. Other people do not find it a problem for them, yet that does not stop it from being a problem, just not for everyone. Are you telling me I can't say here, in this forum where we discuss this game and ask for things to be taken on board by devs (and so on and so forth), what I find problematic with this product I otherwise love and really enjoy?

Let me rephrase my statement: just because you don't agree with it doesn't make it a problem or that it's wrong.

Well, yes. So why place a restriction on this now? Because money or time constraints? Okay then, but why then put two races in then instead of one "complete" one? Because lore? We've broken that one already a few times over. But really this conversation you and I are having may be better served in one of the more appropriate threads; I'm very conscious of the fact this may be derailing this specific thread somewhat, despite having similar points to touch upon (so if you want to do that, I'm more than happy to: quote this post on one of those of your choice if you want to continue discussing this, and I'll pick it up there with you. )

Going by what was said, they wanted to try and give two new races to make more people happy, they just didn't have enough resources to fully impliment both of them so they compromised. Now that we have both races, even with their limitations, we can expect to get the other genders in the fututre. Personnally I think it was a good idea because now we have more choices.

Btw, have always liked your sig.

Thank you

[dustdjinn]

I think if its racial gear; its for flavor and a nod to a past game, it perfect. (Elves in other games are normally portrayed in light sheer clothing because they are so pretty and agile they don't need heavy armor.) They look beautiful and I support all viera in their bunny lives.

The real question is would the people defending the Viera gear be okay with male Viera in a similar skimpy outfits as well?

[Lacan]

I think if its racial gear; its for flavor and a nod to a past game, it perfect. (Elves in other games are normally portrayed in light sheer clothing because they are so pretty and agile they don't need heavy armor.) They look beautiful and I support all viera in their bunny lives.

The real question is would the people defending the Viera gear be okay with male Viera in a similar skimpy outfits as well?

Sadly, I doubt SE would let male Viera have such sexy outfits. They had to censor the mobius final fantasy main character's outfit because he was too sexy and making guys confused. Can only imagine how confused male Viera would make the fragile straight boys.

[Jaywalker]

Devs are bound to public opinion. Sure they can design a character however they want, initially, but if the public doesn't approve then they're forced to change it or not make sales. Similar to #1 if one person has a problem with it and can convince others then things will be changed.

I 100% understand what you're worried about, but I also think you're several leaps beyond what is actually going on with the devs and fans for FFXIV.

Fans being unhappy with a creative choice and talking about it is very normal. Fans making decisions about what they will or will not engage with, either with their dollar or with gameplay, is also normal. That's our right as consumers. There are a lot of fans and ultimately, part of the job for devs is to navigate between overall customer desire, craftsmanship, monetary/time constraints, and their own creative vision. Good judgment, expertise, and confidence are essential in this role. SE can manage well enough in this respect.

Without naming names, there is an industry where policy involves ignoring most fan demand to the tune of SIGNIFICANT monetary loss. They are instead catering to some very vocal and unhappy individuals who don't spend money when they get their way. The professionals do not conduct themselves well, have removed and destroyed work according to mob whims, and even blacklist talent due to the situation. It takes a lot of ineptitude, cowardice, and bad priorities to reach that point. Further, the mob itself is prone to things like making petitions, trying to organize boycotts, making personal accusations, etc. None of these things need to be given power by the industry since they don't reflect most customers, but some very poor judgment is at work.

Censorship is not subtle. Fellow fans under those circumstances are not persuaded by good arguments but by fear and rhetoric, as are the pros.

If the choices in this situation were made due to simple persuasion and SE decided that either creatively or in pleasing a larger customer base they should adjust tactics, that's healthy. It's also well within their rights. This is a regular discussion. Fortunately for all of us, we can make cases where people actually absorb and think about what's being said instead of pulling kneejerk reactions. If the luxury of being judged by the merit of your argument is here then it's on you to make a better, more persuasive argument.

When you tell other people they shouldn't be allowed to criticize or complain because what if the devs listen, you're enacting that very censorious behavior you're worried about. Your opinion isn't inherently more valuable than OP's or people of similar mind to OP. It's a slippery slope best avoided.

[Fourbestintoner]

Personally, I'm only disappointed their starting gear are literally Fran's clothes and not what the other viera npcs wear in XII, lazy gear for a lazy race.

[Skivvy]

Personally, I'm only disappointed their starting gear are literally Fran's clothes and not what the other viera npcs wear in XII, lazy gear for a lazy race.

I'm personally very excited about the Viera as they are, and I'm also happy that we got the standard Fran garb for their racial gear. :X