Disappointed in the turn the Garlean Empire has taken

[Claymore65]

Yeah, I doubt it's was entirely misdirection (though the whole amazing surprise reveal of the trip to the First Shard was NOT handled well, in my opinion). It's absurd to think that the Garleans are going to twiddle their thumbs for an entire expansion, when the final patch of this expansion left their war machine scratching at the very gates of Ala Mhigo.

However, if they ARE going to put an end to the Garlean Empire this expansion, when (apparently) every zone is on the First Shard, it suggests that the Garlean resolution is going to be a B-plot to the First Shard's A-plot, and that doesn't sit well with me at all.

This is obviously just my own opinion, but I don't think we're going to permanently deal with Garlemald in this expansion. I'm guessing there will be some Garlean Shenanigans as a B-Plot to keep tension high and remind us that Garlemald is still a threat we need to deal with. I think it'll all be set-up for the next expansion, which will probably take place in Garlemald proper. Like, come on. We're not taking care of the Garlean leadership (likely installing a new character or Maxima as leader) without even getting to see Garlemald.

[ObsidianFire]

From what I understand, its not as if the actual names are on the files, but they have somesort of identifier for 'zone name' and 'region' like say ZN1_REG.file and that all of the new zone files have the same (REG).

Of course this understanding could be fundamentally flawed.

This is pretty close to what is going on. Each region has a letter associated with it in the identifier for the "zone name" and the identifiers for the new zones are added to the game months in advance of the actual expansion.

[Kalise]

It's absurd to think that the Garleans are going to twiddle their thumbs for an entire expansion, when the final patch of this expansion left their war machine scratching at the very gates of Ala Mhigo.

To be fair, there's actually a possibility that in essence, they will.

I mean, if (When) Varis deploys Black Rose... What if something happens that makes the entire Garlean Empire go super political?

Like, if it backfires or something and wipes out a large portion of the Imperial Army by mistake... I'm sure there would be more Garleans that were of the same mindset as Gaius and didn't condone the usage of such chemical weapons - If this flared up, in addition to the whole "Zenos (Varis' son) is possessed by a demon" AND the machinations surrounding Yotsuyu summoning a Primal at the behest of an Imperial... Then maybe the Garleans might be too busy with internal conflict to continue on the warpath towards Ala Mhigo.

I mean, throw in the Shinobi whispering rumours about the Solus being an Ascian (Thus throwing Varis' legitimacy for the throne into question) as well as the plans for both Solus and Varis (Being rejoining of all the shards thus destroying the Source to create the new world/awaken Zodiark) as well as Zenos himself showing up and demanding his body back (Thus providing proof of the whole Zenos is possessed by a demon thing)...

It could start a Garlean Civil War. Which would effectively neuter any possibility of them creating any actual attacks against other nations as they'd be fighting themselves. Which could end up being the set up plot for 6.0 and us going to Garlemald to take out Varis, Elidibus and Solus (If we don't deal with him on the First) whilst also allowing us to actually have allies for side quests there that are Imperials whom don't actively want to fight us because we'd have the same goal of taking out Varis and co...

But we'll see. It's quite possible that the Garlean resolution won't occur in 5.0 and instead will be set up for 6.0 (Kind of like how HW kind of put the Garleans on the backburner for the most part with then SB coming and progressing things).

So we can always hope that they won't just try and shoehorn in 2 plot conclusions (Like they did with SB...) as well as give us some sort of meaningful thing to logically do post First (Since as it stands, if the Garlean plot resolves while we spend the entire expac on the First... Then when we return to the Source for 6.0, what next? Do we start just travelling to all the other Shards now we've "Thrown wide the gates"?)

[EdwinLi]

It will be rather anti-climatic if 5.0 ends with "Garlean Empire still did nothing for the entire time we are gone" though.

That evil smile at the end of 4.X basically screams he just gave the go to immediately use it on that moment thus I expect by the time we get back near the ending of 5.0 that we get word in our absence a lot of people died because we were not there to be the Hero/Heroine they needed.

I will not be surprised if they some how end up making Garlemald the final Story Dungeon of 5.0 because some big plot twist after we save the 1st reveals that was not the ending and the True Final Boss for 5.0 is about WoL going back to fight in a Story Dungeon set in Garlemald to unlock a Trial at what remains in the Garlemald Palace due to the war waging on while we are in the 1st shard as a resulting by the Alliance pushing the war effort all the way into the Capital City of Garlean Empire in our absence.

[Wyssahtyn]

It will be rather anti-climatic if 5.0 ends with "Garlean Empire still did nothing for the entire time we are gone" though.

They're already ending Stormblood with a convenient stalemate, don't get your hopes up.

[EdwinLi]

They're already ending Stormblood with a convenient stalemate, don't get your hopes up.

That evil smile at the ending say other wise....

[Melichoir]

Maybe Im misinterpreting the MSQ, but my understanding was that the Ascians helped Solus with forbidden knowledge at first, and now that one ascian is pretty much wearing the body of Solus as a suit for his own needs.

Meaning the Garleans, who were a people who pretty much got stomped all over from everyone who could use magic, were looking for help with their plight. The ascians step in and provide the knowledge necessary to militarize (which the garleans do), and go on a revenge campaign. Once solus finally dies, though, the ascian takes over his clones(?) because they provide a suitable vessel for him (ascians cant walk around on their own, from what I understand. They need to possess a body). I chalked up the whole cloning thing as a means to prolong Solus's life so he can keep doing solus things.

When the ascians said they build the empire from scratch, I took it more as they were behind the scenes pulling some of the strings, but Solus and the others were not fully aware of this or at least the bigger picture.

[RenewalXVII]

Maybe Im misinterpreting the MSQ, but my understanding was that the Ascians helped Solus with forbidden knowledge at first, and now that one ascian is pretty much wearing the body of Solus as a suit for his own needs.

Meaning the Garleans, who were a people who pretty much got stomped all over from everyone who could use magic, were looking for help with their plight. The ascians step in and provide the knowledge necessary to militarize (which the garleans do), and go on a revenge campaign. Once solus finally dies, though, the ascian takes over his clones(?) because they provide a suitable vessel for him (ascians cant walk around on their own, from what I understand. They need to possess a body). I chalked up the whole cloning thing as a means to prolong Solus's life so he can keep doing solus things.

When the ascians said they build the empire from scratch, I took it more as they were behind the scenes pulling some of the strings, but Solus and the others were not fully aware of this or at least the bigger picture.

I mean, Solus outright says "The founding father was an Ascian!" Whether that means Solus was always an Ascian, or was a mortal man inducted into their ranks, is ambiguous, but it's clear that in the English localization at least, the Ascians are actively involved in the Garlean Empire from the beginning.

[Bright-Flower]

I wonder if Solus being an ascian has anything to do with how Gaius and Lahabreah began their alliance. I'm rather curious what the story is or if it's just 'hey Gaius I'll help you dig up an ultiamte weapon you can use to conquor Eorzea.'

[Rosa_Frandlia]

Anyone remember Vegas fanfast?



It would be really strange to give us that and then take it away.