Male Viera as a playable character! show your support

[Senn]

In the context of the race's evolutionary history, it may have not even been that simple a matter.

We know nothing of viera's evolutionary history - particularly how it affected the males because we don't know what they look like. It's really up to the dev team to decide how they're going to write and design the males.

Anyway, squadron members are still part of the game world, and it seems that it's not uncommon for lalafells to get recruited for melee combat situations.

...

I'm pretty sure I could overpower a little person if I really wanted to. Size plays a big part, even though I'm not that big myself.

[Jojokomoko]

As for Lalafell, a lot of FATE descriptions detail that they're often swallowed whole by monsters out in the wilds.

The fact that their race survived for so long without going extinct and even have other races serve them is utterly mysterious to me.

[Gula]

The fact that their race survives for so long without going extinct and even have other races serve them is utterly mysterious to me.

They survived with money. They took to learning trade and mastering a tongue beyond their own. It's why the highest seats of power in Ul'dah are lalas.

[Lauront]

In lalafell lore, it's specifically stated that they have the same strength as a midlander, I believe. It's biological. In the real world, we have little people and they are about just as strong as the rest of us. Some of them are stronger, some are weaker. It's how it is.

Which source states that, if you don't mind clarifying?

Both subraces are described as lacking in strength:

Dunesfolk

Dunesfolk miners also rival the Roegadyn in their numbers and accomplishments, making up for their lack of brute strength with resourcefulness and the ability to delve into the narrowest tunnels. [1]

Plainsfolk

What they lack in physical strength, however, they more than make up for in swiftness of reflexes and sharpness of mind.

Of course, I'd accept that as an explanation if it is the case, because we can't dissect a Lalafell, so I can buy differences between races where they're explicitly mentioned, but where these arguments run into murky territory is when you're making comparisons within a race, where it's unlikely that the differences in size between genders don't result in natural physical strength differentials.

We know nothing of viera's evolutionary history - particularly how it affected the males because we don't know what they look like. It's really up to the dev team to decide how they're going to write and design the males.

Yes, I'm willing to grant the point that we don't know enough about it. What I am arguing is that we shouldn't rush to specific outliers as being indicative of anything more than the fact that there are means within the world to augment oneself, and to further underscore that just because such means may be more relatively common now, it does not follow that they are universally so, or that they were during the evolutionary trajectories of these races.

Regarding squadron members, they're just RNG creations with a face stuck to them, but again if you want to take them as canon, they're basically individuals with enough means to train up in their classes/jobs and procure equipment, so probably adventurers, i.e. outliers. There is nothing, lorewise, to suggest that Lalafell recruit for DoW classes, much less jobs, in any great numbers, whatever the squadron lottery machine throws at you...

[Arngrim_Greyashe]

...

There's also nothing that says lalafell are particularly good at physical combat. As someone else stated, they are commonly known to be swallowed whole by enemies.

[Gwenorai]

Let's not forget that most prominent lala's tend to have a hand in magic as well. Black Mages. I remember back in the day if you wanted to be a BiS blackmage you had to be a lala. Anywho I think the Thaumaturge and Blackmage quests talk on this a little.

[Arngrim_Greyashe]

Which source states that, if you don't mind clarifying?

Both subraces are described as lacking in strength:

Dunesfolk



Plainsfolk



Of course, I'd accept that as an explanation if it is the case, because we can't dissect a Lalafell, so I can buy differences between races where they're explicitly mentioned, but where these arguments run into murky territory is when you're making comparisons within a race, where it's unlikely that the differences in size between a gender don't result in natural physical strength differentials.

I think it was in the lore book? I'm at work so my resources are limited.

[Senn]

There's also nothing that says lalafell are particularly good at physical combat. As someone else stated, they are commonly known to be swallowed whole by enemies.

And yet it is not uncommon for them to be recruited for melee combat. No tiny person irl would be effective in melee combat. It's because this is a game this is possible. Like I said, I'd be able to 1 vs 1 a tiny person who can barely reach knee height irl

[Jojokomoko]

They survived with money. They took to learning trade and mastering a tongue beyond their own. It's why the highest seats of power in Ul'dah are lalas.

I don't know much about the history of the Lala but shouldn't they be subjugated by a much more stronger race at some point? Money and politics can't save you in the end if you don't have a powerful military might to defend yourself. Just imagine when Lalafell and Roegadyn first met, they would probably laughing their ass off looking at all those adorable creatures.

[Gwenorai]

As for Pippin, he was adopted by Rauhban at the age of thirteen and trained since then - he's now twenty-five. He's had plenty of training. Twelve straight years of it. The source is here.

Anywho, I am fully expecting the male Viera to show their strength.