Quote Originally Posted by LineageRazor View Post
Oh, I very much agree that [time travel] will probably be a one-time deal. The thing is, though, now that we know that it's possible, WHY is it a one-time deal? Especially for the Ascians? This is what makes it hard for me to suspend my disbelief. FFXIV is now a world where traveling to the past and altering history is something that's possible. It may be difficult, but that is irrelevant, especially when immortal beings are involved. Anything that can be one once can be done a second time. ANYTHING. One-shot components can be rebuilt. Lost technology can be rediscovered.
Here's a curious thought I had earlier today - if the Ascians got their hands on a time machine, what would they actually do with it? And what would be the consequences for the present timeline?

I think it's possible it wouldn't change anything at all for us.

Consider the effects of the timeline alteration in Shadowbringers, assuming it is complete. Someone from the "undesired future" travels back in time to a point where it could be averted, and changes it. Their original timeline may still exist, unaffected by the alternate reality that has been created, unable to be erased without destroying the changes that led to the split in the first place.

So suppose one of the Ascians acquires a time machine. Where would they go? Straight back to Amaurot to prevent Hydaelyn's summoning. They succeed, and their original plans are carried out unopposed. All that was wrong has been undone, and they are at home in their beloved city once more.

And yet... the ability to do so relies on our timeline. If the 'dark future' remains in existence, then by the same logic the Ascians' "averted" Sundering remains in existence too.

We probably wouldn't even notice it happened.