5.3 Trailer (Spoilers, Obviously)

[Theodric]

As always, the trailer itself is very well done. Though I imagine there's a fair few red herrings as usual. One thing is obvious, though - things are going to get intense and I hope that lasts for more than just a single patch. I'd like to see some major, lasting consequences rather than something that is wrapped up with a neat little bow the moment the MSQ is complete.

I'm tentatively optimistic that the game is being a bit bolder this time around in regards to what ends up happening. The Dwarves losing their home and needing to relocate, for instance, is a step in the right direction.

The Crystal Exarch dying seems likely, since there's been so many death flags throughout the expansion so far and not just limited to the trailer itself. I won't lose any sleep if it happens, since I've never liked him. His obsession with the Warrior of Darkness felt forced - and he uses a variant of the worst male Miqo'te face. Doga and Unei being our companions in his place would have been so, so much better and more fitting of the references to FF3.

Sapphire Weapon being based off of Regula is what I expected, you can see the same pattern from his helmet on the construct itself. Since Regula is my favourite character overall so far, hopefully the characters acknowledge his actions and honourable nature. I'm also hoping the war for the throne in Garlemald results in someone similar to Regula stepping up and winning. The writers have done a pretty good job at keeping each Garlean Legion separate and not necessarily representative of Garlemald as a whole - so there's plenty of room for another 'Regula' to emerge and push Garlemald in a direction closer to FF12's Archadian Empire. Eorzea is also sorely in need of a strong rival to keep it in check, so although peace can be forged it'd be pleasant if Eorzea's growing influence was held in check somehow.

[Lauront]

MSQ:

Haven't got too many comments on it just now, as it's obviously a minor fraction of a much longer MSQ, but...

It seems to me like Elidibus's plan is to give the impression that the world is tilting too far into darkness, with the Warriors of Darkness to blame. It also looks like he somehow severs control over the CT and wrests it from the Exarch. Whether the WoLs are being summoned from other worlds, moved around this world or a mixture, the light glow is interesting. I'm more convinced now that some of what we're seeing is some of these trigger-happy would-be WoLs taking on the primal forms of Vrandtic heroes past. Emet-Selch had intended to bring the WoL up to speed so that they were not thrashing about blindly... and these new WoLs seem to be fanatically doing just that.

I'm glad that Elidibus is now front and centre and I'm intrigued by that line where he says he intended to speak to you alone (the "you" is an open question), and this may tie into what he apparently says in the JP version when he first meets the WoL - that he wishes to speak to them alone one day. If they're tying that up, it'll be good, especially if it follows after the MSQ. Still think he's the original, although we will see how they end that plotline. There's no appearance of Zenos or "Asahi" this time but given that 5.3 will segue into Garlemald they may come up in the "meanwhile..." parts again. Remains to be seen if there will be a rejoining "after a fashion".

They're also making it a bit too obvious that Elidibus will be the focus of the trial, or at the least the summoned WoLs, so I am curious to see what the promised twist will be. I had thought he'd create some fused light monstrosity. We never faced the "cardinal sin" version of Ardbert, so I wonder if that's something he may do.

Elidibus - particularly in the JP dialogues - has always been a most interesting character, and I really hope they "flesh" him out and come up with something great. In particular, I hope they avoid the route of him having been some mustache-twirling villain, engineering the whole crisis to gain power or some other tripe like that, e.g. perfect Hydaelyn who can do no wrong, doesn't temper, just had to sunder their entire world because their creation magicks were killing the planet etc., and other plot lines in that vein. There's enough now to suggest he is genuine in his motivations and they can make it an earnest disagreement between two factions. It's certain, based on interviews Yoshi gave, that it will delve into the motivations of the summoners of each primal; given that they are instruments of their summoners, these are more significant in determining their nature than directly speaking to either, based on what he said.

Lastly, the bits at the end where the Exarch is speaking do seem to be addressed to his past self, which is still how I expect them to resolve his death. I also wonder if Y'shtola is addressing the Exarch, rather than the WoL (or indeed, Elidibus), when mentioning the "cacophony".


Bozja:

Bozja looks hype and I am glad to see they're using some of the XII espers, as I had hoped. Shame it's another 1.5 months away after the patch!

Werlyt:

A pity that the weapon that isn't the trial seems to be the one drawing on Regula.


Beyond that I also agree with Theodric's remarks on the trailer.

[Theodric]

A pity that the weapon that isn't the trial seems to be the one drawing on Regula.

Indeed. Though if we get to see what he looks like beneath his helmet, then I'll forgive it. Especially if he's handsome and covered in sticky goo in a similar fashion to the previous fight!

[Alleo]

I am looking forward to see how it all ends and what the trial will be.

There is a high chance that the exarch will die but at the same time, would they really show it like that in a trailer? In the past any of those huge "deaths" like Ystohla were nothing but red herrings. So I still doubt that he will die.

Otherwise I hope that we can wipe Elidibus smirk from his face and hopefully him out of Ardberts body..

[HeyMcFly]

Good riddance to Graha, I look forward to see who replaces you as you replaced Haurcherfaunt.
I saw Adrammelech from FF12, which was my fav Esper that actually got me kinda excited-
the music later part of trailer was meh, the gundam was w/e, maybe we'll get the Nier hairstyles? I'm hoping S, M, L housing gets more item slots this update.
The only thing I didn't see are the new Hrothgar & Viera updates :c probably a few years off from those tbh

Otherwise, I'm with Theodric & Lauront

[Raiya]

Exarch has to die...... to get round that quasality paradox of from being from essentially a terminated timeline.

Also he technically has a potential backup body.

[EdwinLi]

My thoughts?


I can't wait to pilot Gundam Ironworks.

[Lauront]

Indeed. Though if we get to see what he looks like beneath his helmet, then I'll forgive it. Especially if he's handsome and covered in sticky goo in a similar fashion to the previous fight!

Maybe if they go for a Vaseraga look for him.

[jazo]

The favor would be for us to take some "soul memory backup" that Exarch makes from all his memories since he waked up in the future and us to wake up his past (our present) self, kinda like migrating your save files to another computer.

[Jojoya]

The favor would be for us to take some "soul memory backup" that Exarch makes from all his memories since he waked up in the future and us to wake up his past (our present) self, kinda like migrating your save files to another computer.

I don't know about that. Seems like memories of over 100 years would be one heck of a lot for a relatively young, sleeping and unprepared G'raha to try to absorb. He might want his younger self awoken earlier than planned so he'll get his dream of going on adventures with the WoL but I can't see him wanting to bog young G'raha down with his memories of things that no longer will happen. He'll be satisfied that the WoL knew he once existed and will remember him (shades of Emet and the Amaurotines there?).

If the favor is something other than just waking his younger self, I could see him possibly providing some sort of data storage device for the WoL to give to Cid to help out the Ironworks. There's plenty of technology in the Tower the Ironworks would find helpful that shouldn't necessarily require breaking back into the Crystal Tower to obtain.