Why is the WoL so lame in cutscenes?

[SannaR]

The Blades did want to react and were told to stand down by the commander.

Which only works for things that happen after that is said. Not before it. Also really you're expecting them to just stand there while a primal not only appears, but then also winds up an attack? When there is clear and present danger none of them are to use their brain? Yeah, ok.

[Kesey]

Which only works for things that happen after that is said. Not before it. Also really you're expecting them to just stand there while a primal not only appears, but then also winds up an attack? When there is clear and present danger none of them are to use their brain? Yeah, ok.

Well the lore of the game is pretty firm that you can't combat a primal unless you have the echo. Only the WOL and Mikoto have the echo so, no dice my friend.

[Tridus]

They did capitalize on it. Marsak, the second in command, grabs her and escapes. Literally the moment Misijia/Gunnhildr is distracted long enough (trying to blast through the WOL's barrier) to make good on the escape. This was the prime moment and our side takes full advantage. The logic continues because Mikoto has the echo, so she can't be tempered, but resistance forces need shielded. I'm not sure I see how the player character has lost agency here.

... Misija is "distracted" because a random NPC not even in the scene until this point shows up and shoots her.

You know, exactly like half the people in the room could have done before that point. That's the entire problem. The scene is full of people who could have done that long before the point it actually happens, including the all-conquering WoL, but of course it's a cutscene, so we're suddenly as effective as your average eight year old. I'm utterly baffled that you don't see this.

[KageTokage]

It recently occurred to me that while the Blades were reluctant to interrupt the ritual with the crystal focus by attacking Misija, there wasn't actually anything keeping them from leveraging the situation to their advantage regardless, like, say, getting into positions that would protect Mikoto and keep Misija from threatening anyone once she came out of her trance. They could tell she was vulnerable but they chose to do nothing, and arguably worse, she expected them to do nothing.

The entire scheme hinged on so many things playing out in a specific way that the leaders in the IVth Legion being willing to go through with it in the first place feels silly in its own right, and now I'm honestly feeling concerned about the writing of the Bozja storyline as a whole in the future.

[SannaR]

Well the lore of the game is pretty firm that you can't combat a primal unless you have the echo. Only the WOL and Mikoto have the echo so, no dice my friend.

Not true as the Company of Heroes show. It's just not recommended. Also let's say the brd knocks an arrow and shoots at Misija. She either takes it and is staggered thus leaving an opening or she sees the incoming attack and aims the primal to deal with the incoming attack. Still It's an opening. The fact that getting shot at by an unknown assailant makes her stagger enough to allow us to escape means attacking her at the first opening someone got is an unexpected action. Misija is expecting everyone to behave exactly the way they end up behaving.

[Morningstar1337]

Misija is expecting everyone to behave exactly the way they end up behaving.

TBF that could be framed as Misija knowing them all so well that they can anticipate their actions, but I get the feeling that is that actually was the case she could had taken different actions.

[Kesey]

... Misija is "distracted" because a random NPC not even in the scene until this point shows up and shoots her.

You know, exactly like half the people in the room could have done before that point. That's the entire problem. The scene is full of people who could have done that long before the point it actually happens, including the all-conquering WoL, but of course it's a cutscene, so we're suddenly as effective as your average eight year old. I'm utterly baffled that you don't see this.

But Mijisa is shot after Mikoto is spirited away by Marsek, the primal is blasting the WOL's shield and Mijisa is laughing because her plan worked perfectly. You know, the moment everyone was distracted and Mijisa had the upper hand.

Hate that the WOL was cautious to save their friend. Hate that the WOL put up a shield to protect the remaining Blades instead of attacking. Hate that the WOL didn't shoot first. I'm sorry that doesn't fit your personality and I'm sorry that the logic of the situation didn't fit "what you really feel you could have done," but suspension of disbelief is paramount to enjoy a story.

[Tridus]

But Mijisa is shot after Mikoto is spirited away by Marsek, the primal is blasting the WOL's shield and Mijisa is laughing because her plan worked perfectly. You know, the moment everyone was distracted and Mijisa had the upper hand.

Hate that the WOL was cautious to save their friend. Hate that the WOL put up a shield to protect the remaining Blades instead of attacking. Hate that the WOL didn't shoot first. I'm sorry that doesn't fit your personality and I'm sorry that the logic of the situation didn't fit "what you really feel you could have done," but suspension of disbelief is paramount to enjoy a story.

Suspension of disbelief requires that the situation be believable enough to apply. Simply slapping anything together and saying "suspension of disbelief!" doesn't work. This whole thing strained credibility beyond all reason, which is why so many people have a problem with it.

Hey, I'm glad you were happy with it. But you're clearly in the minority, which after the superb writing of the ShB MSQ suggests that something went awry here. Misija's plan falls apart if anyone does *anything* other than stand there and allow her to dictate everyone's actions. I don't know about you, but I haven't heard about any wars where people decide what to do on the basis of "do exactly what my known enemy is telling me to do and in no way way try to interrupt it." Basic military strategy is "do not do what is expected". The resistance failed that, spectacularly, until some guy with a gun shows up and decides to try "doing something".

Your attempt to characterize it as nobody caring about Mikoto is farcical, as is the idea that the WoL shouldn't care about the remaining Blades. None of them would have been threatened had anyone acted at the first opening, instead of just standing around hoping it all works out somehow.

[Hazama999]

I know little about video game development so I'd like to genuinely ask: Would it be possible to have the game... just load an attack animation from the corresponding job? Ranged and non-ranged? With how stilted and robotic some of the cutscenes still are, I'm surprised they haven't implemented a way of having a sort of "warrior of light attempts attack here" canned animation in their script. It always seems to stop at "draws weapon and stares menacingly."

[Adeacia]

This happens in countless movies, TV shows, and games. If the hero, or villain, would just kill the other when they get the chance, like they probably would in reality, they'd win on the spot.

Instead they have to let the villain monologe, or finish their plan or let them live every single time. Villains let the hero give some speech or put them in an elaborate death trap rather than simply killing them.

In conclusion, characters are morons.