How do you feel about the character cast of FFXIV.

[Zabuza]

After replaying through the story for a second time, I came to notice something about the story as a whole.

I won't deny that this is the best MMO story I have ever played, especially in Shadowbringers, but a certain aspect of it felt lacking. I then realized that for me, it is the characters.

Don't get me wrong, Emet-Selch certainly left a lasting impression on me, and I enjoyed Yotsuyu, Elidibus, Ardbert, and Crystal Exarch. Aside from this though, I realized I had no investment in any of the characters. I believe this is because the story always likes to focus on 'the greater good'. In telling their grand tale of nations and worlds, the relatability of the characters seems to be notably absent. With few exceptions, I see little in the way of internal struggles in the character cast.

I don't feel that they are affected when they incur losses, or at least it does not seem to be shown adequately. Urianger seems impervious to emotions, even when he loses those dear to him. I'd say the same of Y'sthola. Only reason I enjoy her at times is because of her sarcastic quips. I enjoyed the period of struggle with Thancred and Ryne, and wished there were more moments like that in the game. With the exception of a short period in the game with Nanamo, I felt no internal struggle in the alliance leaders as the plot moved forward.

I suppose that in summary, I do not feel this game focuses enough on what makes the characters tick, choosing to often favor the 'grand goal' instead. I am curious what the community thinks about this. Do you feel I am incorrect and that the characters receive enough detail as it is? Do you enjoy the character cast?

[zlygork]

I feel the opposite way actually, coming from WoW, I really appreciate that there are small snippets and hints showing that say, a leader is torn because they don't like that X is happening but don't let it show, because they know that it is in their people's best interests to just endure X silently, for the moment being.

I guess I just got tired of leaders acting like hormonal teenagers throwing tantrum after tantrum like their emotions are more valuable than the lives of their people whom they throw at needless war after needless war for the sake of the past. But I acknowledge I may have a strongly biased experience due to previous MMO stories ^^'

[Theodric]

Indifferent. The game is sorely lacking in nuanced, well written antagonists who are not just killed off for 'feels'.

I much prefer the FF7 model where the protagonists and antagonists play off of each other well and quite a lot of the latter end up surviving the events of the game itself and even work alongside the protagonists from time to time.

For all the praise FF14 gets, it handles many plot elements with kid gloves. There's minimal lasting consequences - 5.3 built up over the course of two patches in particular, though in the end a certain 'big bad' accomplished nothing of note. He didn't even get a kill on a throwaway NPC.

Most of the leader figures are bland and uninspiring, echoing the same 'feel good' nonsense that modern fantasy has become obsessed with combined with laying down rules for everybody but themselves.

Thankfully FF16 looks to be much more to my liking.

When I go back and play the older FF games, there's usually a few antagonists who survive who I like. FF14 has killed off every single character I actually cared about to any significant extent.

[Lauront]

Indifferent. The game is sorely lacking in nuanced, well written antagonists who are not just killed off for 'feels'.

I much prefer the FF7 model where the protagonists and antagonists play off of each other well and quite a lot of the latter end up surviving the events of the game itself and even work alongside the protagonists from time to time.

For all the praise FF14 gets, it handles many plot elements with kid gloves. There's minimal lasting consequences - 5.3 built up over the course of two patches in particular, though in the end a certain 'big bad' accomplished nothing of note. He didn't even get a kill on a throwaway NPC.

Most of the leader figures are bland and uninspiring, echoing the same 'feel good' nonsense that modern fantasy has become obsessed with combined with laying down rules for everybody but themselves.

Thankfully FF16 looks to be much more to my liking.

When I go back and play the older FF games, there's usually a few antagonists who survive who I like. FF14 has killed off every single character I actually cared about to any significant extent.

Couldn't agree more.

[Zabuza]

Indifferent. The game is sorely lacking in nuanced, well written antagonists who are not just killed off for 'feels'.

I much prefer the FF7 model where the protagonists and antagonists play off of each other well and quite a lot of the latter end up surviving the events of the game itself and even work alongside the protagonists from time to time.

For all the praise FF14 gets, it handles many plot elements with kid gloves. There's minimal lasting consequences - 5.3 built up over the course of two patches in particular, though in the end a certain 'big bad' accomplished nothing of note. He didn't even get a kill on a throwaway NPC.

Most of the leader figures are bland and uninspiring, echoing the same 'feel good' nonsense that modern fantasy has become obsessed with combined with laying down rules for everybody but themselves.

Thankfully FF16 looks to be much more to my liking.

When I go back and play the older FF games, there's usually a few antagonists who survive who I like. FF14 has killed off every single character I actually cared about to any significant extent.

Yes, I would also have to agree. The alliance leaders all seem bland and vanilla to me. I feel part of that is because their personalities are static. Nanamo broke out of that a little bit at certain points and showed some emotion, but for the most part they have acted the same no matter what situation occurs. Rarely do they falter or show any sign of humanity. Merely a leader. The reason I liked Emet-Selch so much despite him focusing so much on his 'greater good' was because I could tell he was battling with himself. He had a fierce internal struggle going on and you could see his burden weighing on him. Not so with the alliance leaders or some of the Scions.

I feel the opposite way actually, coming from WoW, I really appreciate that there are small snippets and hints showing that say, a leader is torn because they don't like that X is happening but don't let it show, because they know that it is in their people's best interests to just endure X silently, for the moment being.

I guess I just got tired of leaders acting like hormonal teenagers throwing tantrum after tantrum like their emotions are more valuable than the lives of their people whom they throw at needless war after needless war for the sake of the past. But I acknowledge I may have a strongly biased experience due to previous MMO stories ^^'

How often do you see them being torn? Maybe it's too subtle for me, but I don't often notice this. The tones in their voices never shake or waver. Kan E-Sanna, Aymeric, Merwlyb are ALWAYS calm and collected, no matter how awful the situation. I suppose that is ideal for a leader, but it never shows them struggling with the burden in private or them confessing that burden to you like Nanamo once did.

[Shougun]

Hate to say it since they're supposed to be our buds but I could honestly have the entire Scion cast killed tomorrow and not bat an eye. Well.. the whole cast dying haha might be surprising, but at least it'd not be "oh no I can't connect with the game anymore" experience lol. I do not care about a single one of them in the sense that I find them important to my experience. Often I look forward to the stories of the locations, or my own character's journey, and the new 'side' main characters. I'm certain Haurchefant's spit roast would have greater impacts than the loss of any of the Scions. Not that I hate the Scions, don't read hate- just that I'm not in love with them either. Probably Thancred or Urianger I find more interesting, one of the being part of my Ul'Dah quest chain and his affliction actually seemed to be one unlike double death dodging gifted eyes girl and then Urianger because the wording is kind of fun to read and I liked he had that temporary double cross thing.

The characters you (OP) listed as notable I also found interesting, also agree that ShB was quite good on the story (to the point I wouldn't be opposed to start comparing it to some single player games). I'd never have my character evil enough, nor think it a good choice for the game to do, but in sense of "trade scions for Emet? yes no?" I'd want to slap that yes button XD. It's why I kind of hope he appears via PTSD or some sort of magical PTSD (I do not want him to revive and get Y'shtola plot armor, but I wouldn't mind enjoying his character further through something like trauma via your main character).

In general the side 'main' characters part of the game tend to be pretty interesting, of course to varying levels. But like time with Hien > time with pretty much any Scion.

Zenos is like the enemy version of a Scion to me where I'm just like "yeah yeah sure whatever I'm not invested in you".

Besides the ones listed in OP I kind of have a fandom for Raubahn, Einstein, and Gaius.

Since you mentioned Nanamo I wanted to say I was really engaged during the whole Ul'dah chapter where Raubahn became all...rigght... huehue... I had wished that lasted longer and had a greater impact on the game too if possible. I think back when it was active content I was pinning for Ul'dah to go through collapse, having a whole section of homeless immortal flames, and having to rebuild Sil'dih as chaos takes over the city.

[Jin-]

Lot of good and memorable npcs. But sadly our group, the Scions is the opposite of good

[Clover_Blake]

I feel you, OP. There are characters I love like the Exarch or Emet (I even grew fond of Lyse), but overall I don't care about the main Scions and I don't feel attached to them. Perhaps that's why I can't say that ShB was my favourite expansion.

To me, they all seem to act like tools. Useful tools that do the right thing. There's nothing more to them.

[Tint]

I just wish they would do more with Krile. Why did they even introduced her back in HW?

And I am especially salty about Alisaie. She was such a cool and promising character in ARR, abut when she actually joined us there was not much left of it. You could remove her from the cast and it would change absolutely nothing.

[Violet_Galaxy]

I'm just happy that I actually care about the Scions for once because in previous expansions, I didn't. ShB, in my eyes, was a reboot for them and a step in the right direction. Now they just need to spice up Lyse, Hien and other characters we interacted with and I'll be happy because there is potential there for all of them. I know it's important to introduce new characters per each expansion but by doing that, old characters are tossed to the side and forgotten, with a few exceptions of course. If SE can FINALLY make us care about the Ascians and the Scions, they can do the same for everyone else.