Revelations from Patch 5.4

[rainichan]

I think that:

It might be a set up for side content plans in 6.0.

Like how the war with Garlemald went from primary focus of Stormblood to side content like Werlyt and Bozja in Shadowbringers. Similarly I could see shard-hopping dimension-saving shenanigans being the foundation for the trial series and relic weapons in the next expansion.

Yep, same. I'm fine with that, since overdoing too much of one thing, especially when it was already the main point of ShB, would be overkill and we'd get sick of it. Knowing we can do this as some side content would be great.

MSQ Spoileringtons!

Interesting that the Southern Thanalan tower is tiny, while the Forelands one is colossal in size

I think that may just be where they're located in the sense that one is supposed to feel far off, the other is closer to the map boundaries.

[Fenral]

Eden

Apparently 'Ultimecia' is better translated as 'Artimecia'? And there was a lot more FF8 symbolism in that last fight, that completely went over my head.

Somewhat-FF8-related trivia after the break:

Oh, that does make more sense, now. Thanks for that. The whole "Lunar Cry" thing in FF8 also makes a whole lot more sense in retrospect if the final antagonist was meant to be named after a moon goddess.

There are a lot of odd mythological references in FF games that end up completely glossed over in the localization for being just that obscure, and because katakana is a terribly limited phonetic system. See also "Orthros" and "Typhon" in FF6 becoming "Ultros" and "Chupon" in Ted Woolsey's English script. When the chance comes for a redo, FFXIV generally just goes for what is "correct," so everyone's favorite purple octopus keeping his "incorrect" name is probably the only time EngLoc has deferred to precedent.

All the same, I think we deserved a Soken cover of "The Extreme." EDIT: OH, IT'S IN SAVAGE.

[Chewy2nd]

Yep, same. I'm fine with that, since overdoing too much of one thing, especially when it was already the main point of ShB, would be overkill and we'd get sick of it. Knowing we can do this as some side content would be great.

I think that may just be where they're located in the sense that one is supposed to feel far off, the other is closer to the map boundaries.

MSQ Tenque!

They're both pretty close to the boundaries, Forelands one is probably closer than the Sagolii one, but it towers over the zone

[JeanneOrnitier]

Sorrow of Werlyt

I like how the WoL sighs and slumps their shoulders when Cid says the G-Warrior isn't available this time.

[Fenral]

Little details I had filed away for later are starting to trickle back to the forefront, so here goes:


More MSQ thoughts:

Our adventure in Azys Lla casually reintroduced a really old "plot point" (I use that term generously) from the Crystal Tower arc. Namely, the entirely arbitrary time limit on G'raha's royal blood, which is apparently an issue again now that he's in his younger, immediately-post-CT body. It wasn't mentioned at all in Shadowbringers proper, and seemed to have become a non-issue considering he had gone 90+ years without losing it (unless that was part of his Tower fusion).

This could just be one of those things like Thancred's handicap or Y'shtola's aethersight, meant to give a sense of vulnerability to an otherwise invincible character. At worst, I'd like to think of those as early retirement cards that could be played before they all end up dying.

Or maybe, they're setting up a scenario in which G'raha's all-access pass expires while he's on some urgent solo mission in the depths of an Allagan death-fortress, with optional "he knew his time was running out, but he had to do it anyway" eulogy. It would be a huge backpedal if handled badly, so hopefully my read on the situation is wrong. It's probably still one or two major versions out, either way.

[ObsidianFire]

One thing that did occur to me. For very other x.4 Patch, we have already had the first Fan-Fest and know the name of the next Expansion as well as have some concept art of zones in it.

This is the first x.4 patch where we're... essentially blind to where the thrust of the MSQ is headed. I can't help but think this patch will feel better placed once we know all that.

[NoblePigeon]

Something I'm a bit unclear on regarding the revealed Eden stuff:

SPOILERS, obvs

Are the bodies Miltron and Gaia in, in their flashbacks, the ones they were actually born in, or were both presumably body snatched from someone else? If it's the former, I think it's the first time we've seen Ascians in their "original" meatsuits. I assume Gaia's current body is her own since it's the one she was reincarnated in, right?

[SannaR]

MSQ:

Why am I not giving my aether for this spell? Again why am I not giving my aether for the 2nd casting of this spell? Oh look I'm finally giving my aether. I should be able to give more than 10 stacks because we know I have a stupid amount of aether. Oh look we might be putting up a barrier. Oh nope those people went flying backwards. Maybe it's a small one? No I just went flying backwards. Why do we almost never pop one out? Specially when we're running into an attack. Also why did we run into that breath attack?

Other than those points I enjoyed the msq. Well except for maybe knowing our favorite Admiral wasn't going to lose or die due to knowing about the scene in the trailer and the towers having not shown up yet. I love how G'raha forgets that he has a different timelines's knowledge and that saying things like oh it's the famous and super cool general Hex might get the reaction Lyse sort of gave him. Also glad Lyse also still has the I sort of understood what you guys said, but could you maybe explain it to me like you'd do for riqi tio thing going on.

Love how Aymeric is just excited to see you, but after you tell him why you're there he's even more excited and is all yes give the WoL as much fuel as they bloody want. Didn't really think Ishgard had that bad of a tempering problem.

Ga Bu's jp voice is super cute.
I swear the devs had gone and watched the original fantasia and some 50s sci-fi B films for the music. Then wanted to replicate the Wonka nightmare fuel boat ride in the look of the last section of it. With how the water was so bright and looked like oil on water residue looking.

I can't believe Alphinaud said that line to Matoya about the name 'Shtola was using on the first. I mean even G'raha made a oh no he didn't just say that look. I do love how if you went and talked to Matoya before 5.4 she knew that everyone was back, but that Some One hadn't visited her yet and that someone only did that if they had something to hide. I love how Nero got oh hey cat boy I'm going to pester you until you tell me exactly how I and I guess Cid made time travel a thing.

Danny is just boring. I'm different because I just want to destroy the source. Screw anything else. I'm not sure if he really is afraid of Zenos's threat or not, but now I totally want to see Zenos kill him slowly just because they made us lose some hair or something.
Almost forgot holy crap Tataru is going to out design Cid one of these days. Things she does poorly mining, claming, controlling a carbunckle and piloting an airship. Things she does exceedingly well clothes making, baking and I guess when it comes to community related building airships if she was able to make a better and sleaker airship that can carry a few manacutters in the hull. Also thought it cute seeing the few times the Wol and friends had to just wait for results. I did kind of want Krile reading a book while the Wol and tataru play some triple triad instead of us all just sitting on a bench.

Emerald:

Loved the fight. There's points during it where I could see being real fun during Extreme. I think Valens might have done something to Aillie with those inner thoughts of hers. I'm glad I didn't tell that engineer about what happened to the other girl. I'm still not sure as to why or how they think they'll be able to defeat Valens using the Diamond weapon. Somehow I had the idea Valens would be younger looking. Also holy crap is he a mix between Hojo and Delores Umbridge. Burn out the bad guys... I'm glad one of his subordinates made a "but sir you said his family would be compensated/freed if he did this test."

Eden:

It's totally not FF8 guys. We didn't do a better version of 8's ending. What was Nomura on when he made that boss? Are we also Kingdom Hearts now with that last battle music? Still not FF8 guys ignore the junction, store and instant cast mechanics the last boss did that was part of the battle system from 8. I guess Ryne has some daddy issues? Cause why would she give a ripped and shirtless Thancred the snake/dragon minion of Ran'jit?

I kind of feel the Ascian part is just a hot mess? I do like the fact if you've done the all role quests done quest you can mention Cylva and that Gaia isn't only the true name of Legithrom but also is a reincarnated version of her. I'm not sure what else to say about this one.

Cylva quest:

at first I was like why did we need to have completed the Warring Triad as I wasn't expecting a multiple quest chain. Poor Granson. Seems like he's a light weight. That part was funny as heck. This quest was also one of those where you're like maybe we shouldn't allow the WoL to supervise impressionable teens or kids. Also Yay Unhikalhi is finally out of the rising stones. I have a head theory that him and the young elf boy are shards of each other. Even though him saying the whole this feeling of it being so similar to when he did it with the elf Wol/Wod could have just been him not having done something like that with someone else in a long time and not a hint of them being shards of each other.

[Lauront]

*snip*

...and yet they still bait deaths all the time, which we know they're not going to follow through. No one is asking for GoT level of deaths - although that had similar issues in how it chose to take out certain well liked characters - but let's not pretend "no one is safe" when only the antagonists and minor protagonists which we knew for all of 10 mins, like Tesleen or the sidequest lizards, died.

The fact that there is no follow-through makes them dull. Constant deaths can be a drag because they can force reactions that detract from the plot, but equally only having minor ones, or expected antagonist deaths, and then accompanying this with constant teases of death, becomes grating. Additionally, you can add in all the blurbs you like about how powerful Emet-Selch, Elidibus or Zenos are. If there's no real risk of death or permanent injury, it's just blurbs, with no further consequence. With the way tempering has gone, not even Primals pose the same threat they used to, and plot points hinging on it (e.g. Bozja, probably 5.5) are that more easily brushed away through the miracle cure.

Frankly, we're not going to see eye to eye on this matter. I've long since acknowledged that the story direction of the lore isn't to my liking. It is just a case of biding time until another MMO comes along that better suits my tastes.

[SannaR]

Not really a spoiler since it has been done before in one of the side stories. The trope of roping someone back in through means of blackmail and extortion is in no way right. If the said person wishes to come back it shouldn't have to be because they are hunted down and forced through means of false manipulations and lies.

The whole blackmail/extortion thing angered me because it's low, illegal, and shows VERY poor morals and on top of it extremely poor writing. The scions are supposed to represent a higher standard and that of role models, that their abuse and, the coercion of a person (pixel or not we're talking legality, morals, and poor writing) was laughed about, to begin with only to be done again is just plain wrong.

Yes, I do like the character they are doing it too, that is here nor there, as it is just plain wrong, to begin with.

I didn't quite like how it happened last time it happened with said character. However I think they will be more willing to accept the offer this time as in said side story his whole personal quest is to find other dragons and to deal with any that are being naughty. We just happen to have one even if it's not a normal dragon that is only here to well be a bad dragon. Also it's a great way for him to gain more coin so they can go back and maybe finally find one if not both of the two still missing of Midgardsormr's brood.