6.0 Predictions: Will it be Garlemald, Sharlayan, or Meracydia?

[FrightfulNight]

I have to agree. This empire will fall off screen. They won't be able to stand as conquerers when we decisively win Bozja, and stop the mechs in Sorrows, and then stop Fandaniel and Zenos. In fact the only area in the empire that has any narrative potential because everything else is destroyed is the capitol.

I really hope that is not the case, that is so lazy, like after all these years of buildup the empire is not defeated by us and just falls offscreen, that would be so anticlimactic and one of the worst story decisions ever conceived of in this game. and if anything I think the devs have proved they are good story writers which would make it even more baffling if this was the case, why not just make 6.0 Islabard instead of delaying it and having the empire fall off screen, I don't care about Meracydia at the present day since there is nothing interesting there as of this moment and all the important story beats are happening in you guessed it, Islabard. I am also for Meracydia holding out hope it might be part of a time travel Expansion in the season 2 storyline, after we have gone to Islabard, so we can see these great civilizations and cultures, and perhaps face the Allagans proper instead of what they left behind. I also do not care about the underground since there is no long established civilization or culture or area that has been set up for around 10 years now.

[MikkoAkure]

I have to agree. This empire will fall off screen. They won't be able to stand as conquerers when we decisively win Bozja, and stop the mechs in Sorrows, and then stop Fandaniel and Zenos. In fact the only area in the empire that has any narrative potential because everything else is destroyed is the capitol.

There’s still the whole continent of Ilsabard, which is a bigger region than anywhere we’ve ever been to so far and is right on our doorstep. Even if it’s not themed around Garlemald, there’s so much there.

Bozja and Sorrows are separate storylines and don’t really have any input to the Empire as a whole. The IVth legion has already broken away from the Empire and is their own thing now, trying to make their own country out of Bozja and Dalmasca. The VIIth legion is still active and a part of the Garlean Empire, but their whole plot is based around fighting in Eorzea.

There are more legions than just the ones we’ve seen, if the numbers are any indicator. And the Imperial Capital or Zenos falling doesn’t mean they’re going to suddenly lay down arms. The aftermath of the civil war would be an easy jumping point for both the WoL to fix things and power vacuum for a villain to act in.

[RyuDragnier]

There’s still the whole continent of Ilsabard, which is a bigger region than anywhere we’ve ever been to so far and is right on our doorstep. Even if it’s not themed around Garlemald, there’s so much there.

Bozja and Sorrows are separate storylines and don’t really have any input to the Empire as a whole. The IVth legion has already broken away from the Empire and is their own thing now, trying to make their own country out of Bozja and Dalmasca. The VIIth legion is still active and a part of the Garlean Empire, but their whole plot is based around fighting in Eorzea.

There are more legions than just the ones we’ve seen, if the numbers are any indicator. And the Imperial Capital or Zenos falling doesn’t mean they’re going to suddenly lay down arms. The aftermath of the civil war would be an easy jumping point for both the WoL to fix things and power vacuum for a villain to act in.

With Bozja, Garlemald has basically lost the eastern front. With the loss of the weapons, they'll have lost the southern front. With Zenos sending the capital ablaze, they can't even protect the heart of the Empire. Depending on how the remaining countries in the Empire feel about it, they could rebel while we're dealing with Zenos elsewhere (should they go this route). This would allow more conflict in the region for future content via power vacuum (as you mentioned), and also allow for more variation on possible locations.

As for what could fill the power vacuum...I distinctly recall the Holy Lodissian Empire from Tactics Ogre was formed through a coup that seized power from its former King. Considering the Republic of Landis is very similar in name to Lodis, perhaps this civil war may give rise to the Republic of Landis becoming the new villains?

[FrightfulNight]

I did just remember something, Yoshi P. Says that he usually likes to plan two expansions ahead for the story. Now I noticed a pattern, while we always knew the first expansion would be Ishgard, and the second would be Ala Mhigo, there were some other locations that begun to be hinted at two expansions prior.

For instance we were introduced to Yugirir and the ARR patch questlines or 2.X and two expansions later in SB or 4.0 we go to Doma.

We were introduced to the Warriors of Darkness and heard mentions of the First in HW or 3.x and two expansions later in ShB or 5.0 we went to the first and wrapped up thier storyline.

Now if we follow this pattern in SB, especially during the patch questlines we see intrigue and important events occur and unravel in Garlemald, more specifically the capitol, which is of course located in the Northern corner of Islabard, so if we follow this pattern, this is just further proof it is Islabard. in fact for two expansions now they have been having the situation heat up there, characters go there, and power shift there, so are we just to believe that this will occur for another full expansion before we have a chance to go there, no I believe we are going there as it has the most pressing issues in the story.

Also if we are comparing this to say a mainline game and the season 1 storyline to the full game, then it makes sense to end it in Islabard, it is controlled by one of the games main antagonist, and when the world map was revealed it was surrounded in foreboding mists, as if almost saying, yeah this area is important, we are waiting until the finale to take you here for a big confrontation.

To add on to my previous point there has also been a lot of build up since before ARR on the big all out conflict or war with Garlemald. It feels like Chekhov's gun, not having it would be like the gun jamming or misfiring. And yes SB was a conflict but it was more overthrowing one legions control over two conquered lands compared to the full scale war that has been long building up.

[Kesey]

To add on to my previous point there has also been a lot of build up since before ARR on the big all out conflict or war with Garlemald. It feels like Chekhov's gun, not having it would be like the gun jamming or misfiring. And yes SB was a conflict but it was more overthrowing one legions control over two conquered lands compared to the full scale war that has been long building up.

But Garlemald really hasn't been the main villain. This has always been Ascians and their work to bring back Zodiark. Stormblood, which many cite as the means for why war with Garlemald is inevitable, is also the mark where we learn Garlemald has been manipulated from the shadows by Ascians.

The Empire isn't Chekhov's gun. Zodiark's return is Chekhov's gun. Garlemald falling from power off screen opens many more interesting avenues of story telling too in the future.

[KageTokage]

The fact that Fandaniel is backing Nerva's war effort feels like he's trying to end the civil war and fill the power vacuum before the Eorzean Alliance decides to go on the offensive again (Which is almost certainly going to be provoked by those towers suddenly showing up within their borders).

If he's trying to summon some kind of super primal he'd only benefit from escalating things into an even bigger war by stabilizing things in Garlemald so they can properly fight back against an invasion force.

[Kesey]

The fact that Fandaniel is backing Nerva's war effort feels like he's trying to end the civil war and fill the power vacuum before the Eorzean Alliance decides to go on the offensive again (Which is almost certainly going to be provoked by those towers suddenly showing up within their borders).

I'm willing to bet the towers are the reason the Eorzean Alliance can not go on the offensive. Teams sent to investigate the towers come back possessed. Injuring major players like Lyse. Even if it is tempering and can be fixed with Alisaie's cure, we will see a substantive up tick in those to fix.

[KageTokage]

I think it's a given we're going to get rid of the Eorzean towers by the end of 5.5, though doing so will likely require some significant intervention from us and possibly other Echo bearers, along the usual Ironworks genius (Assuming the alliance can't just take the simple approach and blow the things bits from a distance, that is).

I expect they'll still be a problem in 6.x, though, and possibly part of our reason for zone-hopping.

[FrightfulNight]

Considering how much attention the announcement showcase has been getting, we all expect that the next expansion will be revealed at it, and hopefully it should give us a good idea where we are going (hopefully Islabard for exploration and Sharlyan for Hub), there is also the possibility that we get the full trailer now or at the very least the first two thirds of it instead of dripp feeding it since there is not the benefit of multiple fan fests with the current situation.

[Theodric]

So, I've been thinking - and replaying FFIX - and I'm starting to draw some parallels between Kuja and Fandaniel. Obviously things won't play out in exactly the same way but...

- Both of them have a strong focus on the concept of dying.
- Both of them want everybody else to die.
- Both of them are 'incomplete' and lash out at their respective 'Master'. In Kuja's case, it's Garland. In Fandaniel's case it's the Unsundered Ascians.
- Both of them are very theatrical in terms of their mannerisms.
- Both of them have a dragon as a companion/pet.

So, I'm tentatively speculating that we may see 6.0 involve heavy IX themes and inspiration. The game had a very whimsical fantasy style to it not unlike what we see of Sharlayan, too.