Ive done the MSQ at least twice, and one thing nags at me.

Ive seen him sneered at as a "privileged lordling" or worse, and I dont get it. He may be stuffy at times, so is Urianger, but as a character Alphinaud is not only principled, but is brave and tough, is NEVER afraid to fight.

A coward he is not by any means.

So whats with that attitude? Was it an arc created by the devs for the character or the story itself? I agree at times he is opinionated, at the same time he has no fear of stepping up against any foe, the Warriors of Darkness, the Garleans, they want to get in his face?

His response is the same "So ya wanna play do you? Come get it"

As a character in the ARR storyline, his origins belie his strength and determination. Hell he wasnt afraid to hammer Ser Aymeric and call him out on Ishgard's neglect and isolationism in the face of the primals.

Remember Lucia? "Choose your next words carefully".

Alphinaud didnt back down one centimetre despite the fact he was talking to the Lord Commander.

So why? Im just at a loss to see why he, as flawed as he was, wasnt recognised more as a driving force of the Scions. One by one, the "villains" ( if you will ) seriously underestimated him.

So, how have others seen his developement?

Was the creation of the Crystal Braves an act of arrogance...or was he simply not able to see he was being used?

Was he naive as Ilberd believed him to be..or idealistic?