Reaper & The 13th Shard Theory

[Iscah]

The job quests seem to be totally disconnected from MSQ story flow now, so I'm not even sure they'd bring up the concept of the shards and the Thirteenth at all, let alone fragmented souls, because someone might conceivably be doing it before they've even left ARR.

Though I suppose you can subtly gate it behind story by requiring certain locations for quests, like the dancer quests travelling to Ishgard and Ala Gannha forcing that much MSQ completion before you can access the destinations.

[Gerel]

The job quests seem to be totally disconnected from MSQ story flow now, so I'm not even sure they'd bring up the concept of the shards and the Thirteenth at all, let alone fragmented souls, because someone might conceivably be doing it before they've even left ARR.

Though I suppose you can subtly gate it behind story by requiring certain locations for quests, like the dancer quests travelling to Ishgard and Ala Gannha forcing that much MSQ completion before you can access the destinations.

Considering that it'll be taking place alongside the Shadowbringers MSQ, this could work. Gate the knowledge until level 80 and then drop the bomb. The level 90 quest we'll get could then expand upon it.

[Theodric]

As I mentioned in another thread, I don't think the Reaper Job's voidsent 'pet' will be literally what's left of their soul shard from the Thirteenth, but just a generic voidsent they've enthralled. It's already in the lore that voidsent can be easily bound by magic, so it's basically a non-event for Reaper to be able to do the same.

I suppose I'm fine either way, though I hope it's written with some flexibility for the sake of role-players.

Voidsent are capable of speech, thought and independent actions, so I'm eager to find out if we'll get to communicate with the Voidsent in question.

One of my 'out there' theories is that the creature is our job trainer, though I guess we'll see if that is true or not.

[Enkidoh]

One of my 'out there' theories is that the creature is our job trainer, though I guess we'll see if that is true or not.

Well, considering the initial DRK Job trainer is

a corpse reanimated literally by your own dark side

, a voidsent Job trainer for Reaper would be right up that alley!

[RyuDragnier]

Well, considering the initial DRK Job trainer is

a corpse reanimated literally by your own dark side

, a voidsent Job trainer for Reaper would be right up that alley!

Bonus points if said voidsent Job trainer is actually

our shard from the 13th.

[Riastrad]

Still say Cylva has the better chance to be our reflection from the thirteenth. Unukalhai was not the only survivor the Ascians took in from the shard after all. Add to the fact it would make sense thematically if they kept trying to sway our reflections unknowingly or otherwise all this time. Cylva and Ardbert became Warriors of Darkness before us. Also, I don't think it fits for players who end up not playing reaper. Cylva is main scenario adjacent content and is tied to the thirteenth being restored. Reaper is just a job.

[RyuDragnier]

Still say Cylva has the better chance to be our reflection from the thirteenth. Unukalhai was not the only survivor the Ascians took in from the shard after all. Add to the fact it would make sense thematically if they kept trying to sway our reflections unknowingly or otherwise all this time. Cylva and Ardbert became Warriors of Darkness before us. Also, I don't think it fits for players who end up not playing reaper. Cylva is main scenario adjacent content and is tied to the thirteenth being restored. Reaper is just a job.

*points at DRK* They already tied important character development about the WoL to the DRK questline in 30-50 and 60-70. This would just be more of the same.

[Riastrad]

*points at DRK* They already tied important character development about the WoL to the DRK questline in 30-50 and 60-70. This would just be more of the same.

Oh, I'm aware and enjoyed it immensely. But I just don't see the voidsent as anything more than say Summoner and the Egis. Sure it's important, but straight up integral to the main scenario by it being a shard of themselves that will never be rejoined and or used by players who don't level it? X to Doubt.

Dark Knight is a side of the WoL/D That is explored by allowing his/her Darkside to manifest itself by utilizing the Soul Crystal. Fray and Myste are just reflections made by an individual who is frustrated by the hopelessness of their situation and compartmentalizes it so they do not eat themselves up in regret. We give ourselves an enemy to fight because all who picked up the Soul Crystal and chose to walk that path see no other way to move forward. The ending of it's story is one of acceptance of their lot in life. The story is self contained. No bearings on the main scenario. A Red Mage going through the main scenario does not need to experience it's story to get the entirety of who Azem was/is.

Reaper on the other hand would have it's fingers on the pulse of the main story by having a shard of Azem being utilized as a damage buff. To me that feels like a waste considering what is being set up on the First in regards to the Thirteenth. What happens if/when that story becomes the focus of say, 7.0? 8.0? Is Reaper just the cannon job for everyone and one that needs to be played to get the true ending?

[RyuDragnier]

Reaper on the other hand would have it's fingers on the pulse of the main story by having a shard of Azem being utilized as a damage buff. To me that feels like a waste considering what is being set up on the First in regards to the Thirteenth. What happens if/when that story becomes the focus of say, 7.0? 8.0? Is Reaper just the cannon job for everyone and one that needs to be played to get the true ending?

They'd go by what they've always done when it comes to job quests and the story, assume it's already done, and then never actually mention who your shard is while everything is going on, except for when they add the level cap quest for the job that does the "checkup" with the trainer. Canonically you've cleared all the job quests during or immediately after the X.0 storyline is done, but they can and will avoid mentioning certain events if you haven't done them. Remember, the game checks a data flag to see if you've cleared things for dialogue that requires a previous event to have been done.