Revelations from Patch 5.5 (Part 2)

[Theodric]

Yup. Because we, my dear sympathizer, are the good guys.

Well, naturally we can agree to disagree on that - the writers themselves have stated many times in interviews that the various conflicts are but a matter of perspective and not a case of black or white morality.

I'm not sure why you're using the term 'sympathiser', though. That's a little odd in the context of the discussion. Nobody is going around calling people Eorzean sympathisers. It's also a fictional fantasy setting at the end of the day, too...

This include the PTSD they have, the constant self-doubt and depression, and the knowing that they see that they themselves exist only to suffer and to fight? That btw is how I see the WoL's mentality anyway. A veteran of multiple conflicts that is just growing more tired and jaded as the years go on, just wishing for the battles to end. And considering 6.0 is to be the finale of the main conflict, if this were an anime, I'd write it with it being their finale as the WoL, whether it ending through their own death, being depowered and entering retirement, or the title of Azem being passed onto another.

That's pretty much how I see it as well. Especially in regards to the PTSD. There's a lot of pressure, a sense of being unable to save everybody, torn between conflicted loyalties and so on. It's fascinating, really - and a big part of why I adore this setting.

So few games - and especially MMO's - bother to examine the psychological impact that comes with killing for a living, especially when many conflicts are not black or white. Putting down Zenos, for example, is going to be very different to the tragedy of having to put down Nidhogg or Emet-Selch.

It'll be interesting to see where the story seeks to go once the 6.0 MSQ's wrap up, though. I imagine that the Warrior of Darkness will get a brief respite but obviously given the nature of the game there will still be new threats popping up left and right to deal with.

There's also a lot of potential locations to visit in the future. Inner Hingashi, Meracydia and so on. Maybe even other Shards!