Garlean Playable Race (?)

[Iscah]

I could see Garleans being added after next expansion where they may become a more neutral presence for us. Older stories might be weird playing as a Garlean but you'd have to figure maybe your adventurer has something going on that prevents them from being loyal to the empire. IDK.

This can easily be addressed. Have either Hydaelin/Zodiark explode at the end of 6.0 showering the world in aether and omg you guys Garleans can use magic now wow

Whatever happens, the race can't just become playable based on an event halfway through the story. It has to be in place from the beginning because one a race is added it can be picked from the beginning.

You know what else would be jarring? Playing a duskwight elezen in gridania and being able to meet with the seedseer and being able to become a conjurer despite the blatant racism and lack of freedom/equality they have. Yet...it’s still possible. It doesn’t make any sense, but that’s the way it is.Same with Hrothgar in Uldah. A beast-like race not even questioned by the city despite being prejudice against all beast tribes. It's just there with no explanation or questions asked.

There's nothing stopping a Duskwight from doing those things; it's just that people don't tend to like them much while they're doing it. (Though Kan-E seems like the "judge on individual merit" sort anyway.) The lancer questline revolves around a Duskwight who used to be a member of the Wood Wailers and we've seen at least one current Duskwight member of the Twin Adders.

And Hrothgar... well, I think they're lore-breaking but in any case the official excuse is that they're (somehow) universally considered beastlike men rather than beastmen. One way or the other, they have existed from the start of the game as a neutral/friendly race.