Political Ideology and Storytelling Within FFXIV

[Cleretic]

Yeah, they kind of paint leadership of nations up as being similar to heroing everywhere, too. Like I said on the last page.

Of course, if we begin with the mindset that the adventurers are all mercenaries who are largely out of work or were out of work, and the WoL was one such Merc, then maybe it's their Merc tendencies showing. Wouldn't want to put off a possible employer! Especially since they're rolling in the dough!

See, in a lot of places that makes some sense, because FFXIV's world has a lot of nations with leaders that kinda had to fight for their right to be as good as they are now. Aymeric, Raubahn, Lyse, Hien, and now even Chai-Nuzz and Bajsaljen all had to fight for their own sovereignty. The Exarch built the Crystarium from the ground-up (admittedly, while cheating super hard). Even Nanamo and Merlwyb deserve due credit and sympathy for fighting tooth-and-nail to modernize their countries.

But that all makes sense, it's not really what concerns me about the WoL. I've just noticed over time that the WoL is meaner to complete randoms asking for legitimately-needed help than they are actual despots. Varis, Yotsuyu, Emet-Selch, and even Nidhogg (admittedly in a sidequest) get a weird amount of respect, and it's not even in 'don't burn bridges to potential employers' senses, since they're all either not the type to hire or are well past having any power. I'm pretty sure Gaius also got off pretty easy back when the Praetorium had lines, but I don't know how to check that.

It's kinda reached a point where I'm no longer wondering what all of those characters did right, I'm wondering what Thordan did wrong to get treated so much more harshly. (Vauthry I get, he didn't exactly give the chance.)

But overall, that big focus on the leaders does lend to a bit of a 'great men' view of the history of FFXIV's world. Everything hinges on individual leaders rather than greater groups and movements. The success of Doma ultimately ends up attributed to Hien, and very little else. Which is a disappointing way to approach real-world history, but in fiction... well, FFXIV is ultimately character dramas and hero's journeys and foremost, they don't really provide room for seeing stuff like union movements.