6.0 Story Speculations

[Mansion]

Because the overarching plot of Phantasy Star as laid down by Phantasy Star IV was that two god-like beings fought in the Algo Solar System eons ago. They were beings of Light and Dark. Light won eventually, but it couldn't destroy the Profound Darkness, so it sealed it away creating/using the planets that make up that solar system as a seal. (In broad strokes this is wildly similar to Hydaelyn sealing Zodiark twofold. His main chunk in the Moon, but his other chunks in the shards(incidentally)).

Each of the Light/Dark forces in each Phantasy Star game take control of people by either altering their destiny or communing with them via dreams/telepathy. The Darkness can only come about once every 1,000 years, however, so both sides lie dormant for a long time.

You are making me so nostalgic, I love Phantasy Star IV. (Especially Ooze)
I'm not convinced about FFXIV being inspired by it though. Light and Dark fighting is an old trope, and it just happens to feel similar because of the "seal". I'm pretty sure FFXIV has 1 source and 13 shards because it adds up to 14, the number of the series. Same for the convocation of Ascians. And FFXIV being loosely about multiverse where other Final Fantasy games kind of exist, it wraps up nicely the concept without having to commit to an explanation.

[Katie_Kitty]

You are making me so nostalgic, I love Phantasy Star IV. (Especially Ooze)
I'm not convinced about FFXIV being inspired by it though. Light and Dark fighting is an old trope, and it just happens to feel similar because of the "seal". I'm pretty sure FFXIV has 1 source and 13 shards because it adds up to 14, the number of the series. Same for the convocation of Ascians. And FFXIV being loosely about multiverse where other Final Fantasy games kind of exist, it wraps up nicely the concept without having to commit to an explanation.

I'm just waiting for the end of the game where they finally give us all what we've been waiting for and send us off with, "It turns out we truly were the Final Fantasy 14 after all"

[Vyrerus]

You are making me so nostalgic, I love Phantasy Star IV. (Especially Ooze)
I'm not convinced about FFXIV being inspired by it though. Light and Dark fighting is an old trope, and it just happens to feel similar because of the "seal". I'm pretty sure FFXIV has 1 source and 13 shards because it adds up to 14, the number of the series. Same for the convocation of Ascians. And FFXIV being loosely about multiverse where other Final Fantasy games kind of exist, it wraps up nicely the concept without having to commit to an explanation.

Yeah, I acknowledged that it was just the wider tropes maintaining the similarity. Can't help but wonder though. If they'll reference old books, plays, movies, and the like, then why not old video games? Heck, they stuck a flippin' Black Cauldron/Chronicles of Prydain reference in Hades fight with his enrage spell's name.

[KageTokage]

Yeah, I acknowledged that it was just the wider tropes maintaining the similarity. Can't help but wonder though. If they'll reference old books, plays, movies, and the like, then why not old video games? Heck, they stuck a flippin' Black Cauldron/Chronicles of Prydain reference in Hades fight with his enrage spell's name.

I'm not sure if it's specifically referencing that so much as it's refencing the name of the move used by the Hades summon in FF7.

[Enkidoh]

I'm not sure if it's specifically referencing that so much as it's refencing the name of the move used by the Hades summon in FF7.

^This. Black Cauldron was what Hades' summon spell attack was called in FFVII (which made sense then, given it hit the enemy with all negative status effects, it was basically a summon form of Bad Breath). Of course here in FFXIV it was different and was basically an entire unblockable party wipe attack, so it was obviously referencing the Hades' FFVII appearence, just like Thordan and the Knights Twelve at the end of HW used 'Ultimate End' which of course was the name of the Knights of the Round's summon attack in FFVII (that Thordan and the Knights Twelve were based on), without needing to reference a more recent non-FF middleman. Just yet another reference to a past FF game.

[Vyrerus]

Oh, ok. So FF7 reference Chronicles of Prydain first. Roger roger.

[Mansion]

I'm just waiting for the end of the game where they finally give us all what we've been waiting for and send us off with, "It turns out we truly were the Final Fantasy 14 after all"

That, and us punching God in the face thanks to the power of friendship.

[RyuDragnier]

That, and us punching God in the face thanks to the power of friendship.

Oh that's a given. Azem has the power to teleport allies to them, so we'll be using that same power to "link" to everybody we have ever met to use their combined power to do the final blow.

[akita_kt]

Benchmark Omega has led me to a nonstop tinfoiling. I think Omega's origins will be explained in 6.0. I'm trying to go around character limit so forgive me for the weird text.

I doubt it's Allagan/Garlean. "Here's a copy of your old foe but it's not really them and it's here just to say this tech empire got tech" is underwhelming. That would go against Omega tech being way too advanced to be copied, and all the Omega-based beings we know being way different from the OG.

Benchmark Omega (Benchie) is so similar to Omega it seems to be from the same production line. I thought was that it's from Fandaniel's copy of the Final Days, but big benchmark monsters are usually shown in contexts and locations different from their final location in-game.

My second thought was that it might be a sibling from Omegastar, either freshly arrived or activated after crashing alongside Omega millenia ago, but Omega arrived alone and Omegastar is probably long gone from what Midgardsormr and Omega's themes say.

Benchie uses funnels just like Sage. Funnels aren't a common technology, I think it's 6.0-exclusive. In the Trailer, Benchie attacks with its funnels and then it cuts to Sage Alphinaud using his funnels to heal -- it's a very in your face, "look, they're really similar" sequence. So could it be Sharlayan in any way? And part of the Sharlayan secret?

So Benchie wouldn't be Sharlayan-made, but Sharlayan-found. But Omega came alone to the Source.

That can lead us to the conclusion Benchmark Omega was present in the pre-Sundering Source.

Remember what I said about Omega's themes describing a Calamity? Read From the Heavens and Invincible lyrics here:



This religious imagery is related to the Sound. So if Omega's planet went through the Sound, too, it could mean that:

1. After being hit by the Sound -- an interstellar menace in this scenario -- Omega's civilization sent Benchmark Omega to the pre-Sundering Source, probably during the Dragonstar War, where it lay dormant and was sundered. Were they trying to "eat" another planet to survive like in FFIX? (I don't think so; there are already other sound-magic beings in XIV that can mess planets up.) Or were they trying to salvage parts of their civilization?
2. Both the Source and Omega's planet are the same. Would there be two different planets going through the same thing in more or less the same time period? Would explain how Allag found and was able to use Omega (they had Ascians to help them do so). Why Hydaleyn doesn't boot kick Omega, Omega's powers, Book of Revelation symbolism, etc. Would put dragons on a spotlight again because of the Dragonstar War. Would contradict most of what we think about Omega's origins.

There are lots of weird things going on with Omega. Lots. Dragons, too. I could talk about them for an entire day but character limit lol. The tinfoil never stops... I hope 6.0 delivers.

[HiraishinNoJutsu]

Wake up Lore Forum! New Yoshi-P interviews just dropped!

https://www.nme.com/features/gaming-...oshida-3068707

and in this interview when asked about if Zenos picking up Reaper had any narrative weight he responded with

“It’s not really the case that we wanted Reaper to have a big role in the story, or have a big impact in the story, but it might be that there is some reason why Zenos has gone down that path,” Yoshida said.

“So of course, since Zenos is a Reaper, he would obviously be using an avatar. Zeno’s only friend is the Warrior of Light so in that respect maybe his avatar is some sort of variation of our Warrior of Light. (Laughing) But please be sure to, I haven’t put it clearly here, look forward to seeing what happens with Zenos.”

I think it would be incredibly interesting and something I never contemplated but Zenos being a true captial "R" Reaper and using the WoL's thirteenth shard would be METAL!