Frustrating relative lack of LGBT NPCs in this game

[KizuyaKatogami]

Very well said. There are many examples of NPC's flirting with others of the opposite sex, mentioning their wives, husbands, lovers etc. Would it really be so game breaking and anti-immersive for the odd one to mention their same-sex partners? It just adds a little inclusively that opens the world out a little.

This already occurs though. There’s a gay couple in the wanderer’s palace questline. There’s bi cat girls at bronze lake. There’s gay guys at the kugane hot springs etc. There’s multiple examples it’s just not enough for people. They want it plastered everywhere.

[dustdjinn]

I can only assume you've purposely ignored my posts up to now. Not once did I say its not ok to have them. I'm saying having for the sake of is pointless. I've yet to see anyone say they want them to help enrich the story. And for good reason. A character being lgbt+ has some nothing for the story of xiv or its characters. I want a quality character no matter their preference or skin color. I don't need to be represented in the media I consume. I represent myself

So gay characters are fine as long as people don't ask for them and because representation isn't important to you then it also shouldn't matter to anyone? But also don't talk about being gay because it doesn't matter to the story but that same feeling isn't echo'd for straight couples in the game like the manderville's or the leveilleurs whos family life affects the story? Are they less valid because they have a focus on family and their dynamic with each other? Do you see what I mean?

Hetero relationships are everywhere because it's the norm so it almost seems invisible to you. No one wants to take away those relationships because that's apart of life. It would be surreal if people didn't have kids or spouses in game but you don't feel the the LGTBQ deserve the same chance.

[Hurlstone]

This already occurs though. There’s a gay couple in the wanderer’s palace questline. There’s bi cat girls at bronze lake. There’s gay guys at the kugane hot springs etc. There’s multiple examples it’s just not enough for people. They want it plastered everywhere.

Oh I did not mean to say it does not already occur. Sorry if thats how it came across. Like I said above, I love how casually the idea is addressed in the Level 80 Warrior quest, and I hope that was the intent. That said, the scales of Nald'thal do very much side with a very hetrosexual viewpoint on things in Eorza, despite the odd dips here and there. To be fair as well, two of the above mentioned come from ARR, and the other I think was more of a Simpson meme (Though I love its inclusion!) I could be completely wrong, but it has been a long while since we have a open LGBTQ+ NPC involved in a quest, for example… although I suppose you could count Sadu there, but that is rather ‘coded’ and not explicitly said. It could also be attributed more to the Dotharl’s view on reincarnation (Hay! A part of the lore that can be/is enhanced by diverse themes!)

Anyway, I am grateful for what they have added, and from what I have read Yoshi-P sounds like an alllie (And I appreciate the continued de-gender locking of outfits). I hope in the future we get more such examples, I did think Endwalker was lacking of any interaction or notion outside of Sadu but I could easily be missing something. Are there more important things that need to be dealt with? Obviously yes (Hello Houseing…) but I still think this is an issue which deserves to be spoken about, and not buried in a ‘Be grateful for what you got’ attitude.

Just to add, I get why we do have so little of such non-traditional interactions compared to other games and MMOs like ESO & SWTOR. The game is creatively created in a place where open acceptance of LGBTQ+ issues is not as common or as well understood. At the same time, I do not think that means we do not have to stay quiet about the idea of more open representation.

[IkaraGreydancer]

Oh I did not mean to say it does not already occur. Sorry if thats how it came across. Like I said above, I love how casually the idea is addressed in the Level 80 Warrior quest, and I hope that was the intent. That said, the scales of Nald'thal do very much side with a very hetrosexual viewpoint on things in Eorza, despite the odd dips here and there. To be fair as well, two of the above mentioned come from ARR, and the other I think was more of a Simpson meme (Though I love its inclusion!) I could be completely wrong, but it has been a long while since we have a open LGBTQ+ NPC involved in a quest, for example… although I suppose you could count Sadu there, but that is rather ‘coded’ and not explicitly said. It could also be attributed more to the Dotharl’s view on reincarnation (Hay! A part of the lore that can be/is enhanced by diverse themes!)

Anyway, I am grateful for what they have added, and from what I have read Yoshi-P sounds like an alllie (And I appreciate the continued de-gender locking of outfits). I hope in the future we get more such examples, I did think Endwalker was lacking of any interaction or notion outside of Sadu but I could easily be missing something. Are there more important things that need to be dealt with? Obviously yes (Hello Houseing…) but I still think this is an issue which deserves to be spoken about, and not buried in a ‘Be grateful for what you got’ attitude.

Just to add, I get why we do have so little of such non-traditional interactions compared to other games and MMOs like ESO & SWTOR. The game is creatively created in a place where open acceptance of LGBTQ+ issues is not as common or as well understood. At the same time, I do not think that means we do not have to stay quiet about the idea of more open representation.

The point is that's it's already in the game. As another said folks just want it front and center and some of us don't feel it's needed. Treat it like everything else. Let your imagination run wild. I saw no part of Endwalker that'd make sense to "feature" that as relationships weren't really a focus. The end of days was. Men and women can already wear what they want via un gender locked clothing. Idk my mindset is this,
Don't ask for representation. BE that representation

[dustdjinn]

The point is that's it's already in the game. As another said folks just want it front and center and some of us don't feel it's needed. Treat it like everything else. Let your imagination run wild. I saw no part of Endwalker that'd make sense to "feature" that as relationships weren't really a focus. The end of days was. Men and women can already wear what they want via un gender locked clothing. Idk my mindset is this,
Don't ask for representation. BE that representation

You do understand that we got unlocked gendered clothing because we asked them to? By people asking for more representation they ARE in fact being that representation because they chose to speak up.

Also to that one person's claim that "these people will never be happy until its a main story point." It doesn't have to be main story focus BUT if sexuality is so unimportant than it shouldn't be a big deal right?

[Lieri]

The inclusion of certain gender or not wont bother me. As long as the lore is well written. I can enjoy characters with good stories and development regardless of their gender.

[TitaniaYaerem]

Lets not forget that even though a NPC couple in game may be FxM it doesn't necessarily mean they are straight either. I'm a pansexual and my fiance is asexual but we happened to end up as a FxM relationship biologically but we identify as nonbinary. I think forcing sexuality on NPCs for the sake of forcing just seems uncomfortable and if it doesn't really fit with the story telling, just feels out of place.

[Lecru]

What would this add to your experience to know their sexuality up front. Please clarify. Unless it directly impacts the story or quest in some fashion. It has no place being a forefront issue. I don't have to know what they prefer as a love interest to be told I need to go kill 20 mobs or fetch herbs from a garden.

[KariTheFox]

It's interesting how quickly strawmen are constructed in this thread.

Someone will say "I think a little more LGBT representation would be nice," and they get dozens of replies saying stuff along the lines of, "oh so you want the game to be all about gay stuff now? Oh you want to completely overshadow the narrative with a bunch of shoehorned in gay and lesbian couples whose only personality trait is liking the other sex? (Bi people are never acknowledged) you want Thancred to walk out wearing a 'I LIKE MEN' crop top!?"

Why is it always the people who use/identify with a slur like queer who want more representation?

Post edited as to not distract from my point, which is that people are vastly overinflating and criticizing positions that nobody in this thread has actually advocated.

[astercantus]

I'd hardly call the whole Ryne-Gaia debacle a "blink-and-you-miss-it" part. I don't think the devs ever gave an official stance (and rightfully so, imo), but you had tons of people supporting the belief that they were a blossoming couple and that the big rainbow in Eden was meant to be a queer symbol. Regardless if Ryne and Gaia actually have feelings for each other, there's already quite a bit of queer-coded content in the game. You just need to know where to look. I doubt that deliberately pushing even more explicit LGBTQ+ representation in a game that's already pretty darn liberal is going to benefit players, and I'd rather the writers/devs spend time on other areas of the game.