Quote Originally Posted by Lauront View Post
I like what you outlined a lot better than what we got, so it's a mixture of enjoyment and sadness reading this. I'd probably want to see an even-handed approach to Garlemald, i.e. also showing the provinces that were either unchanged or benefited from its rule, much like Bozja, rather than it just being a case of unadulterated "empire bad", and still retain elements of what they did with EW for the Garleans, but otherwise, I think this would be a much more satisfactory and better paced trajectory to me.
I like this idea, especially because of the message it brings. Because at that point a lot of Garleans would be struggling to come to terms with their identity. Up until now, it was okay to treat anything below a military rank (ie, anyone titled fae and lower) like hot garbage, ESPECIALLY if they were aan. It was okay to look at foreigners and treat them like the actual spawns of satan. That it was okay to feel pride in being the cool Ceruleum-based race that withstood adversity and prejudice and stuck it to the others. Only for everything to come crashing down on their golden heads when they realized "...are we the baddies?"

By having the provinces weigh in a bit more and see what they could take away from Garlean rule, it also could have them extend a balm to the Garlean people themselves. Show them "Yeah, you were duped and you weren't thinking outside your prejudice. If you're willing to learn, I'm willing to work with you". Which carries the usual tone FF14 has of forgiveness and coming together.

However I do want to point out that it's also a delicate subject, given also more recent developments in the western world. It IS realistic for provinces to only see Garlemald as evil incarnate and not want to associate or take anything away from their rule. In fact, keep in mind Bajsaljen himself was met with rather strong opposition to his idea and he had to know how to turn them around. You can't just erase decades of mistreatment and pretend you can now sing kumbaya together without having any form of justice done or being repaid. Sure, this is a fantasy world, but it's one that's somewhat grounded at times, and it's played and enjoyed by real people who probably don't want to forgive Garlemald at every turn.