Building a better Alphinaud

[Eldtagg]

I can't speak for other language, but the English Y'shtola is about 300% more sassy comparing to the Japanese version.

"- You and i will speak later!" *ohshieeet*

[CrownySuccubus]

Runar and Little Sun Magnai?*

Absolutely, very obvious.

I really loved everything with those two because their relationship wasn't forced or woke.

ArenaNet did not make Marjory and Kasmeer's sexyality/gender the centerpiece. They made the characters and what happened to them the focus.

I don't bother with arguments regarding "forcedness" or "wokeness" because there's always going to be somebody that finds ANY level of exposure "forced" or "woke".

The reason I presented a number of different hetero relationships in my last post was to demonstrate how many different "levels" of them there are within FFXIV, with most of them being well-received. Even when it comes to Magnai and Runar, people typically find them entertaining even if it means laughing at Magnai getting rejected or going "Awwww" when Runar tries flirting with Y'shtola. You and other people may find these relationships to be "in your face" and "egregious" (and I actually agree, personally) but the general attitude towards them is positive at best and indifferent at worst.

So, to repeat what I said...you can do all of these exact same things with LGBT characters. I would personally avoid going the Magnai route if that's the ONLY representation (after all, if Magnai was the only heterosexual man in the game, it would appear to be demonizing male sexuality), but if there are a few "alternatives", then sure...even that could be fun.

[IkaraGreydancer]

Idk, if folks want buff bois (we already have them but oke) in the game for representation sake at that point ANYTHING goes. I don't like it BUT that's only fair

[Coratanni]

Alphinaud is my favorite of the two twins and I have no problems with his development such as it is in the game. I've liked him since his introduction as an arrogant little dipstick in ARR, through his journey in Heavensward, and beyond as he settles into a more diplomatic role. I think the game was smart to allow him to take a more subdued position in Stormblood, but I do miss him feeling like he's one of my "core" party members. I have my issues with the Scions in Endwalker, but I think Alisaie's speeches were more egregious than his as far as any complaints I might have.

I am relieved they haven't brought the twins back into the story yet after my Scions overload but I am slowly reaching the point where I'm getting curious about what they've been working on in Garlemald and, when we do see Alphinaud again, I believe it'll be a happy reunion for my WoL.

In short, I don't agree that Alphinaud really needs "fixing" in the first place.

At least Alphinaud has been growing throughout our journey. Alisaie I've always had an issue with. Her core character though just irritates me to no end.

[Rulakir]

I don't want to delve too deeply into some of the other topics mentioned other than to say some of y'all have a lot more faith in the writers to pull off more serious/delicate subjects than I do, especially after EW.

Look, you can workout as much as you want at the gym, but without the correct regiment; training/eating and cutting every single bad stuf like alcohol and sugar also add 8 hours quality sleep every single day you won't ever look toned and lean.

Oh good, somebody already said it. You can't out-exercise a bad diet. If the WoL ate at Last Stand every day they'd realistically probably have a 'dad bod' despite everything else they do.

At least Alphinaud has been growing throughout our journey. Alisaie I've always had an issue with. Her core character though just irritates me to no end.

Alphinaud's character development seems to have stopped in HW and outright regressed in EW. Alisaie I've felt has been a constant, which works for her because she's driven by emotions rather than ideals, but based on Garlemald it seems like they're wanting to make her Alphinaud 2.0 which I am not interested in at all. One Alphinaud is more than enough.

[Sarkany]

The thing is, they've already gestured in the direction of a lot of LGBT topics, just never actually committed. For example, in the original Japanese dialogue, Haurchefant is clearly propositioning the Warrior of Light regardless of gender. (It's something along the lines of "You look as gorgeous as ever! It's really cold out there, do you want to come warm up in my room?" and then he immediately drops the subject when Alphinaud pipes up. The English version just has him say that he's happy to see you and he hopes you're warm enough.) I believe in the writing team's ability to add, for example, a male knight who Haurchefant had a fling with and not make it offensive. It would literally need a sentence or two.

[Theodric]

Idk, if folks want buff bois (we already have them but oke) in the game for representation sake at that point ANYTHING goes. I don't like it BUT that's only fair

I think that's rather disingenuous. There's a big difference between requesting more of a common aesthetic and one a large portion of players can relate to...and embracing the sort of niche aesthetics that Twitter dwellers fawn over.

But, hey, if you want FFXIV to go the same way as WoW in regards to stripping away all mention of 'male' and female' in favour of 'body 1' and 'body 2' then be my guest. I don't think more than a very vocal minority desire that, though.

[CrownySuccubus]

I think that's rather disingenuous. There's a big difference between requesting more of a common aesthetic and one a large portion of players can relate to...and embracing the sort of niche aesthetics that Twitter dwellers fawn over.

But, hey, if you want FFXIV to go the same way as WoW in regards to stripping away all mention of 'male' and female' in favour of 'body 1' and 'body 2' then be my guest. I don't think more than a very vocal minority desire that, though.

What a silly argument, since this is not a mutually-exclusive problem. If representation is the goal, then you can have both broad kinds of aesthetics.

Also, here we go again with the attempts to poison the well. Apparently, people who disagree are “Twitter dwellers”, and that’s supposed to also be an inherently bad thing.

[Theodric]

Alphinaud's character development seems to have stopped in HW and outright regressed in EW. Alisaie I've felt has been a constant, which works for her because she's driven by emotions rather than ideals, but based on Garlemald it seems like they're wanting to make her Alphinaud 2.0 which I am not interested in at all. One Alphinaud is more than enough.

Yeah, it does seem like the major characters sort of go through the exact same story arc that they've already gone through. Or something negative will happen to them - such as Y'shtola losing her eyesight - but it might as well have not happened at all given that it doesn't hold the character back in any major capacity and she didn't really react to it like a realistic, regular person would if they suddenly lost their ability to see through conventional means...

[Lauront]

I think that's rather disingenuous. There's a big difference between requesting more of a common aesthetic and one a large portion of players can relate to...and embracing the sort of niche aesthetics that Twitter dwellers fawn over.

But, hey, if you want FFXIV to go the same way as WoW in regards to stripping away all mention of 'male' and female' in favour of 'body 1' and 'body 2' then be my guest. I don't think more than a very vocal minority desire that, though.

Guess that game can RIP then.