Ardbert's Party vs the Scions Analysis

[VelKallor]

I also miss flirty Thancred.

Time, battle, loss...he grew up. He isnt young anymore...he has changed.

War, grief, have a tendency to do that.

[Theodric]

Time, battle, loss...he grew up. He isnt young anymore...he has changed.

War, grief, have a tendency to do that.

Not necessarily. If anything, people who experience heavy loss and tragedy are likely to embrace such distractions. A lot of people working in the emergency services, or who have come back from the front lines also tend to lean into dark humour as a coping mechanism.

I survived an attempted murder. Fought off my attacker and got stabbed in the process. I joke about it with friends and family. Not everybody reacts the same way but it sure would be nice for the game to do more to make the Scions seem like actual characters who react like normal humans instead of being stoic and muted in their reactions to what is going on around them at any given time.

Either way, the 'flirty rogue' is a popular trope for good reason. If Thancred isn't going to fulfil that niche these days then it seems like a good idea to bring in someone else who will.

[Zanarkand-Ronso]

Not necessarily. If anything, people who experience heavy loss and tragedy are likely to embrace such distractions. A lot of people working in the emergency services, or who have come back from the front lines also tend to lean into dark humour as a coping mechanism.

I survived an attempted murder. Fought off my attacker and got stabbed in the process. I joke about it with friends and family. Not everybody reacts the same way but it sure would be nice for the game to do more to make the Scions seem like actual characters who react like normal humans instead of being stoic and muted in their reactions to what is going on around them at any given time.

Either way, the 'flirty rogue' is a popular trope for good reason. If Thancred isn't going to fulfil that niche these days then it seems like a good idea to bring in someone else who will.

Not everybody copes with tragic events, or brushes with death by joking or rolling it off.
Sometimes people change when life threatening things happen to them, or even break down completely. The human brain is complex and diverse. I know these are fictional characters....but if you are going to say you want them to seem like actual characters who react like normal humans...then bro, you got it. But if you want them to just make jokes and jabs, shoot-the-shit and make light of things.....you're not looking for an actual person.
Sure, some people: such as yourself apparently, can turn it into a joke, but not everyone will.

Thancred Grew up, he experienced "Character Growth" so yeah he is no longer who he used to be back in ARR.
Sure I miss Suave Thancred as well, but I can appreciate a character realistically Maturing.

[VelKallor]

Not necessarily. If anything, people who experience heavy loss and tragedy are likely to embrace such distractions. A lot of people working in the emergency services, or who have come back from the front lines also tend to lean into dark humour as a coping mechanism.

They do...or in one case with a friend of mine, they crawl into the bottle. It took his mother, me, his sister and a therapist to drag him out of that bottle and to help him confront his demons. PTSD is real, the experiences you have change you in ways you cant ever imagine.

Thancred WAS a womaniser, the "dashing, derring do type"...then time and experience changed him. Remember after we confronted Ifrit? Remember what he said? He was remorseful that his carelessness almost got us killed..and resolved to do better.

Heavensward and Emmanellain

"You know nothing about me . I have fought tooth and nail for the people I hold dear, done everything in my power to save them and I have failed.

Learn to live with it....I have"