Unpopular opinion on G'raha Tia (spoilers)

[Avoidy]

The funniest part is, we could've had these "friendship-building" moments this whole time, but the devs opted to put scion cosplay stuff in the cash shop instead of making it available through an in game quest. For example, the Yshtola haircut. It's currently available in the cash shop only. But what if in the base game, there was a side quest after, say, ARR or something, where the twins call Y'shtola old fashioned or something, and later she confides in you about wanting a new look and drags you around all day while she tries different hairstyles and outfits, and you can give your opinion via dialogue options and maybe Thancred stops by and sees Y'shtola in a casual glam and just explodes with laughter. And of course none of these fit her style, and in the end she just opts to stay with what she likes, and at the end of it all you get her haircut and her outfit.

Or maybe for the Thancred outfit, they have a sidequest where you're his wingman around Ul'dah for a bit, and you get to have dialogue options to help him get laid, and if you pick the wrong ones then he strikes out and feels really sad and you can blueball him on purpose if you feel like it, but either way at the end he's like "thanks for coming with!" and gives you his outfit so you can be cool and get laid later too. I'm just spitballing ideas at work, but "extra" stuff like this that has no bearing but also doesn't involve life or death stakes are a good way to make these people feel like friends because the player is actively involved in their personal lives. Instead, we can just buy these outfits for like 20 dollars and a good opportunity is sacrificed for profit.

IMAGINE a world where the twins' outfit/haircut comes from a quest where the twins' mom invites you to her chambers after dark and everything is pointing to some less-than-wholesome activities about to take place, but then she just hugs you and thanks you for watching her children and gives you one of their outfits, and maybe it doesn't even fit so your dumb-ass takes the too-small or too-large outfit to Krile of all people, who just looks at the outfit and then at you and then back at the outfit and then casts some magic so it fits and then laughs in your face because you look low-key ridiculous, idk. I'm just saying, we could have silly goofy shit like this with fun rewards that build our affection for the characters, but SE wanted to make 20 bucks so we acquire these things via the cash shop instead.

[TheSuperior]

Honestly I think the only Scions whom we develop an actual deep relationship is with Alphinaud.

That's because he's Yoshi P's favorite.

I took a deep look at the cast from ARR-HW with NG+ and honestly, Papalymo/Yda, Estenien and Alphinaud are the only character's I could look at and think they were genuinely my character's friend.

Especially if you start in Gridania as their dialog with you is warm vs Thancred's curt acknowledgement of your strength and Y'shtola not caring one way or another about you- just that you do the job.

But the point of this thread is G'raha's downgrade from the Exarch and even though I do think he's cute and love his ear wiggles... he can fall off the nearest cliff in Thavnir and I wouldn't miss him. Because it's the Exarch I personally have an attachment to. I want to retire G'raha, because if I wanted another simp for my WoL I could just talk to NPCs who do the same thing. The Legatus who tells his soldiers to back off because of who we are? I loved that. G'raha going sparkly eyed at meeting one of our friends and so much as talking to us? Yeah- pass.

[Iyrnthota]

That's because he's Yoshi P's favorite.

I took a deep look at the cast from ARR-HW with NG+ and honestly, Papalymo/Yda, Estenien and Alphinaud are the only character's I could look at and think they were genuinely my character's friend.

Especially if you start in Gridania as their dialog with you is warm vs Thancred's curt acknowledgement of your strength and Y'shtola not caring one way or another about you- just that you do the job.

But the point of this thread is G'raha's downgrade from the Exarch and even though I do think he's cute and love his ear wiggles... he can fall off the nearest cliff in Thavnir and I wouldn't miss him. Because it's the Exarch I personally have an attachment to. I want to retire G'raha, because if I wanted another simp for my WoL I could just talk to NPCs who do the same thing. The Legatus who tells his soldiers to back off because of who we are? I loved that. G'raha going sparkly eyed at meeting one of our friends and so much as talking to us? Yeah- pass.

I saw someone somewhere say that post Exarch G'raha is basically retired G'raha.
He's spent his time trying to save two worlds, finally succeeded with one, and now he's having a break. Which I found a nice thought.

Then I suppose we dragged him right back into another end of the world and he had to be the exarch again for a bit (thavnair).
Sorry G'raha :/

[jameseoakes]

Honestly I think the only Scions whom we develop an actual deep relationship is with Alphinaud.

He's definatly had the most effort put in and it's mostly worked out OK, though I don't feel like his friend I find too many bits with him arc a little too close to being his minder. I think Urianger has some good scenes that gave the feeling he was really worried about what the character thinks of him which was quite moving. I can remember many heartfelt scenes with say Y'sthola and G'raha had them but for me the writing made them feel really one-sided and awkward.

[jameseoakes]

Again, unfortunate, but I'd likely refer you to the same as above.

No I'd rather point out where I feel the writing is missing the mark in the hopes that it improves

[Iyrnthota]

No I'd rather point out where I feel the writing is missing the mark in the hopes that it improves

How long are you willing to wait? Because I fear you'll be waiting a long, long time.

[jameseoakes]

How long are you willing to wait? Because I fear you'll be waiting a long, long time.

Likely, still may was well try at least I can feel like I did something rather than give into the buillies

[aveyond-dreams]

If anything being told to leave just makes me all the more willing to continue voicing my opinion in the hopes that the time and consideration is taken to analyze why some players feel the way they do about the current trajectory of the writing. I want FFXIV to succeed. I don't think G'raha Tia or the Scions have been all that helpful on that front. Were it not for a compelling antagonist faction, I struggle to believe that the Scions alone would've been able to capture the audience Shadowbringers did.

[Iyrnthota]

Likely, still may was well try at least I can feel like I did something rather than give into the buillies

I don't understand, are you implying the writers are bullying you by writing a story that you are not a fan of?

If anything being told to leave just makes me all the more willing to continue voicing my opinion in the hopes that the time and consideration is taken to analyze why some players feel the way they do about the current trajectory of the writing. I want FFXIV to succeed. I don't think G'raha Tia or the Scions have been all that helpful on that front. Were it not for a compelling antagonist faction, I struggle to believe that the Scions alone would've been able to capture the audience Shadowbringers did.

I'm not saying "if you don't like the story, f' off to WoW" or something. I'm suggesting that perhaps if you don't enjoy the book you're reading, put if down and pick up another.
I even suggested just skipping and enjoying the rest of the content the game has to offer. It's a perfectly viable way of engaging with the game.

I would also disagree with your latter point. While it's obviously rather difficult to pull out data for something like this, annecdotally based on my interactions with the community on social media and in game, the scions are a huge factor in the success and popularity of FFXIV and it's story.
The Ascians and Emet are also a large factor, no doubt, but I would argue the Scions themsevles have a larger pull.

[XiRon]

What conspiracy theory? That the MSQ is oversaturated with the same races is an objective fact. You may disagree that diversity is needed, but there's no denying it's not currently there.
Like many players, XiRon forgot that Gosetsu is a MRoe, but other than that he's spot on.

I didnt forget Gosetsu (altho frankly a roe without any FANTASY RACE attributes to begin with and human skintone may as well be a roided up highlander) but he vanishes after Yotsuyu dies and while he does return in the ranged dps ew story he also vanishes again because...idk.
But ye its not a conspiracy when its objectively true.