What Zero Could've Been

[CidHeiral]

I just wish the sort of attitude and dynamic she brings could've gone to a male cast member instead. FFXIV women are oftentimes too "strong" without a sufficient arc leading up to that level of empowerment or confidence while the men are either jokes or hung up on a set of emotions like Vrtra is, and it's not doing anyone any favors.

Female characters need story arcs to explain why they're not all dainty princesses? What?

[aveyond-dreams]

Female characters need story arcs to explain why they're not all dainty princesses? What?

Yes. They should have on-screen development that leads up to the strength they find instead of just starting out all cool and powerful. The lack of these arcs doesn't make for a compelling story, it's just putting a Mary Sue in front of my face and expecting me to like her based off how cool she looks. That isn't what stories should be doing.

[RukoBoshi]

Yes. They should have on-screen development that leads up to the strength they find instead of just starting out all cool and powerful. The lack of these arcs doesn't make for a compelling story, it's just putting a Mary Sue in front of my face and expecting me to like her based off how cool she looks. That isn't what stories should be doing.

I mean, Estinien started all cool and powerful, and still got a compelling story arc by 3.3. People even liked him for it.

[MagiusNecros]

I mean, Estinien started all cool and powerful, and still got a compelling story arc by 3.3. People even liked him for it.

Zero would have Estinien's leverage if they were prominent in a Reaper job quest. Which I feel is what this MSQ is making up for. Glorified Reaper job quest.

Estinien has proper build up from a job quest in ARR, story role in HW and gets increasing dev time across Stormblood and Shadowbringer.

Zero coming in with powercreep, the ability to solve every current problem is a writer's block Mary Sue move in the writing department and as a result it cheapens the character.

I hope the character evolves into something beyond a "Marketboard Merchant" personality type.

Zero: Zero has the DPS if you have the coin.

[TheMightyMollusk]

Yes. They should have on-screen development that leads up to the strength they find instead of just starting out all cool and powerful. The lack of these arcs doesn't make for a compelling story, it's just putting a Mary Sue in front of my face and expecting me to like her based off how cool she looks. That isn't what stories should be doing.

So....women aren't allowed to already be strong if we don't see how they got strong? Should the same also apply to male characters? Should Estinien or Gosetsu or Lyon have been demure and soft-spoken until they got on screen? This is a terrible and rather insulting take.

[Vahlnir]

Yes. They should have on-screen development that leads up to the strength they find instead of just starting out all cool and powerful. The lack of these arcs doesn't make for a compelling story, it's just putting a Mary Sue in front of my face and expecting me to like her based off how cool she looks. That isn't what stories should be doing.

You are digging yourself a hole and I don't think you realize how deep you are yet. Put the shovel down, sir.

[aveyond-dreams]

You are digging yourself a hole and I don't think you realize how deep you are yet.

I'm sorry for pointing out the way that stories work in other media. Even the girls on Winx Club had character development that went along with their power upgrades and that was a show I watched as a kid.

[Midareyukki]

I'm sorry for pointing out the way that stories work in other media. Even the girls on Winx Club had character development that went along with their power upgrades and that was a show I watched as a kid.

No... I get what you're trying to say, that characters should start at their low point and work up. But these characters do, and not every character will start out weak. We know Zero's a strong individual, but she's "weaker" in other areas. She emphasizes only based on a Darwinian aspect that she has hints of that she disagrees. She is a Memoriate but is ranked rather low with the other demons. She wants to be left alone, unbothered by what happens to the world, but harbors people who are rather weak rather than becoming strong, so it's likely she hasn't realized the lengths of her hypocrisy.

She's not a Mary Sue just because she's capable and has powers. That's just an anime trope xD not everyone has to be a Muggle and work their way up, some people are allowed to have power but misuse it greatly and clash with their world.

I agree with the others. Take care not to sound sexist. The writing is what should be valued, not her gender.

I'm sorry for pointing out the way that stories work in other media. Even the girls on Winx Club had character development that went along with their power upgrades and that was a show I watched as a kid.

I didn't like Winx, I preferred W.I.T.C.H., and even there you had girls with ridiculous powers and potential, yet they had to go through character growth to learn how to harness it and apply it properly.

imo Zero's Elyon; she's mysterious and that's her allure. And she has great power on her hands, but she's too uncaring to realize the burden on her shoulders. That's part of her development. She isn't the perfect woman that will one-shot the Archfiends... that's us! What stands out with her is her ability to make sure they don't come back.

[RukoBoshi]

No... I get what you're trying to say, that characters should start at their low point and work up. But these characters do, and not every character will start out weak. We know Zero's a strong individual, but she's "weaker" in other areas. She emphasizes only based on a Darwinian aspect that she has hints of that she disagrees. She is a Memoriate but is ranked rather low with the other demons. She wants to be left alone, unbothered by what happens to the world, but harbors people who are rather weak rather than becoming strong, so it's likely she hasn't realized the lengths of her hypocrisy.

She's not a Mary Sue just because she's capable and has powers. That's just an anime trope xD not everyone has to be a Muggle and work their way up, some people are allowed to have power but misuse it greatly and clash with their world.

I agree with the others. Take care not to sound sexist. The writing is what should be valued, not her gender.

About Zero, i would also add that her world has been detroyed for 10 000 years and has turned into a giant battleground. She cannot die, and have to live by fighting, so of course such a character would be strong, that doesn't makes her a Mary Sue.
And despite her 10 000 years of experiences over us, she haven't showed any fit of strenght that are more impressive than Estinien or us, she only have an ability we do not.