What Zero Could've Been

[Sweetness]

Nothing that I have said is sexist, no matter how much you are eager to throw around the term. We didn't need another "wow she's so strong and cool" sort of party member, both FFXIV and modern media in general is oversaturated with this sort of thing and it's exhausting.

So you’re mad about this strong woman trope. I can guarantee you’d be on here complaining about if the new character was a damsel in distress trope. It’s all subjective and everything has been done before.
Not to mention we JUST got introduced to her.

[aveyond-dreams]

So you’re mad about this strong woman trope. I can guarantee you’d be on here complaining about if the new character was a damsel in distress trope. It’s all subjective and everything has been done before

If it's done badly? Of course. They need to figure out what it is that makes heroines like Garnet, Yuna, Aerith, etc compelling and likeable. As if I haven't already explained just why and how those characters worked several times over. Zero's role could've easily been taken over by a male in the cast, she may as well be a male Viera given her facial appearance, but I suppose for now I'll have to deal with Vrtra's whining about his sister instead.

[Zanarkand-Ronso]

They need to figure out what it is that makes heroines like Garnet, Yuna, Aerith, etc compelling and likeable.

No they don't.
This isn't FFVII, FFIX or FFX. Those are 3 completely different games, with different settings and different storylines.
FFXIV is not any of those games, it has a much different setting and characters; Stronger characters that dont need saving and arnt just cute flowers in dresses, its Female character arnt cute things that you need to protect. Frankly, FFXIV is better for it.

[Hurlstone]

No they don't.
This isn't FFVII, FFIX or FFX. Those are 3 completely different games, with different settings and different storylines.
FFXIV is not any of those games, it has a much different setting and characters; Stronger characters that dont need saving and arnt just cute flowers in dresses, its Female character arnt cute things that you need to protect. Frankly, FFXIV is better for it.

I very much agree agree. It feels silly to compared any FF game to another, as despite some base similarities they all hold different themes and stories. Not to mention that they are single, mostly one-off stories whilst FFXIV has an ongoing, evolving narrative that has the opportunity to constantly add new layers to these characters. The Scions of ARR are very different to the ones in Shadowbringers, and all the better for it I say.

As Aerith is my favourite FF character of all time though, I feel I should say that female characters can still be strong even if they are ‘cute flowers in a dress’. Aerith may not be on the front lines hitting perverts over the head with a chair 24/7 (Although when she is, she is amazing doing it) but she is a really well written, charming character. In the Remake especially, I feel they gave her a lot more agency on top of that (Its also nice how her and Tifa actually bond, rather then get reduced to jealous rivals). However a lot of RPGS are indeed very guilty of having women be the ‘protected’ support class that is only there as part of the main male characters development, and FF is no exception to that.

[Yencat]

As Aerith is my favourite FF character of all time though, I feel I should say that female characters can still be strong even if they are ‘cute flowers in a dress’. Aerith may not be on the front lines hitting perverts over the head with a chair 24/7 (Although when she is, she is amazing doing it) but she is a really well written, charming character. In the Remake especially, I feel they gave her a lot more agency on top of that (Its also nice how her and Tifa actually bond, rather then get reduced to jealous rivals).

Well put and I completely agree.

Women and men shouldn't be confined to a "default" state where if you're anything other than the caricature of a traditional gender role it's some sort of statement or a transgression, it's just being a well-rounded human being and behaving in a way that comes naturally to each individual, whether that fits within traditional gender roles or not.

[IkaraGreydancer]

If it's done badly? Of course. They need to figure out what it is that makes heroines like Garnet, Yuna, Aerith, etc compelling and likeable. As if I haven't already explained just why and how those characters worked several times over. Zero's role could've easily been taken over by a male in the cast, she may as well be a male Viera given her facial appearance, but I suppose for now I'll have to deal with Vrtra's whining about his sister instead.

Every role in this game could be filled by the opposite sex so why is that even a point? Hell we are walking proof of this. Also "she may as well be a man with how she looks"...you really don't see the issue here? Stuff like that is why folks label you the way they do dude.
Garnet, Yuna, Aerith and Zero are liked by many of the same people including myself despite all of em being vastly different.

Also if Vrtra's concern for his sister is considered "whining" that tells me you have no desire to see things any deeper than the surface. And that fact (yes I'm calling it a fact) is present throughout many of your takes.

I'm just gonna say it. No strong man has an issue with strong women. In fact it SHOULD be encouraged imo.