What Forge Ahead Actually Means

[Kazemon15]

EW haters seem to really not remember to see the entire story as a whole or something.

3.0-4.0 we lost so many people, we technically never had a "win" without a loss until after Shadowbringers. Those character deaths are often still brought up, but since time has passed, the Scions learned to "forge ahead" in their memory, hence the meaning. The Ultima Thule segment was never meant to be the "forge ahead" message alone, it was the story as a whole, including Ultima Thule where you know your allies are still there but can't actively help you at that time, akin to people in your circle in real life unable to come help you when you are dealing with things yourselves.

But oh wait, bringing up those past characters who died is "annoying" in most of EW haters eyes, so they actively ignore it yet whine and complain about one little aspect of a story meant to be viewed as a whole. I guess their brains are so small, they can only remember one expansion story at a time and why they want shorter stories and character switch each expansion.

[DiaDeem]

FF IX is by far my favorite entry in the franchise and Garnet my favorite character of really any video game so far. The fake out deaths were borderline ridiculous in this expansion, I almost thought Thancred might have actually eaten it, but once Estinien did his monologue and died I knew it was all for show, no way were they going to kill of two of the main cast let alone all of them. It really just made Ultima Thule a hollow experience.

I mean... Shtola prefaces the whole thing with "btw you can just bring us back later". You didn't actually take the bait right after that, did you?

That said, I do hope we get no more fake out deaths like.. at all. Ever since Nanamo it's been a thing, and I think as a plot device has been used more than it ever needed to.

[Kazemon15]

I mean... Shtola prefaces the whole thing with "btw you can just bring us back later". You didn't actually take the bait right after that, did you?

Even after, Meteion confirms something along the lines of "You better hurry and reach me before your friend's protection fades away" which alluded to they weren't dead, but bringing them back to be alongside you would mean you would be at the mercy of Meteion's power again... I do not know why EW haters just gloss over this when it was explained right in front of their face.

[SassyAssassin]

The Lord of the Rings is terrible. Do you remember how Dumbledore comes back after the Balrog killed him? How dare they not actually kill him, terrible story no stakes.

My favourite part was when Peter Pan told Daenerys to cook an omelette for the ring Wraiths but Groot refused to turn into kindling.

[SieyaM]

I mean... Shtola prefaces the whole thing with "btw you can just bring us back later". You didn't actually take the bait right after that, did you?

That said, I do hope we get no more fake out deaths like.. at all. Ever since Nanamo it's been a thing, and I think as a plot device has been used more than it ever needed to.

That begs the question why bother with the over long monologues anyway, just say hey see you in a bit and do whatever.

[DiaDeem]

Even after, Meteion confirms something along the lines of "You better hurry and reach me before your friend's protection fades away" which alluded to they weren't dead, but bringing them back to be alongside you would mean you would be at the mercy of Meteion's power again... I do not know why EW haters just gloss over this when it was explained right in front of their face.

Like... Nanamo's was a fake out death. Gaius's was a fake out death. The Scions in EW felt more like "We'll make a bridge until you can bring us back" and never felt like they were actually gone. Like.. I was more wondering how they would justify it, because they wouldn't give us Azem's Crystal just to not use it. Enter Emet/Hyth, so yeah.

I think it was fine. I respect if some people didn't care for that story beat in particular.

[Renalt]

Well, since we're talking about the Scions again...

I'll admit that there's a weird impassivity I feel whenever the Scions appear on-screen in post-EW.

I started feeling it during EW (earlier with Thancred, who I feel concluded his most compelling arc in ShB), but it's definitely apparent now.

Estinien is my bro, though, so I was genuinely excited to start adventuring with him again.

They should really have ended ilat the end of EW. So many already cool NPCs or make new ones to go on a "new adventure" with.

I guess the Scions is what SQEX sees as the face of 14 though. Perhaps we're the minority. I wish they would open an official poll on whether or not people actually still want to pal around with the scions constantly.

[DiaDeem]

That begs the question why bother with the over long monologues anyway, just say hey see you in a bit and do whatever.

I don't know about you, but whenever I'm doing something important with someone I care for, I sometimes like to say a few words that just feel right to pump everyone up, and nobody is going to die lol. They're also about to lose consciousness entirely. Ever been to a surgery, even if it's just routine? Some people like to say a few things before going in, even though there should be no fear of death. Granted, other people just say "See you in a bit" but it just depends on the person really.

I don't know. It came across as very human and rather natural to me.

[DiaDeem]

My favourite part was when Peter Pan told Daenerys to cook an omelette for the ring Wraiths but Groot refused to turn into kindling.

I like when Bruce Wayne is at the top of Mount Doom and says "You may fire when ready"

Very powerful stuff.

[Kazemon15]

Like... Nanamo's was a fake out death. Gaius's was a fake out death. The Scions in EW felt more like "We'll make a bridge until you can bring us back" and never felt like they were actually gone. Like.. I was more wondering how they would justify it, because they wouldn't give us Azem's Crystal just to not use it. Enter Emet/Hyth, so yeah.

I think it was fine. I respect if some people didn't care for that story beat in particular.

Yep, I agree. I get some people may not like it, but to whine and complain like it's the worst thing they have ever seen in any story ever is being overly dramatic. Heck Sailor Moon did it at the end of season 1 and the reasoning for them coming back made literally no sense at all...

I don't know about you, but whenever I'm doing something important with someone I care for, I sometimes like to say a few words that just feel right to pump everyone up, and nobody is going to die lol. They're also about to lose consciousness entirely. Ever been to a surgery, even if it's just routine? Some people like to say a few things before going in, even
though there should be no fear of death. Granted, other people just say "See you in a bit" but it just depends on the person really.

I don't know. It came across as very human and rather natural to me.

^ This.