On Themis [6.4 SPOILER]

[Denishia]

*shrug* Yoshida's comments about the Ancients rang true enough to me.

As a location and collection of NPCs it ranked at its best as equal to Eulmore under Vauntry, with the same skin-crawling revulsion that I Did Not Like This Place. Venat as the most likeable introduced in 6.0 sat at the same fondness as pre-development Chais. Hermes was the most intriguingly written of the lot, and then I later liked Erichtonios because of the story of familial drama and another character that like Hermes shattered the illusion that Hythlodeaus touted. (my favorite minor NPC is Martyn from the Blue Mage quests; I like the pathetic) None of the other Unsundered NPCS really intrigue me except for the thought exercises of imagining current day people who have inherited pieces of their Souls and what they might be like (or the Twelve. But not really. It's a neat tidbit but not the most interesting or appealing reason to care about the Twelve). But story-wise and in more superficial design choices like the Art Deco skyscrapers, one note bland/ugly character/costume design, the only theme song that makes me mute XIV ...maybe not loving the Ancients is a minority but I know I'm not the only one.

I'm used to this position though, since I'm also one of those: Lyse and Papalymo were the Scions that I liked best and didn't care about any besides Alphinaud (and technically Estinien) until ShB gave them focus and development and even now they're not my favorite of XIV's cast. I don't want any to die or leave the cast, unlike the vocal Scion haters, because I want them to stick around and continue to grow and get new story. Excited for more Krile, for instance.

To continue this parallels thread: Elidibus sits at about the same spot as Ran'jit. Not a top-tier opponent but not at the bottom. Elidibus had more upsetting villainy moments but a slightly stronger pity after his defeat, and his fights were more interesting but I'm more curious about Ran'jit's unanswered backstory and seeing him return in a quest-line. Design-wise is...hm, equal. Maybe Ran'jit more because of the mystery. Themis's VA edges out on that comparison.