Wow, Wuk Lamat is really single-handedly ruining the DT story...

[OdinelStarrei]

I would say, just like the game does about Wuk Lamat, but funny thing is, in Stormblood Zenos asked if we wanted to be friends, and we could choose to accept or not. We got more agency there.

I always think about this. I started as a Zenos hater, "Who is this guy who just wiped Rhalgr's and walks away like an edgelord, WTF?" and ended the story as a Zenos enjoyer. At the end of SB, this guy is just in it for the thrill. Politics, don't care. Morals, don't care. Long term plans, don't care. Garlemald, don't care. Eorzea, don't care. Just fights. And you know what? I respect it. I respect that Zenos commits to the bit, and is absolutely unrepentant about it. Then he comes back and I'm like, "Okay, are you going to change now that you've escaped death? " NOPE. Consistent even after death.

What is Zenos doing? Either finding out a way to fight us, or preparing the stage for us TO fight later. I was absolutely on board with this idiot. Zenos is a GAMEPLAY FIRST ENJOYER, just like me. And I was given the option to say, "You know what? Yeah, we're sorta kindred spirits. I only feel alive when the chips are down and the stakes are high and the fire's hot, I understand what you're talking about." And then FOUR YEARS LATER, say "Hey, yeah, we have to fight, but in truth, I've been waiting to kick your ass. Not for the world, but FOR ME! RAAAAAA"

I can't bring myself to hate the dude.

[Barachim]

On another note, if people still believe we were mentors to Wuk Lamat, they obviously never played the Red Mage quests or did but skipped the cutscenes. X'hrun tia is actually an embodiment of a mentor, not us.

Man, there really needed to be a point in the game where we spar with Wuk Lamat and then give her pointers on where to improve. Or tell outright that she can't just overpower Bakool Ja Ja with her current skill level, so she has to fight smart.

But no, all we just do is watch, while she gets random Zenkai boosts.

[BigBoom550]

I always think about this. I started as a Zenos hater, "Who is this guy who just wiped Rhalgr's and walks away like an edgelord, WTF?" and ended the story as a Zenos enjoyer. At the end of SB, this guy is just in it for the thrill. Politics, don't care. Morals, don't care. Long term plans, don't care. Garlemald, don't care. Eorzea, don't care. Just fights. And you know what? I respect it. I respect that Zenos commits to the bit, and is absolutely unrepentant about it. Then he comes back and I'm like, "Okay, are you going to change now that you've escaped death? " NOPE. Consistent even after death.

What is Zenos doing? Either finding out a way to fight us, or preparing the stage for us TO fight later. I was absolutely on board with this idiot. Zenos is a GAMEPLAY FIRST ENJOYER, just like me. And I was given the option to say, "You know what? Yeah, we're sorta kindred spirits. I only feel alive when the chips are down and the stakes are high and the fire's hot, I understand what you're talking about." And then FOUR YEARS LATER, say "Hey, yeah, we have to fight, but in truth, I've been waiting to kick your ass. Not for the world, but FOR ME! RAAAAAA"

I can't bring myself to hate the dude.

Zenos worked for me because like you said, he was unrepentant about his goals. His goal never changed, even if his means did, and there was an odd subtlety to that. That by meeting you, Zenos became a little more human.

There wasn't any dancing around it or 'my father made me this way!'. Zenos was Zenos, and that just... worked.

More than that, we got breaks from him. Other stories, other characters, other events got their time without him. He was used sparingly, like a spice. Enough to flavor, not enough to overpower. Gingerbread, honey, garlic.

Wuk Lamat's like eating a bowl of sugar. People say they like sugar, but feed them a bowl and most people won't be happy. There's too much of her, too much sugar, and she drowns out the other elements in the narrative.

[chizLemons]

Man, there really needed to be a point in the game where we spar with Wuk Lamat and then give her pointers on where to improve. Or tell outright that she can't just overpower Bakool Ja Ja with her current skill level, so she has to fight smart.

But no, all we just do is watch, while she gets random Zenkai boosts.

That would actually be a very cool scene + solo duty opportunity. Have US stop her from doing something stupid by actually fighting her. Maybe even have her get upset with us and even get away from us for a while while she reflects on it by herself.

[Regis_Paran]

That would actually be a very cool scene + solo duty opportunity. Have US stop her from doing something stupid by actually fighting her. Maybe even have her get upset with us and even get away from us for a while while she reflects on it by herself.

Nah, they'll never allow us to be so unkind to Wookie dearest. At best we'd be allowed to have a "fade to black" scene (like with Lyse), only after Wuk would stand triumphant while WoL would be on one knee, visibly catching their breath.

So be careful what you wish for...

[PaleYonder]

So you're saying... some kind of 'Suicide Squad'?

Ha, yeah! Except the WOL is a conscientious team leader and takes care of their people. (I want that role back.)
They want shonen and peace and power of friendship? Let's go serious and recruit our old opponents, no matter how dead or not, it's not like that's bothered anyone in the past either.

Honestly I'll take anything, even the most contrived nonsense, to break the current narrative standstill, get things moving in a different direction again, have some agency, and surround us with people that aren't Wuk Lamat. Zenos, Asahi and Livia dream team? Sign me up.

[Mnemy]

That would actually be a very cool scene + solo duty opportunity. Have US stop her from doing something stupid by actually fighting her. Maybe even have her get upset with us and even get away from us for a while while she reflects on it by herself.

Man I remembered when Venat was testing us in Elpis, she felt someone like a mentor then. It would've been amazing if we have a moment with WL like that, Where we're the Venat of the situation and shes the one we are testing if She can keep up with us. Maybe they can do it in a way that we are Wuk Lamat and we are fighting our WoL. Tho I dont know how to do in a way where the fight is dependent on what class the WoL is using. It wouldve been cool as fuck tho.

[TaleraRistain]

I just saw someone call Wuk Lamat the Zidane character in the expansion. I think that may be what they were trying to do this expansion with the foil to Sphene. She has a tail, she's adopted, and her brother is a villain. But I think they failed in the comparison because they forget that while Zidane showed a cheerful side, the group didn't always agree with him. They called him out on things. They made him think about what he was doing. They made him a better person. And when he broke down at the end of the game over the weight of being created as nothing but a weapon, they were there to support him because they had built bonds over the journey. It's a shame we didn't get that story.

[Raven2014]

More than that, we got breaks from him. Other stories, other characters, other events got their time without him. He was used sparingly, like a spice. Enough to flavor, not enough to overpower. Gingerbread, honey, garlic.

I hope this is something they also teach in Writing school and not just culinary school.

[Verathel]

Fifth Zone....Why is this writing all over the place? Personally liking the later zones sofar than the beginning ones by a considerable margin and overall the writing has improved but it is so jarring. You have a character say something good or smart and then the next line is utter bull s- or something completely stupid.

Wuk Lamat actually says something good for once then completely ruins it a few minutes later.