YoshiP “Torn" Over What to do with the Scions (Interview)

[Carin-Eri]

Bringing one or two of the Scions along would be fine. We know them pretty well, so it gives us a grounding point to learn about other characters (especially since the WoL is functionally mute most of the time). Even having a couple more pop in or out, like Estinien in Dawntrail, is fine, because it makes sense that they gravitate towards whatever new opportunity or problem is happening. It's just what they do. The problem is when they're there but don't really DO anything. Dawntrail didn't really give them much purpose other than filling out Trusts, since the story is so focused on Wuk Lamat instead.

That's one element of DT that amused me: Estinien's presence. Him being in Tural actually felt more natural than the other Scions. Not sure if this was because he didn't have an agenda and just headed that way because (basically) 'why not' but, for me, it worked.
And I almost feel that they should've taken that approach with the Warrior of Light.

[Rabblerabble]

My suggestion on what to do with them.. let them actually retire as it was something Alphinaud even said back at the end of Endwalker.

Make them active in the world, maybe Thancred settles down and becomes a family man, and you can do actual SIDE quests to help that. Do not ramrod this content into the MSQ for any reason whatsoever.

Alphinaud and Alisae start a type of college in Sharlayan, Graha and Ishtola work on shard stuff. They are the only 2 I feel could have legitimate MSQ tie ins in the future.

Urianger starts an open mic Jazz bar or something. Honestly I feel like that would be better than him showing up and awkwardly saying thee and thou stuff and cryptic lines of dialogue. I do like that he has been an astrologian so maybe his jazz club can have some cool constellation artwork or something. You can get the furnishings there by doing quests sort of like beast tribe or collectible quest lines with the story being you bring new talent there and it slowly becomes a more popular location. Again do not make this MSQ related.


Seriously anything is better than killing them and bringing them back to life over and over again.

[Carin-Eri]

You could let some them join us in Tural, probably Alphinaud since he has a particular talent in diplomacy that might be useful in DT plot. Oh...

That WAS one of the issues really, wasn't it.

I mean, even when they could've been relevant they weren't. It might be fair to assume (since it was more or less implied), for example, that it was Alphinaud who suggested the alliance with Radz-at-Han to Koana.

[PercibelTheren]

I want the Scions to stay with us but I'm also fine with some of them taking on more of a supportive role. Or them swapping out depending on what we're doing? Fighting? Thancred, Alisae and Estinien. Nerdy reasearch stuff? Then Shtola, Raha, Urianger. Diplomacy? Alphinaud, etc. Some could also be involved in the side stuff like raids and trial quests. They can still get new story arcs and character development. I also just like them.

If they're going to be cardboard cutouts like in DT, however, I would rather not have them there at all. They seemed to only be tacked on to justify Trusts. You can add new characters to the roster, too. Krile and Erenville were pretty successful additions. So was Estinien.

[Jeeqbit]

He has spoken about this in a number of interviews and the summary is:

1. He tried to give the scions the back seat to see how people would react to new characters being the focus instead.

2. He kept them in the background because some people might be attached to them still.

3. In reality, they can only give significant development to certain main characters, which causes the ones with lesser roles in the story to seem like they weren't used well.

4. Going forward, he's going to just bring along the characters that will actually develop, so some or all of the scions may be left behind in future, if they are not going to get any character development/usage.

I think #4 is the right solution. Also, I would be very happy if the Warrior of Light did just set out on their own adventure.

[Supersnow845]

He has spoken about this in a number of interviews and the summary is:

1. He tried to give the scions the back seat to see how people would react to new characters being the focus instead.

2. He kept them in the background because some people might be attached to them still.

3. In reality, they can only give significant development to certain main characters, which causes the ones with lesser roles in the story to seem like they weren't used well.

4. Going forward, he's going to just bring along the characters that will actually develop, so some or all of the scions may be left behind in future, if they are not going to get any character development/usage.

I think #4 is the right solution. Also, I would be very happy if the Warrior of Light did just set out on their own adventure.

That’s the problem though, he didn’t put them in the back seat, they were still front and centre as the most important characters outside of Wuk…………..they just had the personality and characterisation depth of if they were actually background characters so it ended up pissing of both groups

[Willemdarke]

That’s the problem though, he didn’t put them in the back seat, they were still front and centre as the most important characters outside of Wuk…………..they just had the personality and characterisation depth of if they were actually background characters so it ended up pissing of both groups

That's what happens when the story is written badly. I don't think even Wuk had any character development. Well, beyond "I shouldn't be self-conscious anymore, because I'm literally the best ever".

The only one with proper development was Koana realising progress doesn't mean abandoning tradition and that they can and should coexist.

The other one with kiiind of development was Bakool JaJa, but his was just his personality doing a 180.

[Turethir]

In my opinion, the option of bringing 1-3 of them along per expansion - where they are needed and make sense - is by far the best one. Have them swap out and take turns in the narrative, meaning that when we see them it's nice and fresh! For example, I think Estinien and G'raha would make sense for a Meracydia story, the twins (and possibly Thancred due to his knowledge of the area) for an Ilsabard story, the older Scion trio for Shard Adventures, etc!

I'm relieved that Yoshi-P hasn't mentioned 'retiring' anyone as I think they all have stories to tell and can all be given new material. It just needs to be better than what we got in Dawntrail, which tried to please everyone but pleased no-one.

One thing I'd really like them to do regardless though is keep the Scions that aren't currently in the story in the overworld. It's really nice to just be able to go and see/hang out with them and I think it softens the blow for a lot of people.

[Katish]

“we are going along as emissaries because we want to learn more to help garlemald”

This was actually something I had an issue with in the storytelling, they are effectively ambassadors and left Garlemald to fend for themselves in their time of rebuilding. That is bad, and I mean extremely bad in terms of being an ambassador. And to make it worse, the story has them quote they didn't learn ANYTHING of value, THIS IN THE WRITING. So they really shouldn't have come...and them coming is just fulfilling the Scions must always be present scenario. They only further stole from what little was supposed to be Krile's limelight...every time I saw the verbose use of the twins speaking vs what little Krile did...I was kind of irked. They gave up their responsibility to take a vacation...I am not sure what more to say.

[antiabz]

If Wuk and Zero are representative of the kind of new characters we can expect then I'd rather stick with the old gang.

Though the writers couldn't even write them well since the end of Endwalker, their personalities have been removed.