Religion should play a bigger role in ARR

[Angelas]

Well, I liked Tales of the Abyss. I mean, I'm Catholic/Christian, and it the story REALLY made me realize how people rely on religion so much as to dictate their lives.

I also agree with the woodsin. The Gridania storyline heavily relied on the woodsin in the city-states' story, but outside of that storyline, it meant nothing.

Thats the thing, I am not a very religious person.. adding it as a sidequest or supplemental portion of the story would be great.. adding it as a mainline thing tied to my character.. not really my thing. As a fantasy game I hope they keep it like that, a fantasy.. religion just irritates me.. even in videogames..

[YeaniNah]

Game is game not church ...im not a beleiver and please i respect other if your want a religious game make one. Jesus dont exist in FF14 ...only shiva , ifrit , etc. ..its like when religious complained for diablo game to be too much demonic its diablo game damn.....

[Nix]

Game is game not church ...im not a beleiver and please i respect other if your want a religious game make one. Jesus dont exist in FF14 ...only shiva , ifrit , etc. ..its like when religious complained for diablo game to be too much demonic its diablo game damn.....

They're not asking for a religious game in the sense of christianity/muslim/buddhist etc - what they're asking for is more emphasis on the Twelve etc. (I thought this was pretty obvious)

[Jinrya-Geki]

The gods are boring, we need tonberries.

[Nix]

The gods are boring, we need tonberries.

I miss those XD, I liked Azury's idea of a woodsin counter, something akin to tonberry hate!

Leave offerings to the elementals or pay to have rites performed to expunge it >:3

[Matsume]

Thats the thing, I am not a very religious person.. adding it as a sidequest or supplemental portion of the story would be great.. adding it as a mainline thing tied to my character.. not really my thing. As a fantasy game I hope they keep it like that, a fantasy.. religion just irritates me.. even in videogames..

Game is game not church ...im not a beleiver and please i respect other if your want a religious game make one. Jesus dont exist in FF14 ...only shiva , ifrit , etc. ..its like when religious complained for diablo game to be too much demonic its diablo game damn.....

Carbuncle: This creature was alleged to be seen in Latin America. Legends say the Carbuncle has some sort of jewel on its head.

Quetzalcoatl: a Mesoamerican deity whose name comes from the Nahuatl language and has the meaning of "feathered serpent". Again, related to the Maya.

Ifrit: are supernatural creatures in Arabic and Islamic cultures. They are in a class of infernal Jinn, spirits below the level of angels, noted for their strength and cunning. An ifrit is an enormous winged creature of fire, either male or female, who lives underground and frequents ruins.

Leviathan: is a sea monster referred to in the Bible. In Demonology, the Leviathan is one of the seven princes of Hell and its gatekeeper (see Hellmouth).

Odin: is a major god in Norse mythology and the ruler of Asgard (!sounds like Ishgard!)

Ramuh (rama): is considered to be the seventh avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, and a king of Ayodhya in ancient Indian Puranas.

Shivah: is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power, he lives a life of a sage at Mount Kailash.

Garudah: is a large mythical bird or bird-like creature that appears in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology.

Pheonix: is a mythical sacred firebird that can be found in the mythologies of the Arabian, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Chinese and (according to Sanchuniathon) Phoenicians.

Titan: In Greek mythology, the Titans were a race of powerful deities, descendants of Gaia and Uranus, that ruled during the legendary Golden Age.

Fenrir: n Norse mythology, Fenrir is a monstrous wolf.

Bahamut: is a vast fish that supports the earth in Arabian mythology. In some sources, Bahamut is described as having a head resembling a hippopotamus or elephant

Kujata: A bull generally thought to be resting on the head of Bahamut in Arabian mythology.

Lakshmi: is the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity (both material and spiritual), light, wisdom, fortune, fertility, generosity and courage; and the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm.

The two of you might want to take a second look at the game you've been playing. Final Fantasy games have always incorporated an undeniable amount mythological elements from just about all of the religions of the world and have used them for it's foundation. There is nothing wrong in asking for a greater presence and involvement of the Twelve (gods) and Primals (demi-gods) that are the very foundation of FFXIV. Each player has taken a vow to a specific deity that contributes to the lore and immersion of the game. It's only logical that these deities have some sort of meaningful purpose and importance.

[fusional]

A little religious mysticism could spice up Eorzea. Imagine trees pulling themselves out of the ground to fight imperials. 'Energy' floating through the air to revive mobs after you kill them (like zombie mages). Being pulled into alternative realms by the gods.

Actual woodsin with a counter, where a HNM spawns once a certain level is reached, right near one of the started zones. So that new players might adventure out and see some giant tree-spirit thing roaming around and shaking the screen (anyone remember the first time they came across hnm ram in la theine in ffxi?)

zones that feel mystical? Like Sanctuary of Zi Tah and Hall of the Gods did in ffxi?

1.0 seemed so vanilla and uncreative. I mean final fantasys are -fantasys-. They are all about creativity, wonder, discovery, and amazement. But 1.0 just felt like it was about trade, and war, and pirates. Gridania started off good, until the elementals you fought were just plain normal elementals with a fancy name.

If even two zones can create a long-lasting impression on people, this game will do incredibly well. Put another way, SE has great graphics and amazing music. They -can- create one of the most memorable zones in any game. And doing so would really be worth the effort.

any of this would be fine, and yet none of it has anything to do with religion

[Jacien]

On the subject of religion in game. Here's some lore from Ferney.

In general, how open-minded is the average Eorzean? (ex. Accept same-sex couples? Those who do not believe in the Twelve?)

Answer: Though many of the races experienced rocky pasts, currently, tolerance is, for the most part, the norm in Eorzea. The main reason behind this being that the region is a veritable melting pot of races who have worked together throughout recent history to survive the hardships thrust upon them. This does not mean that there are do not exist groups which are significantly more closed-minded. For example, while Gridania and Limsa Lominsa are fairly open about having dealings with the some of the more amicable beast tribes (such as the sylphs, goblins, and Qiqirn), the sultanate of Ul'dah are wary of the tribes, in part due to their prolonged conflict with the Amalj'aa.

The same can be said regarding religion. Each city-state has a patron (matron) deity, and most people in that city-state will follow the teachings of that god or goddess. There are, for the most part, however, no strict religious codes that must be followed. Some Eorzeans will choose to worship a deity connected to their profession (for example, weavers often follow Nymeia the Spinner). Some follow the deity associated with their nameday. There are even some Eorzeans who choose not to follow the teachings of the Twelve, but they are few and far between...and often will not admit it. The exception to this rule can be seen in Ishgard, where they take the teachings of Halone very seriously...to the point that the church and state have become inseparable. They go as far as calling those who do not follow the Fury 'unbelievers,' and those who are found to have communicated with the dragons of Dravania (the mortal enemies of Ishgard), are branded as heretics and in some cases executed.

[mbncd]

[Pardon me but *snip!*]

Exactly what I thought when I read those two posts. Not only summons but also religion in general has played a major part in many a FF title over the years.

any of this would be fine, and yet none of it has anything to do with religion

It's all based on the religions of Eorzea.

[Matsume]

Good find Jacien!

To that point, I think it would be great if "the teachings of that god or goddess" were elaborated upon. I scant recall much lore pertaining to the twelve comming from the mouths of npcs nor books. Other than those dusty tomes there is very little feel to the Twelve's presence in all of eorzea. I think what the OP is calling for is some sort of manifestation in game of the will of the Twelve, taking the woodsin as an example.

I think an interesting system could work around reputation. For example, each god could have special quests given out by certain npcs at certain times of week/month/year. Completing these quests in the name of one of the gods would raise your reputation or valor in the name of that one god while simultaneously decreasing your reputation with all other gods. As you rise through the ranks in the name of that god more special quests become unlocked that require a greater degree of timing (alignment of the planets etc.). The rank would somehow unlock the ability to purchase dareisay God Specific Armor with stats according to the traits invoked by such deity. (I know it's kind of like the GC system but with the added effect of being disfavored by the 11 other gods).

On top of that, all of the players' reputation on one server are tallied for each god, giving a rank from 1 to 12 for the Twelve. This would show the evolution over time of the populations favor towards one god or another - but there would be consequences. The god least favored would be offended by such disrespect and so manifest it's anger in the calling of a beast such as an HNM or a roaming primal.

Sound fun?

Somewhat unrelated:


Will we ever get to see more of Hydaelyn or forever be confined o Eorzea? My understanding is that Eorzea is but one of many (?) continents on the planet known as Hydaelyn? What if Vanadaeyl was another continent perhaps destroyed in a previous era and laid to ruins over thousands of years? Would give some reason to why we still play the same races...

Or mabe future expansion packs could unlock other unrelated continenets that have som relation to the origins of each race if not the gods?