Why cant we play Garlean empire?

[Felis]

I don't want to spoil White Mage quest line here so read at your own risk.
[Sorry if the hidden text isn't hidden. Never used that code before. =^_^=]

In the WHM quest line in ARR, it is revealed that the Elementals are the trees themselves. When they feel threatened, they summon creatures to defend themselves. It is the job of a Pajal to slay these creatures and soothe the tree. Otherwise the trees just call forth more and more creatures that actually start attacking the tree itself.

[Spoiler End]

So it is kind of easy to see how the Garleans could force their way into the Shroud and also how people could live without catering to their every whim. Centuries of tradition is hard to break though.

In the 1.0 storyline the elementals live in everything. In trees and woods, in rocks and stones, in water and also in leather.
In the conjurer quest in 1.0 you go to a rock to learn how to speak to the elementals.

[PiedPiper]

For students of philosophy, you'll notice that the Empire, particularly the explanations in Praet, are very Nietzschean.

They seek to pernamently wrest control of the land from the hands of whimsical "gods"--gods which we have been shown are little more than primals for the player races. Ultimately they advocate control over their own destiny through strength of group and country.

If anything their struggle against the elementals makes me like them more. They are fundamentally no stronger than us, yet they refuse to bow before powers which we treat as unquestionable. They don't need the blessing of unseen gods to validate their lives, they don't recognize the authority of those gods--once god is dead, his frightful shadow will be yet present in caves throughout the world.

In terms of a philosophical basis, I think they're the good guys. We only fight them cus we happend to be in Eorzea. What does Eorzea really believe in? Freedom, self determination, equality, respect of soverignty? Pah. Just ask the kobolds how much eorzean peoples respect soverignty. Ask the refugees how much equality is valued.

Era after era, catastrophic devastation has been brought to the lands at the hands of the gods and primals for one reason or another. The Empire simply seeks to end it pernamently. What's Eorzea's plan to solve the problem? Keep sending bands of hapless soldiers and adventurers to get slaughtered by endlessly re-summoned primals (as we learn is SPOILER the motivation of the 'bad guy' in smn quest). How many low ranking GC troops have been slaughtered by ifrit number 900? Not to mention the whole, quiet execution of those who have been branded thing. The Empire, at least, is willing to fight for an ultimate resolution. So they gain resources by conquering other groups--do not the high houses of Ul'dah or the priate bands of Limsa do the same on a smaller and less successful scale?

[Renvalt]

Thing with Ul'Dah, it's kinda like how America is atm - you have the 1% who doesn't give a damn about everyone else, and there's a few in the wealthy who actually DO care, but are unable to really do shit about it.

Nanamo has her hands tied with the Syndicate (a faction that has the bidding of the Brass Blades and Alacran at their whim) telling her to just sit still and be a useless little bitch. Raubahn's only one voice on the Syndicate, and they're not likely to listen to him - especially since he's far more loyal to the Sultana than to them (did I forget to mention he's formerly Ala Mhigan?).

At this point, Ul'Dah would have to go into civil war to resolve an issue like that - which sends the Amal'jaa a plain signal that "Hey, Ul'Dah's in deep shit, let's go cause havoc".

In the case of Limsa and the Kobolds, both sides knew neither would hold their end of the bargain for long - the whole treaty was no better than a cease fire at best.

Gridania and the Sylphs are getting along only because Frixio and co. haven't been tempered yet - and we haven't been stupid enough to pierce deep into their homeland. Ramuh's unlike Ifrit and Garuda, in that he's not gonna stick a fork in us if we leave him and his Sylph friends alone.

In the case of Garlemald, Gaius knew he had to work with what he had available, given that Emperor Solus was on his deathbed (though one wonders why Gaius didn't rush to his side, since the Emperor gave up Eorzea after the whole Carteneau mess).

[shinros]

Oh yeah when I first found out tempered people are executed I was like what? daam. Oh on limsa breaking the peace treaty with the kobolds I was really angry, Y'sholta was right in that situation and what was worse I picked them as my GC. I simply said this is the reason why they can't solve the primal situation they all of talk of peace equality and all that jack and fail to live up to it.

Personally I felt sorry for raubahn he is trying very hard but the people are not changing and the very guards are corrupt too.

Now I am not saying the garleans are cool/good too just saying everyone here is grey.

[Niota]

It wouldn't be a good world if it wasn't grey but the events in the current Era seem to be mirroring that of the 3rd Era. Which I still don't want to spoil anything so....read at your own risk.

During the 3rd Umbral/Astral Eras (can't remember exactly which), there was an empire similar to the Garlean Empire called the Allag. They had taken over even more of the world then the Garleans and not only had mastery of Magiteck but of also magic in general as this was about the time that the schools of Black and White magics where formed. So even if they are doing a "better job" now of asserting control, it may just culminate in an arms race that sends the world back into an Umbral Era. Minfillia even states that people, beast tribe or no, turn to "gods" and "higher powers" when they are desperate and the Garlean Conquest simply fuels these feelings of uneasy and desperation.

It is also made quite clear that we, as adventurers, do not originate from Eorzea. This could mean you are already playing a "Garlean Empiral". One who's homeland was concurred. It could be that there are also very few pure-blooded Garleans in the army let alone the Empire. They do originate from an island-nation.

[Bufkus]

I definitely support the Garlean Empire. I don't care if they're evil or if players want to just accept such a black and white story because it's Final Fantasy. Think outside the box. The Garleans have actual technology and things like science and education. The Eorzeans are primitive hunter gatherers and they should be conquered.

I personally role play my character as a Garlean spy. Getting rid of Gaius only because he went crazy. Can't wait until a time when I can take out Alphinaud and convince Alisaie to join the empire.

[shinros]

I definitely support the Garlean Empire. I don't care if they're evil or if players want to just accept such a black and white story because it's Final Fantasy. Think outside the box. The Garleans have actual technology and things like science and education. The Eorzeans are primitive hunter gatherers and they should be conquered.

I personally role play my character as a Garlean spy. Getting rid of Gaius only because he went crazy. Can't wait until a time when I can take out Alphinaud and convince Alisaie to join the empire.

Lol eorzea does not even have clocks. When you find one the people at the church don't know what it is. Its just something I found kinda funny my bro said they must use sun dials. XD

[jomoru]

Lol eorzea does not even have clocks. When you find one the people at the church don't know what it is. Its just something I found kinda funny my bro said they must use sun dials. XD

It also has sapient magical devices. Science, Technology, Culture are not some sort of Tech tree out of Civilization. People discover what they discover and it propegates as is useful. Eorzea has run into magitech we can see it being adapted they just don't have decades of Soviet style forced mechanization like the Empire had.

[KoujiGeki]

Ive wanted to join the Empire since Nael Van Darnus first stood before me and almost made it seem like he was asking me to join him i was throwing my money at the screen but nothing was working. And whn i got to the End of the main scenario Guias ask do i believe in Eorzia it actually gave us the option to say no which i totaly said no i dont. i HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTEEEE it. Serious aside from Cid Biggs and Wedge, and Tartaru everyone else can burn and i wouldnt bat an eye. I WANT to join the empire i want to achieve power. I want to walk the path of Nael Van Darnus, I want to become a Legatus. Command respect! i want to serve the Emperor!

[Ferrick]

ah right, we should all just forget about the fact that the garleans are the ones who summoned dalamud which in turn released the elder primal, bahamut, who destroyed Eor'zea with his flames of destruction. So yeah sure, let's support them, i'm sure that it will be a brighter future for the realm. And when we do, and let us all get on our knees, put on some lube as bahamut screws us over for the second time