Achievement "The Letter Z" and it's pronunciation.

[Canadane]

Hello!
Since acquiring some Zeta weapons among our arsenal, my American friends and I, understandably, disagree on the pronunciation of the title you get when you unlock the achievement "The Letter Z" (which is also under dispute).
Some have posed the idea that as it's a Japanese game, it's under the Japanese pronunciation. Which didn't make a lot of sense since they use both ぜっど and ジー from my understanding. Many things for this game, including lore, originate from our English speaking staff and translate into Japanese. So there's the question of which letter is in use here. This discussion among my friends has also ended with many learning that there is more than one name for the letter Z.

To cut to the chase, is the title 'Z' pronounced "Zed", "Zee" or is it ζ, "Zeta"? What of the 'Z' in the achievement name? And is this an Eorzean pronunciation or just the whims of the writer in charge at the time?

[Riepah]

I'll pronounce it Zed and nothing anyone says will make me change my ways.

[Velox]

http://youtu.be/XHX3I7BBpsM

[Anonymoose]

Magis and I tried to figure this out last week, concluding that Zeta is a reference to the Greek number seven (this is the seventh and probably final enhancement for this weapon), and, at the same time, a reference to how we use Z as the final letter of the English alphabet.

1. Base to Zenith
2. Zenith to Atma
3. Atma to Animus
4. Animus to Novus
5. Novus to Nexus
6. Nexus to Zodiac
7. Zodiac to Zeta

In Japanese, the title was actually spelled out "the Zeta." That's how I choose to pronounce the Z, personally.

In case you're wondering, it doesn't seem that either French or German went with this. German got "Sternenschmied" (Starsmith) and French got "L'Éveilleur" (The Awakener). I can't say for sure if the French is a play on Louisoix's name, which many people assumed was "Le Veilleur" (The Watcher) based on his Sharlayan origin, pursuit of knowledge, and "proper place" that he forsook. But I digress.

I say Zeta.

Also, as much as I do like Z, I'm surprised (and maybe a tad disappointed) that we didn't just settle their dispute by getting to claim Starforger as a useable title. Seven hells, I say we three share the damn title and celebrate with a bottle of Sunshine (even if I am the only one who even left the Hamlet). Perhaps the LOC team felt that it would have been silly to have both Starforger and Starcaller as relic-related titles. Z has more versatility as a title in the long-term, if you look at it that way.

I would have used Starforger on occasion, though. Star > Sun > Dawn > Light. It fits.

[treuhavik]

EDITED: Wise choice, Moose... I'll surrender the hostage quote. lol


For me, I pronounce it "Zeta" because the achievement is pulling from the weapon, not the other way 'round.

[Anonymoose]

Did you mean seventh Greek numeral or sixth letter?

You caught me mid-update I typed it wrong the first time speeding through the post, lol.

Hooray for liberated hostage QFT and the age of Wikipedia.

[treuhavik]

Hooray for liberated hostage QFT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_lFbdP8xMU

[Eii]

German got "Sternenschmied" (Starsmith)
[...]
Also, as much as I do like Z, I'm surprised (and maybe a tad disappointed) that we didn't just settle their dispute by getting to claim Starforger as a useable title. Seven hells, I say we three share the damn title and celebrate with a bottle of Sunshine (even if I am the only one who even left the Hamlet). Perhaps the LOC team felt that it would have been silly to have both Starforger and Starcaller as relic-related titles. Z has more versatility as a title in the long-term, if you look at it that way.

as a german player, i just want to let you know something abt that:


yes, we in fact got "Sternenschmied" as our title. also, that was the name of the title, they both were fighting over in that very quest. and makes sense, "Starforger" would be translated into german as "Sternenschmied" as well. So, if you're a german player on the german client, you end the disput of those two by just claiming the title for yourself.



also, starcaller, the other title you mentioned, is translated as "Sternenrufer" into german, so, yes, we do have two relic based titles with star ("Stern" in german) in it. so either the german translation is kinda messed up or your theory of why they called it otherwise is not correct.

whatever it is, i'll kinda prefer the title to be "Z" because, dunno

[Kaiser-Ace]

I think they named it "Z" as in the Letter simply to cause a bunch of people to ague about it. <Looks at previous posts> Looks like it fulfilled that purpose. lol

[Canadane]

yes, we in fact got "Sternenschmied" as our title. also, that was the name of the title, they both were fighting over in that very quest. and makes sense, "Starforger" would be translated into german as "Sternenschmied" as well. So, if you're a german player on the german client, you end the disput of those two by just claiming the title for yourself.

I think you guys ended up with the best result, imo.
Now I'm also interested in why English got Z, as well as how to say it!
The thory that it's the ending of the quest or the 7th rendition is nice. Would love to know for sure.