Our passive characters and why the 2.55 story fails (BIG SPOILERS) (rant warning)

**Lucke** · 04-02-2015 03:59 PM

Why can't we, the characters, tell the NPCs the truth? We were there, we witnessed everything. If the Syndicate is trying to hide stuff from the people, why don't we tell them the truth? Jenlyns thinks she's sick? Why don't we tell him what we saw? I would think the Syndicate wouldn't want any witnesses around telling people what exactly happened.

**LLSmoothJ** · 04-02-2015 05:38 PM

At first I was upset at how the story turned out (mostly because now we'll have to wait about three months for a freaking resolution). But thinking about it now, it makes sense:

Willingly turning yourself in basically helps you out in the long run, because trying to attack the Braves/Blades wouldn't help your case. Sure you get to be a badass unstoppable machine, but for all we know, for ever Brave/Blade that is corrupt, there's another who is probably just doing their job and killing him/her wouldn't do well for your reputation.

Like it or not, despite knowing how corrupt the Syndicate is, they still hold (most if not all) influence due to the Monetarists. Basically Ul'dah makes Gotham City look like Metropolis especially now in terms of corruption. As awesome was for Raubahn to cut the little bastard, it gave the Monetarists ammunition to label him a traitor and imprison him. We're not sure if Raubahn did beat that Hypocrite. For all he knew, he could've suffered from blood loss even if no blood was shown, he did just lose an arm.

Speaking of Ilberd, I actually hope that he didn't lose and is still alive. Just so I can have the honor of putting him to the blade myself (After proving the Scions' innocence of course). Him and that traitorous Wood Wailer turned traitorous ungrateful Crystal Brave. Well, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me..."

As for Kan-E-Senna and Merlwyb, I was ready to lose all respect I have for them for bailing on the Scions, but if you go to Gridania and Limsa Lominsa, you'll notice that the Braves are gone, meaning that their first priority was to remove them from their respective city states before they could try something.

**Osteichthyes** · 04-03-2015 04:21 AM

One point that I would like to mention is that we actually don't know what our reputation is like anymore. Sure we were hunted out, but that was all turncoats and people under bribes. The leaders left without indication as to what their thoughts are not to mention the general populous. Also the Ishgard leaders are VERY suspicious of the entire affair. I think that we actually have a pretty well intact reputation once the blood-money runs out.

**Belhi** · 04-11-2015 03:09 PM

Basically if we put up a fight we would just be making ourselves look more guilty. While we might not know what is up, most people don't. Even we couldn't take on the cities entire armed forces and even if we did its likely the populous would believe the Monetarist's claims as we would have basically seized power over Ul'dah's lawful rulers. We would be facing major civil unrest and the collapse of the ruling institutions. At that point the other city states aiding us would only make us look more guilty.

The only option we had was to prove our innocence and that cant be done by brute force. We need the public at the very least firmly on our side and believing us. Slaughtering Ul'dah's standing police force wouldn't do that.

We can currently move around Ul'dah because there is doubt of our guilt so the majority of the populous simply wont report us unless we make a ruckus. Outside of Ul'dah, the Monetarists strength wains but due to the crimes levelled against us it makes it difficult for other powers to risk supporting us too openly. Garlemald is on the horizon and Eorzea cant afford a full blown conflict between the three city states.

Outside of that though Limsa and Gridania are still on our side. Gridania wont recognise the accusation and the Elder Seedseer has publicly said this. On top of this the Seedseers have been consulting the Elementals in hopes that they can find the missing Scions for us.

People also seem to be forgetting we weren't the only ones defending Ishgard. There were major battles at the Stone and Steel Vigils as well. Those were re enforced by soldiers, many of whom the other scions recruited from the cities. During the quests you can even find the Scions in those cities recruiting.

**Ahru** · 04-02-2015 05:51 PM

There is a gap between " being the immortal super hero of the death who can kill thousands in a blink " and being "the super inactive looser that's just blink and have two facial expressions in all the scenario".
We don't say our character should have kill all the bad guys and saved everyone going in a rampage of 10000 animations 4K full HD 360Noscope, but just make him DO something. Giving a punch, kicking a guard or two. Just a small moment of personal satisfaction you know.

I just don't want to sit and watch my character sitting and watching.

**Vydos** · 04-02-2015 06:26 PM

Our characters passive? You clearly haven't played FFXIV 1.0 if you want to know what passive meant. XD
Our characters used to get either knocked out, just stand there(not even nodding or anything), and have a companion npc do all the talking in our stead. That luckily changed during the 1.2 era.

I think most of the things our character did made sense. Not so much the npc's though...Minus Raubahn that seemed to stay true to his character. You also need to realise that our action moments can't be placed in cutscene format. How would you even achieve this in a mmorpg. Different races, different height, different classes/jobs, gear, weapons. I wouldn't want to be the person trying to create a cutscene with so many factors...

Our "cutscene" action moment are our instanced fights. That's the way you need to look at it.

My only gripes about the storyline.

- Why would my character pick up a random empty bottle and keep it with him? Are we gathering random litter on the floor now?
- Yugiri's face is shown. And nobody, NOBODY asks questions? Not even that Ishgard Elezen. And how did she wander around Ishgard territory without anyone asking question about her unveiled face???
- Cid popping out of nowhere. I felt his appearance to be very misplaced for some reason. Give us a ride and go "Take care!".
- Let's head to Ishgard! Wait...why am I the only one standing at the gates? Alphinaud? Tataru? Yes I know they probably send me to check the grounds first. But still, make it clear in the cutscene.

I get the feeling that S-E was trying a bit too hard to create a dramatic ending and new opening to the next expansion.

**Roboviking** · 04-02-2015 06:27 PM

This is a standard MMO story. You the player are always the one to save the world then watch the NPC talk about their part in the story. Without some system in place like BIOWARE (just an example) games with a dialogue wheel, that's just the way it is. You are meant to be passive because the alternative is to just take your character away from you and everyone do the same thing. There is no system in place in this game for complex plot lines with multiple endings and player choice in the story. What if I feel my character is cowardly? or evil? or clumsy? Would it make sense for them to flawlessly tear through waves of guards?

My point is, they are doing the best they can with the system in place.

**Namasu** · 04-02-2015 06:37 PM

To OP:
For every point that you think is wrong with the 2.55 climax and every what-i-woulda-done you come up with, there will always be someone else that would prefer it another way. The writers can't please everyone within an MMORPG setting.

People also brought up the idea that Midgar wanted your character to be more independent and show your own will instead of being Hydalyn's pet. This is a great point that will get touched upon in Heavensward and if you are too impatient and don't want to consider that possibility then that's too bad.

Beside, if you really don't like the way your character was portrayed, then pretend it didn't happen and follow your own headcanon. It is a roleplaying game after all. If your new "reality" makes sense for your character, then that's awesome and no one can deny you of that, but you also have to respect the writer's work and realize that certain events are set in stone. For example:

- You got captured no matter what. It was a setup so even if you tried to fight it and think you can take down the 5 guards in the cutscene, how are you sure that there isn't another 100 waiting outside to take you down the moment you resist? It was just obvious that you are caught with your pants down. Do they need to explicitly remake the cutscene with the 5 guards charging straight at you and press their blades close to your neck like with Alphinaud?

- You got tossed on the floor like a ragdoll by That Dude. You can argue all you want about why you can't just bust out your primal slaying skill and one man army against the brass blade and crystal brave. The reality of it is, you are caught at a vulnerable moment and was cuffed with your arms taken away. They could have even beat the crap out of you to knock you down a peg before That Dude shove you over so easily.
Heck, you shouldn't consider yourself THAT strong because all your legendary feats were done with the help of 3~7 other Warrior of Light.

Lastly, all I can say is try enjoying the 2.0 -> 3.0 chain of events as a big picture instead of nitpicking at the few blemishes here and there.

**Darkshaunz** · 04-02-2015 06:41 PM

My character's main class is a Bard, so it is perhaps "feasible" that she was apprehended because she didn't have her primary weapon handy during the apprehension.

Then there are those of you here in this thread who have main classes like MNK, NIN, WAR, DRG, and magic users. You telling me that your Ninja couldn't have dismembered those four goons? And how about the Warriors? You guys would have made them stain their pants brown just with a good warcry.

Don't even get me started on people that were decked out in full Dreadwyrm gear, that had to suffer the indignity of watching their character tossed to the ground like garbage. You walked out from hell and back, and THIS is the payoff your character gets?

If people here had the choice, I can say with great confidence that most of you would have chosen to stay and fight. Now, you are treated with suspicion and are quite literally, an enemy of the state.

**Nestama** · 04-03-2015 02:20 PM

Originally Posted by Darkshaunz

Then there are those of you here in this thread who have main classes like MNK, NIN, WAR, DRG, and magic users. You telling me that your Ninja couldn't have dismembered those four goons? And how about the Warriors? You guys would have made them stain their pants brown just with a good warcry.

A Black Mage could cast Sleep and make their escape (PLD's Flash to blind, WHM Holy to stun, SMN/SCH Miasma II to disease/heavy, NIN could "teleport ninjutsu" and then hide ability, etc). I'm also really curious as to why our characters couldn't Teleport or cast Return after Papalymo closes the gate. That should "remove us from combat" and allow us to warp.

Thread: Our passive characters and why the 2.55 story fails (BIG SPOILERS) (rant warning)

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