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

I hate the main scenario quests here. Always have, and probably always will. Almost everytime more main scenario is added I cry on the inside and drag my feet to the quest. HATE doing. HATE IT HATE. HATE. >.< I find most of the dialog to be extremely wordy, so much so that I fall asleep if I ever try to sit through a scene. Although I love almost everything else in this game.

And I hate almost everything in SWTOR, but I love their "main scenario" quests. I've been playing it again, just to level characters. One of the reasons I like it is, of course, because your character has a personalty. You can choose good, neutral or bad. As a imperial player most of the dialog options are witty, to the point, and humorous.

I understand the reason SE makes our characters passive. I just don't like it.

Originally Posted by Velia

Okay. Great. Nice plot device. So when are we going to do that?

3.x.
It was obvious since the Guardian of the Lake cutscene.

Originally Posted by Velia

5 guards plus a non-combatant = endless flow? Club them over the head and get away!

You don't even know how many guards were out of the room, nor if "Smirking Dummy" himfelf didn't come to get you once you're tied. Also, if you are innocent, then why should you run away, hitting guards in the face?... and again, YOU WERE WEAPONLESS AND YOUR POWERS ARE SEALED. Damnit. You're a Hero, not a Super Hero.

Besides, You are also ignoring my whole point about being the best political move to avoid putting the Scions in a delicate position.
The Warrior of Light attacking one of the most influent monetarist leader would be completly stupid.

Originally Posted by Velia

Teledi is openly corrupt and hostile. It's obvious things are as bad as they'll get and once again, Thancred does exactly that by attacking the guards.

Thancred is a former thug/assassin, he knows his sh*t and that things going down. Also, you are not playing Thancred. He can do what he wants.

Originally Posted by Velia

He knew enough to not walk alone into an obvious trap.

- "XXX wants to tell you something important."
- "Oh my! In the middle of the Ul'dah most guarded place, surely a coup d'etat is going on and this is an obvious trap!"

Come on...

Originally Posted by Velia

But Raubahn is the only one who acts by removing Teledji, clearly guilty of treason and regicide from the picture and moving on to handle the other traitors. He would've succeeded with support, instead Senna and Merlwyb flee and the Scions freeze up.

The Warrior of Light and the Scions are not really well known for going in rampage mode to do justice themselves in a city they have nothing to do with.
But yeah, you might be right, killing one of the monetarists leader who is accusing you of doing a coup d'etat is the best way to deal with the accusation and make you look innocent.

Originally Posted by Velia

You're kidding right? The dummy took Raubahn by surprise, because he was his best friend, and even with one arm he matched Ilberd blow for blow.

I think we didn't see the same cutscene. Even if Raubahn was doing a rampage, he got his ass kicked.
I mean, they even managed to get him alive and put him in jail.

Originally Posted by Velia

So? Minfilia can hide while the WoL, Raubahn, and several accomplished mages and fighters go to town. Ilberd would've been easily dispatched 2 v 1 and the rest could've escaped WITH Raubahn and be in a far better position. You are pumping up Ilberd, a man who couldn't defeat a 1 armed man he just betrayed in anything resembling a short time a massive amount to prove your paper thin point.

Yes, killing the whole Ul'dah's guard was clearly the best move the Scions could have done to prove their innocence.

Murdering everyone doesn't solve everything.

Originally Posted by Velia

Pay attention. The guy from the player intro takes you to the Shroud border where Cid picks you up.

https://youtu.be/fkGj8G0ZU-Q?t=3m37s
Sure that looks like a forest to me. Even the "Central Thanalan" shows how deep in the shroud we are.

Originally Posted by Velia

You really think an army from a foreign nation can openly search a sovereign territory? Also, open war with two or potentially 3 other city-states? You think the monetarists are that stupid?

If you taking position by hiding the murderers of the leaders of Ul'dah, then yes, you expose yourself to be treated as enemies of Ul'dah. Since all nation as a lot of stuff to deal with (primals, imperials...) I don't really think they can afford to do that.
So yeah, if Gridana or Limsa would openly hide the suspects, the Monetarists would very likely declare war.

Originally Posted by Velia

She also LOOKS LIKE A DRAGON. During a dragon invasion. Derp.

With wings and stuff? I though she was more humanoid that anything, but okay. What you said.

Originally Posted by AskaRay

Honestly I loved the story.

I really think this is just a JRPG vs WRPG issue people are having. I've played tons of JRPGs, shouted at how stupid my main character can be, groaned when something predictable happened....but then again, I also play a lot of visual novels, which are just glorified electronic books. So the passivity doesn't bother me at all.

Also, still having access to Ul'dah: I remember when Ragnarok Online razed Morroc to the ground and you could no longer access the city and anything in it. It made me soooo so angry. So I'm glad I can still do things in Ul'dah, especially until they can figure out the guilds, sidequest locations, etc.... best to have access to it. Especially in an MMO. Single player, they would've blown the city up.
Otherwise, how would this go:
Newbie: Hi, can you help me?
Veteran: Sure, where are you:
Newbie: Ul'dah
Veteran: Oh, sorry... I can't go there.
Newbie: Why?
Veteran: You'll find out

Hahaha no.

Yeah uhm, no. I've played a ton of japanese games myself. And while protagonists are often stupid, theres also plenty of average, smart, or even genius protagonists.

As far as choices go, most novels have many choices. Some even have over a hundred choices with most of them leading to bad ends, heh. Atleast in the ones with a dumb hero you atleast see that he/she has a personality (however flawed it may be). They dont literally sit there for the whole of 3 seconds just staring at someone dying in front of them.

Sometimes tho, theres really just one choice for a character to make regardless of your choices up untill that point.
Good writers realise that:

Not being able to access Ul'dah would be a good thing. Its not like I want to visit that place any time soon anyway. (unless it is to burn it to the ground)