Letter from the Producer LIVE Part XXVII Lore Discussion

[Kosmos992k]

So basically, the gears are moving, and we're the only chumps who don't know?

This brings something to mind that I have been mulling over for a long while. Why in the name of the Twelve and all they hold dear is the Warrior of Light the last damn person to know what is going on? After the climax of the 2.55 scenario, my WoL was quite incandescent with rage and frustration. Now, being the Warrior of Light, Kosmos channel that into good intent and direction. However, I do think that it's about time that the WoL start asserting themself. If we are so special and unique and powerful, then it's time for people to start treating us that way and telling us what is going on.

I'm not suggesting we go around kicking asses and taking names in order to to force the information out of folks. But, it would be nice to see a scene (or two, or three, or many...) where the frustration players must feel as the WoL is played out by the WoL. So far all our WoL does is nod mutely, shrug their shoulders or nod enthusiastically at every suggestion we put our lives in peril. I think it's time that the WoL started to take a stronger hand in matters. Sadly they are not voiced characters, and that might be difficult to do since we all have our own idea about how we sound. But the lack of voicing should not doom us to little more than mute nodding or shrugging of the shoulders.

I'd love for this to be the case. Especially since it's not too much of a stretch to have multiple clans/tribes per race since they all adapt to their environment.

Duskwights and Dunesfolk being the "newest" clan since they can be traced: Duskwights residing solely underground post Gridania; Dunesolk adjusting to the desert once Lalafells (Plainsfolk) settled there.

Hmmm...wonders about a chance for Miqo'te with Bobtails (less memory budget) allowing some other further customization of the character elsewhere....

[Theodric]

The WoL is problematic as as a vehicle for storytelling as it's the sort of thing better suited to a single player game. In an MMO where the WoL is everybody's character then it's hard to have the WoL do much at all or deviate/react in a way that isn't completely on rails. It's why I think we need to band together and push for the 'WoL' plot point to be wrapped up and cast aside in favour of a greater emphasis upon the 'strong and seasoned adventurer' angle instead.

[Kosmos992k]

The WoL is problematic as as a vehicle for storytelling as it's the sort of thing better suited to a single player game. In an MMO where the WoL is everybody's character then it's hard to have the WoL do much at all or deviate/react in a way that isn't completely on rails. It's why I think we need to band together and push for the 'WoL' plot point to be wrapped up and cast aside in favour of a greater emphasis upon the 'strong and seasoned adventurer' angle instead.

I don't see that happening in FFXIV, the Warrior of Light is as fundamental to the lore of Eorzea as the mother crystal herself is. If this wasn't a FF game, then perhaps I could see that happening. But in a FF game, casting aside the Warrior of Light in favor of a seasoned adventurer would just cheapen our characters - IMHO.

[AskaRay]

The WoL is problematic as as a vehicle for storytelling as it's the sort of thing better suited to a single player game. In an MMO where the WoL is everybody's character then it's hard to have the WoL do much at all or deviate/react in a way that isn't completely on rails. It's why I think we need to band together and push for the 'WoL' plot point to be wrapped up and cast aside in favour of a greater emphasis upon the 'strong and seasoned adventurer' angle instead.

Well for all intents and purposes the MSQ IS a single player game.

[MilesSaintboroguh]

The WoL is problematic as as a vehicle for storytelling as it's the sort of thing better suited to a single player game. In an MMO where the WoL is everybody's character then it's hard to have the WoL do much at all or deviate/react in a way that isn't completely on rails. It's why I think we need to band together and push for the 'WoL' plot point to be wrapped up and cast aside in favour of a greater emphasis upon the 'strong and seasoned adventurer' angle instead.

As others have said, the WOL is a special snowflake and is cast as such so that they can do things on a grander scale. Branding them as a generic adventurer (which is what they kinda are at the start of 2.0) wouldn't make the story any better due to the fact that we'd be an even bigger blank slate without anything to go on since the WOL story is "finished". The Main Story is basically a single player game anyway with some multiplayer sprinkled in.

[Fevelle]

Here Yoshi-P mentions the Shiva achievement “Let it Go” and I mention the Lv. 50 Dragoon achievement “Dragoon Age” and am about to mention the Lv. 50 bard achievement when Yoshi-P tells me to stop, as we’ll probably get sued.

Can you confirm that the lv. 30 Archer class quest The One That Got Away is homage to the 2011 song from Katy Perry?

[CyrilLucifer]

Not in direct reply to anyone in particular, so forgive the negative Nancy -

I believe this "Scions are going to change their path" thing is a bit overblown. For the most part, the Scions have been working for the primary good of Eorzea; aiding Hydaelyn is a direct side benefit. I think it's more that we're going to shift to a worldwide perspective, away from the focus on Eorzea. I don't think it will have to do with Minfilia suddenly and drastically having a personality change or the Scions themselves really changing at all. Unfortunately.

So in other words, I don't think there's really going to be much difference in how we operate. We're still going to be whacking primals, we're still going to be saving people, we're still going to be meddling in politics we probably shouldn't be meddling with, Elidibus is still going to be wonderful Elidibus, and we're still going to have a big cliffhanger after every patch as a hook for the next part of the story.

[Cilia]

Not in direct reply to anyone in particular, so forgive the negative Nancy -

Well, maybe. I seriously doubt our mission will change - slaying primals is just a part of keeping Eorzea safe, and resolving conflicts is basically our mission. The scope of that could easily be extended to various other regions, such as Doma and Othard, since they're (apparently) capable of summoning primals as well and liberating people from Garlean oppression should be our top priority after resolving domestic conflicts. (Of course we'll never make an effort to, since we're the heroes and heroes react to crises instead of actually taking proactive action to improve the world.)

As for Minfilia? I don't expect her personality to have changed much, but I'll be pretty surprised if she doesn't come back as a stronger agent of Hydaelyn's will; that is, Hydaelyn communicates with her much more often and passes her wishes through Minfilia. More importantly, I think we won't always be able to have her around, since Hydaelyn has bigger plans for her and Minfilia has to stay in the aetherial realm more than the physical plane because of whatever Hydaelyn's done to her. Or something. Be a nice setup for forcing the Warrior of Light and the rest of the Scions into a painful situation. Can't see your friend because she's on a divine mission... what if you decided Minfilia was more important to you than Hydaelyn's assigned mission?

Walking one is destined to walk a fate far crueler than this one can imagine.

... I'm still waiting for this cruel fate, and the chance to shatter its shackles. If that means going against Hydaelyn...

EDIT
As for a minion being included in the lore book? Well, I'd like a rotating one of the Lore Forum superstars like how the Minion of Light can be either Warrior, White Mage, or Black Mage, or how the Wind-up Leader can be any of the 3 GC leaders. I'd vote for Moose-senpai, Waffles, and Not Sure.

[Fenral]

... I'm still waiting for this cruel fate, and the chance to shatter its shackles. If that means going against Hydaelyn...

As of this last bit of teaser info, I'm now beginning to suspect that Eldibus is trying to "trick" us into saving Minfilia. As in, Hydaelyn has been grooming Minfilia to sacrifice herself to become a new Mothercrystal and restart the cycle of eras from zero, and Eldibus wants to prevent that as part of his plan to restore Zodiark. So he'll "trick" us into letting our emotions and petty, ephemeral attachments take over and save Minfilia, and then we'll get slammed with the guilt barrage as we are informed that we have doomed the world by not letting her die.

...But it's a JRPG (and FF besides) so I suspect we'll find a way to save the girl and the world, unless FFXIV has chosen to be the "you shouldn't prioritize your hopes and dreams over selfless good" FF game. There's time to go either way.

I'd vote for Moose-senpai, Waffles, and Not Sure.

Aww, I'm no superstar. More like a misunderstood villain character.

[CyrilLucifer]

I don't know, Yoshi is a Matsuno fan, and TO is one of the most beloved games in Japan (I see it constantly in the top 10 of their "best of" lists, even after 20 years). If Matsuno is good at any one thing, it's torturing his main character.

I am really averse to Elidibus directly using Minfilia in his plans. Really, really. I can't stand the idea. It's one of those things that I can logically understand happening but am closing my eyes and covering my ears while lalaing about, refusing to acknowledge it has any possibility of happening.

Indirectly, like as a distraction, would be acceptable, I suppose.

It just seems a bit wierd, though. I appreciate that Elidibus has been shown to not be all-knowing; he doesn't see and predict everything and is even shown to be wrong. If he knows more about Minfilia than we do at this very moment, it would be a bit of a strange 180 in the way SE has been choosing to depict him. As we serve Hydaelyn, I think we are in a better position to learn about Minfilia's issue than he is; it will only be after we encounter her again that he plans something, if so. I find the idea of flawed, yet still unknowable and incomprehensible, foreign-being typed antagonists extremely appealing, since "flawed" and "incomprehensible" tend to be mutually exclusive.