Is Alexander and the goblins a throwback to FFXI?

[Zohar_Lahar]

That new trailer with Alexander: Midas reminded me of the Moblins from XI, and their underground city. And I recall during Chains of Promathia they mentioned they were seeking a great "iron colossus" underground. It was later revealed in the next expansion that the iron colossus, Alexander, was actually in Aht Urghan. They were digging in the wrong place, but that story thread never got picked up after that.

As much as I see complaints about goblins being "not as serious as Coil", I'm wondering if the story arc of goblins and Alexander in XIV is actually based on unused story ideas for XI. Almost all the Illuminati (even ex-member Mutamix) appears similar to the moblins.

[Alahra]

As much as I see complaints about goblins being "not as serious as Coil", I'm wondering if the story arc of goblins and Alexander in XIV is actually based on unused story ideas for XI. Almost all the Illuminati (even ex-member Mutamix) appears similar to the moblins.

It's possible they picked up the thread and ran with it I suppose. The Goblins in FFXI never really had to function as a major threat, though, so their being kind of off-kilter was generally okay. I actually rather like them in FFXIV, but I never would have pegged them as an evil on par with Bahamut himself. They've got a lot of work to do still to really establish that here, I think, and it remains to be seen if Midas will really make them feel more threatening.

[Welsper59]

Given how there is a lot of elements from XI that is actually a retelling or reused concept in XIV, it's probable. XI story and design elements had almost masterful history and development thrown into it, that it's not very hard to imagine them reusing the idea of a small tribe of Goblins in the same way. I mean, while I know there's other reused elements, even the designs of Ravana and Nidhogg (and any other similar) are reused from XI. I actually thought the HW additions were unique, but ever since I started playing XI again, I guess not. Not that it's a bad thing, of course. I still enjoy the homage that's being paid with things like Bubbly Bernie.

[Ethalio]

I agree with you, the illuminati in XIV strongly resemble the Moblins in XI.

Afaik the Moblins in XI did not search for an iron colossus, but for their worshipped deity: Promathia, the god of twilight, counterpart of Altana, the goddess of dawn.
So as Promathia is the god of twilight, it seems very unlikely to me that the moblins search for Alexander, who is in fact the avatar of light in XI.

[Zohar_Lahar]

They said they were searching for the iron colossus, but found the Promathia statue instead. And CoP implied (in a rushed manner) that the "Promathia" the beastmen worshiped was actually the Dark Divinity Odin, the Shadow Lord's patron. Unfortunately, that's also where the story-telling seemed to fall apart, because they left a huge plot hole with Odin's "awakening" after that song was played and how it related to Promathia.

[Anienai]

The Goblins in FFXI never really had to function as a major threat, though, so their being kind of off-kilter was generally okay. I actually rather like them in FFXIV, but I never would have pegged them as an evil on par with Bahamut himself..

Bahamut can never cause this much destruction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DG1XppfSBs

[Alahra]

Bahamut can never cause this much destruction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DG1XppfSBs

I miss Yuhtunga. So much.

[Nalien]

Technically, it's a throwback to several Alexanders.

Goblins being involved is a throwback to XIs Moblins, as you've suggested.
The Enigma Codex is a throwback to IX. It is seemingly required to truly summon Alexander, and appears to have been split to prevent Alexander coming into being (we found out we had a piece all a long at the end of the current quests), similar to IX where Alexanders gem was split into four fragments.
And, the most obvious, is how the entire thing is a throwback to IVs Alexander, or the Giant of Babil, as he was known then. In both cases we're venturing inside the giant to stop him.

We also might be getting a few IV boss references. The new hulk Goblin has hair similar to Dr. Lugae, and the final Voltron boss is a combination of an earlier boss, with the arms/legs being Red/Blue/Yellow/Green, possibly a nod to the Four Elemental Fiends (who in IV, joined forces to fight us one last time in the Giant of Babil).

[Alberel]

It's possible they picked up the thread and ran with it I suppose. The Goblins in FFXI never really had to function as a major threat, though, so their being kind of off-kilter was generally okay. I actually rather like them in FFXIV, but I never would have pegged them as an evil on par with Bahamut himself. They've got a lot of work to do still to really establish that here, I think, and it remains to be seen if Midas will really make them feel more threatening.

Given that we're actually fighting the leader of the Illuminati in Midas I wouldn't be surprised if we eliminate the goblins as a threat here in 3.2. The real enemy here is Alexander himself and I think I'd like to see him come into his own for the final tier rather than being a passive background thing that just waves an arm around every few months.

[Warlyx]

no , goblins in FFXI are SCARY , bomb toss alone killed thousand of players....