There Is No Dancer (yet)

[Kaurie]

Well her glowing chakra and her sparring with a confirmed monk in the land where monks come from is a pretty good indication that she isn't just a Pugilist.

Now look at your points:

For Dancer
A solid 10% of the video focuses on her dancing. This is a pretty significant chunk of time that alludes to a dancer only for Square to back out and say "Got you!"
You mean the warm up excercise that she did before the fight? It can be seen as a dance but we can't rule out that those are just martial arts practice moves. The two don't look that diffferent.
Her movements are clearly more fluid than his (which are quite rigid)
Different martial arts styles maybe? The game has three forms anyway. Or maybe she outclasses the WoL as a monk. Raubahn also does stuff that we can never even dream about as gladiators. Or maybe she is a woman who will obviously not fight the same way as a buff guy.
During the video she uses her feet more and moves around more, while he remains more stationary and punches more
See above.
She has a hidden dagger-type weapon, which is focused on key artwork here and here. While it is possible for a Monk to use this weapon, it's hardly iconic of the Monk job - so why make it such a focus in the artwork?
It isn't an iconic dancer weapon either, so what's your point? The WoL doesn't even have a weapon in the video, which is impossible in the game. Yet he is confirmed to be a monk.
The expansion artwork appears to show 1 of each job in the game (Mind you I've only been able to identify BRD, PLD, DRK, MNK, DRG, NIN only, but have counted 16 jobs - current 13+3. I also suspect that bird above may be Garuda-Egi). Monk is clearly to the ladies right, which either means they have 2 Monks in the image with 1 of every other job (and we're getting 2 new ones), or she is a separate job and we are getting 3 new ones. (or I miscounted?). Also on that note, I see GLD, DRK and two other sword wielding jobs - which suggests the SAM/RDM that we are all expecting.
Way too many "maybe"s. Also, don't read too much into the artwork. We tried that when Heavensward was announced and it didn't really lead to anything.
The Rangers in the summer were said to be "hints" of upcoming jobs. I am not sure on this, but I read somewhere someone said that the Yellow Ranger pose is identical to a Dancer pose in FFXI?
I also read that, but others claim that it only hinted the number of jobs. And I can't find a legit source for either.

Sorry but these points are just grasping at straws. Occam's razor says that we should go with the explanation with the least ammount of assumptions. Dancer only has assumptions, while Monk requires neither.

Again, appreciate the breakdown argument back, same as Reynhart. It boils down to the same thing, that we don't have enough information to say anything concrete. It's the perfect amount of information to promote speculation.

In terms of the weapon, my point is that it is a focal part of the art work which makes zero sense for a job that has a different weapon as their icon. We have no idea what the Dancer would use as a weapon in FFXIV, so that point is moot.

For the Chakra, I am not entirely sure where or what that looks like. My monk is still leveling and while I've used Chakra going through PotD, the animations I have seen in that I do not see in the video at all. Would you mind pointing out which they are?

It is funny, because you state that Monk requires no assumptions, but you actually started out your entire post with an assumption - "where monks come from is a pretty good indication that she isn't just a Pugilist."

I really dislike your last statement. Occam's razor is a problem solving technique from the 14th century, where we're trying to solve problems out in the real world. It's not meant to be used when analyzing a trailer that is designed to create hype and speculation. It doesn't fit in with this at all. "Grasping at straws" is just an ad hominem.

All of that said, I am perfectly in tune with her being a Monk and that the artwork is just artwork and there is nothing for it. However, I find it fun to speculate the other possibilities. We have months before the expansion hits, now is the fun time when we get to guess and speculate - no matter how radical that they may be

Your counter points also included a lot of maybes btw

[HPDelron]

Come on, a flowy gown no matter how pretty does NOT equal dancer. As far as game programming goes, you can still be a monk in a dress. I don't know why people are running with this, but so far we have no proof that dancer is happening. Sorry to burst your bubble.

Druid confirmed.

[KaitlanKela]

Just to be contrarian? More like they wanna point out that there's no legit evidence in favor for the DNC theory other than wild speculation. It's not vindictive to try to temper ones expectations with reality.

[ZhaneX]

Just to be contrarian? More like they wanna point out that there's no legit evidence in favor for the DNC theory other than wild speculation. It's not vindictive to try to temper ones expectations with reality.

While I do agree that there are plenty of people who indeed not simply being contrarian; pointing out holes in some facets of the speculation and raising very valid counterpoints for "Just a Monk", I feel like there are plenty of those who are being pretty vindictive in trying to shut down any speculation otherwise.

[Lyshell]

Speculation is great! Have fun! Just keep it within the realm of possibilities. Dancer may just be a job we get. If so, awesome! I welcome it. However, I also know how this community can be. They'll run with the wildest theory and when their little bubble get's burst by the reality of the situation, 1000 threads will pop up with "I'm disappointed with ____________, How dare S.E turn their backs on their greatest fans/supporters, (insert speculated job here) was confirmed! Why are they backtracking now!" and and gloom over and over and over.

So most of us, are trying to keep the speculation within the realm of possibility by presenting fact.

Completely agree! That's the other side of the spectrum as well. And if Dancer isn't a job I will be sad and disappointed but I'm not gonna pout and throw a tantrum lol So yeah I totally agree those people shouldn't whine and moan and start the SE hate if they are wrong.

But still we need to have fun! Run wild screw the realistic possibilities and lets dream!

[Reynhart]

• A solid 10% of the video focuses on her dancing. This is a pretty significant chunk of time that alludes to a dancer only for Square to back out and say "Got you!"

I'd say this is not "Dancing" but kata training. Really close to what Yang and/or his daughter do in the opening CG for FF IV DS and After Years.

• Her movements are clearly more fluid than his (which are quite rigid)

Yes, because she's more trained than him.

• During the video she uses her feet more and moves around more, while he remains more stationary and punches more

Several monk skills use kick instead of punches. In fact, the first active skill we ever see a Monk have is Kick (Yang again)

• The expansion artwork appears to show 1 of each job in the game (Mind you I've only been able to identify BRD, PLD, DRK, MNK, DRG, NIN only, but have counted 16 jobs - current 13+3. I also suspect that bird above may be Garuda-Egi). Monk is clearly to the ladies right, which either means they have 2 Monks in the image with 1 of every other job (and we're getting 2 new ones), or she is a separate job and we are getting 3 new ones. (or I miscounted?).

Some people also speculate that the two silhouettes we saw at Fan Fest pointed to only two new jobs.

• The Rangers in the summer were said to be "hints" of upcoming jobs. I am not sure on this, but I read somewhere someone said that the Yellow Ranger pose is identical to a Dancer pose in FFXI?

The fact that we can have a Dancer doesn't imply that the woman is a Dancer. Until now, no trailer has been used to reveal something prior to the actual annoucement. You could also say that one of the ranger being covered in red could be a hint to RDM. Or maybe they were using skills in combat that could imply something else (I, personaly don't remember if they did)

[Kaurie]

I'd say this is not "Dancing" but kata training. Really close to what Yang and/or his daughter do in the opening CG for FF VI DS and After Years.

I am not familiar with the reference. Though, the argument makes sense. It appears like a dance to me, and I am not very familiar with martial arts to compare.

Yes, because she's more trained than him.

Except she uses only Pugilist abilities and he uses Monk ones.

Several monk skills use kick instead of punches. In fact, the first active skill we ever see a Monk have is Kick (Yang again)

I am fully aware that Monks in the game kick. This was to point out that they are making an active effort in the cutscene to differentiate their fighting style. Whether that is because she is a Dancer, or because of some other reason, I have no idea.

Some people also speculate than the two silhouettes we saw at Fan Fest pointed to only two jobs.

I am one of those people, actually Tough to say though, we'll see what we get.

The fact that we can have a Dancer doesn't imply that the woman is a Dancer. Until now, no trailer has been used to reveal something prior to the actual annoucement. You could also say that one of the ranger being covered in red could be a hint to RDM. Or maybe they were using skills in combat that could imply something else (I, personaly don't remember if they did)

Agreed, this is more supporting evidence than evidence in and of itself/


I would say the most compelling evidence to me is the focus on her weapon in the artwork. This could simply be that the weapon has story significance (Royalty etc.), but it's focused on both of the revealed artworks I linked above. That is too much to ignore.

All of that said, I appreciate your response and like that you addressed points individually and directly - rather than just making some blanket statement about grasping at straws or having no evidence etc. I would say though that while your answers provide explanations, there is nothing to say they are the correct explanations - just one possibility.

[Lyshell]

While I do agree that there are plenty of people who indeed not simply being contrarian; pointing out holes in some facets of the speculation and raising very valid counterpoints for "Just a Monk", I feel like there are plenty of those who are being pretty vindictive in trying to shut down any speculation otherwise.

And really those are the ones I was talking about there are the ones that kind of want to squash dreams. I mean what topic is on the first page of this forum? "There Is No Dancer" Not "Dancer is Confirmed", a whole topic to say NO to Dancer. I mean really? We can't even speculate?

[ZhaneX]

And really those are the ones I was talking about there are the ones that kind of want to squash dreams. I mean what topic is on the first page of this forum? "There Is No Dancer" Not "Dancer is Confirmed", a whole topic to say NO to Dancer. I mean really? We can't even speculate?

To be fair, the title is "There Is No Dancer (yet)".

It's not like the OP was saying there will never be a Dancer, just that they don't think there's any evidence really hinting at them yet. Whether you disagree with that or not, I wouldn't say that they're out to "Squash Dreams". This might not go for everyone against the speculation, but as far as the original intent of this thread goes...

[Lyshell]

Yeah you're right I shouldn't throw OP under the bus like that because his opinion left room for speculation so sorry. :P However same could not be said for A LOT of the commenters on here.