Is anyone else dying to get to Garlemald?

[Theodric]

There aren't really many similarities at all. Garlemald is based almost entirely off of the Roman Empire, which whilst far from perfect brought with it a lot of good in terms of art, culture, language, education, architecture and inventions. It's also somewhat based off of the British Empire to a lesser extent.

We can look at other periods of history, too, such as the Victorian age of enlightenment. That advanced civilisation immensely but it wasn't without flaws or dubious experimentation. The Victorian stance on medical issues, for instance, was rather harsh and misguided...but at the same time it was a necessary evil as it helped to push society forward and contributed to what we see today. Even the present day isn't without such flaws - one needs only look at what many countries politicians are involved in when it comes to scandals, their loyalties and financial interests, their policies and so on.

As far as Garlemald's good side is concerned, many aspects have been pointed out already. The most important aspect, however, is that FFXIV follows a somewhat steady formula. Ishgard was not painted in a flattering light - we were literally seeing innocent people accused of being heretics and thrown off of a cliff to perish and rot at the bottom of a dark, lonely chasm. That did not mean that every Ishgardian we met was a bad apple, though. Nor did we seek to intervene in their ways until it became apparent that there was more to the conflict between Nidhogg's brood and Ishgard's people.

Zenos, too, was introduced as a horrific individual. By his own admittance, though, he cared not for Garlemald or his father's cause. He was also written off as a monster by his own father who stated that such men were not made for thrones. Before Zenos controlled Ala Mhigo Gaius held the reins and by all accounts he was harsh but fair, often defending the people of Gyr Abania against the darker elements of Garlemald.

Then there's a side quest in Gyr Abania where a Garlean in charge of a particular settlement surrenders the place to the Ala Mhigan Resistance without a fight. The people within are reluctant to hand him over to the Eorzean Alliance and Resistance because they fear that he will be executed.

The reason? Once he took command he treated them exceptionally well, to the point where he became beloved by those who resided there. This aligns very much with the likes of Gaius and Regula - and it is highly likely that there are more men and women like them elsewhere.

Furthermore, the same Garlean points out that it is fascinating how different regions under Garlean control can be. In some places, the people there would sooner seek death to end their suffering whilst in other locations there is prosperity and life is virtually unchanged. This aligns very much with, again, the Roman and British Empires.

We will inevitably see more of Garlemald in due time and as always the Warrior of Light and his allies will likely seek to cut out the rot that exists, learn the truths of Garlemald's origins and see the other side of the story. They'll meet more Garleans worthy of respect and aid them - and be helped in turn.

We're not going there to wipe it off of the map. If that was the intention then the groundwork for moral greyness would not have been laid.