What areas of lore would you like to see more of?

[YianKutku]

I'm sorry if it seemed like I was having a go at you as I'm not, it's just that it's pretty clear that despite their bluster the Garlean Empire's supposed superiority came from more from an element of surprise and scheming behind the scenes (which is how Ala Mhigo fell, Gaius string-pulled the Ala Mhigan people to tear their nation apart from within - he did not merely fly in with guns blazing) and relied on a fear of their advanced technological warfare and expanded army (filled with draftees from conquered nations) to browbeat nations into submission. But like all bullies, once their bluff is called, once resisted, they crumble.

I think it's important to keep in mind that the Garlean Empire does not rely "more on" either strength or subterfuge. It relies on what is needed to win, whatever that may be. (Note that I mean the overall Empire, rather than one-off madmen like Zenos or Nael.)

Ala Mhigo was conquered through subterfuge, with Gaius stirring dissent and unrest in order to minimize losses on his side. Dalmasca was conquered by brute strength, with Garlean airships bombarding the defenses with impunity until the city fell. Doma might have been a mix of both when it was conquered, and definitely both when the uprising was crushed: the XIIth Legion provided the military might, while collaborators and double agents provided the spycraft. (I don't remember when Yotsuyu betrayed the Domans; I think it was during the uprising? I know the Ninja Job quests deal with betrayal from within regarding the original fall of Doma.)

So it's equally inaccurate to say that Garlemald relies on scheming, or that Garlemald relies on brute force. It all depends on the situation, as well as the individual commanders.

[Wyssahtyn]

He stated he was "shot down by the Maelstrom", and even though I concede he did not specifically state it was a cannon that laid his craft low, come on, to say otherwise is just splitting hairs, a pistol shot is not going to lay a Juggernaut low, only heavy firepower like the cannons on the Maelstrom's warships could do the job.

Allow me to clarify, I was contesting your quoting of a statement that the NPC never made. I have once again gone over all of Drest's dialogue with Garland Tools and at no point does he even hint that he was "shot down by the Maelstrom". He and his men were only ambushed by them and with Castrum Occidens literally being down the road, it's just as, if not more, likely that his unit was a simple ground patrol, if they were even deployed from there. Drest has been a deserter for three years by the time you meet him and a journal entry suggests that he had eventually found his way to his shack in Vylbrand some time during that period. I don't know where you're getting the conclusion that the juggernaut wreckage in Eastern La Noscea is specifically linked to him aside from the coincidence of proximity.Is it from 1.0 dialogue? A sightseeing log? Because with the absence of dialogue to support your quote it's equally likely that the juggernaut was there before Drest came along or even succumbed to mechanical/pilot error before subsequently being abandoned when they couldn't get it out of the marsh rather than enemy fire.

Either way, the Empire being able to manufacture such a material would not be surprising, given that the materials that their soldiers' uniforms are made from appears to be synthetic and/or exotic (and which Eorzeans are incapable of manufacturing themselves). But that does not mean they're indestructible (if that was the case their troops would be literally invincible!) - when we have to source some Garlean uniforms in order to sneak into Castrum Centri we end up badly tearing them when we 'relieve them' from their former owners, the fact mere sword/spear/axe blows/arrow shots/fist hits/magic spells can damage them all but shows that their materials are not as hard wearing as they seem.

Uh. You're referring to light infantry armor which, by that fact alone, is going to be nowhere near as effective as vehicle armor. The durability example was specifically referring to vehicle armor; not that I said it was indestructible either. I stated that Eorzean artillery would have little effect against the armor plating because I assume that their cannons fire round shot or some sort of explosive or shrapnel shell since shaped charges akin to anti-tank rounds are a little too modern to be believable for the Eorzeans to have. Sustained fire would eventually get through the armor. A lot of hits, since I believe their propellant, firesand, is supposed to be analogous to black powder, which shouldn't be able to reach the velocity necessary to penetrate the armor. Round shot would literally bounce off.

Back to the infantry armor. By the time of the WoL's infiltration of Castrum Centri, he's killed two primals and has (hopefully) picked up at least one job crystal, thus making him a far more fiercer, and effective, combatant than your average Eorzean sellsword. In addition to that, provided that the Garleans follow typical standards of balancing mobility and protection, there are going to be weak points, generally the joints, groin, armpits, neck, etc. Also their armor doesn't protect against blunt force trauma with the exception of the helm. To a point.

Their uniforms are made of "carbon and cermet fibers", which confuses me somewhat given that from what I've read, carbon fiber is a skin irritant even with the resin coating and also prone to damage. I assume that SE meant Kevlar/aramid fibers rather than carbon fibers. But in any case, sustained hits would eventually be effective and blunt force trauma, from fists, shields, sword pommels, axes, books, or what have you, would not be protected against to any great effect.

Again you are taking everything at face value. Yes cutscenes do often throw actual gameplay functionality to the wind, but the point is, it shows magic can be more than a match for Garlean technology (I mean, back up: why else did Garlemald develop magitek in the first place? They couldn't use magic!) That doesn't mean magitek is superior to magic after all, it just means they can fight on equal terms.

To clarify once more, I was contesting your word choice, not magic's efficacy against magitek. It was and is obviously effective, my issue was with the use of the word "mere" downplaying the shown necessary magical power (they look like -ga/III level spells) to decisively eliminate Garlean armor in one attack.

[Rhykin]

To clarify once more, I was contesting your word choice, not magic's efficacy against magitek. It was and is obviously effective, my issue was with the use of the word "mere" downplaying the shown necessary magical power (they look like -ga/III level spells) to decisively eliminate Garlean armor in one attack.

This also exposes an interesting gap in the Ala Mhigan and Doman Theatres. Garlemald KNOWS how to more effectively armor their Reapers against magic. The Gilded Magitek mount specifically mentions its gold plated armor turns spells more effectively and is now standard issue... yet I don't recall seeing a single one...

[Wyssahtyn]

This also exposes an interesting gap in the Ala Mhigan and Doman Theatres. Garlemald KNOWS how to more effectively armor their Reapers against magic. The Gilded Magitek mount specifically mentions its gold plated armor turns spells more effectively and is now standard issue... yet I don't recall seeing a single one...

SE probably forgot.

Or it's standard issue only to Garlean purebloods/senior officers like tribunes.

Or it's standard issue in name, but the reality is that they haven't phased out/upgraded the older model. Which makes more sense, now that I think about it. Ala Mhigo and Doma are on the fringes of the Empire's territory. Probably haven't gotten the good toys yet. Remember Raubahn Savage? I think you only see that model of vanguard like, twice in the whole expansion. Once in that duty and at least once more in the Ala Mhigo dungeon.

[VargasVermillion]

Remember Raubahn Savage? I think you only see that model of vanguard like, twice in the whole expansion. Once in that duty and at least once more in the Ala Mhigo dungeon.

First boss of Doma castle as well, so that's 3 I remember.

[Cilia]

The Gilded Magitek Mount states that an alloy is now standard issue. If we're to assume the one we get is plated in pure gold, that's not going to offer Reapers much physical defense, which would make it much easier to defeat them with physical weapons. What is standard issue isn't pure gold plate like the Gilded one, but alloyed plating - a combination of two or more metals, likely gold and whatever else standard plating is made out of to reach a compromise between magickal resistance and physical sturdiness. We don't see gold-plated Reapers all over the place because our Gilded one is likely a prototype or show model, not standard issue.

Gold is a very soft metal.

[VargasVermillion]

The Gilded Magitek Mount states that an alloy is now standard issue. If we're to assume the one we get is plated in pure gold, that's not going to offer Reapers much physical defense, which would make it much easier to defeat them with physical weapons. What is standard issue isn't pure gold plate like the Gilded one, but alloyed plating - a combination of two or more metals, likely gold and whatever else standard plating is made out of to reach a compromise between magickal resistance and physical sturdiness. We don't see gold-plated Reapers all over the place because our Gilded one is likely a prototype or show model, not standard issue.

Gold is a very soft metal.

I don't think they are literally gold plated, I assume it was just a function of a higher quality plating similar to gaius's armour in which you can switch it on when required.

[Cilia]

I don't think they are literally gold plated, I assume it was just a function of a higher quality plating similar to gaius's armour in which you can switch it on when required.

But Gaius' armor acted more as a power booster than a magickal dampener... implicitly, at any rate.

According to the Gilded Magitek Armor, "alloyed gilding" is "standard issue." Just say they painted over the gilding since everyone running around in golden magitek armor would be too much of an eyesore. Either way, magicks are still effective against Garlean warmachina, which is implicitly how the Eorzeans deal with them, and as shown by Magnai during the assault on Doma Castle, sufficiently powerful martial arms can work on warmachina as well.

It's a fantasy world. Just because the Garleans have sturdy real-world materials doesn't mean they'll be able to barrel through any and everything in their way with nary a scratch when you have people who can call down comets on them.

[Rasler_Heios]

I would like to see Thavnair, Sharlayan, the other continents, Dalmasca and other Ivalice-related areas, the 1.x areas that are no longer accessible and the world where the Warriors of Darkness came from

[PotatoTree]

I want to see the Lalas living in homes built on the backs of giant animals as described in the dunesfolk description!

Also more on the actual politics between the Mhachi and Amdapor.