Why So Much Rape in Stormblood

[Kimmy_Dee]

It seems like rape and abuse of women in particular just keeps coming up again and again in Stormblood and while this isn't the first time it's come up in FFXIV it feels a lot more prevalent in Stormblood. I know I'm not the only one who thinks so.

Did Yoshida watch too much Game of Thrones or something?

Not only does it interfere with the escapist fantasy of FFXIV for it to come up so often but it feels like really weak writing? Like, if that's your go-to in so many situations, it feels like a lack of creative ability on the writer's part.

Not saying everybody has to have a happy story but the FFXIV team can do better than this. It dampens my excitement somewhat to know that I now have to wonder about if any particular questline I'm interested in might have rape in it.

"Who else in Eorzea was raped" is far from an interesting or exciting plot detail.

[Youkulm]

Characters aren't allowed to have tragic backstories?

Not saying everybody has to have a happy story but.....

It sounds like thats exactly what you're saying.

I personally love the much more serious and darker tone that Stormblood has taken. It's a lot more compelling to me. HW and ARR were a complete bore to me ( Excluding 2.5 and 2.55 )

[BillyKaplan]

I'll agree about this breaking escapism, but we are dealing with a war here and occupied territories. Rape and physical abuse the kinds we saw the Skulls apply are unfortunately a very real and common thing that's been prevalent throughout human history.

And going a bit more on the side of realism, "who else was raped" is a question you sadly have to face in real life as well, the answer to which might surprise you. I've recently discovered some hidden truths about people very close to me and that very question hits very close to home.

Whether or not you appreciate that in your fictional storytelling is a different matter and is very subjective but I can't fault them for going there with this story.

[Okamimaru]

Sorry that the issues women face everyday in every country on earth is ruining your game experience... must be rough for you... funny you don't say the same thing about the killing, general violence, corruption, greed, and ethnic cleansing we see in the game more than the violence against women you have such a huge problem with....

[PharisHanasaki]

Sorry that the issues women face everyday in every country on earth is ruining your game experience... must be rough for you... funny you don't say the same thing about the killing, general violence, corruption, greed, and ethnic cleansing we see in the game more than the violence against women you have such a huge problem with....

It's interesting this was upvoted so much because clearly, the point was not understood. I too found this very cliche. The pretty and dumb girl gets sold and abused so she seeks revenge, and now she's evil and ruthless. I wouldn't be surprised if everyone forgives her because 'Oh, she had a sad past. And she's cute'.

She didn't say she had a problem with it, was merely discussing the character's background and motives.

They can talk about rape all they want in this game (it won't help the cause though, because people irl won't do shit about it, less someone sitting on a chair playing some videogames), but this particular character for me is super cliche.

[DeaconMoore]

Well maybe Yoshida's a Blazing saddles fan and just likes rape so much he had to list it a bunch of times.

Or maybe it's a very real thing women have dealt with since well forever in those situations among others. Sure it's a fantasy world, but it's not like asexual reproduction is how things get done in it either. This is a game, a story. Stories don't have to be true, but they pretty much always parallel real life.

[Khaidal]

<sarc>I know what you mean, I feel the same way every time I see or hear some man get beaten. We have the guy in the beginning get beaten by the skulls for being late with tribute, Gosetsu getting beaten by Yotsuyu, and the women lamenting her husband being beaten to death in the streets.

"Who else in Eorzea was beaten?" is far from interesting or exciting.<sarc>

War is hell. Get over it.

[Dualgunner]

Uhm...wait, who all was raped? Yotsuyu underwent sexual abuse afaik, but nobody else springs to mind.

[dragonkyn20]

Uhm...wait, who all was raped? Yotsuyu underwent sexual abuse afaik, but nobody else springs to mind.

Arenvald. He was born after his mom was raped by a garlean soldier.

[Dualgunner]

Arenvald. He was born after his mom was raped by a garlean soldier.

So we're at two now. OP made it seem like an epidemic like everyone had been raped in Stormblood so I was worried I overlooked a ton of stuff.