Revelations from Patch 4.2

[Anonymoose]

Traditions traditions traditions.

For anybody who's new to this process, we've organically fallen into this habit of always making a Patch Day freak-out thread where we give our knee-jerk feedback and trade a few points so we don't just go spoiler-bombing the rest of our open threads in the first 24 hours. By discussing each story arc in its own collapsible spoiler box, we ensure that people can take part in the thread without fear even before they've finished everything.

EXAMPLE

Like so.

MAIN SCENARIO

So far, things seem to be progressing logically.

We see some of the complexity of the Garlean homeland - the demeanor of core citizens, and how that demeanor may or may not reflect their ambitions. We also see that (allegedly) many Garleans are not blind to the poor management decisions but are powerless to stop them. Part and parcel it seems quite realistic in terms of a world power's behavior on the global stage.

We see that Yotsuyu's post-traumatic amnesia is legitimate, but there's plenty of foreshadowing that, as is the case with most psychogenic fugue, recovery may not be as unlikely as many fear. If we're going to play a tired trope, playing it just this once and playing it well isn't worth much fussing over.

We see that Asahi dresses and talks comically like a knock-off Elidibus. (Even going as far as to rephrase several of his classic one-liners, including "Doubt me if you will, but you will trust me in time." and "Would you dare strike an emissary?") We also see that, Thal's balls, he's a duplicitous Zenos fanboy. I spent much time considering if he would be our political Larsa or our next personal antagonist, but get you a man who can do both, I guess.

Considering that we also see the heavy-handed foreshadowing of the 4.1 play out in absurdly improbable - yet exactly as expected - fashion, perhaps Elidibus is too busy to make Ascahian jokes. (Unless he, too, can do both, lol.)

What gets me is that a lot of the 4.00 story felt like Elidibus trying to get Eorzea and Garlemald on more even footing for a Calamity-causing event. So what is this? Undermining the Populares by corrupting one of their Zenos stans and throwing the game the Optimates favor? I'm not going to try to predict too much on this one until we get even a little of how or why. The what was deceptively easy by comparison.

What's clear is that this prisoner transfer is not what it seems, and Asahi's loyalties are layered.

The wrong Legatus is breathing, imho. #GaiusLives

THE FOUR LORDS: PART 1(.5)

Funny that Genbu got relegated to a dungeon, but I'll take his excuses. This whole "some animals just live forever and become gods for some reason" thing comes hard and fast out of left field, so let's just take it at face value. At least we have tangible, concrete Othardian Echo! The temple is quite endearing, and the "talking turtle" awkward stare and the "what does the fox say" reference got me good.

Interesting that the Lords blame a Crystal of Light for transcending to true "auspices", though it does little to explain the "suddenly immortal and talking" part. Lore of Hydaelyn, aether, and legendary beasts seems to be swirling in on itself, but at least the walls aren't touching or invalidating anything form the past just yet.

OMEGA

Little to really report. This is, after all, a nigh-Dissidia-tier nostalgia shill ... even if one that's going over well.

Tying 1.0 Midgardsormr / Silvertear deeplore to it so trivially is risky, but I'm trying not to have a knee-jerk reaction to it. The idea that Midgardsormr has been a spiritual dragon this entire time and corporeally manifested at Hydaelyn's need ... though, that's ... huh. I wonder if that was always intended. I mean, it fits his name perfectly, no? "The World Serpent".

Omega still giving mixed messages, as well. On one hand, this is a tournament and the strongest will fight him at the end, because that's the whole point of what he is, adapt and overcome. And yet if that is his goal, he's not approaching it like an efficient machine should; this is more a structured trial hoping to elicit and measure "hero-ness" in a controlled setting. Does the machine lose to us and/or give up on the idea that "hero-ness" is something that it might attain? That seems the probable course. Though it would crack me up if Omega suddenly did develop heroic qualities, realize how just awful it's been for eons, and put itself back to sleep. Technically speaking it would have succeeded in its mission to bring down the most powerful being in creation...

[YianKutku]

Fractal Continuum Hard

The Ixal took the knowledge that they were an Allagan experiment surprisingly well. At least, Sezul Totoloc did, and he managed to convince the Ixal who actually went to Azys Lla (Kezul Itzcan) that the true Ayatlan is the paradise of their own making, or some such.

I'm not entirely sure what the mechanics of the bosses are. I did get some 90s WWF flashbacks with the Ultima Warrior, though.

Also not sure what the friendly-sounding voice announcing our progress through the Fractal Continuum was supposed to be. It was apparently able to be surprised by our inadvertently waking up the last boss.

Also apparently the Ixal who follow Garuda are the "Windrisen". Not sure if that's a new thing.

Didn't get to do much, between converting stuff to Glamour Dresser, and the sudden emergency maintenance.

[DamianFatale]

I can't use spoiler boxes on mobile, so this thread is pretty much useless for me. I wish they'd work, but for some reason they don't. I have the same problem on reddit as well. :/

[YianKutku]

I can't use spoiler boxes on mobile, so this thread is pretty much useless for me. I wish they'd work, but for some reason they don't. I have the same problem on reddit as well. :/

Spoiler boxes on this forum on mobile almost never work, and I am always very surprised if they do, even on Desktop mode. (The spoiler box doesn't even show up, while the button goes "Click to Show" to "Click to Hide".)

So I usually wait until I get back to a proper computer to browse spoiler-heavy threads.

[Listrella]

Wow quite the shocker at the end with the reveal that

MAJOR SPOILERS!!!!

Zenos is still alive

Really didn't see that coming.

[rxnin]

Ninja Lore Revelations

OMG! While playing through the MSQ, did you guys see Yugiri use one of her ninjutsus? She created clones of herself to assist in the fights. Do you guys think we can expect this in 5.0 as a new level 80 Ninja skill? Cuz we going Naruto boisss!!

Possible New Job in 5.0

Did you catch that one of the NPC's with Asahi had a gunblade. If in 5.0 we are going to Garlemald, do you guys think Gunblade can possibly be a new Tank or DPS job? Maybe gunblade will be the class that can add piercing debuff!

[Rosenoire]

Wow quite the shocker at the end with the reveal that

MAJOR SPOILERS!!!!

Zenos is still alive

Really didn't see that coming.

I'm thinking that

If I had to put money down, it would be on that being Elidibus. I hope it is, because I'm kind of tired of no one except for poor Haurchefant actually staying dead in this game.

[Alleo]

MSQ spoiler alert:

I knew it. From the very beginning that he spoke to us I knew that he would be bad. Just the way his face looked sometimes and his tone of voice. Also I was completely skeptic about his visit itself. Moments before that Garleans attack in Doma and yet somehow they are from a complete different section? If Varis himself truly wishes for peace then he should punish those that attacked..but I cant believe that. In HW he still wanted to kill all beast tribes and he was shown with Elidibus. I just feel that this is a plot from his side..also that talk about how the old empire started to conquer only because of the primals..the lore book itself stated that this was not the case since they only saw a primal way later..so I was already suspcious through the whole talk.

I also was skeptic when we somehow just ran into the red kojin while we showed him around. It felt more like a set up to show his "good side". Especially since they were way too many Kojin for two children. (Also his face was strange too when he looked at them..like he was giving them some kind of signal.)

I did like that we as the WoL could be way more negative in these quests. I said to Hien that I dont trust that guy, I did not want to go on a walk with him (why do I have to be with them all the time, I need rest too) and I also said that I dont want to help Yotsuyu. Sad that we could not give our own opinion about her fate to Hien. I at the same time disliked Gosetsu in this. His character kinda felt a little forced. Especially when he talked about the heaven letting them live..which somehow made up Hiens mind to not kill her..I mean he barely even used some arguments (in the german version). Just that heavens might have some plans..

For a moment I really believed that we would not just say a word at the end towards Hien and the other thus making them still believe in Yotsuyus brother..thankfully she used her mind and told them about the vision..I am still not sure what I should think about his behaviour towards us..I mean why make it so obvious? Couldnt they showed us players the face but not to our character? Why would he go that way? Did he think that we would not tell them? He seems to believe that we still trust him..

So Zenos somehow is still alive (or is it Zenos himself?). It would make more sense if we killed him and he still wanted to fight but Zenos killed himself thus I cant just see how he would still want to live...so I kinda believe that this is not truly Zenos...we did not saw the Ascians for some time so I believe that its one of them.

My predictions: The mirror that Yotsuyu has will probably trigger her memories. Now either she gets back towards being her old self but tries to act like the innocent one to gather more information or she will remember but also wont forget the kindness from Gotsetsu thus she might do something good at the end. My bad feelings just tell me that she will pretend to be the innocent one and stap Gosetsu in the back at one time thus at the end both of them will die...because I found it strange how Hien told us that Gosetsu is not fine health wise..

Also poor WoL...gotta do another task for the scions to earn money even though it was Alphinaud that paid for the sword..I mean the same Alphinaud that helps Hien with the negotiation but somehow does not even look at the price tag..I found that very unbelieveable and I kinda questioned why Hien was not paying that back...I mean its thanks to us that Gosetsu is back (with his sword) and even if Doma is still rebuilding (and that quite fast...) he should have at least some money somewhere..So the reason for the dungeon itself was not that great.

I did laugh a bit when Alphinaud was not afraid of water anymore..seems that the teasings of his sister made him train in that..still dont know why he wants to protect her that much..she is able to defend herself.

Maybe its just me but I really get the feeling that my WoL is growing a bit tired about all of this. Not only were we able to use much more negative options but she was also still quite shocked at the end and even looked a little bit down when Hien told her that she made a strong and dangerous enemy..it could not be that she would feel bad for Zenos or him so maybe she was either a bit afraid of what will happen in the future since this might destroy the peace or she might just be a bit negative that this again happens to her..and I kinda did not like that Hien was smiling like that...its a serious matter and we are still just human..having someone making such a threat is not nice and I am quite sure that Yugiri would not have smiled if he made that threat towards Hien..I just hope that his attack will be directly towards us..and not another one on our friends..Otherwise I still like the Doman part of the story more than the Ala Mhigan one. And I still find Hien to be a better character than Lyse.

[Rosenoire]

The Garlean Ambassador

Called it, sort of! He can't exactly stab us in the back now that he failed his subtlety roll and went off on the WoL. I wanted an option to tell him that Zenos was a rabid dog and I put him down like the whiny little punk he was. I'm not entirely sure what he hoped to gain by that little stunt.

The Scions

The whole "The Scions are broke and Alphinaud's an idiot" plotline felt contrived to me. I'm sitting on over 10 million gil right now, and for a level 70 WoL, that's not all that much money. There's no reason I couldn't float the Scions a loan. And Alphinaud being stupid felt like 2.3-2.5 Alphinaud; he's grown up enough by now that I don't believe he'd buy something without ever asking how much it cost.

[SaitoHikari]

Regarding the MSQ:

I get the impression that Mr. Brutus only went off on the WoL because Garlemald wants the WoL to be present at the prisoner exchange, and there's no better way to do that than to have a personal hook involved. Why? Well, the WoL is an adventurer knowing for wandering around and just happening to show up out of nowhere like a force of nature. Even -knowing- the WoL's present whereabouts would be a huge tactical advantage to the Garleans. After all, the WoL being at the prisoner exchange means that the WoL (along with some of the Scions) wouldn't be around to, say, defend Ala Mhigo from a surprise attack... Also, the WoL would, assuming this one of the Empire's intentions, be easier to capture in Doma as well, seeing as the Eorzean Alliance would not be present.

One of the major things in this expansion was that we had to fight the Empire on two fronts. They can just as easily split us up as well.

Also, if that actually is Zenos, he did not look too pleased to be alive. He -wanted- to die, and yet daddy is making bargains with demons to deny him.