That Garlean guy, what was his name? Gaius Van Baelsar

[DE-Roxas]

Outdated topic.

[Knahli]

Nero actually fled after your battle with him as I recall, whereas Gaius was consumed by the explosions that ravaged the Castrum. You took the only perceivable escape route and Cid described flying into the area as an impossible absurdity. I can't think of anything or anyone whom could or would have saved him from that. Plus it seems to me like 3.0 brought about his "replacement" as far as the more hands-on Garlean antagonist position goes. I forget his name, but he's that guy whom you fought twice already that has a helmet which makes you wish someone would sneakily hook a crane on it from behind, raise it up and watch him swing and struggle just like that.

Edit:

Regula Van Hydrus

[MagiusNecros]

That never stopped Final Fantasy from reviving possible dead characters Even if there is "no chance to escape"
I dont think hydrus have to be a replacement, since Gaius had a counterpart too, Nael van Darnus, so its more likely its not gonna be just one Bad Garlean Guy^^
I'm secretly hoping Gaius Van Baelsar survived and after he fought us he somehow change his mind and is on our side against the garlean forces in Ala Migho

Except Gaius was right 100%. Would have defected ASAP. Now the new guy in charge of the Garleans. He's a total goofball.

[Theodric]

I'd rather see Ala Mhigo be a cesspit as a result of being liberated - enforcing the idea that Gaius was right all along. Bringing him back from the dead would just be a kick in the teeth for those of us who are fond of Garlemald as a whole. As would having him be subservient to the WoL. We need antagonists who have sympathetic motives but aren't on our side - because it helps reinforce the point that the WoL is a tool that causes immense destruction and isn't necessarily pure or righteous.

[Fenral]

Gods forfend we depict a struggle in which two forces are operating the same side of a clear-cut morality that ends up serving only to put them at odds with one another. How would the audience know who to root for?

[Knahli]

Heavensward 3.0 Spoilers

Granted I never played any other FF other than A Realm Reborn, but personally I never really took to the idea that they'd bring him back. Before they essentially saved everyone that was supposed to have died in 2.55, I might have welcomed it, but since then I am a little put off by the idea of people actually being alive after you taking what was debatably a very obvious message that they had met their demise(Nanamo and Y'shtola completely shattered my heart, but at least one of them should have stayed dead to be honest, happy as I was to see both of them again). However, it's understandable why they would have saved important characters like those. Though my knowledge on lore isn't the best, let alone regarding anything preceding FFXIV, I struggle to believe that Gaius is anything worth bringing back strictly because he is a replaceable antagonist. The whole "Oh, you thought I was dead but I was really alive all along" is a very tired concept. I'm surprised they did that for 2-3 main Scions and Nanamo even considering later writing off Haurchefant, and personally, I hope they are willing to commit to serious deaths in the future - without getting carried away of course(3.2 has me seriously worried for Raubahn, haha).

In any case, personal hopes and feelings aside, I personally don't believe that it's something they'd really consider doing, but I guess you're right that it's not any more an impossibility than the Ul'dahn cave-in.

[Cilia]

Until it's revealed that Gaius is, in fact, alive (which would be a deus ex machina), he is in fact dead. Just like Lahabrea.

[Phyllo]

Until it's revealed that Gaius is, in fact, alive (which would be a deus ex machina), he is in fact dead. Just like Lahabrea.

Err, lahabrea isn't dead, he's locked inside thordan's sword that's all.

[Cilia]

Error, lahabrea isn't dead, he's locked inside thordan's sword that's all.

Again, while that is a distinct possibility, the story presents itself as if he is dead and gone for good. Thordan didn't just eat his aether, he blasted him apart first and then absorbed it. Quite a bit. I think the Quest Log states he was "felled" or somesuch, and Elidibus states that he and Igeyorhm had "fallen" - and with him stating they're both in the same situation, with Igeyorhm 100% "we know she's totes dead and six feet under," that means Lahabrea is very likely dead. Permanently.

Now, again, it's possible this isn't true. More probable than Gaius still being alive. Still rather improbable, though, given everything against it.