NPCs with plot armor, does it bother you?

[KisaiTenshi]

Does this bother anyone else? :/

No, not really. It's not any different from V1.00 either.

If you manage to play the game without EVER doing any of the other jobs, then it does not matter. If you manage to play the game and then never do the raids, it does not matter. Those story lines do not exist unless you play them.

Basically FFXIV is not a linear game, it follows it's "subplot" side stories just like it always has. There is no time sensitivity, unlike some western CRPG's and FPS type games. And games that are time-sensitive tend to not force it down the players throat so hard that they fail the game if they don't finish the entire storyline in X hours.

The way MMORPG's work is similar to other timeless stories (eg The Simpsons) where the characters remain the same age, and unless explicitly killed off, never come back. This is just how it has to be done, because you can't create a new server every hour so that new players can't be spoiled by players who are an hour ahead in the storyline. Rather you have to consider going back and doing the 2.x jobs after finishing the MSQ similar to binge watching the tv series and then going back and watching the alternate endings/deleted scenes. Canonically they existed at some point, but you chose not to do those jobs and proceeded with the main storyline.

If you -really- wanted to avoid the plot armor, you'd have to level every job simultaneously, and do all side content immediately as it became available, and that's just not really a viable thing to do in a MMO. I'd rather do the main storyline on one job, go back and do the side quests on another job. Every other combat job I neglected can be leveled later, but I'm only leveling them for the storyline and have no intention of playing them on end-game content.

[Coratanni]

I can't really say I've noticed characters having real plot armor in this. I'm more frustrated that SE refuses to show us moments where we shine in cutscenes. Bioware is able to do it extremely well in Star Wars: The Old Republic, yet here we're the ones who need saving by other NPC's, even though we're the baddest adventurers in Eorzea. \o/

[ElHeggunte]

It doesn't particularly bother me because I don't think that arbitrarily killing off characters makes for good storytelling. It's a cheap plot device that begins to lose its impact if you rely on it too often. Used sparingly it can really improve your story. Go too heavy-handed with it and even George Martin will roll his eyes at you.

I also think we might be misusing the phrase "plot armor". Plot Armor is usually in reference to characters surviving all sorts of shit to an unreasonable, unexplained, absurdist degree. I can't think of any NPC who that really applies to. Sometimes their survival is a little tropy, but they've never yet been cast into the levels of Plot Armor in my opinion because they haven't survived anything unreasonable yet.

[Enla]

It only bothers me in cases like Nanamo where they ruined perhaps the most impactful part of the story thus far for a cheap 'she's not really dead' reveal later on in HW. If you're going to have the balls to kill a character, follow through with it and don't turn around at the last second and revive them in a one off filler moment. Otherwise? I don't much care. I already have uneasy opinions and expectations of the writing in this game and their absurdist need to go for the most convoluted path while sacrificing character intelligence and integrity; so a few characters not dying doesn't really matter in the long run. It's much easier to enjoy it for the stupid, if harmless romp it is when you don't actually try to think of things like plot armor or convenience.

[MuseTraveller]

It's much easier to enjoy it for the stupid, if harmless romp it is when you don't actually try to think of things like plot armor or convenience.

Honestly, I should take this to heart and don't overthink it as much.
Very well said.

[Viconia]

I wouldn't care if the ones they brought back were interesting/worthy to begin with.

And boy do I feel like the new patch is a slap in the face in the exact opposite direction.

[BubblyBoar]

This logic fails because villains that appear in side stories can be encountered after they have been killed in the MSQ. The biggest and most obvious example of this is Nidhogg and his eyes, which was present in the ARR DRG job quests.

[Kallera]

This logic fails because villains that appear in side stories can be encountered after they have been killed in the MSQ. The biggest and most obvious example of this is Nidhogg and his eyes, which was present in the ARR DRG job quests.

That is not plot armor to begin with. plot armor is more along the lines of "eyeless Nidhogg surviving long enough to get his eye transplant by Hreasvelgr." And there are more examples on the heroes side than the villains.