NPCs with plot armor, does it bother you?

[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.