Gender locked race?

[Balipu]

I'll just add that whatever we will end up having, Final Fantasy XIV is still probably among the most progressive when it comes for equal opportunity fan service. I mean remember the early leveling gear that looked like some weird S&M bikini on females? Guess what, it looks like a weird S&M bikini on males as well.

[SomeRandomHuman]

Assuming SE is any kind of moderately efficient at modeling and such, then the male Viera model is done and they're just withholding it for the sake of drawing out announcement fodder for JP fanfest and the assorted minor live letters.

Otherwise they made a bold move and put off making the model until now. I just hope they go the route of a small build for them. Like alphinaud. We have 3 large build races as is so no need for another.(Roegadyn, Highlander, and Au'ra despite their dumb proportions) We have 3 medium/light builds(Midlander, Miqo'te, and Elezen). Then potato is the only small build.

Then for those that argue the placement of the races, miqo'te are pretty damn muscular and decently built. Elezen are the most twink-style male in the game. Don't believe me? Go look at their models. Miqo'te is about the same size as midlanders in terms of musculature(they're locked at around 50 on the muscle tone slider)

[Zied]

White knights are the worst

[Umeikoai]

White knights are the worst

The only White Knights I like is White Knight Chronicles 1 and 2. People may not of liked the game, but I thought it was pretty fun and had pretty good character creation.

[Nestama]

Yeah. They've been saying "likely the last race" and sidestepping by saying "there's Tokyo FanFest." This could mean male Viera, or it could mean new male race.

[Gwenorai]

Hm, well who knows what they're going to throw out.

Honestly, I think it's the perfect time to show male Viera. They're forest wardens who protect the forest and their people. But Viera are heavily tied into the 'voice of the forest' - they listen to the forest just like Padajj - or whatever it's spelt - are tied into the elementals. I believe they're two of the same? Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

So, these spirits are heavily tied to the mother crystal and balance. If the forest tells a Viera to leave to do their duty, then that Viera will go. It's not such a high stretch to believe that if a Male was told to leave the forest by the spirits that govern their way of life, then he will leave in order to protect the wood and his people. Warrior of Light Viera? Of course. Warrior of Light protects all from death and destruction - obviously, the Viera and the forest are part of that everything.

Second, it would be shameful writing if the WoL happened to just stroll into the Viera demense and not even be attacked by a male Viera or to come into contact with one. They do not like outsiders in their forest - and if I recall correctly the only reason Vaan and co in FF12 weren't set upon by one was due to Fran being in the party. A bunch of strangers in the forest would undoubtedly have them stirring.

Third; the empire has already burned rabanaster and chaos in Ivalice is rampant due to the war machine. The empire will more than likely set to target forest, if not for the war machine - destroying the trees etc. But to remove the Viera or have them under their heel. Viera make excellent summoners/bowmen by nature. Regardless, it would make sense that the Empire would attack the forests - the Viera males would certainly attack and be part of the resistance. Yet again, if the spirits of the forest tell them to come as one and attack - they will.

Add on - especially after the trailer as well where the forest fire with Y'shtola and Urianger being the Viera wood. It was on fire. Obviously, Warden's of the wood - the males, are not going to take lightly to their precious wood being burned to the ground. With that in mind - there is no logical reason why they would remain none existent and not shown. It's their duty to respond to perils such as this. While this could be arguments that then there would certainly be male NPCs, it would make no sense for there to be male Viera NPCs, have the female be playable and then the male not be playable.

All in all, the argument for them being gender-locked is silly. You can't say 'it should be female only due to lore' then run around on your male Miqote or your female Roe. The lore is perfectly bendable to allowing this. A male Viera WoL has more reason to venture out just like any other race that once had that silly race lock. WoL is driven by fate and 'mama crystal'.

Times are changing, and it makes sense for the race to evolve with it - they've never had a reason to until now. Just like it makes sense for there to be a WoL Viera Male.

But just my thoughts on things. I do indeed hope it's going to be a Japanese reveal. Viera is my favourite race, and I honestly hate playing as female toons preferring their male counterparts. After waiting years to see a male Viera finally I'd be vastly disappointed if they just decided not to go with them.

Note; apologies for spelling mistakes etc.; dyslexia sucks.

[Jaywalker]

----------

Just want to say you made great points with this, thanks for posting them! Interesting read.

[jake200135]

All I want to know is why some folks are so against the idea of male Viera. I mean, it literally hurts no one to add another option for players, because if you don't like male Viera, there is really simple solution to that problem...... Don't play one.

But someone else choosing something you wouldn't choose is not the end of the world. And if Square Enix does end up with a cutesy waifu race for female characters and male characters get stuck with yet another hyper-masculine race then yes, I'm in the camp that they're doing so with some seriously backwards and old fashioned thinking by assuming that all players want the same kind of male characters instead of having some variety. As they say, variety is the spice of life. If all the male characters followed the same tropes that would be really dull and really boring.

[Shougun]

All I want to know is why some folks are so against the idea of male Viera. I mean, it literally hurts no one to add another option for players, because if you don't like male Viera, there is really simple solution to that problem...... Don't play one.

But someone else choosing something you wouldn't choose is not the end of the world. And if Square Enix does end up with a cutesy waifu race for female characters and male characters get stuck with yet another hyper-masculine race then yes, I'm in the camp that they're doing so with some seriously backwards and old fashioned thinking by assuming that all players want the same kind of male characters instead of having some variety. As they say, variety is the spice of life. If all the male characters followed the same tropes that would be really dull and really boring.

I think because some see it at the last chance at something non-FFXIV standard, having a hyper-masculine beast/"ugly" race would be more spice to FFXIV than another pretty male. Of course having a beast-like race male and female and viera male and female would add further spice. Beast like for example if their Au Ra matched concept art rather than the more standard Au Ra we have.

[jake200135]

I think because some see it at the last chance at something non-FFXIV standard, having a hyper-masculine beast/"ugly" race would be more spice to FFXIV than another pretty male. Of course having a beast-like race male and female and viera male and female would add further spice. Beast like for example if their Au Ra matched concept art rather than the more standard Au Ra we have.

Well, yeah, that I can understand. But I also don't believe Yoshi when he says this will probably be the last race. I think he's just saying that to cover his ass, not promise a new one. Can't say I blame him for doing that though.