Gamerescape E3 Interview

[Wyssahtyn]

Gamer Escape: In the launch trailer, The Warrior of Light is talking to an NPC when he arrives on The First who looks like the NPC that we encounter when we first started A Realm Reborn (Brendt, Brennan, and Bremondt). Is this an Easter egg? Or is this something more?

Naoki Yoshida: This NPC doesn’t tie in closely to the narrative per se, but it is something that is in there to maintain a sense of consistency in your adventures. As you know, the world was shattered into 14 different shards, including The Source, about 10,000 years ago. When the world split into the different shards, because it was based off the same ether, each is a similar realm. So there may be a possibility that certain people, while not exactly replicated, will look similar on the different realms. We wanted to depict that in a easily recognizable form. So, as we’re starting this new adventure in Shadowbringers, we had this NPC show up. This was something that we wanted to incorporate as a reminder that while, yes, we are starting this new important quest, also, “hey look”, there they are again. So it was deliberate in that way.

So, while they may look similar, they are not exactly the same person who follows the same path. Their fate may be different in the different realms. We wanted to depict that aspect of it as well. You will probably encounter other similar situations with other characters that you come in contact with throughout the story.

So. Ten thousand years and Brendt, Brennan, and Bremondt's parents still conveniently get together to have at least one kid because "aether".

[Bright-Flower]

Why not aether it the answer to everything else.

[Anonymoose]

I think that's just a fancy way of saying, "The visual resemblance is a development decision for player recognition. They're not the same guy, they're not related. It's just an interesting coincidence. (Blame aether and fate if you have to.)"

Or, as Banri Oda-san would say, "Please do not think too hard about this."

[RenewalXVII]

I think that's just a fancy way of saying, "The visual resemblance is a development decision for player recognition. They're not the same guy, they're not related. It's just an interesting coincidence. (Blame aether and fate if you have to.)"

Or, as Banri Oda-san would say, "Please do not think too hard about this."

Yup, it's the same as Arbert looking identical to the default Midlander male. It's a narrative echo for the player, but in practical in-story terms there's nothing tangible connecting the characters of the First and the Source--not culture, not ancestry, especially not personal history, unless ShB proper throws some major curveballs in this understanding. As I put it in a similar discussion, they're doppelgangers at best: the similarity is only superficial.

[Iscah]

I really hope they're not going to rely too heavily on this. I don't really want the plot to go that way.

[Alleluia]

I mean, its not as if dopplegangers is an unheard of concept in fiction. And there are only so many genetic combinations you get at random till you get someone who looks similar to someone else.

Also, Cid isn't a doppleganger, but he does exist as a completely different person in every universe. lol Similar concept, really.

[Theodric]

I really hope they're not going to rely too heavily on this. I don't really want the plot to go that way.

Agreed.

It cheapens the established story if it happens too frequently. I just don't want to see a situation where, for example, Haurchefant comes 'back' because he conveniently has a counterpart on the First who looks and acts exactly like him.

[EdwinLi]

I mean, its not as if dopplegangers is an unheard of concept in fiction. And there are only so many genetic combinations you get at random till you get someone who looks similar to someone else.

Also, Cid isn't a doppleganger, but he does exist as a completely different person in every universe. lol Similar concept, really.

Ya it is a very common theme for Alternate realities/Worlds/parallel worlds when it comes to encountering people with the same name and appearance that lived a different life in those Alternate Realities/Worlds/Parallel Worlds.

They may look and sound the same but due to living a different life, they are completely different people in personality and beliefs.

Agreed.

It cheapens the established story if it happens too frequently. I just don't want to see a situation where, for example, Haurchefant comes 'back' because he conveniently has a counterpart on the First who looks and acts exactly like him.

I don't think it cheapens the story since this is a very common theme in a Multiverse Plot.

Ya there may be a counterpart of a dead person in another world alive but that person has lived a completely different life and developed different beliefs. It also shows a interesting take on "What if" scenarios for that person if their life had gone differently due to the difference in Parallel/Alternate Worlds/Realities. Along with what the world maybe like if X person lived while Y person died or both lived or both died.

While at the sametime the person who are alive in the Source can be dead in the First or have become a Sin Eater.

[Iscah]

It cheapens the established story if it happens too frequently. I just don't want to see a situation where, for example, Haurchefant comes 'back' because he conveniently has a counterpart on the First who looks and acts exactly like him.

Exactly what I thought of, and no I don't want to see it happen either.

Any which way you play it, it would turn out strange. Does he survive (and will he be regarded by the fandom as a 'substitute' for the original)? Does he die too? Turn out to be a villain?

I'd rather leave the whole thing alone and just get new original characters.

How far back would they send a reference like it anyway? Does that mean we have alt-Edmont as well? Are they living in alt-Ishgard? What about everyone else that made the city and the people what they are?

...

Oh bother, this whole thing is being run by the DRK quest writer, isn't it? And they've already kinda-brought Haurchefant back once already (and I hated it).

*sigh* Calling it now then. Elf-Haurchefant living in... Il Mheg somewhere I guess, with elf-Edmont married to the counterpart of Haurchefant's mother. At least we'd get to find out what she looks like.

[Dualblade]

Ok but what if, hear me out, on one of the other shards Brendt/Brennan/Bremondt's Shard twin became a Warrior of Light!

Merchant of Light? Trader of Light? The class/job exists in other SE games so its possible!