Why Eden is not MSQ?

[EdwinLi]

As Dualblade said, that isn't how it works. They've been "exploring multiple dialogue paths" since right back in ARR, and no quest events ever happen without us being there. If you skip an optional-but-important storyline, later quests will not claim those events happened, and may outright indicate they haven't.

If you haven't done the Crystal Tower, the game does not - cannot - assume it happened and you weren't present. You need to be there for that part of G'raha's storyline, because he remembers you being there in his past, whether you've personally been through it yet or not.

If you haven't done the Crystal Tower yet, variable dialogue reflects that. The Exarch tells Urianger that you are yet to meet his past self.

At the same time, CT has a designated place in the storyline, and completing it post-Shadowbringers would "slot it in" to that earlier time rather than adding it afterwards - as long as you tick "reflect quest progression" when you rewatch the cutscenes.

It is a rather questionable theory currently because of what happened in the ending of 5.0 with...

hints that Young G'raha Tia maybe waking up in Source CT for 5.1 Storyline which would imply CT Raid storyline happens no matter what with or without WoL's involvement since Young G'raha Tia can only be sealed and asleep in CT if the CT Raid storyline happened already.

This would also then hold to the theory that CT Raid storyline happens no matter what with or without WoL being involved. Thus the first time meeting would be in 5.1 MSQ in a Post-CT Raid Storyline( without WoL involvement) (or WoL Involvement if player complete CT Raid storyline) after he has awakened from CT.

However, as I said this will require us to first learn what happens in 5.1 to 5.3 involving Young G'raha Tia in the Source and what role he will play from there.

I still hold the theory that they may go for the Young Spock and Old Spock relationship between the two characters where......

Young G'raha Tia becomes a member of the Scions thus living his dream to go on a adventure with WoL (and taking Exarch's place as the Trust Companion) and Old G'raha stays behind to take over his role as the Master of CT and aid Ironworks with mastering CT in this new timeline earlier than his old timeline.

[Iscah]

It is a rather questionable theory currently because of what happened in the ending of 5.0 with...

hints that Young G'raha Tia maybe waking up in Source CT for 5.1 Storyline which would imply CT Raid storyline happens no matter what with or without WoL's involvement since Young G'raha Tia can only be sealed and asleep in CT if the CT Raid storyline happened already.

Which is why, until canon proves me wrong, I will argue that it cannot be what they're hinting because I believe they will not take that story path. It doesn't follow their established method of handling all optional questlines up to this point.

As I said, for someone who hasn't completed CT, G'raha directly tells Urianger that the Warrior of Light has not met his past self yet, which means it is going to happen later, and the WoL will be there when it does - ie. at whatever point the player completes the quest. G'raha remembers it happening in his past, even though it's still the player's future.

If they planned to ignore quest progression and act as if you've done it when you haven't, then I would expect them to be more deliberately vague when writing dialogue like that.

[BlitzAceRush]

Which is why, until canon proves me wrong, I will argue that it cannot be what they're hinting because I believe they will not take that story path. It doesn't follow their established method of handling all optional questlines up to this point.

As I said, for someone who hasn't completed CT, G'raha directly tells Urianger that the Warrior of Light has not met his past self yet, which means it is going to happen later, and the WoL will be there when it does - ie. at whatever point the player completes the quest. G'raha remembers it happening in his past, even though it's still the player's future.

If they planned to ignore quest progression and act as if you've done it when you haven't, then I would expect them to be more deliberately vague when writing dialogue like that.

A little off topic but interesting to note is:

They actually put dialogue in for if you're in the middle of the CT quest line, I was a hardcore crafter back in ARR so I didn't get around to the CT till during HW, however I thought the quests ended at "The World of Darkness" So I never actually finished the quest line till towards the end of SHB when I noticed G'raha say something to the effect of this during the flashback explaining his plans. "My past self currently travels with the WoL, I'd not spoil the rest of that time of my life for anything" So it's a nice little detail they even thought of people in the middle of the CT story.

[Iscah]

A little off topic but interesting to note is:

They actually put dialogue in for if you're in the middle of the CT quest line, I was a hardcore crafter back in ARR so I didn't get around to the CT till during HW, however I thought the quests ended at "The World of Darkness" So I never actually finished the quest line till towards the end of SHB when I noticed G'raha say something to the effect of this during the flashback explaining his plans. "My past self currently travels with the WoL, I'd not spoil the rest of that time of my life for anything" So it's a nice little detail they even thought of people in the middle of the CT story.

Oh, that is fantastic!

I expected there'd be a middle option, but you can't get that dialogue back. You can play the zero progression version of the cutscene, or your current state (ie. long finished in my case) but there's no way to wind back to that middle point and see what gets said if you missed it.

So, thankyou for saving me from wondering!

[BlitzAceRush]

You're welcome it made me realise I'd not finished the story for CT I was like "Wait... what dose he mean...? But thinking about it I'm now glad I made the mistake as I got to see something I never would have otherwise.
It was indeed an awesome little detail.