POC representation

[Twerk_Ninja]

Anybody else noticed the lack of characters of color in both advertising and the main story? Not that I’m SUPER bothered by it, but it would be nice to see more POC out there playing some important roles instead of just being background characters. Hopefully we’ll see more diverse representation in later patches/story lines.

[EaMett]

OP's first post on the forums, talking about the lack of POC in a game made by, technically, POC (whatever that means, I'm going to assume not caucasian). Not to mention there's only one human race in game that could technically fall under this umbrella. A game, might I add, that has plenty of cultural diversity throughout the tribes and areas. Do I smell a troll?

[FF16Necromancer]

OP's first post on the forums, talking about the lack of POC in a game made by, technically, POC (whatever that means, I'm going to assume not caucasian). Not to mention there's only one human race in game that could technically fall under this umbrella. A game, might I add, that has plenty of cultural diversity throughout the tribes and areas. Do I smell a troll?

Ok but the main cast except the WoL themselves are all Sharlayans.

[Valkyrie_Lenneth]

The Azim steppes, Kugane, Ala mhigo, Doma, raubahn, yugiri, merelwyb.

Tons of varied races in this game.

[SamRF]

Aren't we past caring about skin color?

[Stepjam]

While I get what you are saying, on the other hand what there might be lacking in skin color, there is fully made up by a variety of fantasy races. Also mooncats and xaela tend to have darker skin. While many dune lalafells have tannish skin.

I'd say it's fine as is.

[Esmoire]

FFXIV has been alright though there's been some unfortunate moments that look really bad kind of consequence of accidental success or changes in development. An example is how Y'da and Minfilia, two of the Scions from the start of your journey, despite being from Ala Mhigo are both pasty-skinned doll-like blonde blue-eyed bimbos. Light hair seems to appear enough on Ala Mhigans though it seems a bit choice they are both so white. Though like, they kind of made these NPCs way back when, when an idea of what Ala Mhigo truly should look like wasn't decided yet, and female highlanders weren't even in the game yet, so I try not to hold it against them. I think the game would be more aesthetically interesting if either of them looked more like Fordola but I am glad they stuck with their appearances.

When it comes to the not-fantasy skin colours (like blue or soot black) I think FFXIV could do a little better but for the most part FFXIV has been fair as far as expansions go. Like, Heavensward had a lot of Wildwood Elezen who look like... Wildwood Elezen should look. Stormblood had a lot of dark-skinned characters in Ala Mhigo and people with Asian characteristics in the Far East. The First is kind of funky because consequences of the world basically displaced what is left of that world's civilization so things are mixed and matched as people are forced together... And I think it has been good. All of these are addressed towards characters both on the side and prominent ones.

I do think it is something worth keeping in mind: even if you don't care about representation and stuff diversity at least on a superficial level can yield to a more visually interesting cast, which is nice. That said, FFXIV has been good. Maybe some stuff could with character customization could use some improvement but I'd imagine the developers know that.

[Tsaranoga]

FFXIV has been alright though there's been some unfortunate moments that look really bad kind of consequence of accidental success or changes in development. An example is how Y'da and Minfilia, two of the Scions from the start of your journey, despite being from Ala Mhigo are both pasty-skinned doll-like blonde blue-eyed bimbos. Light hair seems to appear enough on Ala Mhigans though it seems a bit choice they are both so white. Though like, they kind of made these NPCs way back when, when an idea of what Ala Mhigo truly should look like wasn't decided yet, and female highlanders weren't even in the game yet, so I try not to hold it against them. I think the game would be more aesthetically interesting if either of them looked more like Fordola but I am glad they stuck with their appearances.

If a woman is blonde and has blue eyes that makes her a bimbo? Huh. So what does that make a male with all that? I'm actually curious.

[Anienai]

If a woman is blonde and has blue eyes that makes her a bimbo? Huh. So what does that make a male with all that? I'm actually curious.

The Man...

[Lersayil]

If a woman is blonde and has blue eyes that makes her a bimbo? Huh. So what does that make a male with all that? I'm actually curious.

I think the precise term would be a "himbo".

Anyways, triggering aside, the word also carries a negative connotation about ones intelligence. As much as I liked Yda, she was the literal definition of a dumb blonde, if somehwhat different from the image people usually associate with those words.

Minfilia canonically was a capable and intelligent leader... within the fanbase however, she's memed upon to no end as an utterly useless character, so it still kinda checks out.