Come to the dark side.... @.@

[Felis]

i bet you any money there is a greater evil behind the empire

Or a greater evil against the empire

[Akumu]

Or a greater evil against the empire

I'm honestly hoping that the empire is NOT the evil but something else entirely. I would love to be able to enter their cities and maybe obtain some new class/job, that uses a gunblade. The evil could be so great we would have to join forces with them due to their "cleansing" failing.

[jwang]

I'm ready for a clown to pop out and go "JUST AS PLANNED" as the world burns.

[RemnantWolf]

Actually from what I have seen in game it feels more like they are trying to destroy the beast men and any who stand by their side.

If I understand correctly they are trying to eradicate the Primals and the beast men who worship them in the process. And from what I have heard it sounds like they are not all wrong, as Primals consume Anima (I think it was Anima) which is a vital energy for the world. Primals are one of the big reasons we have seen the de-aspected crystals in the past, they just eat the energy.

So really while they are Evil, they are not an "evil for the sake of evil" type of villain, they are more like a holy order who has lost its way. In all honesty though I hope we get to learn more about them. Really hoping for an awesome, and mind changing villain speech.

[Kiote]

It had gotten the impression that, while the invading force of Eorzea was headed by a sick and depraved individual, the actually Garlean Empire was not a truely evil place. They were conquerors, but they were trying to make the world a better place. Their rationale for the destruction of the people of Eorzea was fear of the Summons who, in current lore, are a highly destructive force that has no interest in the preservation of the world. But, you never know. If Square has always been good at one thing, it's plot twists.

Take FFVIII for example. Siefer is a Good Guy who acts like a Bad Guy. The Sorceress is a Good Guy who acts like a Bad Guy. SeeD was a good force but actually got taken over by bad guys. You never know what SE will do. My guess is that far in the future the Emprire will be a playable area. Something like Aht Urghan.

[Resheph]

I still can't figure out why they decided to drop Dalamud on Eorzea when they could have flown in with a fleet of airships and razed everything ten times over already. The City States have no defenses against that lol

EDIT:

What I mean to say is that what mystifies me about the Empire is not their motivations so much as their methods. They already have the power to obliterate the City States but instead they choose to lurk in the far reaches and dark corners of Eorzea, biding their time and choosing to use Dalamud as a weapon instead of their more conventional style of warfare. Are they frightened that much by the Primals? Or is something else going on?

[Elexia]

I still can't figure out why they decided to drop Dalamud on Eorzea when they could have flown in with a fleet of airships and razed everything ten times over already. The City States have no defenses against that lol

They could but Cid (XI and XIV) and I could guarantee an airship carpet bombing won't explain why the world looks different out of the blue.

Sure you won't have as much greenery or rebuilding cities, doesn't explain why the land got chopped down and suddenly segmented and a mountain range that was here before no longer exists lol. Much like in XI fame, Tavnazian Archipelago is like it is because of the Lightbringer being unsheathed which cut them off from the mainland, that's that story explanation for the landmass being different "suddenly showing up".

[Wynn]

"Evil" tends to be nothing more than a point of view. Does the Garlean Empire view themselves as evil or do they see themselves as the saviors of Eorzea? The best storytelling is that which does not make things about a clear cut good and evil but instead comes down to a clashing ideology that simply cannot be compromised by either side. This is what the OP is talking about.

From what we have seen thus far, however, I feel XIV does this and the more of the story that is exposed the more we will understand the motivations of the Garleans. They certainly aren't doing it just to do it. They have a purpose and they believe they are doing the right thing.

[Agoven]

Who said the Garleans are evil? Since when was the war of magic vs machine ever a good or evil battle?

[Buddhsie]

They're supposed to be mysterious, we aren't supposed to know their intentions yet.. Isn't that the point of a suspenseful story? lol