A PoC Scion please? There is so much untapped potential here.

[Jandor]

No, they are not automatically Asian (or the fantasy equivalent thereof) just because the game makers are Asian. The world map and cultural influences indicate that Eorzea is Europe-inspired while Othard is clearly eastern Asia.

I'd say that Europe is missing from the world map, as things stand.

Eorzeas shape and location is much reminiscent of Africa than Europe, it also happens to be a wild and untamed land full of "backwards" tribes that are being invaded by a much more technologically advanced Empire that sees them as inferior.

[TristanBlane]

Honestly Lilja was SUCH a breath of fresh air , I'd gladly welcome more diverse characters and perspectives. And I hope we get more and more of Lilja.

[Iscah]

I'd say that Europe is missing from the world map, as things stand.

Eorzeas shape and location is much reminiscent of Africa than Europe, it also happens to be a wild and untamed land full of "backwards" tribes that are being invaded by a much more technologically advanced Empire that sees them as inferior.

I don't think it's close enough in shape to Africa - more a tilted Europe, or simply the loose concept of Europe versus Othard's much closer geographical match to Asia. But there are the central fairytale forests, the frozen north (with Norse-mythology-themed dragons), the Near East and an island off the continent that is better placed to match Britain than Madagascar.

Africa (or at least northern Africa) might be mashed into the south of it as the Sagolii Desert - but from what little we know, Africa might equate better to the unseen southern continent of Meracydia. The plants noted to have been imported from there to Eorzea, sesame and aloe, are both African natives.

[Iscah]

Wish there was also in-game race diversity as well. Most are Human/ Elezen and 2 cats ... I get that they want to tighten up the cast to tell better stories but could we maybe get Red or Dark skinned Draggo or a Viera or Hrothgar or Roe in the Scions.

Someone a while ago suggested that Hien should have been an Au Ra, and I think that would have been a great move. Too many of the "poster characters" are human or very close to it in a story-world with a lot more potential for variety. Even when there are other races, customisation tends towards more human than the character creator can make them - like giving Roegadyn more human skin tones than either clan can reach.

[LineageRazor]

Being black is about more than just skin color, as well. If they added a Scion and gave him/her dark skin, I really don't think that would be enough to check the box on the "cultural diversity" list. When they added the far Eastern areas and characters, they were fairly well steeped in actual Asian culture. For them to properly handle this, they'd not only need to add black people, but black culture, as well - and I'm not sure they have a good enough perspective on that to do it well.

Asian culture, they understand; it's all around them. European culture, they more-or-less get, at least as far as medieval fantasy goes, since Tolkien is a world-wide phenomenon with derivatives galore. But black culture? I’m not sure how much of that has gotten into the Japanese pop-cultural zeitgeist. It would likely be a risky move for them, just as likely to alienate people as it would to make them feel included.

[Jandor]

I don't think it's close enough in shape to Africa - more a tilted Europe, or simply the loose concept of Europe versus Othard's much closer geographical match to Asia. But there are the central fairytale forests, the frozen north (with Norse-mythology-themed dragons), the Near East and an island off the continent that is better placed to match Britain than Madagascar.

I'd say they're pretty damn close in shape. Obviously not 1:1, but much closer than I originally thought they were tbh.

Even the basic layout of forest and desert is fairly close. Ul'dah, Ala Mhigo, Gridania and Sharlayans colony all shift over to the map of Africa reasonably accurately, even Ishgard sort of makes sense, if you picture the Sahara as a frozen desert instead of a sandy one.

The main differences seem to be the lack of mountain ranges along the west/south of the Sahara, and Africa's complete lack of a sea of floating islands

Madagascar was just shifted to the other side of the continent.

[Iscah]

But black culture? I’m not sure how much of that has gotten into the Japanese pop-cultural zeitgeist.

You say that like there's only one possible culture for dark-skinned people to come from.

"People of colour", as much as I dislike the divisiveness of the term, is a catch-all for anyone that isn't "white". It's not a specific race.

And in any case, if they're adding non-white characters from another culture then it's going to be an in-game culture. Make them Meracydian or U Tribe Miqo'te or the darker Ala Mhigans like Raubahn. Do something to explore an aspect of the story setting.

[BokoToloko]

I'd say that Europe is missing from the world map, as things stand.

Eorzeas shape and location is much reminiscent of Africa than Europe, it also happens to be a wild and untamed land full of "backwards" tribes that are being invaded by a much more technologically advanced Empire that sees them as inferior.

No, Eorzea is definitely European based and, if anything, with some Arabic tints (mostly in Uldah and Ala Mhigo). Eorzean cultures, clothing, some naming convations (namely Elezens) and architecture take a lot from Europe (with clear tints of Japanese idealization and ingenuity).

[Iscah]

Even the basic layout of forest and desert is fairly close.

Except the forest band in Africa is tropical jungle, not temperate forest like Gridania.

Even if the shape is inspired by Africa, the climate (and culture) is inspired by Europe. Africa sits across the equator and that tropical band runs along it, with deserts either side and then temperate climate beyond that.

Eorzea seems to be in that more northern temperate zone with the southern edge dipping into the desert zone, and maybe the southern tip reaching the tropical zone. The Cieldales islands in the south are also apparently tropical.

[BokoToloko]

Except the forest band in Africa is tropical jungle, not temperate forest like Gridania.

Even if the shape is inspired by Africa, the climate (and culture) is inspired by Europe. Africa sits across the equator and that tropical band runs along it, with deserts either side and then temperate climate beyond that.

Eorzea seems to be in that more northern temperate zone with the southern edge dipping into the desert zone, and maybe the southern tip reaching the tropical zone. The Cieldales islands in the south are also apparently tropical.

Overall, southern Aldenard and Vylbrand bears to me a heavy resemblance to the Iberian Peninsula (warm climate areas along the mediterranean coast, almost desertic in some parts, along with many Arabic building, most known being La Alhambra, that bear a strong resemblance to some Ul'dahnese and Ala Mighan architecture). La Noscea and Limsa Lominsa white painted architecture is pretty on par to what you see in many Mediterranean zones and Portugal, where white buildings are fairly common in traditional villages, and the climate is similar to that in the Athlantic coast). Plus, windmills.


On a different topic, the Amaljaa could take some inspiration from African (mostly sub-Saharian) cultures, given their outfits and their tribal disposition.