How do you feel about the character cast of FFXIV.

[Alleo]

After already losing two of my favourite NPCs in Heavensward (one for purely dramatic reason too..) I have only the twins left that I really care about, even if Alisaie does kinda gets on my nerves a bit with her constant jealousy if others are interested in the WoL. But I do absolutely love her banter with Alphinaud and if anything happens to any of the the two I would be heartbroken. Other than that I do like some of the others but none would really leave me feeling really sad. I would probably still cry (because music and things can do wonders in such scenes) but not in any way that I have felt for the two already killed of NPCs. I guess after that I just could not fully connect to the rest of the new cast anymore?

I do have to give it to shadowbringers, at least they made me feel more like a part of the scions then all the expansions before that but I still would not really care if they die. And they too would probably just look a bit shocked and maybe one second sad if the others do too..so yeah most of the characters on the good side feel a bit bland. They are often just there to give us the plot points (and somehow know so much or have the right item at the right time...) and barely react to stuff too. It probably does not help that they are all so willing to throw away their lifes so that human faults like being afraid to die or witnessing something horrible are not really there. And anything is just shown with a few tears sliding down their faces (if they even cry at all) and no hugs are ever given...

Its kinda interesting that our own character has shown more trauma and even a bit of PTSD than any of the others. How ironic that the normally blank slate is more of its own character with some emotions than the rest.

[Recon1o6]

Honestly, I wish we didn't have the twins. Alphinaud's a nuisance and the WOL clearly has some diplomatic skill they just prefer to nod silently and Alisae has been flanderised too much into being a crush.
Never really liked Thancred before, still don't now but he's improving.

I have liked Y'shtola, but it feels there's times when she's good and times when she isnt. Ryne was decent enough.

Tbh, I feel the problem with ffxiv's main character cast is they are somewhere between side characters and annoying, whereas some of the side characters or dead ones are the ones we should have kept for msq. Cid for example, or Moenbryda

On the villain side...why is it the shit villains keep getting brought back from the dead?
At least Gaius came back I suppose. But he's the exception that proves the rule.


Shb did basically confirm that my suspicions that the devs finally realised players preferred the minor scions over the major ones with the exception of Tataru. The B team of the scions like Riol, Hoary, Arenvald etc actually feel like they give a damn about the player whereas the major ones didn't.

[Zabuza]

After already losing two of my favourite NPCs in Heavensward (one for purely dramatic reason too..) I have only the twins left that I really care about, even if Alisaie does kinda gets on my nerves a bit with her constant jealousy if others are interested in the WoL. But I do absolutely love her banter with Alphinaud and if anything happens to any of the the two I would be heartbroken. Other than that I do like some of the others but none would really leave me feeling really sad. I would probably still cry (because music and things can do wonders in such scenes) but not in any way that I have felt for the two already killed of NPCs. I guess after that I just could not fully connect to the rest of the new cast anymore?

I do have to give it to shadowbringers, at least they made me feel more like a part of the scions then all the expansions before that but I still would not really care if they die. And they too would probably just look a bit shocked and maybe one second sad if the others do too..so yeah most of the characters on the good side feel a bit bland. They are often just there to give us the plot points (and somehow know so much or have the right item at the right time...) and barely react to stuff too. It probably does not help that they are all so willing to throw away their lifes so that human faults like being afraid to die or witnessing something horrible are not really there. And anything is just shown with a few tears sliding down their faces (if they even cry at all) and no hugs are ever given...

Its kinda interesting that our own character has shown more trauma and even a bit of PTSD than any of the others. How ironic that the normally blank slate is more of its own character with some emotions than the rest.

My guess was that not showing hugs in general was because of animation reasons. As in, they couldn't make it look smooth so they just didn't bother. I will admit that out of the remaining Scions, I probably like the emotional ones the most. So, Alisaie is my favorite remaining one because I can occasionally feel something when she speaks. She actually reacts to loss. I don't really care about Alphinaud. Even after Ryne's appearance, I still can't bring myself to care about Thancred. Ryne herself seemed to be promising at first, but after her plot was already neatly tied up in ShB 5.0, the writers don't really seem to know what to do with her. I noticed in the cutscenes she barely has any lines to contribute. I do not care even .01% about the other Scions or the Alliance leaders. I cared far more about the Ascians who I interacted with 5% of the time compared to the main cast. When the villains are the ones showing emotion and not the good guys, I think you have character issues in your game. I liked Ardbert because his emotions were genuine and his struggle real.

I expected Thancred to show a little emotion at a certain point with Ryne when the Scions finally had to go back to the Source, but I still felt little from his reaction. I was like, 'that's all you're gonna do to comfort her, dude?

Honestly, I wish we didn't have the twins. Alphinaud's a nuisance and the WOL clearly has some diplomatic skill they just prefer to nod silently and Alisae has been flanderised too much into being a crush.

I suppose that is different from me. I see our character as just being the blade who bends to the will of Scions/leaders. We are indeed supernaturally powerful, but I feel like intelligence is not our strong suit. That is the impression I received anyway, as we don't often have words to contribute. I give SE a pass on this one though, as it is difficult to make a blank slate character seem smart. SWToR certainly did a great job shaping the player characters, but I realize it would be quite the budget drainer to have our lines often be voiced and to give us various dialogue options that would affect the story path as SWToR does.

[DPZ2]

Honestly, I wish we didn't have the twins. Alphinaud's a nuisance and the WOL clearly has some diplomatic skill they just prefer to nod silently and Alisae has been flanderised too much into being a crush.

Sure, the Warrior of Light has some diplomatic skill. Do you want to play that game instead? Because I would find the intricacies of off-screen diplomacy are best left out of this one. We are Trusted, and Trustworthy, but we are not diplomats or administrators.

[MoofiaBossVal]

I thought that the Scions were really meh during ARR. I guess the voice acting didn't help, but I just wasn't endeared to any of the characters except Minfillia and Alphinaud, and to an extent, Papalymo. Alphinaud came up as an ass at first, spiting on the deaths of the Scions in 2.0, but I became endeared to him as the little brother and the pseudo-commander as the patches went on. I really liked Minfillia because she was trying to run the operation and her self doubt. Papalymo also came across as friendly and as a good mentor, but sadly he barely had any screentime.

Everyone else came across as one dimensional. Thancred was the playboy thief, Y'shtola was the crass wizard, Urianger hardly had any screentime and his gimmick was to espouse exposition in Shakespearan manner (also didn't help that he couldn't facially emote because he had a hood up). I can't remember what Yda ever did (again, doesn't help her face is obstructed). I was more interested in the NPC Scions like Hoary Boulder, Coultenent, and F'lhaminn more than them.

I like Cid.

I love Nanamo and Raubahn. I was really endeared to their struggle during the ARR patches (also my eyes got watery during the 4.4 MSQ). I kinda like Merylwyb (her ARR voice actor was fantastic). Kan E Senna... she's sorta just there. I guess she's meh.

Yugiri was... she was "there". I guess she was meh. Never really liked her.

I liked Haucherfant but didn't love him like everyone else seems to.

I didn't like Estinien at first, he was sorta meh, but after he took off the helmet he became a lot more likeable. I really like Aymeric. I also like Count Fortemps and his sons, and also Honoroit . Ysalye was really meh and forgettable, didn't like her. Hilda was okay but I keep forgetting she exists, kinda feels like another Yugiri.

I love Gosetsu and Hien, and Magnai and Sadu. And the Ruby Sea princess/sisters/princess and body double. And Hancock. Really I liked all of the Othard characters except Yugiri and the Mol girl.

I keep forgetting that the Ala Mhigan characters exist (except for Raubahn, Ilberd, and Fordola. They're cool).

[MoofiaBossVal]

I guess Krile exists. She is okay... real problem is she is always in the background so I'm not really attached to her or didn't get to really so her do anything.

I like Ramza from the Ivalice raids. Hope we get to see him again.

I think it was during Stormblood that I started liking the Scions. I felt bad when the visions started happening, whereas I didn't really care when they were captured during ARR or when they were missing in HW. I loved the Scions in Shadowbringers and now they're my favorite characters in the game, really feel like they're family best bros. It's just rather unfortunate that it took this long for me to get endeared to them. I also like the Crystal Exarch as a mentor/leader figure on the Source, not too keen on the "wanna be your best friend" part, we'll see where they go with that. Lyna was okay.

As for villains, I liked the ARR villains the most. Gaius is my favorite Garlean antagonist for being grounded (I just want to conquer and rule of you, no craziness or destroy the world crap), but his lack of screentime and his voice acting really brings him dowm. I wish Rhitahtyn had more screentime. I really liked the Griffin and cronies, he felt threatening and their motives were understandable and their plans were coherent. I liked Fordola. I like Emet-Selch but I don't love him. I like the idea of Zenos but it really depends on how they use him in the end (I hope he wins the 1v1 against the WoL. Zenos should be the strongest character, he moral probably shouldn't be about being the strongest, most violent killer, but relying on your friends. So the WoL should lose the 1v1 but win together with his friends). I didn't like the boring evil dragon and the boring evil pope. I was sorta indifferent to Varis until he started talking crazy towards the end of Stormblood, at which point I disliked him. Yotsuyu and Vauthry were meh. Ran'jit was okay; he really needed a couple of flashbacks showcasing his time with his prior students and how he was slowly worn down over the years.

[Vyrerus]

Do you enjoy the character cast?

Yes, I do, and I find your perspective strange. Though I find most people's perspective on this matter strange.

First of all, there are hardly ever personal losses for side character cast, but when there are... they really ham up the emotion. When Moenbryda died they had several quests dedicated to the Scions moping, notably, Urianger, Minfilia, and Yda. All of whom cried and lamented the loss of Moenbryda. Urianger is definitely NOT impervious to emotion. He's one of the most outwardly emotional Scions in the cast. Especially when he believes he's done wrong, even if said wrong was in the name of the greater good. I agree with this assessment for Y'shtola though.

As far as city-state leaders go, Nanamo gets a bigger focus because Ul'dah's government is the most corrupt, and she is the least competent leader we've got.

My suggestion to you would be to make sure you talk to the characters between quest advancement markers, as they have dialogue you can see nowhere else, which is where a lot of their fleshing out occurs. It's not ideal, I will admit, but they do have a lot of story they want to focus on, and they want it to focus around we the player, rather than the NPC cast.

[Zabuza]

Yes, I do, and I find your perspective strange. Though I find most people's perspective on this matter strange.

First of all, there are hardly ever personal losses for side character cast, but when there are... they really ham up the emotion. When Moenbryda died they had several quests dedicated to the Scions moping, notably, Urianger, Minfilia, and Yda. All of whom cried and lamented the loss of Moenbryda. Urianger is definitely NOT impervious to emotion. He's one of the most outwardly emotional Scions in the cast. Especially when he believes he's done wrong, even if said wrong was in the name of the greater good. I agree with this assessment for Y'shtola though.

As far as city-state leaders go, Nanamo gets a bigger focus because Ul'dah's government is the most corrupt, and she is the least competent leader we've got.

My suggestion to you would be to make sure you talk to the characters between quest advancement markers, as they have dialogue you can see nowhere else, which is where a lot of their fleshing out occurs. It's not ideal, I will admit, but they do have a lot of story they want to focus on, and they want it to focus around we the player, rather than the NPC cast.

Perhaps that is why. I did not speak to them outside of the MSQ, and I'm sure many others haven't either. I am coming from a place where I compare them to the characters in our party in FF7 remake, for example(or plenty of other fictional works). Every single one of the cast was able to stir strong emotions within me. Yet with the Scions I have mostly felt little, if anything. Urianger's face was still stoic when Moenbryda, supposedly one of his closest friends, died, and I believe he said he was going to 'study, and mourn in his own way.' Yeah, that doesn't really tug on any of my heart strings. I contrast this with when Cloud had to watch certain people die who weren't even his closest friends. The pain and struggle that was written all over his face. It doesn't compare.

[Vyrerus]

Perhaps that is why. I did not speak to them outside of the MSQ, and I'm sure many others haven't either. I am coming from a place where I compare them to the characters in our party in FF7 remake, for example(or plenty of other fictional works). Every single one of the cast was able to stir strong emotions within me. Yet with the Scions I have mostly felt little, if anything. Urianger's face was still stoic when Moenbryda, supposedly one of his closest friends, died, and I believe he said he was going to 'study, and mourn in his own way.' Yeah, that doesn't really tug on any of my heart strings. I contrast this with when Cloud had to watch certain people die who weren't even his closest friends. The pain and struggle that was written all over his face. It doesn't compare.

Uhh, Urianger laments that Moenbryda went to her grave without knowing Louisoix's Will, and he beats himself up about it, which is go to coping method, to blame himself for the worst of what transpired. We tell him her last words were that she finally understood Louisoix. This makes him happy, but he gets sad again immediately, looking down and turning his head away from the camera, and due to his goggles and hood, we can't see if he cries or not. An easy out for the game devs at the time, honestly lazy, but he also says in a deeply sorrowful voice, "Oh Moenbryda... My dearest... how I shall miss thee." The line you reference comes after Minfilia resolves that they as a group should honor Moenbryda and not sulk. Basically it's Urianger saying that he's in so much pain that he'd rather grieve by himself.

As for a graphical and facial expression comparison, you're levying a 2020 game against a 2013 cutscene that's working off a reworked 2009~2010 engine. I'd compare whatever Cloud scene you're talking about more to a more recent Urianger emotional scene. Perhaps the one where he comforts Ryne just before the Ran'jit instanced battle where we control Thancred. You can hear the inner turmoil in his voice, and his face is quite a bit expressive too. And we can see that now, cause his goggles and hood aren't there, hah.

[Ayuhra]

After replaying through the story for a second time, I came to notice something about the story as a whole.

I won't deny that this is the best MMO story I have ever played, especially in Shadowbringers, but a certain aspect of it felt lacking. I then realized that for me, it is the characters.

Don't get me wrong, Emet-Selch certainly left a lasting impression on me, and I enjoyed Yotsuyu, Elidibus, Ardbert, and Crystal Exarch. Aside from this though, I realized I had no investment in any of the characters. I believe this is because the story always likes to focus on 'the greater good'. In telling their grand tale of nations and worlds, the relatability of the characters seems to be notably absent. With few exceptions, I see little in the way of internal struggles in the character cast.

I don't feel that they are affected when they incur losses, or at least it does not seem to be shown adequately. Urianger seems impervious to emotions, even when he loses those dear to him. I'd say the same of Y'sthola. Only reason I enjoy her at times is because of her sarcastic quips. I enjoyed the period of struggle with Thancred and Ryne, and wished there were more moments like that in the game. With the exception of a short period in the game with Nanamo, I felt no internal struggle in the alliance leaders as the plot moved forward.

I suppose that in summary, I do not feel this game focuses enough on what makes the characters tick, choosing to often favor the 'grand goal' instead. I am curious what the community thinks about this. Do you feel I am incorrect and that the characters receive enough detail as it is? Do you enjoy the character cast?

I am a WoW refugee so it's easy for me to feel attached to the cast. Are they as complex as the cast of (most) single player Final Fantasies? Nah. Are they more engaging than the overwhelming majority of MMO casts? Yes!

I really love Emet-Selch, Ysayle, Estinien, Yotsuyu, Alphinaud and Haurchefant especially. (I used to like Thancred but his personality seems to change each expansion).

If the game has one major hole in its cast it's the Warrior of Light.

I wish we could select personalities for our WoL that changed some of their animations in cutscenes or had more options for choosing dialogue. Shadowbringers made the right move in making the WoL be in mortal peril for a while but other than that I felt like my character was a wooden board with no weakness.