Thread: Revelations from Patch 5.4

It's always a weird time during a major MSQ patch, since I can't really play through everything in one go. I need time to digest, and I don't have that much uninterrupted playtime either.

So that means for reaction threads like this, I first go through MSQ on Patch Tuesday, then the major sidestory questline/Trial on Wednesday or Thursday, and then the Raids (8-man or 24-man) on the weekends. Which means I have to keep starting over from the beginning of this thread, "unlocking" the various spoiler blocks as time goes by.

Originally Posted by Mieck

Sorrow of Werlyt

Interesting to learn that the XIVth were a new legion prior to the events of 1.0. They also referred to the VIIth as a new legion - I'm guessing this confirms that whatever was left of them following Catenaeu was officially disbanded?

According to the lorebook, the remnants of the VIIth were basically executed/slaughtered by the incoming XIVth after the Calamity, as part of Gaius taking over Castrum Centri (formerly Castrum Novum). I don't know if this was a literal order, or if some of the more useful ex-VIIth soldiers were given a choice between joining the XIVth or being killed. But overall the old VIIth was reduced to such a low number (that number possibly being zero) that it's much easier to make a new legion from scratch.

So I can imagine the current VIIth is essentially a "new" legion, even if it was theoretically possible for someone to be from the old VIIth, possibly passing through a stint in the XIVth along the way.

(No new information or spoilers in my spoiler-block, but I'm putting it in one due to context.)

Originally Posted by Cilia

Werlyt

At least the post-fight quest explicitly states Gaius was off-put by Livia's obsession with him, so that whole "My quarters, one hour." bit back in ARR probably was him reprimanding her in private for being so messy back in the Waking Sands.

I admit that line had the distinct whiff of retcon. Not a big or major one, but just more experienced writers looking back at their old stuff and going "wow, that did not age well", and trying to cover it up with a plausible-sounding backstory. You can clearly see the seams if you look closely, but to be honest I can't blame them; lore and dialogue operate under the constraints of game mechanics and development deadlines.

Still, it's in the game now, so I'll accept it as the actual situation between Gaius and Livia. And it even makes sense in hindsight why Gaius never said anything about Livia in the Praetorium, even though we literally killed her to gain access to the place.

MSQ Spoileringtons!

Interesting that the Southern Thanalan tower is tiny, while the Forelands one is colossal in size

Originally Posted by Jandor

I think that:

It might be a set up for side content plans in 6.0.

Like how the war with Garlemald went from primary focus of Stormblood to side content like Werlyt and Bozja in Shadowbringers. Similarly I could see shard-hopping dimension-saving shenanigans being the foundation for the trial series and relic weapons in the next expansion.

Yep, same. I'm fine with that, since overdoing too much of one thing, especially when it was already the main point of ShB, would be overkill and we'd get sick of it. Knowing we can do this as some side content would be great.

Originally Posted by Chewy2nd

MSQ Spoileringtons!

Interesting that the Southern Thanalan tower is tiny, while the Forelands one is colossal in size

I think that may just be where they're located in the sense that one is supposed to feel far off, the other is closer to the map boundaries.

Originally Posted by rainichan

Yep, same. I'm fine with that, since overdoing too much of one thing, especially when it was already the main point of ShB, would be overkill and we'd get sick of it. Knowing we can do this as some side content would be great.

I think that may just be where they're located in the sense that one is supposed to feel far off, the other is closer to the map boundaries.

MSQ Tenque!

They're both pretty close to the boundaries, Forelands one is probably closer than the Sagolii one, but it towers over the zone

Sorrow of Werlyt

I like how the WoL sighs and slumps their shoulders when Cid says the G-Warrior isn't available this time.

One thing that did occur to me. For very other x.4 Patch, we have already had the first Fan-Fest and know the name of the next Expansion as well as have some concept art of zones in it.

This is the first x.4 patch where we're... essentially blind to where the thrust of the MSQ is headed. I can't help but think this patch will feel better placed once we know all that.

Something I'm a bit unclear on regarding the revealed Eden stuff:

SPOILERS, obvs

Are the bodies Miltron and Gaia in, in their flashbacks, the ones they were actually born in, or were both presumably body snatched from someone else? If it's the former, I think it's the first time we've seen Ascians in their "original" meatsuits. I assume Gaia's current body is her own since it's the one she was reincarnated in, right?

MSQ:

Why am I not giving my aether for this spell? Again why am I not giving my aether for the 2nd casting of this spell? Oh look I'm finally giving my aether. I should be able to give more than 10 stacks because we know I have a stupid amount of aether. Oh look we might be putting up a barrier. Oh nope those people went flying backwards. Maybe it's a small one? No I just went flying backwards. Why do we almost never pop one out? Specially when we're running into an attack. Also why did we run into that breath attack?

Other than those points I enjoyed the msq. Well except for maybe knowing our favorite Admiral wasn't going to lose or die due to knowing about the scene in the trailer and the towers having not shown up yet. I love how G'raha forgets that he has a different timelines's knowledge and that saying things like oh it's the famous and super cool general Hex might get the reaction Lyse sort of gave him. Also glad Lyse also still has the I sort of understood what you guys said, but could you maybe explain it to me like you'd do for riqi tio thing going on.

Love how Aymeric is just excited to see you, but after you tell him why you're there he's even more excited and is all yes give the WoL as much fuel as they bloody want. Didn't really think Ishgard had that bad of a tempering problem.

Ga Bu's jp voice is super cute.
I swear the devs had gone and watched the original fantasia and some 50s sci-fi B films for the music. Then wanted to replicate the Wonka nightmare fuel boat ride in the look of the last section of it. With how the water was so bright and looked like oil on water residue looking.

I can't believe Alphinaud said that line to Matoya about the name 'Shtola was using on the first. I mean even G'raha made a oh no he didn't just say that look. I do love how if you went and talked to Matoya before 5.4 she knew that everyone was back, but that Some One hadn't visited her yet and that someone only did that if they had something to hide. I love how Nero got oh hey cat boy I'm going to pester you until you tell me exactly how I and I guess Cid made time travel a thing.

Danny is just boring. I'm different because I just want to destroy the source. Screw anything else. I'm not sure if he really is afraid of Zenos's threat or not, but now I totally want to see Zenos kill him slowly just because they made us lose some hair or something.
Almost forgot holy crap Tataru is going to out design Cid one of these days. Things she does poorly mining, claming, controlling a carbunckle and piloting an airship. Things she does exceedingly well clothes making, baking and I guess when it comes to community related building airships if she was able to make a better and sleaker airship that can carry a few manacutters in the hull. Also thought it cute seeing the few times the Wol and friends had to just wait for results. I did kind of want Krile reading a book while the Wol and tataru play some triple triad instead of us all just sitting on a bench.

Emerald:

Loved the fight. There's points during it where I could see being real fun during Extreme. I think Valens might have done something to Aillie with those inner thoughts of hers. I'm glad I didn't tell that engineer about what happened to the other girl. I'm still not sure as to why or how they think they'll be able to defeat Valens using the Diamond weapon. Somehow I had the idea Valens would be younger looking. Also holy crap is he a mix between Hojo and Delores Umbridge. Burn out the bad guys... I'm glad one of his subordinates made a "but sir you said his family would be compensated/freed if he did this test."

Eden:

It's totally not FF8 guys. We didn't do a better version of 8's ending. What was Nomura on when he made that boss? Are we also Kingdom Hearts now with that last battle music? Still not FF8 guys ignore the junction, store and instant cast mechanics the last boss did that was part of the battle system from 8. I guess Ryne has some daddy issues? Cause why would she give a ripped and shirtless Thancred the snake/dragon minion of Ran'jit?

I kind of feel the Ascian part is just a hot mess? I do like the fact if you've done the all role quests done quest you can mention Cylva and that Gaia isn't only the true name of Legithrom but also is a reincarnated version of her. I'm not sure what else to say about this one.

Cylva quest:

at first I was like why did we need to have completed the Warring Triad as I wasn't expecting a multiple quest chain. Poor Granson. Seems like he's a light weight. That part was funny as heck. This quest was also one of those where you're like maybe we shouldn't allow the WoL to supervise impressionable teens or kids. Also Yay Unhikalhi is finally out of the rising stones. I have a head theory that him and the young elf boy are shards of each other. Even though him saying the whole this feeling of it being so similar to when he did it with the elf Wol/Wod could have just been him not having done something like that with someone else in a long time and not a hint of them being shards of each other.