Thread: Revelations from Patch 5.4

Originally Posted by KageTokage

On the subject of something that changes post-MSQ...

I really hope 5.5 has us figuring out exactly what those towers are doing then going on a realm-wide romp to destroy them, because they're a bit of an eyesore.

Aside from the ones you actually see in person in the MSQ, there's towers in the South Shroud, Southern Thanalan, the Dravanian Forelands (I doubt the dragons will respond well to that, though considering what the towers are known to do, that might be a really bad thing), and in Yanxia. They're also definitely not

I'm also fully expecting Lunar Bahamut to be our "endboss" for 5.5 that we deal with in a solo duty, since it seems like Fandaniel intends to use the "lunar" primals to guard the towers with the former stated as being just the first in a multitude.

Your second paragraph cuts off.

Actually, on Valens:

It wouldn't surprise me at all if the writers are making him so evil is to contrast with Noah over in Save the Queen. Like, people in this thread have mentioned Gaius being the only decent Legatus, in the sense of having some time of standards, but StQ at this point is leaning heavily into the IVth and Noah having sympathetic goals if not methods. That's also not even mentioning Regula, who while firmly Garlean and in Varis' corner was also very clearly sane.

Actually at this point were pretty much split right down the middle when it comes to Legati.

Valens, Zenos and Nael are/were cooko for cocopuffs. Gaius, Noah, and Regula were the sane/some what sympathetic ones.

It's not perfect, but I do think there is more nuance there then people give credit sometimes."

^ Gabranth is definitely a contributing factor here to the writers, I think. I agree. Trying to show opposite ends for both of the legati who are relevant in this expansion.

Unrelated to that but still Werlyt talk:

I really think they should have used Zenos for Emerald's Oversoul and saved Gaius for Diamond. He's more relevant and thematically important to this plot than Zenos is, it would be better to have the last Weapon use Gaius as its Oversoul.

Originally Posted by JeanneOrnitier

-snip-

Ten agreeing characters.

It'd also have worked better thematically frankly. Rex's gung ho attitude towards what was happening really did not fit Gaius being the oversoul. Where as Alphonse being reluctant but ultimately accepting of what he sees as his duty definitely parallels the current Gaius we have on our hands. (Which much as I dislike what they're doing to clean the character up it's sadly currently canon... :/) Also, like, from Valens' perspective why WOULDN'T he save Gaius for last? If I was in his place and hated Gaius as much as I did I'd absolutely use him for Diamond weapon as the final middle finger to the man. "Look, I can make a better you. " and all that. Given that Valens is doing his utmost to emulate and surpass Gaius it is rather odd to me that Gaius' stint as an oversoul entity didn't result in more gloating from the man.

Then again I'm just kinda sick of Zenos at this point so that might be where my personal feelings are coming from.

Werlyt

The fight was fun and challenging. I died a few times, but also spent a lot of time rezzing the healers. First time is always a challenge. The encounter had a lot of, what I call, cheese mechanics. Which are a bunch of instakill mechanics. Move here, then move there! Fast! Oh no! Out of position by a fraction of an inch! DEATH!!! BLOWN OFF PLATFORM!!! Good news is, if you get blown off the platform you can still be rezzed. So I wasn't forced to be a spectator. Which is good, because otherwise I would have just left the trial. Really fast.

As for the story. Definitely felt bad for Gaius' kids. I especially felt bad for Alfonse, not so much Rex. Rex seemed gung ho about the whole thing, while Alfonse truly seems to feel the burden of what they are trying to do. His torture at the hands of Valens' wards was tough. But the scene after that with him laying on the ground, knowing that we just killed his brother and understanding what he's trying to accomplish, was quite sad. Good writing. It tugged on my heart strings a bit.

That being said, I'm still not altogether down with Gaius' redemption arc. The man is a mass murderer. And I was glad to see that other elezen (Vaud-something) question him openly. He basically said what I was thinking. Unfortunately, I think this is par for the course with SE. Gaius will be redeemed, likely dying a heroic death.

I'm not a big fan of Valens. Between him and Fandaniel, seems like the new villains are Saturday morning cartoons. I know they all can't be Emet-Selch, and I don't expect that. But I guess I was just looking for a bit more nuance. Valens just hates Gaius and that's pretty much it. When Valens eventually dies, I'm not going to feel much. But we'll see how it's handled. I was much more into the Four Lords storyline in SB than I am of Werlyt so far. I'm still enjoying myself, though. Looking forward to facing off against whatever this masterpiece is.

Also, I'd like to live in Terncliff.

10 more characters, I guess. The forums are being absurd.

I'm trying to get over how contrived and rushed the story always is to fit the patch structure. The scion kids routinely come up with historic breakthroughs in science based on mere moments of pondering, and all wild theories immediately produce the desired outcomes neatly. The full-time scholars of the world must really suck compared to our gang. Cid and the Ironworks are the equivalent paragons of the technology side of things, able to reverse engineer and build anything that's needed in a heartbeat.

Putting aside how convenient and immersion-breaking it is, I did quite enjoy certain parts of this patch. The depraved antagonist in the werlyt trial series made me care about kicking his ass some day. The ryne and gaia friendship in the raid series is pretty nice too. I liked both of those more than the MSQ this time. I actually like Zenos as an antagonist but he sure is patient, spending most patches sitting in a chair waiting for us to get around to fighting him.

Originally Posted by Rufalus

I'm trying to get over how contrived and rushed the story always is to fit the patch structure. The scion kids routinely come up with historic breakthroughs in science based on mere moments of pondering, and all wild theories immediately produce the desired outcomes neatly. The full-time scholars of the world must really suck compared to our gang. Cid and the Ironworks are the equivalent paragons of the technology side of things, able to reverse engineer and build anything that's needed in a heartbeat.

Putting aside how convenient and immersion-breaking it is, I did quite enjoy certain parts of this patch. The depraved antagonist in the werlyt trial series made me care about kicking his ass some day. The ryne and gaia friendship in the raid series is pretty nice too. I liked both of those more than the MSQ this time. I actually like Zenos as an antagonist but he sure is patient, spending most patches sitting in a chair waiting for us to get around to fighting him.

The WOL aside, all the scions are scholars. This is why they all studied in Sharlayan. Is it convenient for the plot? Yes. Does it also make sense within the context of the story? Yes.

So call it a short cut. Hate it all you want. But with the context of world building, it is well within the character's capabilities.