Spoilers: Theory for Pandaemonium Story

[Shyron]

But how much of that was due to bad writing? Ascians were a very one-dimensional type of antagonists during ARR/HW/SB, with the only exceptions being Elidibus (who mostly worked in the shadows), and Emet-Selch, close to the end of Stormblood.
If Lahabrea had been written with the same depth as Emet-Selch, I'd imagine he would've been a far less insufferable character. Especially when looking at some of the stuff that was brought up in Amaurot.

Yeah, him getting to be more interesting is why I'm kind of hoping for a more protagonistic role for him. A lot of the other Ascians could use that treatment, too.

[ty_taurus]

Regarding Pandemonium, I feel like no one is talking about the similarities it shares with Final Fantasy 9's Pandemonium. For reference:

I know the story is supposed to be original, but I'm predicting we get some FF9 music and references in the bosses like how Eden referenced FF8

[Ultimatecalibur]

I know the story is supposed to be original,

The unnamed 6.X Alliance Raid is what is going be original/non-crossover not Pandaemonium.

but I'm predicting we get some FF9 music and references in the bosses like how Eden referenced FF8

FFIX Pandaemonium was an FFII Pandaemonium reference. The FFIX dungeon's theme was even a remix of the FFII dungeon's theme.

[ty_taurus]

The unnamed 6.X Alliance Raid is what is going be original/non-crossover not Pandaemonium.


FFIX Pandaemonium was an FFII Pandaemonium reference. The FFIX dungeon's theme was even a remix of the FFII dungeon's theme.

Ah, I always forget II exists, lol. That's a fair point though. I was hoping to see some ff9 bosses, but it might be more about II then.

[Cilia]

Ah, I always forget II exists, lol. That's a fair point though. I was hoping to see some ff9 bosses, but it might be more about II then.

There's also the fact of Lahabrea being there (who is a very roundabout reference to II's main antagonist Emperor Mateus), and the architecture is more reminiscent of II's Pandaemonium (with its black, purple, and blue) than IX's (more orange / red with a little green).

Even if the Alliance raid is the only one confirmed to be original / non-crossover, I still hope they do it in the style of Eden. Lots of inspiration from and allusion to VIII, rarely making direct lifts.

[Hank_Hotspur]

Even if the Alliance raid is the only one confirmed to be original / non-crossover, I still hope they do it in the style of Eden. Lots of inspiration from and allusion to VIII, rarely making direct lifts.

That's true for about everything in FFXIV. The Crystal Tower alliance raid was a big send up to FF3 but the events were so important that the events of the entire Shadowbringers expansion revolves around them and the tower itself to such a degree that the the FF3 leitmotif made it into the main them of ShB

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VRWlmXuv8E

[Rosenstrauch]

Why not both? FF2 and FF9's versions of Pandaemonium could both serve to inspire FF14's.

FF2's supplies quite a few bosses for them to use: Beelzebub, Astaroth, the original Iron Giant, and, uh... Tiamat. Its heavenly counterpart, Arubboth, mostly offers up recolors of the same enemies: Beelzebub Soul, Lucifer, Steel Giant, and Yamatano Orochi (in case they don't feel like dragging poor Tiamat out of Azys Lla to be raid fodder). They could probably also pull out the superbosses added to the iOS version of the game, Phrekyos and Deumion. Deumion in particular seems like his backstory was practically made for FF14 "pre-historic" world: A child prodigy born in an era where everyone could use magic, who was selected to guard the ultimate destructive magic (creatively named "Destroy", yes really) and sealed away within the Arcane Labyrinth for all eternity.

I'm not terribly familiar with the FF9 version, or FF9 in general, but a cursory glance through information about it makes it sound like it's a pretty good fit for FF14 as well. Not much in the way of bosses that aren't main characters, though. Also, there's a character name I noticed in my sleuthing that stuck out at me: "Mikoto". Looking into it, I can't help but wonder if Mikoto Jinba was named with this raid in mind, well in advance of its actual inclusion. She does have the Echo, after all.

[ty_taurus]

Why not both? FF2 and FF9's versions of Pandaemonium could both serve to inspire FF14's.

FF2's supplies quite a few bosses for them to use: Beelzebub, Astaroth, the original Iron Giant, and, uh... Tiamat. Its heavenly counterpart, Arubboth, mostly offers up recolors of the same enemies: Beelzebub Soul, Lucifer, Steel Giant, and Yamatano Orochi (in case they don't feel like dragging poor Tiamat out of Azys Lla to be raid fodder). They could probably also pull out the superbosses added to the iOS version of the game, Phrekyos and Deumion. Deumion in particular seems like his backstory was practically made for FF14 "pre-historic" world: A child prodigy born in an era where everyone could use magic, who was selected to guard the ultimate destructive magic (creatively named "Destroy", yes really) and sealed away within the Arcane Labyrinth for all eternity.

I'm not terribly familiar with the FF9 version, or FF9 in general, but a cursory glance through information about it makes it sound like it's a pretty good fit for FF14 as well. Not much in the way of bosses that aren't main characters, though. Also, there's a character name I noticed in my sleuthing that stuck out at me: "Mikoto". Looking into it, I can't help but wonder if Mikoto Jinba was named with this raid in mind, well in advance of its actual inclusion. She does have the Echo, after all.

Mikoto's a pretty minor character who mostly just informs you of what it's like on Terra when you get there at the end of Disc 3 in FF9. She does have a tail though.

Some cool examples of major bosses in FF9 that would be interesting to see:

Soulcage, from the Iifa Tree (which I desperately want to see in FFXIV):



Kuja's Silver Dragon:



Zorn and Thorn and their mutant form, Multigemini:




And the Cloud of Darkness/Zeromus of FF9, Necron:

[Enkidoh]

I'm pretty certain we already got Zorn and Thorn in the form of the Jongeleur twins in Eulmore - they wore similar outfits, spoke in rythme and were jesters-turned-lackeys for a morbidly obese and antagonistic monarch (they didn't turn into a monster though) - they even had a similar theme, albiet a track from FFIV though (Dancing Doll Calcabrina).

[Vyrerus]

Necron is who I think about when I see the Zodiark statue. I know that Zodiark is a 12 ref, but still...

Let's see, stuff from IX that I want to see... well we're already getting discount Lindblum in the form of Radz-at-han. Well, the very first few boss, the plant things and plant minions that chase to the end of the Evil Forest cutscene. That has always struck me as something very original for IX, as well as the uhh... what were those giant bugs with the carriages(Gargan Roo)? Those were also original to 9, as far as I know.

Would definitely love an Amarant and Lani reference. Taharka would be kinda cool.