What major or minor plot points do you wish to see followed up on? [Spoilers]

[Raikai]

I have a Viera alt and as someone who likes to create backstories for their character's I would love to explore more of the Viera culture on the Source, Maybe if we have an Ivalice expansion we can see more of that, with again some unique dialogue for Viera players like Xaela players got in the Azim Steppes, (maybe being referred to as exile instead of outsider in this case). Similar to what you said I hope that they do not look at Fanow Village and say that is it for the Viera village because like you said it is a different world with its own history (Lalafels are considered a beast tribe and Miq'ote are considered a more luxurious and high class people on the First for example).

I also agree it would have been neat to see more day to day uses for Magitech in Garlemald since most of what we saw was military usage, we sort of saw some with street lights and the Prima Vista but more would be interesting. Considering that Emet-Selch had to live out an entire life there I would assume he would endorse some designs to make it more comfortable, this was again sort of hinted at in the Prima Vista storyline where you find out he was a huge fan of Theatre (most likely due to his own nature as an Actor of sorts).

Yeah, part of me was slightly disappointed to see the concept art of the Empire's capital reduced to rubble... Here's the hoping that we'll get at least something akin to the Doman Enclave for the Garlean survivors of the war, that will properly make use of all of these narrative aspects about their culture. You're right too, the only thing we got to see so far Garlean that is not something military is the Prima Vista. I'm hoping to see more... Like, what if they have (had?) things like television or radio broadcasts?

To me, the story of the First is very rich and all... But in the end, it falls short for roleplayers, because it's basically nearly inaccessible for 99.99% of the denizens of Eorzea.

[Enkidoh]

But we have seen snippets of 'pre-destruction Garlemald' in SB and ShB,... and it just looks like Castrum Oriens greatly expanded (same kind of buildings/towers), lots of steel mixed with stonework and cobblestone streets lit by fluroescent light, so very steampunk. Garlemald's capital city somewhat resembles (or resembled) Vector, the Imperial Capital of the Gestahlian Empire from FFVI - rather fitting too given the use of FFVI magitek armour by Garlemald.

By all accounts there was actually a quiet large technological divide in Garlemald with most of the 'technogadgets' being reserved for the military and the general populace.... missing out (this explains why Cid even today is so lauded by average Garleans as a great engineer, to Nero's chagrin, as he wanted to use technology for peaceful means for everyone, not weapons solely in the hands of elites, which is why he fled to Eorzea and set up the Garlond Ironworks - it's in the company's motto: 'Freedom Through Technology').

As for radio, we know the Garleans have radio, because Eorzea uses the exact same technology - it's what linkshells are; advanced radio recievers and transmitters. And we know the Garlean technology is identical because Nero easily hacks into the linkshell feed between Cid and the WoL during the Praetorium with the orb-like device built into his gauntlet, something that would not be possible if it mutually incompatiable. They seem to have certain affinities with mobile phone technology too, especially the phone-like tone in cutscenes whenever a character, usually the WoL, recieved an important call from another NPC.

[Iscah]

As for radio, we know the Garleans have radio, because Eorzea uses the exact same technology - it's what linkshells are; advanced radio recievers and transmitters.

Yes but no.

We do know the Garleans have radio, because there was a quest where we helped Cid set up jamming devices, but he explains it like unfamiliar technology.

Imperial forces communicate at a distance via electromagnetic waves. Simply put, voices are borne upon aetheric lightning energy that permeates the air.

Linkpearls, on the other hand, seem to be more magical - I don't have a source and I don't think it's covered in-game, but I think there was an interview somewhere that explained them as miniature aetherytes just transmitting soundwaves?

[Jirah]

did anyone mention Nero yet? since Spoiler alert!!

He had a interesting relationship with Gaius and the empire as a whole, aswell as Cid and would love to see this fleshed out. and it needs to be asap since The Empire is dying soon

[Enkidoh]

Yes but no.

We do know the Garleans have radio, because there was a quest where we helped Cid set up jamming devices, but he explains it like unfamiliar technology.


Linkpearls, on the other hand, seem to be more magical - I don't have a source and I don't think it's covered in-game, but I think there was an interview somewhere that explained them as miniature aetherytes just transmitting soundwaves?

Oh I know, but it was that very dialogue that proved they are radiographical devices, as that is exactly what electromagnetic waves are - radio waves. Cid used the 'lightning aspected aether' explanation when he saw the soon-to-be WoL's eyes glazing over, not understanding a word of the (real world) scientific meaning, so he dumbed it down and went for the magical explanation. And as Nero hacked the Eorzean linkshell channel Cid and the WoL were communicating with (with Nero's arm gadget making a very radio-like buzzing sound), it's clear they work exactly the same. I guess that is just splitting hairs though. :P

Also I'm not sure about the 'minature aetheryte broadcasting soundwaves' thing, but linkshells did originate in FFXI but there they had virtually no lore at all other than some flavour text about being literally "magical shells" - clearly SE were trying to give a more consistant setting here with FFXIV though and went with the pseudo-scientific/magitechnical explanation.

[Iscah]

Oh I know, but it was that very dialogue that proved they are radiographical devices

I'm not disagreeing with you there, but he describes it like a new and unfamiliar concept of technology, not just "we need to jam their linkpearl signals".

[Kesey]

But we have seen snippets of 'pre-destruction Garlemald' in SB and ShB,... and it just looks like Castrum Oriens greatly expanded (same kind of buildings/towers), lots of steel mixed with stonework and cobblestone streets lit by fluroescent light, so very steampunk. Garlemald's capital city somewhat resembles (or resembled) Vector, the Imperial Capital of the Gestahlian Empire from FFVI - rather fitting too given the use of FFVI magitek armour by Garlemald.

By all accounts there was actually a quiet large technological divide in Garlemald with most of the 'technogadgets' being reserved for the military and the general populace.... missing out (this explains why Cid even today is so lauded by average Garleans as a great engineer, to Nero's chagrin, as he wanted to use technology for peaceful means for everyone, not weapons solely in the hands of elites, which is why he fled to Eorzea and set up the Garlond Ironworks - it's in the company's motto: 'Freedom Through Technology').

As for radio, we know the Garleans have radio, because Eorzea uses the exact same technology - it's what linkshells are; advanced radio recievers and transmitters. And we know the Garlean technology is identical because Nero easily hacks into the linkshell feed between Cid and the WoL during the Praetorium with the orb-like device built into his gauntlet, something that would not be possible if it mutually incompatiable. They seem to have certain affinities with mobile phone technology too, especially the phone-like tone in cutscenes whenever a character, usually the WoL, recieved an important call from another NPC.

I'm glad you mentioned Final Fantasy VI and Vector as I hope whatever the structure the Garleans are building in Garlemald is a call back to the Magitech Research Facility and is a dungeon.

[DamianFatale]

I just want to rebuild all of the ruined areas of CURRENTLY surviving civilizations. That means Yanxia, Gyr Albania, bringing back the monk order, and MAYBE rebuilding Rabanastre.

[Vyrerus]

Oh I know, but it was that very dialogue that proved they are radiographical devices.

Unfortunately, they are purely magical, both in FFXI and FFXIV. They aren't radios, as they aren't disrupted by topography or distance. In FFXIV they were good enough to never use them on the First and bring up that whole chimera, but in FFXI they are still available to use in remote locations and alternate dimensions. Obviously in play in FFXIV, we can still chat with people in LS while in duties and on different dimensional planes though.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

They also have no frequency finding bands or anything. I assume tapping into the communications of a linkshell would be as simple as getting a readout of linkshell communications aether signature, and then tapping into them by setting a comm device to that. I mean, radio waves actually encompass a very broad spectrum, especially nowadays. Linkshells are far more limited in their use, one shell per frequency, essentially, but have a less interruptible signal (only susceptible to interruption by scriptwriter).

[Rosenstrauch]

Unfortunately, they are purely magical, both in FFXI and FFXIV. They aren't radios, as they aren't disrupted by topography or distance. In FFXIV they were good enough to never use them on the First and bring up that whole chimera, but in FFXI they are still available to use in remote locations and alternate dimensions. Obviously in play in FFXIV, we can still chat with people in LS while in duties and on different dimensional planes though.

Minor correction, but I'm fairly certain Thancred used a linkpearl to contact us at some point during the Eden questline. But then we also set up a miniature aetheryte so that we could teleport into and out of Eden itself, which Thancred should not be able to do. And since that's the only place I remember linkpearls even coming up on the First, I can't help but wonder if it was just a writing mistake. Or if I'm crazy and remembering something that never happened, lol.

Still, it's weird that linkpearls didn't even get a handwave on the First. They just... don't get acknowledged at all, despite having immense value for long distance communication.