MSQ

[Iscah]

He gladly shirked all his duties on the first, all the people who saw him as a leader - even a father - just so he can follow around the WoL like a schoolboy, with his hero-worship.

That's a pretty harsh way of looking at it. He died in that world and he can't return to it. It's only by fortune of having the soul crystal prepared that he was able to continue to exist at all.

Even if he'd passed his soul back to he Source without the exact events being forced by Elidibus, he'd been running the city for a century and seen it through the encroaching threat of the sin eaters, and probably felt that he didn't want to keep doing it literally forever (as he physically could have) and there was a point where he should hand over to a new generation. Given time to do it as he originally intended, it probably would have involved a lot more organising and discussion with the people that needed to fill his role - and honestly they seem like they'd collectively have it well in hand anyway. He seems to have been more of a final decision-maker and spokesperson for the city, and that part could easily be handled by a council or successor.

[SturmChurro]

That's a pretty harsh way of looking at it. He died in that world and he can't return to it. It's only by fortune of having the soul crystal prepared that he was able to continue to exist at all.

Even if he'd passed his soul back to he Source without the exact events being forced by Elidibus, he'd been running the city for a century and seen it through the encroaching threat of the sin eaters, and probably felt that he didn't want to keep doing it literally forever (as he physically could have) and there was a point where he should hand over to a new generation. Given time to do it as he originally intended, it probably would have involved a lot more organising and discussion with the people that needed to fill his role - and honestly they seem like they'd collectively have it well in hand anyway. He seems to have been more of a final decision-maker and spokesperson for the city, and that part could easily be handled by a council or successor.

The Crystal Exarch created that extra soul crystal on purpose, he didn't just have a spare. Hence, why I say he gladly shirked his duties on the first. The story was cheapened by his 'fake' sacrifice. It completely deflates any emotional involvement the player could have, as he is literally resurrected (better than ever!) in like.. the next scene.

The Crystal Exarch truly sacrificing himself would have had a much bigger impact on the story, and the game. It would have still accomplished him handing over the reigns, so to speak, to the "new generation"; A bittersweet ending to ShB, and the first. As G'raha Tia was still alive on The Source, it would have allowed for new character development, and a more 'fresh' take on the character.

[Alleo]

I put the whole discussion about shadowbringer behind a spoiler text since the OP said that they have not played it yet and I dont really want to spoil much for others.

The Crystal Exarch created that extra soul crystal on purpose, he didn't just have a spare. Hence, why I say he gladly shirked his duties on the first. The story was cheapened by his 'fake' sacrifice. It completely deflates any emotional involvement the player could have, as he is literally resurrected (better than ever!) in like.. the next scene.

The Crystal Exarch truly sacrificing himself would have had a much bigger impact on the story, and the game. It would have still accomplished him handing over the reigns, so to speak, to the "new generation"; A bittersweet ending to ShB, and the first. As G'raha Tia was still alive on The Source, it would have allowed for new character development, and a more 'fresh' take on the character.

I am not sure how he shirked his duties? He would have simply died...his body was going beyond its limits thanks to the usage of the crystal tower. I honestly dont understand that point. Without the crystal he would have die, with the crystal he died but got a second chance in the world that he was from. For the people on the first the outcome itself would have stayed the same but now they may be more at peace with it since they know that he continues to live on in the other world but deep down he is still death to them because they will never see him again which in turn means that for them it was not a "fake" sacrifice.

If his body had not died there and he could have continued on living on the first then maybe you could say that he "shirked" his duties if he would have still gone with us...but at the same time, he has proteced the city for a huge amount of time and even if not all is 100% well, the people there now live a good life and the biggest threats are done. Why should he be forced to have to live there?

Also fresh take on the character...that reminds me so much of Lyse..."killing" of a character we know just to have this imo stupid surprise of her being her sister and thus just changing her up...For me that did not work at all. Lyse was one of the worst parts of Stormblood for me.

Killing of characters so that we are basically forced to get new ones without much development and needing to take time to develop them is something I dont like much. I like it much more that we have him now, with the knowledge and experience of what happened, while being able to see in which direction they go.

[Iscah]

The Crystal Exarch created that extra soul crystal on purpose, he didn't just have a spare. Hence, why I say he gladly shirked his duties on the first.

That is the point I wrote my entire second paragraph against. It's awfully harsh to describe passing on his role after completing his primary purpose, which he spent a hundred years doing, as "shirking" - even if it had played out in the intended organised way and not forced by his impending death.

He has not-shirked for a hundred years and successfully saved the First from utter destruction and the Source from calamity, and if that isn't enough effort to be allowed to retire without being called a shirker for doing so, I'm not sure what is.

The story was cheapened by his 'fake' sacrifice. It completely deflates any emotional involvement the player could have, as he is literally resurrected (better than ever!) in like.. the next scene.

The Crystal Exarch truly sacrificing himself would have had a much bigger impact on the story, and the game. It would have still accomplished him handing over the reigns, so to speak, to the "new generation"; A bittersweet ending to ShB, and the first. As G'raha Tia was still alive on The Source, it would have allowed for new character development, and a more 'fresh' take on the character.

I do agree with that. Thus my preference that they had let him truly die there - this not cheapening the sadness that he is dying, even if we still intend to wake up his younger self (who is not him) and take him on the adventure that the Exarch never got to have.