Tired of Zenos (spoilers)

[SecretIsland]

I just finished the game (this time for real) and it looks like one of the main villains is going to be Zenos again. I didn't find him a compelling villain when I was playing through Stormblood and I don't find him compelling now either.

Do people think he's a good villain? I must admit that I might have been a little spoiled by Shadowbringers villains, so Zenos seems really cliche in comparison. What are your thoughts? I'm hoping we will kill him early in the story next expansion and he's not going to be the final boss on the Moon :P

[TheMightyMollusk]

He's polarizing, to say the least. Personally, I thought he was alright as a one-expansion villain, but he wasn't interesting enough to keep around after that, and nothing he's done since has changed my thoughts.

[Edax]

I almost took this thread seriously until I saw it was titanman's alt that posted it

Yep, it's one of those threads again.

[SecretIsland]

Yep, it's one of those threads again.

I don't know much about the forum's history so I searched titanman. Unfortunately it just seems like people (and always the same people I might add) are accusing anyone and everyone of being titanman. At some point you trolls need to grow up and find a new hobby. In the meantime looks like I'm adding another one to the ignore list.

He's polarizing, to say the least. Personally, I thought he was alright as a one-expansion villain, but he wasn't interesting enough to keep around after that, and nothing he's done since has changed my thoughts.

I definitely agree. In the Shadowbringers cutscenes he basically lies around on the throne doing absolutely nothing. He's bored, but looking at a bored person is also boring.

I enjoy Zeno's, he's a nice break from all the Uber complex villians in today's world, not just 14, but especially in 14 given how he's, you know, likey gonna be pretty important in 6.0.

Think about it, we had all these complex villians and grandiose stories in previous expacs. Then comes 6.0, where we have a man who is literally so good at fighting he's willing to watch his home nation burn cause he can't find a good enough challenge, and as Yoshi P said, literally just wants to have a damn good fight with the WoL. It's like the most metal, bizarre, f cked up, and straight up nonsensical thing rolled up into one and imo its so good, who knows what kinda stuff they'll pull in 6.0 that'll make people go "wtf dude", and likey flesh him out a bit too.

I can appreciate your viewpoint too! I definitely prefer complex villains more though, because I've just encountered too many Zenos-type villains in other video games before, which makes him cliche and forgettable.

[Ammokkx]

I don't know much about the forum's history so I searched titanman. Unfortunately it just seems like people (and always the same people I might add) are accusing anyone and everyone of being titanman. At some point you trolls need to grow up and find a new hobby. In the meantime looks like I'm adding another one to the ignore list.

in case anyone actually takes this seriously, let me tell you what gives it away that this is an alt of Titanman

His first post was a necro on a hot topic.

Every topic he creates about questions are all questions which have drama surrounding it.

Despite being a newbie, the treasure island character has clearly bought a level 70 boost and used it on none of the starting classes- a level 70 boost that, might I add, titanman buys on every alt.

Also, despite his innocent "uwu i'm a newbie plz help" characterisation now, earlier posts had him not quite having his character figured out yet. This doesn't read like the same "person" posing all these "questions."

Also isn't it curious how beauty astrologian is bumping threads again when secret island is running out of momentum?

[E4EO]

I enjoy Zeno's, he's a nice break from all the Uber complex villians in today's world, not just 14, but especially in 14 given how he's, you know, likey gonna be pretty important in 6.0.

Think about it, we had all these complex villians and grandiose stories in previous expacs. Then comes 6.0, where we have a man who is literally so good at fighting he's willing to watch his home nation burn cause he can't find a good enough challenge, and as Yoshi P said, literally just wants to have a damn good fight with the WoL. It's like the most metal, bizarre, f cked up, and straight up nonsensical thing rolled up into one and imo its so good, who knows what kinda stuff they'll pull in 6.0 that'll make people go "wtf dude", and likey flesh him out a bit too.

[KayRadley]

If it's any consolation, there's a very good chance he will die in Endwalker. And this time, for realsies.

[myahele]

Zenos is the Sylvanas of FFXIV

[hobostew]

Zenos is the Sylvanas of FFXIV

Feels more like a Nathanos imo.

[MoofiaBossVal]

I like Zenos.

I'm tired of the mantra that "villains must be DEEP or complicated". I'm tired of the victimization of evil where villains have to have tragic backstories or be sympathetic.

I like Zenos... because he is unapologetically EVIL. He isn't fighting for some warped ideology. He isn't lashing out against the world. Zenos is just a bloodthirsty warrior who loves the thrill of living on the edge of death and that's it. He is refreshing in his simplicity.

I am fine if he turns out to be the final boss.


I think Zenos could have been more interesting if he hadn't spent the near entirety of the Shadowbringers patches lounging around in a chair.

To me, the appeal of Zenos is that he is a self made man. Everything he does is in pursuit of self-glorification, of becoming the very very strongest warrior in the history of ever. Zenos is at his most interesting when he is pursuing that goal. Like during the Stormblood patches, when he found himself in another body, and started bodyhopping up the chain, and was going on a journey to go confront Elidibus and fight himself. That was exciting. I also liked the Zenos short story, about how a swordmaster from Corvos became Zenos' teacher and kicked Zenos in the ass, so Zenos had to actually get better. He searched the libraries for lore on the sword style, and invented a new technique to try to overcome that swordsmaster. It reminds me of Archaon from Warhammer Fantasy, who was also the big bad of that franchise, but he was also the hero of his own story, going on his journey overcoming trials, gathering allies, and acquiring magical artifacts to prepare for the final battle against Sigmar.

After Zenos got his body back, he should have been trying to pursue the WoL to the First to fight him, or he should have been going off to fight big challenges like Tiamat or Hydaelyn or something until the WoL got back. I think the reason why he didn't do that is because the writers didn't want to detract from the story going on over on the First, but it's still disappointing that he was just sitting around waiting for the WoL to get back.

Zenos is the Sylvanas of FFXIV

Oh, goodness gracious no! I understand why people don't like Zenos, but comparing him to Suevanas?

Say what you will about Stormblood, but I can't imagine FFXIV's writing quality ever reaching WoW levels.