Question on the CGI WoL's companions

[SniperCT]

Was watching this compilation of the CGI from 1.0 to Endwalker and realized that his companions disappear with the HW's trailer. I know he represents the players, but I'm curious what became of them.

My theory is they died in the coup at the end of 2.55.

[Eclipse12187]

Keep playing the game and you’ll find out.

[SniperCT]

Keep playing the game and you’ll find out.

I did play the game that's why I'm asking lol

I've played the MSQ up to the latest patch (though I haven't finished like, the emerald/diamond/etc weapon stuff or the relic weapon stuff(at any level cap).) But I don't recall them ever coming up, and CGI guy is basically us.

I'm not talking about the First versions (I did the four role quests, actually, just waiting on my wife to catch up so we can do the 5th quest together), I'm talking about the Source versions. They were there in the ARR cinematics and then they disappeared. Is it maybe some ARR side content I missed?

[WhiteArchmage]

Not really. They, just like "Ardbert", are stand-ins for the adventurer party so they're basically just meant to be "These are your friends who played 1.0 with you" for the Legacy story, and nameless adventurers who were at Carteneau for the regular story.

Those adventurers in the cinematic, much like the "adventurer friends taking a fishing trip to the Far East" are just a wink and nod from the development team.

[Enkidoh]

^This. 'Derplander' and his friends are just standins for your character in the trailers and FMV openings and thus are distinct from Ardbert. Although his other party members seemed to have disappeared by HW, a piece of HW promotional art shows them alongside Derplander flying in manacutters over Ishgard, so they're definetely still around.

Either way, think of his other party members like other players in the game - you may have friends you play and adventure with, but you're not around each other 24/7, you inevitably have your own lives to live and thus will seperate and do your own thing independently of each other much of the time. In the same way, Derplander's friends are doing their own thing during the later trailers, they're fighting their own battles and duties at that time seperate from whatever our Midlander standin is doing.

[SniperCT]

^This. 'Derplander' and his friends are just standins for your character in the trailers and FMV openings and thus are distinct from Ardbert. Although his other party members seemed to have disappeared by HW, a piece of HW promotional art shows them alongside Derplander flying in manacutters over Ishgard, so they're definetely still around.

Either way, think of his other party members like other players in the game - you may have friends you play and adventure with, but you're not around each other 24/7, you inevitably have your own lives to live and thus will seperate and do your own thing independently of each other much of the time. In the same way, Derplander's friends are doing their own thing during the later trailers, they're fighting their own battles and duties at that time seperate from whatever our Midlander standin is doing.

Ty, I knew they were stand ins but it struck me as odd that they disappeared for HW onward for the CGI. Kind of miss them!

[Jandor]

It's probably just that it's a pain in the ass to put them in every trailer, you can't cut the main character but your adventurer friends just aren't important enough to the story to make the cut.

You have them, they help you, that's about it.

[MoofiaBossVal]

Was watching this compilation of the CGI from 1.0 to Endwalker and realized that his companions disappear with the HW's trailer. I know he represents the players, but I'm curious what became of them.

My theory is they died in the coup at the end of 2.55.

I think they were are stand-ins for fellow player adventurers who the WoL did Alliance Raids and ARR dungeons and ARR trials with. Starting with HW, canonically either the WoL does dungeons alone, or he did them with NPC party members (ie, going through Sohm Al with Estinien, Alphinaud, and Yslaye). Those adventurers might have shown up a few times later, such as doing Susano with them (the quest lampshades this) or the Four Lords trial with.

[Jandor]

I think they were are stand-ins for fellow player adventurers who the WoL did Alliance Raids and ARR dungeons and ARR trials with. Starting with HW, canonically either the WoL does dungeons alone, or he did them with NPC party members (ie, going through Sohm Al with Estinien, Alphinaud, and Yslaye). Those adventurers might have shown up a few times later, such as doing Susano with them (the quest lampshades this) or the Four Lords trial with.

It dies down a bit in HW compared to ARR and StB but NPCs and journal entries still make occasional reference to your adventurer friends from time to time. It's not often, and they don't push it in your face, but it's enough that I'd say you're not canonically alone.