*SPOILERS* Terrified for the remaining Scions!

[Vahlnir]

Case in point Graha at the end of ShB where it was an insanely big plot hole that just ruined the story for me, all to keep some of the characters alive.

While I don't mind having Graha around I won't ever argue that he should be permanently dead, because in any other FF he probably would have been. I know I teared up a bit when he finally turned into crystal because he was by all rights dead. Deader than dead. Then to make people feel better I guess they needed to bring him back? Sometimes it feels like I'm watching a Disney movie rather than playing an FF game. Heck, even some Disney films have consequences like character deaths. lol

[Elissar]

we're entering the final act, people are going to die, they always die during the final act. It's Ishikawa writing the finale, look forward to what she'll pull off.

I hope so! as i used to say here: we can only wait and see.
An epic death for Estinien would be in a context of battle; Urianger by a plot twist of the ascians; Alisaie by her impulsivity.

[MicahZerrshia]

I posted this in another thread, but I feel it needs to be said again

they have established that no matter how great of a threat we are facing, we know that the main cast is going to come out clean it takes away from the story. It removes all tension and doesn't give you that moment where you unconsciously hold your breath because you are actually scared you may lose a character you love. Antagonists get disposed of all the time and that is another thing, we know that eventually the big bads, esp the sympathetic ones, are going down or changing sides.

If they would have off'd one or two of the main scions in a meaningful way it would add some much needed tension back into the story because we would not know from patch to patch if someone was actually going to face the consequences of their actions, which makes a story more thrilling in a way. Sure they offed a few characters, but we barely knew them or they were just completely faceless which still takes away the tension.

It's like playing a game with god mode on. You may have a little fun running through, destroying anything and everything in your path without having to worry about anything, but that also takes a lot of the fun, the thrill and the enjoyment out of a game. When a writer or writers turn god mode on for a character it does the same thing. You may enjoy the story but it completely removes a lot of the thrill and makes anything and everything they do somewhat meaningless.

Think about it this way. We had a powerful dude, who could destroy worlds and manipulate the life stream like it was a stream in his back yard, who could easily swat the scions aside with a snap of his fingers and yet, even when it came to the final showdown, when he had the upper hand, he attacked them and missed every single time. In fact they were so well off after that battle with this demi-god they were able to swim their way across an entire ocean and crawl up right off the coast of a major city. Now if they would have established that the scions were mortal, they could be killed, think of how dramatic that scene would have been knowing that not all of the scions were going to be safe, compared to how it was. Did they need to kill anyone in that showdown? No. But the knowledge that they could be, is what matters the most. It gives you that moment where you hold your breath, your heart begins to race and you feel real genuine fear and panic, which is just as important in this sort of story as the feelings of relief and joy you get from other situations.

That is why covering your main cast in plot armor is so terrible and a crutch for so many writers. It takes away more than it gives.

[MicahZerrshia]

I hope so! as i used to say here: we can only wait and see.
An epic death for Estinien would be in a context of battle; Urianger by a plot twist of the ascians; Alisaie by her impulsivity.

Alphinaud by his hubris
Y'shotla by throwing her condescending attitude at the wrong person
Graha by the hand of the WoL who just got annoyed from being fawned over constantly
Thancred by being caught spying on leaders of an opposing faction
Krile for being too nosey
Tataru for being secretly a garlean agent (I still think that is a big possibility)

[Zsolen]

One of the biggest issues with the Shadowbringers story was the lack of consequences. We had far worse lows in ARR and HW than SB and ShB.

Two of the Scions have warning signs in the ways of cheating death in close calls and being controlled be an Ascian, in case SE wants to do something. I doubt they will. People like the Scions too much and prefer that they continue to cheat fate. Thancred has completed his dad arc, and Y'shtola's connection to Matoya may have finished it's final purpose in curing tempering.

Urianger does not have the warning signs from what I can tell, and his connection to earlier content could keep him safe. The twins are not adults still or will barely be adults, so I doubt SE will go in that direction.

[KizuyaKatogami]

While I don't mind having Graha around I won't ever argue that he should be permanently dead, because in any other FF he probably would have been. I know I teared up a bit when he finally turned into crystal because he was by all rights dead. Deader than dead. Then to make people feel better I guess they needed to bring him back? Sometimes it feels like I'm watching a Disney movie rather than playing an FF game. Heck, even some Disney films have consequences like character deaths. lol

Honestly now that you mentioned it, that’s really hilariously sad.Disney movies literally have more consequences than 14 does rn. There always at least one important person that dies in disney movies. Yeah that thing with Graha though, honestly i was too busy being irritated at how they butchered Elidibus’ character at the expense of Graha that i didn’t feel anything for him turning to crystal. It’s why i get so…confused when people say they cried at that part when right before that they tell us how we’re going to put his memories into graha anyways. It just killed the entire moment for me. I’ve said it many times before and i’ll say it again. Graha literally feels like one of the writer’s OC pushed into the game. More plot armor than WoL, is able to fit all 3 job roles. Can pull multiple plot holes out of his ass.

[Kozh]

In one of yoshi-p interview he stated that they don't want the players to feel like they wasted investment on the npc and the world (eorzea) after endwalker. Going by this, I think they won't kill a lot of of major npc. Perhaps one of the scions will die, two of they are feeling brave. Getting rid of npc doesn't always mean they have to be killed though, so there's also a chance that the scions will disbanded and everyone will go their own seperate way.

To be honest, one of the annoying thing with ffxiv is their reluctance to kill popular characters, especially one that is fans favorite (with the exception of haurchefant, though I wonder if he's that beloved before he died or not). So yeah, I don't expect them to kill y'sthola, g'raha, the twins (especially alisae), and tataru.

I also thought the scions as my WoL's family because I like them. Has been since the start (arr). But after the mess that is 5.3, I don't know if I care about them anymore. I mean, I definitely care about thancred and alphinaud (I'll be really sad if they kill thancred), but the rest? Not so much. Two other member that I love is minfilia and lyse, but they're not in the scions anymore. At this point, I just want to be done with them and waiting for my WoL to have their own adventure and meet new npc that I hope are more varied than now (please no more female character which is just another y'sthola/alisae, I'm sick of them).

[ViolaLance]

While the consequences, or the lack there of is a valid point.
Ironically enough them having not as many notable deaths (and turncoats) in 14 alone is a pretty notable risk. Although, I guess if FFXIV is to be remotely successful and for the game to survive past at least a year or two at most to be taken seriously at any level of entertainment and enjoyment.

[Omedon]

In one of yoshi-p interview he stated that they don't want the players to feel like they wasted investment on the npc and the world (eorzea) after endwalker.

This is the exact language I created this thread to look for. Thank you, I feel better now!

[Theodric]

In one of yoshi-p interview he stated that they don't want the players to feel like they wasted investment on the npc and the world (eorzea) after endwalker.

He says many such things in interviews.

Ultimately, though, it doesn't mesh with the game itself. I know a lot of people, myself included, who waited for payoff regarding the situation with Regula van Hydrus. He was never mentioned again after Heavensward despite it being a huge deal that the Emperor's best friend and one of the Legatus in charge of a Garlean Legion was willing to put aside his differences and work with us - albeit temporarily.

I think Yoshi-P sorely overestimates how many people actually care about the Scions and how many of us invested in this game because we expected the same 'magic' as can be found within the single player titles.