I wonder about WoL

[Fengalon]

Is there a bigger reason or an explaination (maybe in the lore books), why there are only WoL of the 8 Playable races?

Does that mean Garlerean , Sylph , Kojin and so on can´t be a WoL? Is miss Mother Crystal picky or kind of rasism in her choice of WoL?

[Catapult]

I imagine it is entirely plausible that a Kobold or a Sylph could be a warrior of light. We've seen a Sahagin granted the echo, after all.

I'd also assume that it isn't the case because of narrative choices by the writers. Not every possible scenario can be explored in a game with finite resources.

[Wilford111]

Welcome to 2021 where everything is racist.

[Caitlyn]

Anyone can be WoL. Technically.

Every race got their own primal. Sylph got Ramuh, Kojin got Susano and we got Hydaelyn. Problem solved.

[KageTokage]

I would assume every spoken race has had influential Echo bearers amongst their ranks at one point or another.

Circumstances would kind of dictate that you'd likely only see individuals from particularly well-integrated races (Like the playable ones) become prominent enough to be regarded as Warriors of Light, though.

I also think Garleans are fundamentally not able to become Warriors of Light simply because their unique physiology seems to prevent the Echo from manifesting. I don't think some of their legions would've harbored such an interest in Echo bearers had they been walking amongst their people all this time.

[RyuDragnier]

Is there a bigger reason or an explaination (maybe in the lore books), why there are only WoL of the 8 Playable races?

Does that mean Garlerean , Sylph , Kojin and so on can´t be a WoL? Is miss Mother Crystal picky or kind of rasism in her choice of WoL?

The WoL can only be one of the 8 due to gameplay resources. If those weren't an issue, it's very possible that any member of any tribe or race could have been chosen. So it's completely possible for a Garlean to be a Warrior of Light...which has actually kind of happened before if you think about it, Ramza is one of the ancestors of the Garleans and he was a WoL.

[Vatom]

Just give Midlander and Highlander a little bead on their head boom your a Garlean

[CaesarCV]

I'd lean more towards the idea that lorewise there have been Warriors of Light who aren't members of the other races. We don't remember who all of them were throughout time, and other races are totally capable of having the echo. It'd probably be especially rare and weird among Garleans since most of them can't manipulate aether, but there are a few that can and thus a few that probably had the Echo. In-game there's just limited resources. It's been hard enough for SE to manage armor and equipment for Viera, let alone more outwardly monstrous races like the Sahagin or the Amalja. IT's also worth mentioning that over time the game has pivoted towards there being few, if any, fundamental differences between spoken and beastmen races. The designation is explicitly just created for the political convenience of factions like Ul'Dah and Garlemald. Assuming that Warriors of Light can't be beastmen goes against that new theme/status quo.

[TheMightyMollusk]

Technically, Warrior of Light is a title given to Hydaelyn's chosen champion. It could be anyone, provided they're Echo-blessed and able to hear her words. And we do see at least one person outside of the main spoken races with the Echo (the sahagin high priest who summons Leviathan), so it's certainly possible. It just doesn't come up in-game because the player is the current Warrior of Light on the Source, and we've had no indication of any others, like Ardbert's team from the First. (We could debate about other players, but that's a whole other thread.)

We've never seen a Garlean with the Echo (leaving aside the Resonant), but that doesn't necessarily mean it's impossible, just that it hasn't come up yet. The Echo is supposed to be fairly rare, and we haven't had too much opportunity to talk to Garleans who aren't trying to kill us.

[DPZ2]

Is there a bigger reason or an explaination (maybe in the lore books), why there are only WoL of the 8 Playable races?

Your character is the Warrior of Light.

The other peoples of Eorzea cannot be Warriors of Light because you can't play as them.

There doesn't need to be a lore reason, or any other bigger reason.