Endwalker was "meh" (for reasons other than technical issues)

[Theodric]

Yeah, Garlemald is clearly primarily a blend of Roman and Russian influence...but is ultimately a fictional creation.

[KizuyaKatogami]

As someone’s whose played the story since ARR and has been an active lore enthusiast, i’d give the story a solidddd…4/10? Purely because the beginning portions of the game are very well done meaning Garlemald and both Thavnair visits. The zones and music are all amazing but the story in which most of the games budget has went into just wasn’t worth all this wait and delay. Once you get to the moon it starts to become a mess, it becomes an even bigger mess once you get to the ending portions of elpis, and everything after that is just….disappointing to say the least. So much wasted potential on so many things, no consequences or stakes for the main cast, the threat of the final days only really being shown properly in thavnair, despite the trailer depicting the entire map as being on fire only 2 zones end up actually getting the final days, not to mention the convenience of all the towers just up and disappearing. No lunar primals whatsoever etc etc. All i can say is this expansion is the best example of wasted potential for so many plot points from the body snatch scene to zodiark etc etc.

[SeverianLyonesse]

Yeah, Garlemald is clearly primarily a blend of Roman and Russian influence...but is ultimately a fictional creation.

Yeah I always thought it was Rome/Russia/Germany and maybe sprinklings of the U.S. But now that I'm actually analyzing that assumption the only kinda Germanthings about them is the "iron cross" flag and some tinges of Aryan exceptionalism. The Russian and Roman influences are much more evident. Definitely my favorite fictional empire in the series, very well-realized.

[Lauront]

Yeah I always thought it was Rome/Russia/Germany and maybe sprinklings of the U.S. But now that I'm actually analyzing that assumption the only kinda Germanthings about them is the "iron cross" flag and some tinges of Aryan exceptionalism. The Russian and Roman influences are much more evident. Definitely my favorite fictional empire in the series, very well-realized.

If I had to say they were taking something from Germany, the MSQ and thinking involved seemed to be in the direction of avoiding a Versailles Treaty scenario with Garlemald, as their stance towards their neighbours - even those nominally bearing gifts - was one forged through a very bitter history of conflict, and so to many death would be preferable than humiliation for cynical liberator nations they scarcely saw as any better than themselves. That's the cycle that the Scions resolved to break. I really enjoyed the Garlemald section and how it expanded on why the Garleans revered Varis and Solus as they did. I'll post my overall thoughts on the MSQ later but I'm wondering if the reason Yoshi said we'd feel weird about a Garlean reconstruction is because their true homeland is in Locus Amoenus.