why is the cast of the Scions so...elvish now.

[AmpelioB]

Back on topic though, I don't think the problem with the Scions is that they need to expand, but more that they need to be defined. They're going to be rejoined (I forgot the word for "coming back together", this is the best I got .-.) eventually, so there might be an expansion of their numbers and diversity there.

But their previous purpose is done. The "Scions of the Seventh Dawn" are no more, because there isn't any further "Seventh Dawn" going around. They need a new purpose. And that is what will then allow for diversity, since then they'll be able to incorporate new characters better fit for their new adventure.

And possibly also retire the units that are already "done and over", like Thancred. I love the guy, and he's one of the few non-Miqo\Elezen in the group, but his arc is done, Endwalker hasn't given him anything new thus far, he really can just spend his time with Ryne once Y'shtola finds a safe way to the First.

that's why I think some of them should just make some exploration (aka being benched for a while) like thancred and urianger.

shtola is busy with portals, the twins are helping the garleans (and I do hope this give some nice side content like doman enclave/ishgard restoration), raha and krile are doing something with the baldesians, estinien is estinien and tataru is doing shady bussiness, why the two just don't go to meracydia to travel as couple and send some postcards of their honeymoon between expasions and just comeback when meracydia is relevant.

Since the first thing we do in 6.1 after everyone goes their own way is round them all up again, I doubt we will be getting a new cast for 7.0. Probably another WoL and Scion company adventure.

yes that was something really annoying to me, we didn't need half the cast to do some exploring, shtola and estinien were just enough.

TBF I am sort of surprised that there aren't any current Au ra or Lalafell Scions given how prominent those two races have been in various stories.

are tataru and krile a joke to you?

Regarding the existing Scions I'm not fussed they are still around, it took us years to arrive at this point and having them all just axed overnight would be bad storytelling and jarring. It's much more fluid to just have existing Scions slowly fade back as new ones are introduced over an extended period. People are just so damn impatient ... "yaaarrgh thing I want must happen yesterday /tantrum".

i'm not really saying they should get axed (well maybe thancred and urianger but like, go take some vacations or something you do have a point it would be bad writing but that exploring for gold in 6.1 was a good enough point to introduce new characters instead of bring some of the scions that should be doing something/had nothing to do with the plot

[AmpelioB]

There's Tataru, if you count receptionists. Yugiri had a prominent role as well in previous stories.

But the main thing I feel from the writers is that they've pared down the number of main characters to something more manageable, with 1 spot being open for the expansion's guest character. Since Estinien took over for Ryne and Estinien famously hates working on a team, I wouldn't be surprised if he goes off to do his own thing sometime between now and 7.0, and someone fills that spot later. Shadowbringers seems to have stabilized and codified our main party since they introduced the Trust mechanic and I really don't see that going away or continuing with a full set of new people since progress carries over between expansions.

well, psycologically speaking (I think?) 7 is the number of thing the brain can remember if I'm not wrong, so six would be fitting for a number of main cast, like you say, so we have, y'shtola, g'raha tia, thancred, urianger, ali and alphy, i'mjust not counting tataru and krile because they aren't combatants and more of supporting characters. I do disagree about the thing about trust mechanics because most part of shb not all the scions are around when you do the first time but CAN be brought upon when leveling in the dungeon and personally i'm against not having new people just because uhu trust system shenanigans.

Heck with it, I want Raubahn, Merlwyb, Aymeric, Hien, Lyse, Yugiri to join

that would be interesting for role quests maybe one day they will have their own dungeon so you can play with them

[Zaniel]

are tataru and krile a joke to you?

i'm not really saying they should get axed (well maybe thancred and urianger but like, go take some vacations or something you do have a point it would be bad writing but that exploring for gold in 6.1 was a good enough point to introduce new characters instead of bring some of the scions that should be doing something/had nothing to do with the plot

Eh, I see the Scions as the ones who actively participate in the day to day story fighting/exploring/discussing, Krile sorta hovers around this area but never quite moves into it.

You know who I would REALLY like to see join the Scions? Ogul, she cracks me up and would be a fun permanent addition, she's got some personality to her.