Ardbert's Party vs the Scions Analysis

[aveyond-dreams]

New story, new characters. This cast still has no new characters and the story is picking up on stuff from Season 1. It really is that simple. Introduce new characters and although that ship has long since sailed how about we deal with something not cosmic-level like the void and something more grounded/regional. This is what many players all over social media have been asking for since before Endwalker even launched because it's what made the most logical sense. Edge of the universe and now to the void with the same people? Seriously?

[Zanarkand-Ronso]

Ill repeat it again....the story just started. Its probly way to soon to introduce new characters, and more then likely they will later when the story picks up and these new characters become relevant to reveal. Clearly you dont want to, but Ill say it anyway...Patience.

[aveyond-dreams]

So? You're acting as if that is a good excuse. I don't believe that. I believe that 6.1 would have been a perfect oppurtinity to introduce new cast members. There is no reason why they wouldn't have been relevant to reveal now. Why wait to reveal them in favor of pushing the Scions onto us yet again only for half of them to just leave after the dungeon? It does not make sense.

[CrownySuccubus]

Even aside from the novelty of the story, I haven't seen that many people on social media showing dissatisfaction with the direction of the plot in lieu of something more grounded. I'm sure there are SOME people who hold that opinion, but like I said before, you can find "some people" that hold any opinion and, I mean, this IS the same social media that we're constantly being told to dismiss as shallow, irrational catboy lovers.

[aveyond-dreams]

Does the fact I am agreeing with them in this regard not raise questions? This was something that despite our differences we were of one mind about.

[Zanarkand-Ronso]

So? You're acting as if that is a good excuse. I don't believe that. I believe that 6.1 would have been a perfect oppurtinity to introduce new cast members. There is no reason why they wouldn't have been relevant to reveal now. Why wait to reveal them in favor of pushing the Scions onto us yet again only for half of them to just leave after the dungeon? It does not make sense.

Im not acting like anything or even making excuses. Fact of the matter, the story just started, nothing happened yet, they are building up, Thats how storytelling works. Fact.
You however are acting like they wont introduce new cast members just because they didnt do it right away, or what you believe is how everything should happen...reality knocking...things dont just go your way. Chill out my dude.

[CrownySuccubus]

Does the fact I am agreeing with them in this regard not raise questions? This was something that despite our differences we were of one mind about.

Why would it raise questions? If you search hard enough on social media, you're bound to find someone, somewhere who agrees with what you say, no matter what it is. You, or anyone else for that matter, are just as likely to be part of a social media group that somebody else mocks as they are part of a social media group that you or others mock.

So no, it's not that concerning.

[Iscah]

Now the only Scion that kind of felt hamfistrd in was Urianger. Which tends to be more of a writing problem. As when he's not exposition dumping he's showing up out of nowhere and handing us something that we need or will end up using soon.

All the meanwhile we gained Deryk, and Snoegeim who if Deryk doesn't end up being one of the twelve are two new people they can bring into other things. I also doubt we're done with Lorens.

Urianger (and/or Thancred) has to be there. We needed a healer or tank for the party.

And seriously, when was the last time he turned up out of nowhere to give us random stuff? That's how they were using him when he was tied to the Waking Sands and they wouldn't move him elsewhere except for a fleeting cutscene appearance. They've broken that approach now and he's free to actually move with the plot and stay there.

And we are very unlikely to take people from side stories on MSQ adventures. At very least, the character needs to make sense whether or not we have met them before, with at most a variable line or two, so anyone who considerably changes over the course of the story is out. We could maybe meet Snoegeim again if she's an occasional consultant sort of character across several plots that could happen in any order, but Deryk seems unlikely.

[SannaR]

Urianger (and/or Thancred) has to be there. We needed a healer or tank for the party.

And seriously, when was the last time he turned up out of nowhere to give us random stuff? That's how they were using him when he was tied to the Waking Sands and they wouldn't move him elsewhere except for a fleeting cutscene appearance. They've broken that approach now and he's free to actually move with the plot and stay there.

And we are very unlikely to take people from side stories on MSQ adventures. At very least, the character needs to make sense whether or not we have met them before, with at most a variable line or two, so anyone who considerably changes over the course of the story is out. We could maybe meet Snoegeim again if she's an occasional consultant sort of character across several plots that could happen in any order, but Deryk seems unlikely.

You have an all rounder in G'Raha so you'd only need a healer. Story wise the only reason why Urianger is there is because the Loloprits want information on treasure maps. So that there's an in game explanation for the Excitatron 6000. Since they made the other map dungeon cannon already. If he wasn't the one who made the auracite or helped make it in ShB the last time he gave us something was SB. Both times he does it in SB our companions even make comments about not expecting him to just show up.

The reason he wants to come along is why one could see him being hamfisted. We could have taken Krile along as well. Since we know she can heal. I know we are most likely not to take side story characters. I used them as an example of new people we know of that if the devs have to replace the "A" team of Scions with they'd be options. Since I'm sure those who don't want any Scions moving forward wouldn't accept take Horry Boulder or any of the other "B" team. I think Deryk would be more likely just due to him being a wander. Unless again of course he turns out to be one of the 12 like many of us are suspecting him to be. I mean how many people expected Godbert to show up in the MSQ in SB?

[DPZ2]

I mean how many people expected Godbert to show up in the MSQ in SB?

Me, for one. After all, we had a really meaningful encounter in Bronze Lake in the MSQ back in ARR, so we're good.