Live Letter Thoughts

[VelKallor]

Thankfully with the retirement of most of them from the main party,

...says who?

Where? Who said this? When? Source?

Nothing I saw in any liveletter or any other announcement even REMOTELY mentioned this...so where did you get that conclusion from? I watched the entire liveletter last night, fully translated, no one said anything like that.

No one.

[Kazhar]

...says who?

Where? Who said this? When? Source?

Nothing I saw in any liveletter or any other announcement even REMOTELY mentioned this...so where did you get that conclusion from? I watched the entire liveletter last night, fully translated, no one said anything like that.

No one.

Why are you losing your shit (again)?

The conclusion comes from reading the text. The Scions officially disbanded and only a few of them seems to be involved in the current story (Estinien and Y'shtola). Whether that'll be permanent remains to be seen, but this is not in any way an objectively incorrect read of the current events.

[TheMightyMollusk]

So, it's just people hoping the Scions will retire, setting themselves up to be mad when the next dungeon rolls around and they're all back for the Trust system? Gotcha.

[VelKallor]

Actually it is.

None of them have "retired", and that "disbanding" was for the general public, "going back to the shadows for now" as their main job is done. The problems that do occur can be handled by the Grand Company of Eorzea, which is why it was created in the first place.

Which is what Alphinaud intended, as he and the others didnt want the Grand Companies leaning on them all the time..they have to learn to handle their own issues, and can call on the Scions when they are really needed. Nowhere in any MSQ or by any comments from YoshiP has he said they are "retiring characters", in effect they are off doing their own thing on standby until really needed.

None of the Scions are being "retired from the main party".

[Bobby66]

Would be nice if they had a few 'retire' but alas I doubt SE will ever do that.

[CelestiCer]

What I thought was that this Live Letter confirmed that SE ignores player-feedback

" For just Samurai "

• Over 145 anti 6.1 SAM changes threads
• Over 8 Youtube videos of feedback
• Japanese Megathread on Fire

Because SquareEnix and Dev's

• Specifically asked us SAM's to try it out
• Specifically on 6.1 SAM changes
• Specifically to give feedback

And not an ounce of Acknowledgement. In fact to the point they act Death and Forgotten about it all, even ignoring their own Japanese backyard Forum.

This means after Healers not getting a response to their changes, WHM still stuck on Glare, from DRK DarkArts, to NIN TrickAttack changes, to MCH changes, to SMN changes, and now us SAM's, a lot of Gameplay is lost... without a valid response...

I still like FFXIV, I like the Story, heck I like Housing and I do still have a passion for helping players clear Extreme/Savage content on a daily even with Samurai's current state.

However...

Promising future changes? and not delivering them, giving us the cold shoulder, asking feedback and then not acknowledging it? for over 5 months now? I can see why healers were so pissed off for years about after a long wait time being told " if they want something more difficult? go play Ultimate " by Yoshi the man himself.

From Misshapenchair to Lucypyre to even Xenosys throwing satire jabs, Larryzaur, Trinnimortal and plenty other content-creators that already voiced it out, and this is not even including NicoNico JP's version of Youtube they are ignoring... at least we delayed DRG and AST negative changes or at least I believe SE would see that as a backlack and delayed it. Wise choice.

It's gameplay that was lost, to Fix absolutely nothing, while addressing zero changes they made recently, while promising that they were going to.

Is my main performing well? sure, it just is a lot less fun. Those future changes supposedly being an improvement? seeing is believing, but my good faith in SE ran dry. That's what the Live letter is to me. It validated that I was ignorant, to think they would listen to Player-Feedback.

[aveyond-dreams]

So, it's just people hoping the Scions will retire, setting themselves up to be mad when the next dungeon rolls around and they're all back for the Trust system? Gotcha.

The only scions shown in the trailer were Estinien and Y'shtola (acting as a healer) during the dungeon segment. They were accompanied by the adult similacrum for Vrtra and the new reaper character. It is reasonable to draw the conclusion that they will constitute our party moving forward.

Even the players who enjoyed Endwalker the most have expressed the desire for new party members, so these are some positive first steps in the right direction.

[VelKallor]

It is reasonable to draw the conclusion that they will constitute our party moving forward.

Its a huge leap to assume anything based on three seconds of a trailer.

the new reaper character.

Is a character from the Void, and I didnt see anywhere where this person would be a regular character. We dont know who or what that thing is, what its role, if any will be.

No one knows. For all you know this may be the only time we will ever see him..to say that he will be a regular member of the Scions is drawing a very long bow.

They were accompanied by the adult similacrum for Vrtra

Varshahn is hardly likely to remain with the Scions since he is a simulacra for Vrtra as he is the Satrap of Thavnair, a duty he wont just walk away from on a whim. Varshan is going since Vrtra wont fit in the portal, and once the mission re Azdaja is completed,. he will return TO Thavnair to resume his duties.

Even the players who enjoyed Endwalker the most have expressed the desire for new party members, so these are some positive first steps in the right direction.

And this is based on.....what exactly? I have never said this nor has anyone else I know so..and Im getting tired of asking you this...how did you come to this conclusion?

[Padudu]

So, it's just people hoping the Scions will retire, setting themselves up to be mad when the next dungeon rolls around and they're all back for the Trust system? Gotcha.

People just need to realize that the Scions make SE too much money :P They're literally mascots at this point, they're not going away. What, do y'all think Graha simping for the WOL is in any way constructive or meaningful to the plot, and not just fan service to make the player more endeared to the character? People highly attach feelings to characters nowadays.

[aveyond-dreams]

People just need to realize that the Scions make SE too much money :P They're literally mascots at this point, they're not going away. What, do y'all think Graha simping for the WOL is in any way constructive or meaningful to the plot, and not just fan service to make the player more endeared to the character? People highly attach feelings to characters nowadays.

I think that the game would do well to incorporate more diversity in the main party with characters such as Vrtra and this new reaper, along with men more in the way of traditionally handsome masculinity as opposed to G'raha Tia. While the opinions on that character of the FFXIV players who frequent twitter are readily apparent, it would be curious to see some research done on how he was received by the crowd that isn't. A party full of scholars that lean heavily towards neutral or safe designs doesn't provide the same sort of choice and visual variety found in the average rpg.

Many are eagerly awaiting to see a closeup of Vrtra's adult form, which is more befitting of his status as a being as old as he is. Au Ra men are generally regarded as more attractive than both Elezen or Midlanders, so having one in the party is a good change of pace. G'raha Tia however isn't all that remarkable in terms of build or facial characteristics, and his behavior towards the player is viewed as off-putting by no small amount of people. He received the adventure he so desired in Endwalker, so now would be a good time for him to bow out and let other male leads take over his role.

This new reaper, given her facial graphics quality and unique set of armor may end up competing with Y'shtola for the role of this game's postergirl moving forward. So long as her character is fleshed out sufficiently and taken seriously enough, I daresay she has a good chance of beating her. The fact that we had only one adult woman in the main party for so long was getting rather boring, but now there is the needed variety for those of us who simply don't like Y'shtola for either her looks or due to the way the story has handled her.

With a party composed of us, Estinien, Y'shtola, Vrtra, and the reaper, I think we have a solid adventuring group moving forward that strikes a decent balance. Us, a hardened soldier, *1* scholar, a mystic being, and a sombre heroine. While I am not opposed to new additions on top of these, I don't think it would be beneficial to call upon the remaining scions. The remaining slots should go to characters of other races and classes, such as Viera, Hrothgar, Roegadyn, even Lalafells. One elezen and one miqote is enough for the time being.