Thread: 7.0 News from Reddit.

Okay grandpa, now let's get you to bed.

It wasnt really all that long ago TBH, but...a while.

Now git off mah lawn

Originally Posted by Iscah

Why shouldn't unvoiced characters count? They're still characters.

I play with the voices muted a lot of the time so I'm not sure if he's had voiced lines or not, but Merlwyb's second-in-command Eynzahr is one of the most regular Roegadyn characters we see, and he's played as loyal and capable, definitely not a dumb brute – and neither is Merlwyb for that matter. She gives an air of being a smart kind of adversary, not a "run in with guns blazing" sort.

Meanwhile, Moenbryda has some of that energy but is also a really smart and capable scholar who comes into the story because the Scions need help with her field of scientific expertise.

Rammbroes is another scholar and recurring character.

And over in the WAR quests, while we do have Gorge playing up the big dumb stereotype, we also have his brother as a quieter and more competent healer-arcanist.

Their design lends well to the stereotype but there are also plenty of characters who break it.

Sharlyan has a good share of Roes that are highly intelligent, we even have a guide for the place who is super enthusiastic in a side quest.

Gorge and Grynewaht are probably the biggest stereotype.
Gosetsu just plays the typical big stubborn old man, he is not dumb, he is simply emotive.

We're doing this? Okay...

Originally Posted by Iscah

snip

Iscah, read your quote. I said:

"Any exception to this is an unvoiced character with a minor role. We're not going to seek representation out of those."

Taking your character as an example, I assume she'd speak with a trill? Because U'odh Nunh speaks with one. Yet just because he exists, should he thus be taken as representation of normal Miqo'te behaviour? Miqo'te aren't defined by those speech patterns, and haven't been portrayed like that since. Meaning he's an exception, not a norm.

Representation doesn't work with background NPCs because they don't have any major relevance. As such they tend to be one-dimensional characters, token at best.

:T If people are asking for representation, it's in the main\secondary rosters (secondary: Lyna, Gosetsu, Julius...). NPCs tend to be flat characters. No one is going to seek representation out of those. Saying that "They're still characters." completely misses the point of those characters! We're talking about major characters, as those are the ones we're meant to connect with. Not the extras in the background. If you relate to those, good for you, but that's not the writer's intent. The main and secondary characters are.

Not to mention that, like Jettinson said, Eorzean Roegadyn are always portrayed as loud and boisterous, even as voiceless NPCs. The Roegadyn we find in the Ruby Sea seem to follow that trait, albeit slightly toned down. And Sharlayan Roes act like everyone else in Sharlayan. Which is less a stereotype of Roegadyn and similar body types, and more a stereotype of Sharlayan people in general, which Rammbroes follows.

So if you want to consider background NPCs, then by your standards, Lyna = Lilja Sjasaris in terms of relevance for Viera. People liked Rammbroes but aren't expected to connect with him, unlike Gosetsu.

Plus, I DID mention tertiary NPCs, or did you miss the bit on Hrothgar NPCs? Bc it's curious how you focus on Roes, but I mention Hrothgar NPCs and yet you skip that :T Especially when I point to one NPC that does fit the bill. They're one of 2 races I pointed as fitting, why aren't you mentioning more? Because here's the thing, as I sat here and realized this, I also remembered one Hrothgar NPC that also fits: Rostik. Yet Bajsaljen and Rostik are one-dimensional characters. Good if people enjoy and connect with them, but you're hard-pressed to say they're representation of Hrothgars in the MSQ. So again, why aren't you acknowleding this, despite defending NPCs?

Also, this was about the males? The whole point of bringing up Moenbryda was that EVEN SHE is brash and boisterous, like the Roe stereotype... XD I never once negated all her other traits. I even said the same about Gosetsu. That was the point. Go read my post.

"Their design lends well to the stereotype but there are also plenty of characters who break it."

1 - Design doesn't justify stereotype.
2 - Not "plenty", as they're outnumbered by those who don't.
3 - They break it in the background.
4 - Representation does a better job at breaking stereotypes.
5 - Representation isn't done with tertiary characters, that's just common sense and a bit of literary studies.

You got 10 likes. I got a headache.

To badly quote something I read on the internet once : The most important thing in writing darker fantasy, horror, pre or post apocalyptic stories, is oddly enough, the themes of love and laughter. If you want to save a dead world, and you succeed, congratulations you now have a still dead world. The reason those slice of life moments, those stupid, cringe-worthy jokes, and the silliness matter so much is because without it your serious moments lose their impact. The reason I loved watching G'raha stuff his face with a burger is because in the end his harder moments shine brighter when I remember why I love the character. The same holds true across the series for me at least.

I know people like to say "oh, the Scions were only gone for 10 minutes", but there's been far less of an emphasis on them as a group from what I've seen since the end of 6.0.

Originally Posted by Vahlnir

Less, but not anywhere near less enough for me on a personal level. I'd have preferred a mostly new cast of characters with an occasional cameo from one of the Scions.

We'd still be stuck with the Scions while they introduced all the characters. There was no way we'd be getting that in the regions we're at...but I can picture them doing it for the New World should we go there, it'd make sense there since we wouldn't know anybody and essentially be a stranger in a...well, new world.

Originally Posted by RyuDragnier

We'd still be stuck with the Scions while they introduced all the characters. There was no way we'd be getting that in the regions we're at...but I can picture them doing it for the New World should we go there, it'd make sense there since we wouldn't know anybody and essentially be a stranger in a...well, new world.

Nah, man don't you know we're just supposed to go to a bar and pick up 4-8 randos. Who cares if the WoL might have a chance of eating or drinking drugged food while surveying our options.

Originally Posted by SannaR

Nah, man don't you know we're just supposed to go to a bar and pick up 4-8 randos. Who cares if the WoL might have a chance of eating or drinking drugged food while surveying our options.

I do love the detail that the WoL just rejects or seems very skeptical about accepting drinks from Strangers. XD