Ability to see the future: Loose plot thread?

[Cleretic]

Yeah this is pretty much how I feel. It really felt like it came out of nowhere and when I saw it the first time I was like "Wait that's a thing in this universe?? Why is no one talking about this??". You know, I would expect people to be studying this phenomenon and trying to replicate it (which they kinda did in the Bozja storyline but it didn't go anywhere).

They are, that's literally what the Astrologians are doing. Both Ishgardian and Sharlayan, on different scales; Sharlayan is more aimed at personal fortunes while Ishgardian reads for broader movements. Each of their schools having a relative lack of detail might actually be a benefit, considering how badly Mikoto is steered wrong by hers.

I think the balancing element for Mikoto is that she's so phenomenally bad at it that it's more of a detriment than it is a help. It mostly just serves to give her anxiety, it's in no way actually helpful and her main area of expertise is 100% unrelated. Misija's better with it (maybe because she's not overthinking it), but let's be honest, it doesn't help her overmuch either.

Maybe the reason in-universe that nobody's hankering to replicate Mikoto's situation is much the same as why the writers likely aren't too interested in using it: it's just not actually very usable.

[KageTokage]

Maybe the reason in-universe that nobody's hankering to replicate Mikoto's situation is much the same as why the writers likely aren't too interested in using it: it's just not actually very usable.

That kind of made me question why they even bothered with it in the first place because basically every purpose it served could've been accomplished through more mundane means and it felt like it mostly served to build artificial suspense.

The main role it played in the entire mess was allowing Mikoto to be used as Resonant fodder...but they could've just as easily made Misija be an antagonistic Echo user akin to Ysayle and had her be captured strictly for her knowledge of the relic instead.

[Cleretic]

That kind of made me question why they even bothered with it in the first place because basically every purpose it served could've been accomplished through more mundane means and it felt like it mostly served to build artificial suspense.

The main role it played in the entire mess was allowing Mikoto to be used as Resonant fodder...but they could've just as easily made Misija be an antagonistic Echo user akin to Ysayle and had her be captured strictly for her knowledge of the relic instead.

Honestly, I think it might just have been the sort of thing where you have to try it before you learn it won't work.

[Cassar]

They are, that's literally what the Astrologians are doing. Both Ishgardian and Sharlayan, on different scales; Sharlayan is more aimed at personal fortunes while Ishgardian reads for broader movements. Each of their schools having a relative lack of detail might actually be a benefit, considering how badly Mikoto is steered wrong by hers.

I haven't done the Astrologian quest lines and I don't know much about them. Do they also predict the future using the echo?

Regardless, I think that having an ancient (or even better, a group of ancients) who has the ability to see the future would be a neat way of closing this little plot thread, at least for me.

Who knows, maybe one of the members of the 14 is responsible for that, something similar to Words of Lahabrea. We still have many Ascians whose real names and jobs remain completely unknown to us. Maybe they could throw in Cassandra from the Greek Mythology as one of them.

[RyuDragnier]

I haven't done the Astrologian quest lines and I don't know much about them. Do they also predict the future using the echo?

Regardless, I think that having an ancient (or even better, a group of ancients) who has the ability to see the future would be a neat way of closing this little plot thread, at least for me.

Who knows, maybe one of the members of the 14 is responsible for that, something similar to Words of Lahabrea. We still have many Ascians whose real names and jobs remain completely unknown to us. Maybe they could throw in Cassandra from the Greek Mythology as one of them.

They predict the future using the alignment of the stars themselves.

Actually, it was confirmed that Azem themselves had the ability to see into the future, but we don't know the extent/limitations of it. It was mentioned in Elpis what each one of the Convocation members offices were. I recall Altima's being the arts.

[Cassar]

Actually, it was confirmed that Azem themselves had the ability to see into the future, but we don't know the extent/limitations of it.

Was it confirmed? Could you tell me where?

[RyuDragnier]

Was it confirmed? Could you tell me where?

The start of the Pandaemonium raids. When you first bump into Themis, he mentions that Azem had predicted that a "falling star" would come help him.

[Alleo]

The start of the Pandaemonium raids. When you first bump into Themis, he mentions that Azem had predicted that a "falling star" would come help him.

That could of course mean that Azem can predict the future (strange how we cant though) but until the whole raid is over I would not say that this confirms it. It could very well be that at the end it was another crystal that tipped them off.

[Alenore]

They predict the future using the alignment of the stars themselves.

Actually, it was confirmed that Azem themselves had the ability to see into the future, but we don't know the extent/limitations of it. It was mentioned in Elpis what each one of the Convocation members offices were. I recall Altima's being the arts.

We didn't get a full list.

Depending on the office, one is required to either be an authority in a certain field, or possess skills that would facilitate the performance of their stipulated duties.
The former category includes Mitron, specialist in aquatic life; Loghrif, specialist in terrestrial life and husbandry...
Halmarut, specialist in fungal and plant life; Emmerololth, specialist in medicine and healing...
And Lahabrea, specialist in creation magicks, who has brought forth phantom beings of the highest complexity.
As for the latter category, there is Altima, advocate of the arts; Igeyorhm, champion of enlightenment and rhetoric; Pashtarot, preserver of discipline and order...
Emet-Selch, keeper of the aetherial realm─or “Underworld” in the vernacular; Fandaniel, pursuer of extant phenomena...
And Azem, traveler of the world and counselor to the people.

It's missing :
- Elidibus, though we know what that seat role is ;
- Nabriales, despite smacking his face ;
- They-who-shall-not-be-named Deudalaphon that is barely if ever mentionned in game.