Trans Representation in Final Fantasy XIV: The Importance of Inclusivity in Gaming

[Xelanar]

Oh no... oh no... having flashbacks to the last time a thread like this popped up... first time I ever had to use the ignore list function… is this the same OP as then? I fear that one was a troll who just used the LGBTQI+ community as a shield to wind people up. Now really I should ignore this thread and move on, but if the fire is already burning then I may as well add to the fire and add my two-cents!

Trans rights are human rights. If Yoshi or any of the writers want to add a trans character/story into the game that would be awesome, especially in a time where trans rights are more under threat then ever. You can say we have already had hints of such things, what with the Dotharl and their believe in reincarnation to different genders and the current event butler saying something like “Women want to be her and men want to be with her, and many the other way round too!” but as usual, we do not want a character that is just one trope. We would want said character to be as fleshed out as any other in the game etc. And yeah, I get that as the game is from Japan and such issues are not be as common/talked about there but that does not mean Japanese LGBTQI+ people do desire reconnection in such stories, they exist in such places too! (Didn't the PM of Japan just fire ones his aids over homophobic comments?)

But gender is not an issue in Eorzea or anywhere else in the FFXIV-World. Why make it one there, only because it is one over here?
One could argue that by not having any gender stand out, the world's representation of gender is as optimal as it can be, since people stand out for their actions and actions alone. Or am I missing something? Is it not inclusive, if people do not care at all about gender?

[Hurlstone]

But gender is not an issue in Eorzea or anywhere else in the FFXIV-World. Why make it one there, only because it is one over here?
One could argue that by not having any gender stand out, the world's representation of gender is as optimal as it can be, since people stand out for their actions and actions alone. Or am I missing something? Is it not inclusive, if people do not care at all about gender?

True for the most part, its one of the reasons I love the cast actually as it avoids allot of the male/female stereotypes that JRPGs can sometimes be guilty off. Gender does still effect some cultures in the game though. Again I point one of my favourite zones the Azem Stepps, where there is a whole male tribe the Buduga, whose leader will not even talk to your WoL if they are female. Then there are the Viera, who traditionally have a matriarchal society where the men are more nomadic defenders who only return to the villages to mate. That could be an interesting thing to explore, what if a trans Viera wants to go out and be a woodland defender with their brothers but feels they cannot due to being born female? Side quest like that could be neat. Plus we know bigotry still exists in Eorzea, take for example the gay couple who identify with the Tonberry due to the things they have experienced.

Of course no one is really ‘demanding’ such stories. The themes of FFXIV are welcoming enough, and I think its one of the reasons why alot of LGBTQ folk call the game home. I just do not think it would hurt if we get a few more stories and characters with such themes over the next decade or so.

A random question, does anyone know if Fantasia are actually 'canon' in the game?

[Jybril]

I'm buying the Harry Potter game.

[Atelier-Bagur]

I'm buying the Harry Potter game.

Have fun with its crappy magic system which Dragons Dogma a game that released 7 years ago had a much better system for it.


Actually just play Dragons Dogma, its such a fun game honestly.

[Greyhawk]

A random question, does anyone know if Fantasia are actually 'canon' in the game?

https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...sia-Canonicity

At least a decent discussion on it, but it is considered part of lore. Canon? Maybe not, but not everything has to be canon in a game and frankly irrelevant with meta objects like Fantasia.

[TheMightyMollusk]

A random question, does anyone know if Fantasia are actually 'canon' in the game?

While glamour prisms have come up in the story before (at least once, in Stormblood), fantasias have never been mentioned.

Then again, part of their description involves reality warping, so even when someone does change, nobody would notice anything unusual anyway.

[Xelanar]

A random question, does anyone know if Fantasia are actually 'canon' in the game?

They must be.
Like glamour and aetherites, fantasia is something that exists ingame. It has an item description that implies it must exist somehow:

"Legend states that any who drink this mysterious liquid before lying down for the evening will awaken a new man (or woman).
Grants you a single opportunity to edit your appearance in the character creation screen upon your next login. "

Of course, only the first sentence is relevant for the sake of argument ^_^.
Also you are rewarded a fantasia as quest reward for finishing the ARR quest line, and quest rewards are usually something, your character actually receives.

The roleplaying community might think differently about this, but until now devs have been making sure, ingame items are available lore-wise, so I'd have no reason to believe fantasia to be an exception.
But also from a story perspective, there is no reason why it should not exist. Nothing that specifically contradicts the ingame existence of fantasia.

There are no official details about this as far as I know, though.

[Bobby66]

Have fun with its crappy magic system which Dragons Dogma a game that released 7 years ago had a much better system for it.


Actually just play Dragons Dogma, its such a fun game honestly.

Idk based off the hands on preview each seem to be in agreement that the combat is one of the best parts of the game. So might be pretty solid.

[Bobby66]

I'm buying the Harry Potter game.

Lol knew it would come up. Let's sling spells in joy.

[Zanarkand-Ronso]

Why does a Videogame need to make Trans People feel Accepted and Validated?

Beefy Demolisher......ok, yeah. GG
Welcome back Titanman. We needed a Break from a Certain other user here.