Revelations from Patch 6.4: The Dark Throne

[SannaR]

Just finished 6.4 and I have some feedback about the end of the patch's MSQ.

Azdaja was corrupted by Void energy, I imagine that gave her a power boost, but she still had her aether depleted for thousands of years and hasn't fought for that duration either. Vrtra didn't suffer from either of those disadvantages yet she still took him down so quickly. That fight should have been closer. That's minor though.

After the fight against Golbez-D he says "you won the battle". It didn't feel like that at all. We're on the Thirteenth, he can't die, I get that. But he doesn't even flinch from any wounds, not even for a moment. Just floats up and does his bad guy stuff as if nothing happened, while we all stand/lie there. The Warrior of Light, a veteran of countless battles, just watches. Same for Zero who has the ability to seal voidsent. Perhaps it wouldn't have worked, but she doesn't even try to attack. Azdaja floats there while Golbez gloats, but even if he's too wounded to fight, Vrtra doesn't even try either. Only after Azdaja gets turned into a voidsent does one person attack, Zero, while the rest of us are still watching and in the WoL's case, gnashing our teeth.

The story itself is fine, but the way it's executed at the end leaves much to be desired. I don't mind that we couldn't save Azdaja (yet) and that she transformed into a voidsent, but we should have at least attempted to stop it.

As I said in another thread the devs tend to lean towards the magical girl transformation/attack speed when it comes to dialog and action. Where we are given a lotof dialogue that seems like it's taking a longer time than it probably is. Zero, Estinien, and Y'shtola all had been distracted by lesser voidsent. Zero probably was memoria crystaling the lesser off screen. Vrtra I don't think has been using let alone fighting often in his dragon form once he set up the Satrap disguise.

[Cilia]

Somehow Further Hildibrand Adventures

Godbrand, the ancestor of the Mandervilles, was a man (willingly) possessed by a parasitic / symbiotic alien from a species known as the Mandervillians, who crashed on Etheirys fleeing the Final Days; this is why the Mandervilles are possessed of superhuman power.

... maybe. Godbert raises some doubt about the family line, but doesn't elaborate before things move on.

I used to enjoy doing the Hildibrand quests, but these just don't feel as inspired. Still funny, but I'd rather skip the cutscenes getting to the Manderville Weapon and then rewatch them in the Inn.

[Alleo]

About Manderville

Joke wise that was probably the weakest one for me. Reusing certain scenes just made it less funny for me and I was a bit annoyed that it was now the third time that our character stood there, not doing anything while everyone else tried to save us from the beam...just jump out of the way...Not sure if I like that running gag. At least the ending of that scene was great.

The revelation of the manderville origin left me with mixed feelings. Not sure if we really needed any explanation on their strenght and endurance. Still some of those scenes had me laughing so I just roll with it.

Curious how it will end.

[KageTokage]

I took the "revelation" from the Hildibrand quests as one of those things that really didn't need to be explained and came across more as a very forced attempt to make more elements from the MSQ relevant to the series.

[Heroman3003]

I took the "revelation" from the Hildibrand quests as one of those things that really didn't need to be explained and came across more as a very forced attempt to make more elements from the MSQ relevant to the series.

I think it's just a setup for a comedic bait and switch later in last quests of Hildibrand storyline, as Godbert's dialogue implies that.

[Wyssahtyn]

kind of disappointed in the choice of topic for mount rokkon to focus on but i guess i'll take what little i can get out of it.

[Carin-Eri]

I took the "revelation" from the Hildibrand quests as one of those things that really didn't need to be explained and came across more as a very forced attempt to make more elements from the MSQ relevant to the series.

Which isn't a good thing in my opinion.

The Mandervilles' existence, antics, and levels of OP require a healthy dose of 'suspension of disbelief' because they actually create a bit of a problem for the overall story otherwise.

Seriously - there shouldn't be a point where you start wondering why the heroes don't just send Godbert to fight Golbez and Zeromus since it's clear that he could one-shot both of them.

[Cilia]

Hildibrand

The punchline to the "Mandervilles are descended from aliens" bit is that Delion, alien conspiracy theorist extraordinaire, is completely unfazed by this. You'd think he'd go into a rant, but instead he just says something to the effect of "Figures." and moves on.

But yes, between Godbert's idle musings and Nashu pointing out the bit doesn't explain Julyan, it's implied the "explanation" is being set up as a punchline in the last quest. Something something Godbert was adopted, or whatever.

I don't mind MSQ Lore supporting Hildibrand, because he's so over the top it's impossible to backport much of the latter into the former. About the only thing from Hildibrand they've actually used in the MSQ is Godbert (albeit acting in a much more subdued manner) and Hancock referencing the Heavensward questline ("Stealer of Pants").

Nashu playing basketball with a coblyn, bricking, and then the PC dunking said coblyn into Lugae was definitely the highlight. Coming up with the hasty excuse of "I have an Orchestrion addiction. Spent my last gil on Return to Oblivion," the city guards thanking Hildibrand for using his stupidity and poor judge of character to sus out a shady merchant, and Brandihild's obsession with the low-poly Labyrinthos grapes were all very funny as well.

[Kranel_San]

While others have mixed feelings about the recent Hildibrand quests' revelation, specifically for tying up EW MSQ lore with the Manderville. I myself think it's something great that everything is connected to each other.

Comic relief and comedy shenanigans are great, but having lore to support you is what makes you stand out from cartoon where stuff doesn't make sense and aren't made to make sense.

I want comedy that makes sense, something I can say: "Yes it happened because XYZ" and not "It happened for the sake of happening without any reason."

I only wish that said revelation made it out in ShB to tease EW and its lore, rather than wait until it happened. Although it still has implications, such as not all planets, worlds, and civilizations of the universe have destroyed themselves, but instead, they were destroyed by Meteion who didn't manage to find them and was drawn to despair as a result.

[Raikai]

While others have mixed feelings about the recent Hildibrand quests' revelation, specifically for tying up EW MSQ lore with the Manderville. I myself think it's something great that everything is connected to each other.

Comic relief and comedy shenanigans are great, but having lore to support you is what makes you stand out from cartoon where stuff doesn't make sense and aren't made to make sense.

I want comedy that makes sense, something I can say: "Yes it happened because XYZ" and not "It happened for the sake of happening without any reason."

I only wish that said revelation made it out in ShB to tease EW and its lore, rather than wait until it happened. Although it still has implications, such as not all planets, worlds, and civilizations of the universe have destroyed themselves, but instead, they were destroyed by Meteion who didn't manage to find them and was drawn to despair as a result.

It's interesting that PuPu's reaction as Godbert speculates about the Final Days leads to the conclusion that he and his friend might be the sole survivors of his race.