Ask English Localization Lead Kate Cwynar Lore & Localization Questions

[BBP]

another question to Kate

what's your favorite ice cream flavor?

[Rendolaz]

Are there any plans to expand upon the current Free Company features in game such as:

1. Being able to search for players exclusively within the Free Company settings
2. Setting up Free Company buffs to be automatic (Monday - EXP Buff/ Tuesday - Crafting Buff / etc.
3. Increasing Buff usage from 2 to 3/4
4. Allowing FC seekers to apply for an FC outside of the game

Thank you for reading this! <3

[Ansemaru]

I've noticed that many of the creatures found in Elpis are also found in regions of Abalathia's Spine in the modern era, such as the harpeia in Xelphatol, the minotaurs in Gyr Abania, the unicorns in Coerthas, and Coeurlregina in Dravania. Was Elpis located somewhere near the modern Sea of Clouds but crashed down to earth during the Final Days? And could it be that the elementals in the Shroud were also released into the wild by this incident?

[Ansemaru]

Is there a deeper meaning to the number of incidental Duskwight characters seen in the Garlean Empire? There seem to be quite a few in the Save the Queen content, like Albeleo and Gilbrisbert, as well as in the airship crew of the Prima Vista and among the dead rebels found by Alphinaud and Gaius during their journeys. Some seem to be former Eorzeans, though not all. Was it common for Duskwights to emigrate or defect to the Empire, or were most unwilling subjects from the vicinity of Ala Mhigo?

[Zephie]

Hi Kate, I hope you have a great Fan Fest!

Question: How old are the major resident NPCs of Eulmore, i.e. Vauthry, Ran'Jit, Dulia Chai & Chai Nuzz?

[Eriyu]

Hi, and thanks for this opportunity to ask questions!

It's established that the unsundered trio made the Convocation crystals after the sundering, so where did they get the memories with which to imbue the crystals? Are these memories complete, or even necessarily accurate?

[Eriyu]

Have the exact same souls been cycling through the Lifestream since life began on Etheirys, or are souls routinely created and destroyed through natural processes? As a follow-up, what did the "new life" intended for the third sacrifice to Zodiark entail exactly — Was it going to be simplistic life such as plants or animals, or newly-born souls (effectively, other people)?

[Eriyu]

There's a clearly established difference between beings with souls versus arcane entities, but where do other lifeforms fall within that dichotomy, such as plants and animals? Exactly how rare are instances of beings gaining souls like Alpha did? For example, the Ixal were engineered by the Allagans, but presumably they all have souls now?

[ranrannerson]

Whatever happened to K'lyhia and the Arcanist Guild's Guildmaster? Is there any chance we'll get to see them again?

[EgoCollective]

I have two questions:

Lore Question:

Last February, we received an answer as to why Zenos dreams of the Final Days, though with each passing patch bringing him up, and with 6.4 outright showing the WoL thinking of him I have to ask. Why was it deemed necessary for us, the player, to have this information if the WoL never learned of it and nothing ever became of it? Was this plotline going somewhere and did it get dropped, or will the WoL continue to contextualize Zenos and his past through further patches?

Procedural Question:

How do localization teams decide which information is left out or obscured? For example in the North American localization of Shadowbringers it was not as obvious as it was in other localizations (and the original Japanese) that Emet-Selch recognized the WoL's soul as Azem (something the Nier collab written by Ishikawa confirms). What was the reason behind this choice?