Scholar's Identity Transformation

[Suzuya]

Hello there! Scholar main here (I like that we slam books shut to heal.) I have some thoughts about the transformation for Scholar and hope that something can be done to change them.

In the new job actions showcase, Scholar was shown with a transformation action named Seraphism. This action transforms Scholar into an angel-like character in white robes, what appears to be a white veil, golden wings and a golden wreath on their head. As someone who plays Scholar primarily, these changes do not feel like they fit, and there's an obvious alternative.

Brief warning! If you have not played Shadowbringers, be aware that the following paragraphs contain; an ability gained by Scholar at the end of Shadowbringers, the names of two characters in the expansion, and those characters' species. If you do not wish to be spoiled, please skip to the TLDR final paragraph <3

For one, they're clearly meant to be a reference to Seraph, an upgraded form of your fairy who is accessibly only through a single action (thus far) obtained at level 80.

However, Seraph has a very noticeable blue coloration in the form of their glow, as well as blue at the end of their wings on the changed job gauge. Without making much changes to the existing Seraphism transformation, it could more properly match the Scholar identity by adding blue wings, a blue glow... just something blue to denote that it's actually a connection rather than just... generic angel.

But I think even this is the wrong direction. Because Scholar has ALWAYS been known for having a fairy. It's in all their job quests, art, and many of their abilities (though some have been removed over time) and is far better at characterizing Scholar as a job than a transformation that frankly feels like it should be a White Mage transformation (they already get wings twice.)

I think that a better way to represent Scholar in a transformation- and frankly a better transformation at all- would be a Fairy form.

We are not unfamiliar with fairies. I think a lot of people would be very excited by the prospect of having a transformation state inspired by Feo Ul or Titania. (Yes technically Feo Ul is a pixie but that's besides the point and mostly to prevent an Eos vs Selene argument.

This obviously connects more to the job than an angel- which is at most represented by a single ability that summons Seraph for 22s every 120s. The entire remaining 98s of that is with a fairy- which is also the poster child for Scholar. Not to mention that none of the job quests for Scholar mention Seraph at all- not even the level 80 one!! Plus, both characters are connected to story and are fitting for Scholar! (And pretty!)

I hope this change is reconsidered.

TLDR; Transforming Scholar into an angel-like character does not feel especially fitting to Scholar's job identity. A transformation that is more fairy-like feels significantly more fitting while not giving up the idea of a transformation for Scholar.

[EverQuest]

Sorry bub it’s angel time.

This stuff isn’t negotiable at this point you get to be an angel for the foreseeable future probably a minimum of 2 years.

Which many people will probably be exiting the game after this expansion.

[Minali]

Guess it was inevitable these themes of pixies and angels would mix, considering Titania's song is named "What Angel Wakes Me"...

Jokes aside, fully agreeing with you. We even have multiple pixie wings as fashion objects, it schouldn't be that hard to come up with some extra special ones Scholars can put at their backs. This way we also wouldn't have to get rid of our racial traits and suddenly become a random Hyur. Or turn us into a huge Lily-like Pixie instead of a generic other random normal player model with attachments, then it's a change for everyone and would look more fabulous on top of that.

[Suzuya]

Guess it was inevitable these themes of pixies and angels would mix, considering Titania's song is named "What Angel Wakes Me"...

Jokes aside, fully agreeing with you. We even have multiple pixie wings as fashion objects, it schouldn't be that hard to come up with some extra special ones Scholars can put at their backs. This way we also wouldn't have to get rid of our racial traits and suddenly become a random Hyur. Or turn us into a huge Lily-like Pixie instead of a generic other random normal player model with attachments, then it's a change for everyone and would look more fabulous on top of that.

Heh, I suppose so! And you're right!! It's really not a huge change anyway, just slap us in a cute fairy outfit with some wings inspired by a certain King and that's it!

Also from thinking more, I feel like Seraph could just be replaced entirely with the smaller of the specific characters in my original post, and then the transformation could be the larger! I don't think Seraph is ever even mentioned in story and I think that would be a better match for Scholar that would even match Summoner's style late game and makes way more sense!

[Minali]

Heh, I suppose so! And you're right!! It's really not a huge change anyway, just slap us in a cute fairy outfit with some wings inspired by a certain King and that's it!

Also from thinking more, I feel like Seraph could just be replaced entirely with the smaller of the specific characters in my original post, and then the transformation could be the larger! I don't think Seraph is ever even mentioned in story and I think that would be a better match for Scholar that would even match Summoner's style late game and makes way more sense!

Agreed for the most part. Seraph is mentioned in the optional Ivalice raids, so there is that, but there was never any connection made to Scholar, so I'd be fine with replacing that with anyone else. However, the fae you mentioned are very much tied to specific points of the plot and it is really really easy to overlevel massively in this game. Would be a shame to meet these characters due to your rotation instead of as story intended. That said, the fairy we fight with is called Eos and although Eos and Selene were considered aspects of Lily, we don't have a button called "Lily" for the cutscene fairy. We could just use a buff Lily. The Lily we know but as one of the pixie character models we got with a certain expansion and in the latest variant dungeon. Lending a buff Lily our body as the ultimate transformation between Scholar and their companion seems like a proper expansion of our fairy fighter relationship, would not spoil existing characters, make sense lore wise and look very on brand.

[fulminating]

Heh, I suppose so! And you're right!! It's really not a huge change anyway, just slap us in a ... outfit ... inspired by a certain King and that's it!

Didn't read properly the first time and my mind immediately jumped here

[Minali]

Didn't read properly the first time and my mind immediately jumped here

I...
I mean...

I wouldn't be entirely opposed to that.
That said, it wouldn't really make sense lorewise, considering they are just sick/cursed and you as an outsider who happened to find a fairy and a job stone are not, and snapping out of it is not super easy.

Still.

[Suzuya]

Agreed for the most part. Seraph is mentioned in the optional Ivalice raids, so there is that, but there was never any connection made to Scholar, so I'd be fine with replacing that with anyone else. However, the fae you mentioned are very much tied to specific points of the plot and it is really really easy to overlevel massively in this game. Would be a shame to meet these characters due to your rotation instead of as story intended. That said, the fairy we fight with is called Eos and although Eos and Selene were considered aspects of Lily, we don't have a button called "Lily" for the cutscene fairy. We could just use a buff Lily. The Lily we know but as one of the pixie character models we got with a certain expansion and in the latest variant dungeon. Lending a buff Lily our body as the ultimate transformation between Scholar and their companion seems like a proper expansion of our fairy fighter relationship, would not spoil existing characters, make sense lore wise and look very on brand.

That's a very fair point! And more or less what I was concerned about with that idea to start with.

Your idea is great, though!! That would be a very fitting way to make a larger, stronger fairy without providing spoilers! Definitely a better option

[Suzuya]

Didn't read properly the first time and my mind immediately jumped here

Heh! Tonberries are cute though! I wouldn't mind some integration :O

[OgruMogru]

I...
I mean...

I wouldn't be entirely opposed to that.
That said, it wouldn't really make sense lorewise, considering they are just sick/cursed and you as an outsider who happened to find a fairy and a job stone are not, and snapping out of it is not super easy.

Still.

Sch could go into tonberry form to communicate that they've taken on corruption/damage taken by their team mates and then expunge it from themselves to heal the party - like a real world sin-eater would do at funeral. their old poison/dot centric kit fits with the theme of purging sickness as opposed to seraph-form's "office receptionist christmas party fancy dress."