Were past raid series characters as popular as the Arcadion ones?

[Auroracuno]

I'm pretty new to FFXIV in the grand scheme of things, Arcadion being the first raid series I've done while it was current, so I'm looking to gain some perspective from more experienced players. Were the exclusive characters from past raid stories as widely popular as Honey B. Lovely, Wicked Thunder, and so on? This is purely anecdotal but I feel like I've seen way more fanart and whatnot of the Arcadion fighters than of the Dawntrail MSQ characters (Bakool Ja Ja memes and Wuk Lamat-discourse aside).

Do you think CS3 will include any of them in non-raid-related quests between now and 8.0, or make side quests about them? I've seen a couple posts here hoping that we end up getting regulator glamours and titles related to the Arcadion fighters but I'm unsure if that sort of discussion is par for the course after a new raid story releases, or if this is just a honey-moon phase.

[Kranel_San]

From memory, yes.

Both Cid and Nero were already popular even before the Omega series.

Both Gaia & Ryne were very popular during ShB

Elidibus was already popular, but Eric and Elidibus and also Lahabrea were also popular during EW

[Auroracuno]

From memory, yes.

Both Cid and Nero were already popular even before the Omega series.

Both Gaia & Ryne were very popular during ShB

Elidibus was already popular, but Eric and Elidibus and also Lahabrea were also popular during EW

True but, correct me if I'm wrong, only Gaia and Erichthonios of those were raid-exclusive characters in the way the Arcadion fighters are. The others all had significant parts to play in the MSQ. And unlike those two the Arcadion fighters could theoretically be involved in future plot points without any reflection hopping or time travel since they exist in the present on the Source.

[FlowerMilk]

Nothing will ever beat the popularity of Raubahn EX

[sylphlands]

I remember Pandaemonium having a lot of hype, and that was my first raid series where I got to play it right on release days. I love Erichthonios who's a raid-exclusive NPC, and I still see fanart of him all the time. Athena too!

[LilimoLimomo]

Omega and Alpha were and still are very popular. Brute Justice his buddy "Pepsiman" were very popular as well. And the altered Primals from Eden were quite popular too, particularly Titan because his tiny car is quite charming...and Shiva because the FF14 community has a thirst that cannot be quenched.

So no, I don't think this phenomenon is anything new; it's just the most recent flavor.

[CVXIV]

Omega and Alpha were and still are very popular. Brute Justice his buddy "Pepsiman" were very popular as well. And the altered Primals from Eden were quite popular too, particularly Titan because his tiny car is quite charming...and Shiva because the FF14 community has a thirst that cannot be quenched.

So no, I don't think this phenomenon is anything new; it's just the most recent flavor.

I actually really like that you can still see Alpha and Omega roaming about in various places. It's always fun to see what those two are getting up to.

To add onto this as well, I think that quite a few people were excited for the pandaemonium raids, if only because of the story.

[Shinku_Tachi]

Alexander 100%

[NegativeS]

Pandaemonium was certainly popular. Surfer Dracula had some time in the spotlight when he dropped, iirc.

[Jeeqbit]

I've played since ARR but I am not really that in touch with fan art. However, I know that in Eden (Shadowbringers) there was a lot of art of Gaia and her relationship with Rene.

In Endwalker, I think it was more about the Ascians for obvious reasons if you've done it.

Do you think CS3 will include any of them in non-raid-related quests between now and 8.0, or make side quests about them?

No, I do not.

That's not to say it's impossible, but most of the characters introduced in side quests remain in the side quest they were introduced in. There are only rare exceptions, such as Estinien who was introduced in the dragoon class quests but became a central character of Heavensward and some other characters from ARR class/job quests.