So... Merlwyb will be voiced

[Rex]

On another note, to be honest I'm hoping for a feature that is not very flattering to SE and their voice acting efforts but I really hope we'll be able to turn of voices but keep the background noises, as we had it in the 1.0-CSes.
I am really sorry that I sound so ignorant here and I do appreciate SE's efforts but with many of the characters being around for a year or more I have already formed quite an accurate picture of them, also in voice and speaking manners.
I don't really want to mute everything (like turning off my speakers) because just having music and background sounds already helped me a lot appreciating the cutscenes. I actually heard all the relevant voices/dialogues in my head.
I'm hoping for this because in some primary cases (when it comes to chars that I like a lot like Merlwyb, Kan-E-Senna, Y'shtola or Raubahn) I already have voices in my head that fit my understanding of the characters perfectly (perfect for me).
Not to have anybody dub them might therefore stabilise my immersion much more than having voice actors. Because if the voice actors - and they might do an awesome job nonetheless - are off too much of how I imagine a character to be then it would just sort of break my image of the character and with this break my immersion (yes, that sounds really comical but as sad and corny as it is - it's true v.v ).
Of course there is the possibility that I love the voice actors but in case that I don't I'd rather have the option to enjoy the story with my own imagination (but not cutting out all the sound - I really enjoy the music and background sound design).

I have no idea if anything regarding this issue was stated. If so, can anyone provide me a source and if not so, could a dev give an answer to this?
That would be really great!

Who knows, maybe they sound exactly how you imagined them! Wouldn't you want to find out!?

[Elexia]

Our gridanian leader sounds exactly as I pictured her sounding in Japanese, so I'm pretty sure SE has a handle on it.

[Solace]

FF has great voice actors.. I wish all of the FF characters were voiced.
It would make the game so much better imo.

[Loggos]

Of course there is the possibility that I love the voice actors but in case that I don't I'd rather have the option to enjoy the story with my own imagination (but not cutting out all the sound - I really enjoy the music and background sound design).

I included this option from the start. >.>;
Of course I can't tell by now what it will be like, neither do I try to. But that doesn't mean that the case of not liking them can't happen to me either.

[Kiara]

We made sure the person portraying Merlwyb would fit her personality just right! We hope you'll all be pleasantly surprised come launch!

Hi Hvinire / Community Reps,

Thanks. Also, if it's possible, can you confirm with the Dev Team if they are still planning on giving players the *Option* of choosing Original Japanese Language with English Subtitles for FF XIV 2.0?

I know Mocchi confirmed this for us last year (08/2012):

こんにちは。

新生版でのカットシーンは、ゲームに設定している言語以外の言語の音声や字幕を ゲーム内のコンフィグで選択出来るようになる予定です。その中で、音声ボリュームを調整する機能の実装も検討しており、そのボリュームを0にすることで音 声をOFFにすることも想定されています。また、キャラクター選択画面や、ゲーム開始前のコンフィグでも設定できるよう検討を進めています。

また何か気になる点がありましたらフィードバックをお寄せください。

But that's from a long time ago.

Considering that at the recent Nico Nico Chokaigi 2 Event, Yoshi P confirmed that our old Battle Regiment System is now going to be just the Limit Breaks they are showing us (i.e., simplified / not quite the same as doing Skillchains), I just want to make sure they haven't forgotten (or might drop) this Option for players that do want it (Option to Choose Spoken Language with English Subtitles).

Thanks!

[Rex]

I included this option from the start. >.>;
Of course I can't tell by now what it will be like, neither do I try to. But that doesn't mean that the case of not liking them can't happen to me either.

I was joking. Yeah, all the power to having options.

[Loggos]

I'm sorry. I can hardly differentiate between irony and seriousness on the internet. I need the sound of the voice to tell those two apart (oh, the irony).

Another example, that I might find even more suitable is Emma Thompson in the style she did Captain Amelia from Treasure Planet in. Maybe a little colder. (It's funny how many of the examples that I like hold roles similar to Merlwyb such as Aeryn Sun, Seargent Calhoun or Captain Amelia...)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQkt7_Gq4k4