Welcome to the 77th Issue of The Babbler, your #1 source for random Eorzea news and original reporting!

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Special Features

Witchworks Corner: Cock Feather!

• The Magic Of Chickens!

• Older News Bits

Welcome, Eorzea, to Issue 77 of The Babbler!Did you hear about those void attacks? Spooky! But we still managed to put together an issue, despite it all! Things are getting intense out there!This week, Lopp heads back over to Witchworks Corner for a look at Cock Feathers, and also clues us into a neat trick for banishing the sound of sweeping, and also adding some silence to your estate or apartment. It's good to know, so check it out!We also have the winner of last week's poll. The results may shock you! Or not. Maybe not.Also be sure to check out our latest HATS comic! Voyages to the New World will begin soon, and looks like everyone is getting prepared! We also have a new Make It Rain Campaign to look forward to this week, so get ready!We hope you enjoy this issue, and thank you so much for reading!

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Make It Rain Campaign: March On, Imps!

From Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at 1:00 a.m.
to Friday, May 31, 2024 at 7:59 a.m. (PDT)

FINAL FANTASY XIV: Dawntrail Benchmark

Issue 76 Poll Results

Oof

Last week, we asked Babbler readers to make a choice: Moogles Or Sylphs! While Sylphs built up an early lead, in the end Moogles triumphed over the residents of Little Solace.Maybe next time, Sylphs!

This week, given that everyone probably got proton'd over the weekend, we thought we'd ask what superpower you hope to get! Choose wisely!

weekly community poll

Results revealed next issue!

"Hématome" by L'Impératrice

Do you ever feel like there is no place for you in the world? People are naturally social, but even so, sometimes I just cannot shake the feeling that I am a fish out of water in groups. I yearn to feel like a part of something, to fit in like everyone else, but it always just seems so wrong.Even in a sea of people, such thoughts can leave you hollow and lonely. Is there something wrong? Does anyone else feel this way? Believe it or not, yeah a lot of people do, actually. Just as wanting to belong is a natural part of life, so is the fear that we are unable to.

This week’s song is "Hématome" by L’Impératrice. I know, I know, French synth funk? In this economy? Yet, here we are. It is imbued with a vibe of casual perfection, waves of minimalism broken up by thundering yet soft hits. Through the elegant beauty, there is a sense of melancholy that persists throughout that drifts with the song appropriately.The message of the song is interesting. It harks on the importance of appearance while at the same time lamenting the shallowness of such trivialities. Similarly, the video takes a journey of sorts with a gorilla character longing to be one of the “beautiful girls.” She endures hardships and at the end, finally conforms to the rest. Or does she?Sometimes, fitting in is nice. Doing things alone can be fine, but when you are smiling with others it feels like a whole new level of enjoyment. Even so, we should not have to fundamentally change who we are to experience such things.When people say to “just be yourself,” there is a certain implication taken away that others will like you. This is both true and untrue. Not everyone is going to like who you are, but by staying true to your identity, eventually you will find others that match with you well. So you should be yourself, just remember it can sometimes take a while to find the perfect fit.

Hey, Eorzea! This week, it's time for some Intense Botany! I'd wanted to get the Augmented(?) version of the Lunar Envoy's Gambison Of Aiming, but due to a mix of laziness and something called a DDoS, it just didn't happen! Still, the Gambison goes pretty well with the Classical Eques's Manicae, Loincloth, and Caligae, even in its natural colors!The real star of this glamour? The Classical War Scythe! It reminds me of a crescent moon! And what is a Reaper if not a form of botanist? They gather, anyway...Classical gear can be found pretty cheaply on the market board these days, with the War Scythe hovering around 20-80,000 gil. For the Gambison, though, you'll need to spend some Tomestones Of Causality at Radz-At-Han!Happy Shopping, Eorzea!

Classical War Scythe
Lunar Envoys Gambison Of Aiming
Classical Eques's Manicae
Classical Eques's Loincloth
Classical Eques's Caligae

Status Of Goobbue In Coerthas Central: Just hanging out!

This Week: TBD
Somewhere | New Gridania | Wednesdays 9PM ET | 6PM PT

- Lessons! With Lopp! -

The Sounds of Silence!

Hello Class! Summer Break is right around the corner! Are you excited? Do you have plans? Well shelve em! We are an all year school here and if I have to suffer… Oh, I mean… We are here for a continuous learning cycle. Wink wink.

Now, take out those fancy Apple Pods or… Air Beats? Whatever you kids use. I have sensitive ears, I can tell someone has SOMETHING on. Normally I don’t care too much because I’m so cool and all, but today’s lesson is on silence! So… silence!As some of you may know, I am in a cool band! It’s a pretty fun hobby and all that, but the other week we got a heckler who was unhappy that we were playing. And you know, that’s okay. Some people just have different (read: bad) taste in sound! So I thought it would be good to learn how to customize your listening experience a little! Let’s go!First, open up that System Configuration window that you kids love so much! Then, jump to the second tab, the one that looks like a sideways UFO tractor beaming up our best and brightest to study in a utopian environment on a far off world!

Here is where we will make most adjustments! To start, down at the bottom is “Performance.” You can adjust or mute this to manage hearing bards in the street. Sometimes it’s nice to see a little pop up show! Other times, people will make the sounds of trash cans falling into a pile of screaming animals rolling in broken glass and for times like those, turning off Performance can be a big help! Or maybe you’re a heckler and you can just mute the band instead of being mean! Whatever you want!Additionally here, we have Sound Effects which can be nice unless a group of sweepers converge at your position! And are you tired of hearing a horrible chirp in PVP? A temporary turning off of System Sounds allows for a calmer experience! Just be careful about telling your cohorts because the people that like to chirp really like you to hear the chirps and they might get upset if you muted them.

Here are some other settings! Most of these aren’t vital to the lesson, but remember we talked about sweeping? Well, now you can turn off the sound effects OTHER people make by changing the “Other PCs” volume setting! No more broom noises and you can still hear sound effects! What a wonder!And finally, having a house party? I won’t tell your parents, I don’t really care. But if you’re going to hire a band or something, it is a good idea to get yourself a Silence Orchestrion Roll! These can be purchased from your neighborhood Housing Merchant under the first option and by scrolling alllllll the way to the near bottom of the list!

Okay, well you're all set now! You can now hear what you want to hear and experience what you want to experience a little better! If you see me at a show say hi, and if you hate the music don’t be mean, just mute! See you next time!

Chappy's Maze of wonders

"It might look easy, but it never is..." - Anonymous

Leave A Message!

Dear Chappy,What is your opinion on Red Choctober?

Chappy: Kweh. [A very kind-hearted fellow, an old friend from when Chappy went to ChocoU. (That's Chocobo University).]

Total Number Of Hi's: 119.

Do you have a question or suggestion for The Babbler team? Submit one below, and we'll probably answer it next issue! Or someone will, at least!

Art by Arenea Wintereye

Puzzles & things

The soft white tailfeather of a domesticated fowl.
Level 10 Botanist Nodes - Spineless Basin, Central Thanalan

Bright Blessings, fearless flier! Why not perch a spell?When it comes to common domesticated animals, few can outperform the potency of poultry. Chickens have long had a place in spell casting, with some of the earliest taking the form of divination. Alectryomancy typically employs a rooster, observing the patterns it makes when eating seeds scattered in an intended form.Other methods of divination can be a bit more morbid. The removal of innards is a method used by some, while others may remove the head and interpret its last movements. Post mortem, bone reading is another method. Fortunately, for today, we will not have to harm our fine feathered friends.

Despite the kindness to chickens in using the feathers in spells, they can be used for powerful malevolent magic, so do take care. As always, when practicing witchcraft it is important to ensure you are keeping check of your intentions. That said, first let us look at some of the beneficial uses for feathers.A bunch of several feathers can be hung over over an entryway to act as a ward. They can also act to negate negative forces. For example, as a broom, feathers can sweep away darker energies and cleanse a space both physically and spiritually. Feathers are powerful, and as mentioned, can even work to aid in more nefarious magics.

Some of you may have heard of the Witch’s Ladder. This device is made by knotting cock feathers into a line of hair or cord. The use of the Ladder can result in differing outcomes depending on the length of cord and number of knots used to create it.In modern works, the Witch’s Ladder incorporates beads as well, but this additional flair does not make it a decoration. Ladders are most commonly used to invoke curses with some as benign as aiding in the theft as milk, while in more severe circumstances they can even be used to cause death in a target.I consider myself a more responsible witch, so I will not reveal the ins and outs of how to enact such things. However, a good witch must be prepared to protect herself, so knowing how to break a Witch’s Ladder is something we should discuss.

Ladders are usually hidden, so the first step is to find where one is hidden. From there, the curse can be undone rather simply by untying each knot. If you suspect you are the victim of a Witch’s Ladder, be sure to use whatever wards you can until you are able to undo the afflicting object. Tread with caution, as if a witch is using such things against you, they may have additional tricks prepared as well.Witch’s Ladders can be used for good, so they are worth more investigation for those interested. I encourage responsible magic use, so please do stick to the beneficial sides! And if you need to divine something, perhaps elect to use the more humane methods of alectryomancy.

- Babbler Ombudsman & Venue PR Officer -

Krevin's Desk

Krevin Krevinson VII, Tunaologist, PhD

It's been a strange week.

Issue 76, dated May 6, 2024. The errors were as follows:

If you have any questions or comments, or if you notice errors, please reach out. Have a nice day.- The Krev

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Don't Miss!

There's more inside! Don't forget to check out this issue's features!

☰ Stellar Forbade: The Artist, the Censor, and the Fanboy

☰ Spare the Rod, Spoil the Game

☰ State of the Game: Uhh...

Thank You for Reading
The Babbler!

Please send all complaints via Delivery Moogle to Babbit Alaisa, Lavender Beds Ward 22, Lily Hills Apartment 38

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About The Babbler

hi!

Thank you for reading The Babbler, Eorzea's #1 News Source, dedicated to covering the news you care about! Maybe.Fun facts:

For any questions or comments, please reach out to Babbit Alaisa (Jenova), or visit our discord!

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"Between Us & Them" by Moving Units

This week, I wanted to pick something that is nice and easy. Do all songs have a deeper meaning? Maybe, maybe not. The composer might have some ideas about what they want the listener to take away, but it’s up to us to determine how it makes us feel!

This week’s song is "Between Us & Them" by Moving Units. It’s fast, catchy, and the baseline totally thumps. Hope you like it! If you find a special meaning in it, feel free to tell me! I love to talk shop! Catch you next week!

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We're deep into Spring now, Eorzea. Is your garden all set? Did you plant your seeds? This week, we're getting colorful again with what I'm going to call my Spring Reaper outfit! It features the Babbler colors, with some bold Turquoise and Colibri Pink!The YorHa Type 51 Headband Of Maiming is a unique piece of headwear that believe it or not Viera can also wear! It also doubles as a fun night mask!

The YorHa Type 55 Bottoms Of Maiming, seen here also dyed Turquoise blue, is a casual pair of shorts, perfect for lounging on the beach or fighting hordes of mentally ill robots!It took me a while to choose a top to go with it (I mainly wanted to highlight the headband), but I settled on a Colibri Pink Endless Summer Top, and some Endless Summer Sandals. I kept them in their natural white, because there is such a thing as too much.You'll have to head off to some pretty weird places to pick of the pieces of the YorHa sets, but I'm sure you'll get there (if you haven't already...40 times). Meanwhile, the Endless Summer set is only available on the Mogstore! Bummer! But it's cheap, at least.Happy shopping, Eorzea!

YorHa Type 51 Headband Of Maiming - Turquoise Blue
Endless Summer Top - Colibri Pink
YorHa Type 55 Bottoms Of Maiming - Turquoise Blue
Endless Summer Sandals

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News Bits

(older news is still news)

May 6, 2024

April 29, 2024

April 22, 2024

April 15, 2024

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- Special Feature -

Spare the Rod, Spoil the Story

When I was younger, I had a scooter I bought to help me get around without breaking the bank. They can be very low maintenance and the fueling costs are also very low. Plus, they are super fun!Scooters are also not very protected, though. One day, someone pulled out into the road in front of me and I crashed. Don’t worry, I didn’t die, I… oh shoot. Sorry. I just spoiled the whole story.Or did I? You could certainly argue I did. After all, just because I am writing this, it does not necessarily mean I survived the accident. I could be a ghost, or perhaps I wrote this in advance then set up the events discussed to perfectly mimic my design. Maybe I was spinning a fictional tale and nothing was real, therefore the reveal of my survival is something that one should not outright expect.Still, it seems a bit too trivial to be a spoiler outright. Spoilers tend to be things that reduce the impact of a story beat by revealing too much information and since this was a story I was telling, it was really up to me when I give out the information. So I think it is fair to say that spoilers require that points are being released by someone who did not actually create the material. If a story, then, uses others as reference would knowing the references ruin this new tale?

Most Eorzeans are familiar with the legends of the Warrior of Light (WOL for short) and while some have not done ALL the required reading, it is fair to say we all know a little, at least. As such, and rightfully so, people can get a bit perturbed when some get into discussions on the finer details of the WOL’s exploits with fresh ears around. So too can (Lopp’s note: haha toucan) those unexposed to the journey find themselves feeling frustrated when they hear about things that are to come.Both of these reactions are reasonable, of course. Many want to preserve the harrowing nature of some parts of a story as long as possible. Personally, I try to avoid previews for movies entirely because I worry that something might trigger a reaction of thought that removes the mystery from the whole finished product, so I feel sympathy for those wanting to avoid spilling the beans on even the early chapters of the WOL’s life. This all said, there are those who take things a little too far.I am not new to studies of the WOL. Admittedly, I skimmed a lot of the chapters because I’m not a great student (ask my teachers, they’ll back me up). Even so, I know all the important parts at least, despite only starting to look into it a couple of years ago. I have a recent memory of not knowing certain topics and remember feeling somewhat sheltered by those around me regarding them.People having a discussion would hush up or talk in code when I came back to the Free Company from a trip. I would ask and get responses like “go finish the story.” They were adamant I learned it all myself. What was weird, though, was how disappointed they would be when I would take to other means to learn about plot points.As I mentioned, I am not a great student. I am the type to read ahead, but with cliffnotes. I know, I know… “What about the preview thing?” Well, the thing is, when I am into a story or lore I want to know more and I don’t always want to wait for the right moment. That is a me thing and I get that it’s not for everyone. But for me, when I start looking more into things, it’s a good sign because it means I care.When one of my friends told me they no longer like me or want to talk to me because I was sneaking peeks, it was a bit jarring. I think I understand where they were coming from, at least. To them, the WOL’s story is something to revere and by sidestepping the traditional learning path, he most likely felt I was not showing it the proper respect.

The thing is, though, different people are undoubtedly going to have different experiences, and this is going to result in a variety of outcomes. There are people like me who will go out and learn things on their own. There are others who will do that without even waiting to get immersed in a story at all. More still who would absolutely despise any mention of what is to come. And the thing is, each style is equally valid.What we need to remember with spoilers, above anything else, is that we need to respect the desires of those who are the victims, for lack of a better term, of the spoiled content. While the stance of my former friend is understandable, his reaction to my nonchalance about spoiling things for myself was, in some ways, gatekeeping. Essentially, he wanted to dictate my experience with a story and that I wouldn’t let him was enough for him to sever ties.But this is so very old, I don’t even remember this person’s name (not that I would share it here anyway). You might be wondering why I would even bring it up. Well, unless you have been living under a rock and that rock was buried in a lost cave under the ocean you probably heard that the latest chapter of the WOL’s life, Dawntrail, is releasing in just over a month and with it, we can expect a few new interested fans to start getting into the tale.Of course, we should be mindful not to divulge too much in front of these newcomers. Certainly, many of them will want to see things at their own pace. Others will be more curious and ask questions. Whether or not you answer them is up to you, but hopefully you will remember that jumping ahead is not a sign of disrespect. In fact, in some cases it is encouraged.To call the tale of the WOL voluminous might be an understatement. There are so many stories that it can be nigh impossible for a person to learn them all in a reasonable amount of time. Some are going to try to and they will eventually catch up. Others will not want to and there are ways for them to avoid this.The so-called “Story Skip” being sold on the “Mog Shop” is the perfect choice for some. They may find an investment to get into the later chapters sooner a worthwhile approach for their time. And this can certainly lead to some confusion with later entries and with that confusion, more questions. But it’s time we get into what could even be considered a spoiler.

Long ago, while searching for some information on a certain ginger cat that plays a prominent role in the tale, I came across a debate between fans. It was heated and dealt with the topic of story spoilers. Before getting into this debate topic, though, I think it is important to explain some things about the hodgepodge of myths surrounding the WOL.Whether you know it or not, certain aspects of the tale of the WOL are lifted from other fantasies. In fact, scholars have documented as many cases of reference as they could find (read at your own risk). This is not necessarily a bad thing, nor does it discredit the tale, though it does beg the question over what should be considered a spoiler.These days, most people are familiar with what a “Medusa” is. While I am not an expert on the topic, I, like most, understand that when a Medusa is in a story that the hero may take a mirror of some sort to reflect the Medusa’s gaze back, turning it to stone. If a new story comes out that has a Medusa in it, could it really be considered a spoiler, then, to mention that the hero finds a special mirrored object?Let’s take a step out of our normal shoes and have a different look at the situation. Surely most of you reading this have seen Indiana Jones, right? If you haven’t, pause your… reading this and go watch the first one, maybe the rest if you want, I won’t stop you. Okay, are we all set? I’m about to spoil something so if you haven’t seen it and you keep going, any bad feelings are your fault.

In the first sequence in the first Indiana Jones, he is escaping from a temple and as he runs out, he triggers a trap which releases a giant boulder that chases him down the hall. We KNOW he probably won’t be crushed (it’s the first sequence, after all) but it is still a thrilling scene. This scene has been referenced in so much media that even if you HAVEN’T seen Indiana Jones (somehow, you monster) you probably have knowledge of it.A certain rodent-based theme park has an Indiana Jones ride. One section of the ride has the boulder sequence replicated as part of the experience. If you were not aware of this, does knowing that the boulder scene is in the ride ruin the ride for you? I would venture that, with the exception of the most obstinate trolls, probably not. The ride is still fun and knowing you get to experience that boulder scene is probably more exciting than anything.Let’s say someone had no idea about Indiana Jones and skipped all the spoilers above and just learned “there’s a boulder on the ride.” Does that ruin the ride or the story of Indiana Jones? Probably not, because they are lacking all context for both. Words do have power, but that power is derived from meaning and without meaning words are powerless.Now, getting back to the aforementioned debate, the story section in question was the Crystal Tower. Those who are deep into WOL lore know what I’m talking about. Coincidentally, so too do those with knowledge of “Final Fantasy III,” (FF3 for short) as there is a Crystal Tower in that story as well. The debaters were passionately defending their positions on the mention of the Crystal Tower in terms of “ruining the story.”While there were several opinions with varying degrees of nuance, one took it to the next level stating that even mentioning the name should be discouraged as it could ruin the experience of the story of the WOL. But we must wonder why? The presupposes that those new to the WOL’s story know of FF3 to the extent that just hearing the name will reduce the impact of its inclusion in this new tale as those with knowledge of neither would have nothing but their imagination to go off of when deciphering the meaning of “Crystal Tower.”In the case of those familiar with FF3, how does a Crystal Tower ruin the WOL’s story? A reference is not necessarily the entire story. In fact, references, more than ruining a narrative, can enhance them.People love Easter Eggs in fiction. Part of this is evidenced by the extreme abundance of Easter Eggs and the dedication of people to finding them. Knowing something is from something else is far more likely to increase interest than push people away as they often enjoy seeing something familiar in something new. Spoilers ahead for the Sonic the Hedgehog movies, because those who know me know my one true love is the blue blur and friends. And some other things I guess but Sonic first, okay?

In the second Sonic movie we learn of the existence of the Guardian Units of Nations (GUN for short). This is a major Easter Egg for Sonic fans because GUN is first introduced in Sonic Adventure 2 and has heavy association with Shadow the Hedgehog. This primed the heck out of me because from the moment GUN was mentioned I was eagle eye looking for the black and red of Mr. Shadow the Hedgehog (no relation to Sonic. I think. That would be weird… Or would it?).When the credits rolled and we were treated to a bit of a teaser to the next film in the series, you KNOW I was screaming. Internally, of course, because I don’t like to make a scene, but screaming nonetheless. I am HYPED for Sonic Movie 3 and admittedly, I would be without that foreknowledge. Still, my anticipation is through the roof knowing the next story will have that broody little guy in it.And that’s the power of reference, really. It takes something that, if you know you know and if it is well liked then that’s all the more reason to get motivated to reach that part. Wanting to protect the sanctity of spoilers is a noble cause, but especially with the coming influx of newbies to the story, we need to remember that we are not meant to be gatekeepers to them. They don’t have to earn everything the same way you did.

As we approach the launch of Dawntrail, take a moment to reflect back on some of the lore of the Warrior of Light. Maybe take some time and check out the source of some of the references already made. Find that passion for the story again and keep those feelings close. Just remember to share appropriately so those fresh to it can get the most out of it for themselves as well.

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- SUDOKU -

Last Week's Sudoku

discounted but still okay to eat!

- Special Report -

Stellar Forbade

The Artist, the Censor, and the Fanboy

When asked what one’s favorite painting is, depending on who you speak to, you could get a variety of answers. Some may pick a work by Van Gogh, others Monet, Picasso, Klimt, even Ross (as in Bob). However, when asking what the most famous painting is, the selection pool becomes much smaller. While it could be argued that Van Gogh’s The Starry Night, Munch’s The Scream, Vermeer’s Girl with the Pearl Earring, or maybe even Dali’s The Persistence of Memory may act as contenders, it would be tough to stack their fame against the Mona Lisa.While da Vinci is considered a master of his various crafts, that this particular work of his has risen to such renown is likely aided by infamy surrounding it in the early twentieth century. Its theft from the Louvre would spark an interest in it that to this day reverberates in media, being used as a symbol of important art.Does this importance we view it with now, though, mean it is a perfect piece? One might assume so, though they may run into difficulty were they to question da Vinci himself. Supposedly finished in 1506, art historians suspect the renowned non-ninja or turtle genius continued altering this portrait until as late as 1517, only stopping due to issues with his right hand. He would die two years later on May 2, 1519.Probably coincidentally, five hundred five years and one day later, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace was re-released in theaters on May 3, 2024, to warm fan reception. This is not all that surprising, though. May is an important month for Star Wars, with May 4th acting as a minor holiday within the fandom. It stands to reason that audiences may be more excited to see these films on that special day, even ones that I have been told are divisive.

Interestingly, until recently, The Phantom Menace was one of the most reviled films in the franchise. Common complaints include a focus on being overly kid-friendly and, paradoxically, bogged down with an abundance of political plot points. Probably the most contentious aspect of the film is a single character, Jar Jar Binks. Some fans have gone so far as to create their own version of the film, cutting down or even editing out the character.Until October 30, 2012, the Star Wars property remained entirely in the hands of George Lucas who finalized sale of it to Disney on that day. Interestingly, though, since the sale, no changes have been made to the films by George Lucas. In fact, probably coincidentally, the final edit to any of his Star Wars films was to the Phantom Menace when it was rereleased in theaters in 2012, prior to the sale.This is interesting because, in recent years, Disney has become notorious for remaking and releasing live-action versions of their classic films. While largely unchanged, each remake contains at least something new or different to set itself further apart from its original incarnation. This practice has earned Disney the chagrin of fans and a reputation for doing anything to make a quick buck. And yet, if it is so widely known that Jar Jar Binks is maligned by Star Wars followers, is it not odd they would leave the character untouched in a theatrical re-release in 2024?“Those will always remain his.” This is a 2017 quote from current President of Lucasfilm, Kathleen Kennedy. If you have watched anything about Star Wars on Youtube, you may see her name pop up from time to time as video after video gets recommended to you sharing the theme of “Kathleen Kennedy is definitely going to be fired this week, for real.” Even getting away from the more extreme reactionary side of the fanbase, she has not exactly garnered much support over the years running the proverbial show. Still, this is due to the direction of the Star Wars property. True to her word, George Lucas’s works have remained untouched by others.Much like the Mona Lisa, until George sold off his property, he edited bits and pieces here and there. Some edits are despised by his own fans who reject the idea wholesale. And similarly to the Mona Lisa, despite the potentially perceived flaws in the final product, such as Mona Lisa’s eyebrows or Greedo shooting at Han Solo, after their creators have moved on the only things done to them now are acts to preserve them.While we may not all believe these final versions are the perfect presentation of these works, we should at least all be able to agree that respecting the vision of their creators is important. So when does that change?

As you may or may not know, the month preceding May is April. In poetic gardening lore, April is symbolic as being the harbinger of change, “April showers bring May flowers.” Probably coincidentally, this year’s April had a slew of controversy when several changes to art direction were launched prior to May, though the controversies might not be tied to the prematurity of the month so much as the content.Here in Eorzea, we were treated to a Benchmark featuring newly updated models and lighting we were told we should expect at the launch of Dawntrail. Meanwhile, Pokemon Go players were delighted to find they had been given new character models to create a perfect likeness of themselves with. And at the end of the month, the hypetrain for Stellar Blade pulled into the station with camisoles that everyone greeted with open arms.Because you are reading this and I did not convey the tone through text well, please understand that the previous paragraph was deep fried in sarcasm. If you have spent any time looking into any of the above, you know at best the changes were seen as being a mixed bag within their respective fanbases. The most evenly split were those in the Final Fantasy XIV community, with some praising the updates and others lamenting details that were either lost or altered in the updated environments.The Pokemon Go community had it especially rough as the formerly stylish avatars that had represented each player in an augmented reality world since the mid 2010’s had now become grotesque deconstructions of the human form. These oblong monstrosities came with the added insult of telling players their new avatars are design to look just like them! They have since changed the messaging to be about “rediscovery,” as I guess even they realized their initial wording was a bit much.Most unnecessarily loud and vitriolic, though, has been the reaction from the Stellar Blade community, who is up in arms over a camisole. For those unfamiliar, the action game launched and was shortly after patched to add some slight alterations to the in-game costumes, including a camisole appearing under a revealing one-piece, and a thin piece of fabric under some sort of shoelace-inspired corset.Those shouting at the top of their lungs that they are grown men who deserve to have what they want would have you believe, though, that these garments actually represent an injustice and are the result of a secret organization bent on destroying gaming through nefarious acts of censorship.

Full disclosure, I do not own a PlayStation 5, something you may already know as I cited the absence of one leading to feelings of disconnect towards Clive. However, I am a big fan of action skill games, my all-time favorite being Monster Hunter. Ask the Babbler staff if I ever shut up about it. I get a rush out of narrowly avoiding certain death in a game and things like Stellar Blade appeal to me. So naturally, I wanted to know more about the controversy and started to look into things more.If you are looking for gameplay perspectives, this is the wrong spot, something you should have realized at the third paragraph about the Mona Lisa.I spent a few too many days following the discourse surrounding Stellar Blade, slurping up each juicy drop of drama as it splattered across my timeline, frantically hitting the refresh button hoping for just one more shot of audacity instead of going to bed. It became really unhealthy and I knew it but I just could not stop. It was so wild to me to see people act in such ways.When I work out, I like to do a bit of yoga and pilates because I think it’s important for me to do something that helps maintain or increase flexibility. Yet even seeing some of the stretches people were making was incredible. Before I poison the well more, though, we should better understand what censorship means.“The suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, films, news, etc. that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security.” This is a dictionary definition of censorship and does a very basic job of explaining a crucial issue with this debacle. Importantly, it does not mention where censorship comes from.Censorship is from external pressures, typically such as a government body or private organization demanding changes that better align with their values to a work. And while self-censorship is a thing, this is also something that comes from outside an artist’s goals or wishes. Either because of fear or chasing perceived virtues of an audience, artists may at times inflict change of their own accord that does not match with what they wanted to create.However, when an artist changes something because they feel that the alteration would more closely represent their vision, would it be censorship? Or can artists update their works of their own volition without such labels? Let us imagine some scenarios using Star Wars as an example.One of the more controversial changes to Star Wars is the aforementioned Han Solo/Greedo scene. Over time, alterations have been made to the original cut to clearly show the Greedo character firing his gun before Han Solo, something more ambiguous in the initial version. Clearly, this is a change, but would you call it censorship?

If you are on the side of “Han shot first,” you might be upset that I called the first cut ambiguous. This is understandable, but I do not think I am wrong to use that word for the same reason I would argue that changing that scene is not a form of censorship. Lucas himself clears this change up in a 2012 interview.“The controversy over who shot first, Greedo or Han Solo, in Episode IV, what I did was try to clean up the confusion, but obviously it upset people because they wanted Solo [who seemed to be the one who shot first in the original] to be a cold-blooded killer, but he actually isn’t. It had been done in all close-ups and it was confusing about who did what to whom. I put a little wider shot in there that made it clear that Greedo is the one who shot first, but everyone wanted to think that Han shot first, because they wanted to think that he actually just gunned him down.”Like it or not, the changes match better with the artist’s vision. Of course, you do not have to accept the artist’s vision as the best choice. Art should welcome controversial reactions, elicit emotions, all that good stuff. But censorship is something else entirely.Let us imagine that Star Wars is going to be shown on a children’s TV channel that is known to abhor violence. Somehow, some way, they got the rights to air it and also wanted to go through with the airing of Star Wars. Absurd, I know.Even more absurd, let’s say George Lucas was so desperate to get this on their channel that he agrees they can make changes to the film to match their broadcasting standards and one of those changes is cutting the Han Solo/Greedo scene entirely, or maybe swapping the guns with water pistols.

Such a change would be censorship, as it compromises the vision of the artist. Even if George Lucas decides against allowing it to air, the barrier itself is a form of censorship. Not releasing art due to a censorship restriction does not mean censorship does not take place. But I think I have talked about Star Wars enough for my lifetime.So why do people think censorship is taking place in Stellar Blade? Before, I belittled the additions of minimal fabrics being added to a couple of costumes as the catalyst for the extreme outcry from fans. These fans, for some reason, are convinced that these outfits were altered over mandates from Sony who are after puritanical dress standards for women.If you have seen conservative outfits in your life, you may be wondering “how are the costumes in Stellar Blade more conservative now?” If you look at some of the outfits, you might even wonder why any changes were made to the ones that received the treatment, if the goal is in fact to cover things up. Cause let’s be real a sec here, they aren’t hiding much in the 15 other outfits that these bits of cloth hid.So then, if everything these outfit changes masked can still be seen, what is the point in Sony mandating their censorship? If you ask the grown men fighting for the future of gaming, they might tell you that this is a “death by a thousand cuts” situation, in which companies are not outright censoring things they don’t want shown but instead pushing the boundaries of acceptable censorship back bit by bit, game after game, year after year, until all string bikinis are layered full-body robes that hide any semblance of human form.To me, what is most ludicrous is the lengths these people are going to justify their thought processes. If you thought the above was difficult to wrap your mind around, please buckle up because this next rabbit hole is a thought train through madness.

First, a timeline! On March 29, 2024, the Stellar Blade demo launched, showing off the first level and some mechanics, even a boss fight. On April 26, 2024, the full game was released to critical acclaim. On the same day, a patch was released to address some changes not implemented in the final version.Stellar Blade had both a physical launch as well as publisher approval through Sony. While the time frame for things may not always be precisely the same, it is fair to say that since disc production and shipping takes time, the initial version on the discs was made maybe two to three months before April 26. In that time, the developers are not able to really implement changes they make after production. Still, we see this from time to time in the industry, where a game will launch and receive a patch as well.Since Stellar Blade was being produced by Sony, it is likely they had to get approval for the production version. This means whatever was on the disc, Sony likely signed off on. Further, the demo version, a possible derivative of the production version also probably got the greenlight as well. So the game launched on April 26 was most likely okayed by Sony, with additional patchwork being something the developers wanted to address as they sat by for a few months in anticipation.Somehow, though, the adult men signing a petition they hope will be printed and mailed to the developers believe that SHIFT UP, the developers of Stellar Blade, are being wronged by Sony. This is a little baffling because in an interview, Director Hyung-Tae Kim says the changes to the outfits were intentional and in line with their vision. So why do they not believe him?

Many have simply ignored this interview, letting their rage (and other emotions) do the justifying for them. Others have concluded that Sony has told this successful studio that they will never work in the industry again if they do not add a half of a napkin worth of fabric into the game. You might think I am being hyperbolic, but I assure you that aside from the last bit about the napkin worth of fabric, these are the shady dealings they believe are going on behind the scenes.Somehow, a company, which has found success in the past and could go on to produce games for two other major consoles as well as PC if they wanted, is being secretly bullied by a larger company, who has no real leverage over the smaller company in the long term and has been open about what they censor in the past and also present, into making a minor change to two outfits in a game with much more revealing outfits because they believe that someday they will have the world’s only platform for gaming in which they can force their views onto everyone, and those views are that attractive Asian women are not okay, despite Sony being a Japanese company. Please excuse the run on sentence.The thing is, that last part is important, because while they believe Stellar Blade is being stealth censored, they also use examples of other games that they claim were not censored. These examples include adult scenes in The Last of Us 2 and Baldur’s Gate 3, the latter of which cuts away leaving the implication of anything happening being the only thing the player is left with (AKA: no actual adult scene (But it’s still not for kids, it’s def adult themed)).When confronted with this disconnect, they claim that it is because SHIFT UP is an Asian company and Sony only wants to appeal to adult elements of western studios. Of course, they have no proof of any of these claims, as I found when I spoke to one fan.Using Occam’s Razor, what is more likely, though? All of the above being absolutely true and also completely unverifiable because Sony is a company of information ninjas despite regularly being hacked and having internal emails and data leaked to the public? Or that SHIFT UP had an artistic vision and made a last minute adjustment? I am a little biased, maybe, but I just can’t shake the feeling that SHIFT UP added that camisole cause they thought it made the outfit look better.And if you are not willing to buy into the narrative that a shadow organization is chipping away at the cornerstones of gaming by slowly removing visible skin sometimes then you probably have to accept that this is a case of artistic integrity being challenged by the consumer. Some people desperately want to see just a little bit more and you know what? That is okay, have fun, kings. The thing to keep in mind, though, is you did not make Stellar Blade, so maybe it is not worth harassing anyone and everyone over minor adjustments by the creators.

So what about the other things in the world? The Pokemon Go Frankensteins or the FFXIV Benchmark bald patches? Do they not deserve the same respect that all artists have to make their creations how they want? Sure they do! That does not mean, though, we as consumers have to accept every choice an artist makes, especially when they are selling it. If you choose to be vocal about it, though, there are appropriate and inappropriate ways to make your concerns heard.In the case of Stellar Blade, it can be hard to sympathize with the outraged, and not only because of the more obvious reasons. The main character, Eve, is her own person in the context of a story. Pulling away from that context, this is not a character any of these people had any say in the design of making. They are experiencing a premade tale with her as the protagonist. Therefore, if the storyteller is stating something about the character, while you do not have to agree with it, you cannot really claim partial say in the decision because you paid for the story.On the other hand, in FFXIV and Pokemon Go, the characters in the story belong in a loose sense to the people that make them. We have been given tools to design a character and there are stories made we can take them on, but everything the characters do is an extension of us and our visions for them.For example, while FFXIV highly encourages playing through the MSQ and being the Warrior of Light, a player can decide to skip out on all that, instead pursuing a quiet roleplaying life as a Roegadyn chef who has never fought a day in his life. Similarly, a Pokemon go Player never has to do a challenge or story quest and can instead catch and raise 500 Dugtrios to make the world’s largest Dugtrio farm. The tools and worlds are not our own, but the characters we make in them are the products of our imaginations.When the tools suddenly change and our characters are shifted to a new look it is a lot more understandable to reject these changes. I am sure there are many Miqo’te players who were dismayed to find that they no longer had fangs. I know for a fact when the initial preview was launched many viera, me included, were upset that our signature noses were molded into something more generic.When we make these characters, we have our own intentions with the design and while our visions do not trump those of the people making Pokemon Go or FFXIV, they should still be taken into consideration.

In the case of Pokemon Go, the views of the players have been universally ignored. Niantic, the Pokemon Go developer, has been very silent on the issue, hoping the controversy will go away, that the players will stop talking about it. And they are not wrong. Each day, each new tweet, less and less people are vocalizing their opinions on the avatars. While there may always be someone griping about it, for the most part, people are accepting they have lost.For FFXIV, things turned out a little different. Not long after some of the community started raising concerns about the benchmark, Yoshi P issued a statement that promised to address some of the more glaring graphical changes, with an updated Benchmark coming later this month. Why did we get a different reception from the company?While we do not have an exact reason from Yoshi P, there are some potential answers. In contrast to the Stellar Blade and Pokemon Go audiences who took a more vitriolic approach, complaints from the FFXIV community were less emotionally charged and more focused on highlighting the specific differences between the old and new looks. That’s not to say no extreme statements were made, but comparatively to the other two, the FFXIV response was rather tame.Additionally, FFXIV purportedly has a history of listening to the playerbase. This is something I have a little trouble believing because I still can’t wear hats and GMs still do basically nothing, but I suppose that in some cases it is possible they listen.Perhaps they are listening because the player base has been dwindling since the peak heights seen in Endwalker. Perhaps they are listening because FFXIV is a big money maker and with Square Enix’s recent financial situation, they want to do more to ensure we stay subscribed. Perhaps it’s a mix of both, but these are just minor little conspiracy theories of my own.

Either way, perhaps we do not need to go to war every time an artist changes something. People are resistant to change and even more so to criticism. When confronted with views that conflict with their own, even if they are incorrect, most people will dig in deeper and accept even more unbelievable claims to support their stance. This psychological quirk is not a new mysterious thing, it is pretty well documented.It can be very tempting to get swept up in the rush of the crowd, to yell, scream, throw a proverbial grenade at the system, but while all this goes on, those outside your movement do not see what you are fighting for. They see a tantrum, whining and crying for whatever toy they are nearest to in Target. And more importantly, like all tantrums, this too will pass.There is no incentive to cater to the whims of those screeching for what they want because it is thankless and they will be on their next tirade soon after anyway. Case in point, the Stellar Blade discourse is already in the past as Helldivers 2 takes the spotlight in the “Sony Must Die” crusade.A calmer response that explains the consumer viewpoint and can implicate the lasting effects of a company’s decision is far more valuable to those running these products. That people are upset is measurable, but it also is not useful. What can be corrected, what mistakes have been made, what might a given player end up deciding to do with their time and money, these are things that a company is likely to consider and these are the reasons Square Enix likely opted to have an update Benchmark.This all said, companies are not your friends. They may hire artists and allow them to work on their visions, they may take feedback and make changes based on it, but do not think for a second they will let you or the artists hurt their bottom line. If the response from FFXIV players had been largely the same with the caveat of complainers being “at least I can get a Fantasia,” you better believe that Yoshi P would note issue a statement. Why harm potential sales by giving the players what they want?

We live in a tricky ecosystem of balance between consumers, corporations, and art. The old saying “vote with your dollar” is only partially true, because we as consumers are relatively powerless individually. If we want our voices heard, sometimes we have to come together to do so. If we want to advocate for art or for our collective good, sometimes that means we need to accept we might not get everything we want.Our interactions with art becomes even trickier. Art, when viewed, even if we do not create it, it is deeply personal. Everyone will have their own unique reactions to different pieces. Some might be overwhelmingly joyful, others disgusted, and even more completely neutral. And while these reactions belong to us, they do not give us any ownership over the art or artist.Ideally, art should not be censored. Perhaps instead of demanding things be adjusted to our design, we can work to tailor our views to better match with the art we engage with. Hopefully, artists will listen to us when their work affects more than their vision, but if not, well, there is always more art in the world. Maybe some of us can use these changes to go off and bring our own visions into the world.

- Special Feature -

State of the Game

Uhh...

Did you know that some doctors think negative thoughts coupled with stress can potentially lower lifespans? Such a thing is hard to effectively measure as there are so many factors that go into one’s expected years alive. Whether it is true or not, though, it does not change that time is precious and to waste it on negativity is probably a misstep.This week I wanted to write about things going on in Eorzea. This was not easy. I fretted to Babbit over how I was not sure what to do since everything seems to be in a sort of stasis pending the new launch of Dawntrail. A lot of people are standing around right now. It is a drought, after all, and there is not much to do.So what IS going on? Xbox players are coming into the world for the first time, that’s new. Though, it isn’t exactly smooth. Many are on a free trial (and I am not even sure if they can get the full thing yet, but maybe? Babbit said yes.) which has highlighted a ton of issues with the free trial system as towns are now filled with people asking for help getting themselves into parties with friends. If you ever thought Eorzean life was lonely, try the free trial for yourself and see just how detached it can be.

There is typical venue drama as people complain of discord bots and debate the merits of GMs taking action against graphic NSFW content in public spaces. This debacle appears and fades every few months. Nothing groundbreaking, really.And of course, we have the newest event, a tie-in with Final Fantasy XVI, surely you have heard of it? I was going to document my experiences with it and express them here since there really is not much else to discuss. Of course, there is no obligation for a long-form article every other week, but at the same time I feel weird not doing one, so I thought maybe that would serve as a way to buy time at least until the next one.Sadly, though, this event brought me to tears. No, not because of the emotions or the care for the story. This brought me to tears because it was yet another frustratingly painful “Visual Novel” experience (sanitized of any actual branching paths that a true VN carries) climaxing in yet another slog of a “fight.”

After the third time of failing the fight because I didn’t realize I was supposed to stop trying to fight and instead try talking to the weird crystals that popped up for some reason I asked and found out. The fourth time went exceptionally smoothly for 10 or so minutes as I pushed the quick time event button over and over and over and over with one hand while holding my head up with the other. At the end of all of it you get Officially Branded Final Fantasy XVI ™ merch, limited time only while supplies last.I guess it’s my fault for not feeling the emotional investment. I didn’t rush out to buy a PS5 when FFXVI launched so I don’t really know much about Clive. Weirdly, though, I felt nothing for the Final Fantasy XV event a few weeks ago and I have played that. I really liked Noctis et al. So maybe it is not just a “me” thing.Going on and on about this stuff, though, it really just hurts my heart. I feel sour about this place and what keeps getting thrown into the mix and to keep dwelling in it cannot be healthy. Even if it is not going to shorten my lifespan, to keep talking about all the shortcomings of Eorzea is not something I want to spend my time doing.Instead, I want to talk about something I have been in love with. Maybe you feel the same, maybe you feel hate for it, and maybe you are totally indifferent. If I have to write about something, though, I would rather be passionate than jaded. So this week I am going to talk about some of my adventures in Dragon's Dogma 2.

First things first! I got into Dragon’s Dogma Dark Arisen a long time ago. I thought it was really neat but it also seemed very obscure. I tried to watch the Netflix show, but it didn’t feel right to me, I don’t know. When 2 was announced I was very excited! I made Babbit get into it because of how stoked I was (sorry Babbit!(Not really though)). I even preordered it, something I never do.When I say the launch was subpar, I mean it. It was not great at all and for two days I struggled. Many people were suffering from issues with optimization, low frame rates, slow experiences in towns, that sort of thing. It became known that part of this was due to NPCs existing and some took to slaughtering entire towns just to eke out a better performance.Meanwhile, a loud bunch of people started to spread a ton of hate regarding the microtransactions the game has to offer. Are microtransactions a good thing? We may not have the same views on this, but frankly, I do not really see them as all that bad, at least in this case. Yes, in online games if they give you an edge over anyone then they very much should be opposed. Anything else though, it really comes down to preference.If there is no harm to others or their experiences then why should anyone care? DD2 is a single player game and the microtransactions, for the most part, can all be found in game. So if Tony the banker who works 65 hours a week wants to pay $2 so he can fast travel a little better and use his limited time more effectively then who are any of us to judge? Is it dumb? Maybe, but it’s still Tony’s choice and Tony’s money. Is Capcom bad for including it? Maybe a little, but again if you don’t buy in it won't affect you.Anyway, back to my experiences. Like I said, I was having issues at launch too, but they were a little different. You see, I wasn’t sure of why at the time, but something was wrong with how I was launching the game. When I loaded in I saw the opening cinematic same as everyone, but after that I was taken to a foggy void of bars and people. I was even mean about it on Twitter.

This was not a great start to things. Eventually, and with some help from Capcom support, I got these issues worked out. Things run great now and I have been thoroughly immersed for a while. If you are having similar issues to me, feel free to reach out. Enough of the controversies and problems, though, let’s get into the adventure!

Dragon’s Dogma 2 is an open world single player RPG with action combat and party mechanics. There are a variety of base classes to choose from and more are unlocked through doing certain quests. Where DD2 differs from a lot of similar games is in how one adventures directly impacts their experience.A similar experience might be found in Breath of the Wild, which emphasizes exploration and player freedom. However, BotW’s freeform approach is not to be found in DD2. Where BotW allows the player to engage with the main story quest (MSQ) at their leisure, DD2 requires interaction with the MSQ to progress beyond certain points, at least as far as the story is concerned.This is where things get sort of interesting. If you wanted to, you can completely ignore the main story and live a life of adventure in this unforgiving world. I came to the realization when I stumbled into an area I was not ready for, both in terms of my level and the narrative.

Despite a slew of hardships (and real time lamenting my horrible decisions to Babbit) I made it through to a major hub and set up a travel point, far ahead of when I “should have” were I playing the game “right.” But you see, that is the beauty of DD2. There is no “right” way to play it.Babbit has been playing too and we are carefully comparing notes at times, trying not to let any secrets slip to one another. Some things are too good (or annoying) not to share, but for the most part we discuss our journeys with discretion. That is, in part, because this takes a lot of hints from classic RPG design.There are quest markers, journals, things of that nature. You can get guidance in game from fortune tellers and even your party. However, when it comes to sidequests, aside from looking them up, there is no real way to tell what they are. They trigger in a variety of ways from talking to a generic person in a city, to investigating a rumor because you read a random sign on the road, or even wandering a bit too brashly and tumbling down some hole in the ground.To top things off, these sidequests all have choices that matter, and there is no hand-holding here. This means that Babbit and I have wildly different adventures despite playing the same broad narrative and when it comes to an open world RPG, that is really cool. The world is affected by our choices and we have to live with the consequences.

For example, Babbit just recently made her way to an Elven city hidden deep within the forest. She went out that way on a whim and both her and I were surprised she came across it. I had been there a while ago because I bumped into an elf on my travels and he wanted to date so he took me there to meet his dad (It didn’t work out and my new fake boyfriend is way better so everyone wins). Babbit ended up missing an entire miniature quest series yet she is still going strong in her journeys.Meanwhile, I have been seeking out everything I can, talking to anyone and everyone, investigating even the most mundane whispers, wandering along rock walls looking for cracks that might hide a secret. I want to do it all while being the best person I can be and for me, that’s my adventure. Others choose different paths.A ton of people have already beaten the whole thing and moved on! I recently got an achievement for going into 50 dungeons, which, yeah that is a lot, but some are about the size of a bedroom so grain of salt. Still, at the time, only 0.04% of players had done that. Considering how complex and interesting some of the structures are, it is a little sad to me, but you know what? If being a speedster is your calling, then take that freedom and rush it!That is the sort of freedom DD2 offers, not only an open world to explore and experience, but also a narrative to craft where what you do can shape those around you. There are consequences to your actions. If you make the wrong choices, people will die, but that is okay because it adds to the feel of the world.

If someone begs you for help and you leave them be, do not be surprised when you find their lifeless body taking up coffin space later on. Heck, sometimes things just happen.I met someone who had traveled far from their usual spot to another village entirely. Later on, when I was in her usual city, I dropped in to say hi only to find she was missing. I figured she must still be on vacation. A few days later, I dropped into the town morgue to check on things and found her there! Something must have happened to her on the way home, otherwise how would she have wound up dead? It was a tragic surprise! Fortunately, though, there are resources for such things.Wakestones act as single use resurrection tools that you can use on yourself in battle or on others. They are not easy to come across, though, and they may be vital later on so one should use them sparingly.Sadly, after a few monster attacks at city gates, I have seen some townsfolk in various morgues. However, they are not important enough to me to use such a thing on, at least not yet. Resources can be scarce and it is best to be prepared when you can, at least that’s how I see it.Still, who knows? My choice to leave them behind may keep me from accessing an interesting sidequest. This is something that scares me, but in an exciting way. I have no idea if I am missing out on something as I forge my path and I love it. No one will ever have the same adventure as me.

One thing I have not talked much about is the party system. DD2 is really exceptional at one thing other open world games often miss and that is removing the feeling of loneliness.When I played BotW, while I was enamored throughout my time in Hyrule, I felt sort of sad. Towns felt interesting, but the vast spaces between them were depressing at times. Sure, sometimes you could chat with an NPC walking along a road, but it was not enough to quell the feelings of isolation I’d get in long wanders.And while it was a little lackluster as an exploration experience when compared with BotW, FFXV had a great sense of community with its party. Each had their quirks and seeing them joke around and talk about things made the experience feel friendly.DD2 is, in a lot of ways, the marrying of these two systems. The exploration is exceptionally fulfilling and feels challenging. Sometimes the reward is the journey. And sometimes the challenges are best met with your team.

The party system in DD2 takes a unique approach (not in the series, as it is largely the same as in the first) wherein canonically the NPCs in your party are seen by the regular people of the game world as something of NPCs.Called “Pawns,” your party starts when you summon your first at a riftstone. This pawn is totally customizable, including appearance, class, name, and even personality. As you adventure with your pawn, they learn things from you and others and begin to take charge using what they have learned.In addition to your main pawn, you may also summon up to two additional pawns from the rift. If you are online, you can summon pawns other people have made. These are not taken from them, but they act as something of a copy, bringing their experiences to your world.Your party will talk about things from the quests you are on, to the areas you visit, to the assortment of ladders you find. They love to talk about ladders! They also try to help you out with what they know.

For example, if you are dilly dallying on a quest, a pawn who has been on it with another player may volunteer to lead you to something you may need to complete the quest. Or, if there is a treasure in a tough to reach spot, if they have the ability to help you up or go themselves, they will offer to do so.You ultimately get to say whether or not you are interested in aid, but having the help can be nice! It certainly makes things a little more cheery to have others talking about what’s going on, at least. As a bonus, sometimes they do high fives with you after a battle!When in a town or near others, NPCs will say little phrases. Picked apart, they do not always add up to much, but in a cacophony it feels lively. They wander about and pursue their own agendas. In conjunction with being in a group that you will take around and camp with, everything comes together to create a feeling of liveliness that is such a rare treat in a single player experience.And if you think parties are for losers, you can abandon them! Throw your pawn into a river and never summon another and you are going to have that hardcore totally solo nightmare fight fest that so many RPGs nowadays try to give. For fans of Elden Ring, this just may be the preferred option for you, but be aware you might not have a great time.

Does this mean Dragon’s Dogma 2 is for everyone? Certainly not! It is a challenging game with a ton of frustrating features. Fast travel is difficult or inconvenient (or, in the case of Ox Carts, faster than walking in real time but slower in game time), item weights require you to carefully consider equipment and curatives, and making a mistake can leave you in a tough spot going forward or require you to repeat perhaps hours or days of effort to correct it. Still, for me, aside from maybe some multiplayer support, this is a perfect experience.I often find myself yearning to explore new worlds and to talk about them with friends. Sometimes, Eorzea just feels sort of against what I want. Linear progression, easy access rewards for little to no effort, and content that, to me, feels just a bit too stale and formulaic.Of course, these are my opinions and I have nothing bad to say about those with differing thoughts. I actually do enjoy being in Eorzea, though it is usually because of things I get into myself or with friends over what has been mapped out for everyone. Still, sometimes it is good to take a step away from it, to venture out and see what the world has to offer.Dragon’s Dogma 2 might just be something you need in your life. It was for me, at least. And maybe you read this and are even less interested than you may have been before. Either way, if you do feel as I do, that Eorzea is losing some of its luster, go out and try something else for a while. It could be anything!There are so many worlds to embrace for a bit if you need time away from the stresses of WOLing. I know where I’ll be! And if you join me there, who knows, you might run into my pawn and she can tell you all my horrible deeds!

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