tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-268660459652553228.post133902197313447310..comments2024-02-26T20:52:27.680-08:00Comments on Thinking Inside the Box: Final Fantasy Tactics's Plot's Shift in FocusThe RPGeniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02752937839502693108noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-268660459652553228.post-50313355637036597862017-06-10T21:13:53.293-07:002017-06-10T21:13:53.293-07:00Hmmm I see what you're saying.
From how I see...Hmmm I see what you're saying.<br /><br />From how I see it, the stones were the tangible things that could create a more obvious outlet for how power is being utilized. Perhaps it was not a perfect medium for conveying such things, but I think the stones do draw out the characters' inclinations in the chaotic world where you're not always sure where peoples' allegiance lies. Wiegraf's desire for the power to change things was clearly larger than his desire to actually change things and even larger than his love for his sister. Without something to draw that part out, it perhaps might have came out as disingenuous or out of nowhere. Conversely Rafa's grief and love for her fallen brother was clearly shown, it totally would have been okay if she was angry and wanted to seek vengeance, but the zodiac stone here brings to light that her priorities were not about what was right or what was wrong, but just her love for brother. And then maybe just as a cherry on top, this is where you hear a bit of Ramza's thoughts on the matter where he questions what the holy stones are about and perhaps what he is doing things for, and magically then next chapter is "Somebody to Love" (The PSP version is "In The Name of Love"). And so instead of the politics or some sense of justice, Ramza is now after his sister. I think that throughout the game, you see Ramza's journey into politics, people's motivations, and justice, the holy stones are some of the tangible milestones that ultimately leads him to his ending; Olan spots him and Alma riding off unknowing to anyone else, probably because he didn't want anything to do with power or politics, and because he wants to actually spend time with his sister, you know cause so many other sibling pairs had such tragic endings (God there were so many of them).<br /><br />That was a bit of a tangent, but yeah I believe that the holy stones was just a plot device that the designers used to do said goals, and perhaps have a reasonable excuse for ridiculous bosses and to explain things that probably would have been less logical without some kind of magical component to it. Sure there's probably some other way to do the above, but in the end I think it works out without too much complication. Then again I'm probably bias since FFT is still my Top 3 for sure.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-268660459652553228.post-50362546484515777372017-06-10T09:11:51.335-07:002017-06-10T09:11:51.335-07:00Hi, Moonlight, long time no see! Hope you've ...Hi, Moonlight, long time no see! Hope you've been doing well as the years tick by. Haven't played SMTP5 yet, but by all accounts I've heard it's rather great. I'll get to it sooner or later, though.<br /><br />Hm. That's an interesting perspective that I'd never thought of. I rather like it. It does tie the Stones back to what I think should be the focus of FFT pretty well, and make the 2 plots a little less separate.<br /><br />With that said, it's still an inelegant analogy for the fact that it's wholly unnecessary. FFT's plot is such that it doesn't need any such allegory, because it's already DIRECTLY about the corrupting force of power. Whatever messages and ideas that one can glean from the Stones as such an analogy would have been easier and more effective to show as an outright, tangible event in the plot. I love subtlety in storytelling, but when your story is already being direct and open with what it says on a subject, removing part of your message and making it into a metaphor while everything else relating to its message is out in the open doesn't work. So to me, the plot about the Zodiac Stones and the plot about all the rest of the game are still 2 separate games sutured together, and I still regret the shift from the political stuff to the magical hoo-haw stuff...but your insight does make it seem just a bit better, too.The RPGeniushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02752937839502693108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-268660459652553228.post-28656554682946877492017-06-09T01:15:15.564-07:002017-06-09T01:15:15.564-07:00Hi Ess! It's Moonlight again! Just popping my ...Hi Ess! It's Moonlight again! Just popping my head in (also I was hoping you had written something on Persona 5 haha, I want to hear your thoughts on it!)<br /><br />I never thought of the plot that way to be honest. It's certainly an interesting point. Hmmmm I think for me I thought that the whole Zodiac Stone was a driving force that amplified how the corrupt people in power just wanted more power, and the stones reflected their desire. That's what I thought the designers were trying to convey at least, this is bolstered by when Rafa uses the stone and it does something unexpectedly good in front of Ramza's eyes. She's not seeking vengeance or angry at anyone, in fact she was thankful that the stone grieved her brother's death. It seems to me like they were trying to create an analogy between the stones and power itself, and how when the corrupt use it to keep getting more corrupt/powerful they are ultimately defeated by good (aka Ramza), while the good can actually use power to do something for the better, e.g.: Rafa saving Malak, Restoring Reis, Bringing Cloud....? Ionno if that's 'good'.<br />Continuing this analogy, consider the people that you encounter that are Ramza's allies or even enemies at some point that question what is going on, a handful of them have a holy stone but don't use them, perhaps saying that they have not let power corrupt them. (Examples: Mustadio, Orlandu, Izlude, Meliadoul, Alma). Even Wiegraf is someone that I believe you would have mixed feelings for and is ultimately a tragic story of someone who had a lofty and idealist goal let his anger of the system, and sorrow for Meliuda corrupt him.<br /><br />Thoughts? HahaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-268660459652553228.post-76099258003767382042017-04-30T15:46:55.278-07:002017-04-30T15:46:55.278-07:00Well, I don't think that's necessarily tru...Well, I don't think that's necessarily true. Ramza has plenty of involvement in the political aspects of FFT's story, at least for the first half of the game, and while he grapples with his limitations and failures from the game's first chapter, he still manages to have a significant presence without compromising himself, such as his temporary protection of Ovelia, and his decision to flood a battlefield to prevent an all-out slaughter between the 2 sides being manipulated by their corrupt leaders. I think Ramza would have been able to quite adequately remain grounded in the political side of the game without having to give up on his morality, given what we see of his actions in the game.The RPGeniushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02752937839502693108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-268660459652553228.post-22660389524810091852017-04-29T17:39:53.928-07:002017-04-29T17:39:53.928-07:00Ivalice is far too dark for Ramza. There is no way...Ivalice is far too dark for Ramza. There is no way ne could play a more proactive role in the politica whitout compromising himself or ending like *spoiler* in game of thrones. <br />The zodiac stone plot allowed him to stay heroic,and still contribute to the improvememt of Ivalice. Also, my memory may be hazy on that point, but i never found the two plots disconnected. I should play FFT again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com