Character distinctions

[Hippie Kev]

I definitely see a lot of posts in the XII section talking about how under-developed Vaan is as a main character and how Balthier really should be the lead character and so on.

I wholeheartedly agree with these statements, mainly because they're absolutely true.

Balthier really is the leading male, probably the leading character as well. Balthier even acknowledges this fact in the game "It's what any self respecting leading male would do" (or something along those lines).

Also, Vaan is not very important as far as the story of XII goes, as mentioned in other threads, not much would change if he wasn't part of the game.

I don't understand why people complain about these. I doubt Square intended Vaan to be the leading male. Instead Vaan is the playable character.

I'm sure the majority of the confusion is because we, as players, have always been treated to having the leading character and the playable character being one and the same.

This has changed in XII obviously, in fact, I think it has offered an interesting new perspective to the gameplay.

Instead of experiencing the story first hand, you're now Vaan, an impartial observer that's just tagging along for the ride.

Anyway, that's just how I see the situation, anybody agree or disagree?

 

[Davey Gaga]

I believe the quote you were looking for was:
"I'm only here to see how the story unfolds. Any self-respecting leading man would do the same."

There's some merit in your thoughts but the idea still lacks any ... what's the word? Success?

Imagine Final Fantasy VII, for example, with Reeve as the playable character. It's along the same lines - it's just shit, tbh. xD

 

[Hippie Kev]

I believe the quote you were looking for was:
"I'm only here to see how the story unfolds. Any self-respecting leading man would do the same."

There's some merit in your thoughts but the idea still lacks any ... what's the word? Success?

Imagine Final Fantasy VII, for example, with Reeve as the playable character. It's along the same lines - it's just shit, tbh. xD

So you're saying that Square did have the intention of having Vaan as the main character and that it just didn't pan out so well as they may have hoped?

 

[Bambi]

I think that Vaan was meant to be the main character, but they just failed miserably at it

Altho your idea does make some sense, I just think they screwed it up tbh

 

[Mitsuki]

I don't exactly know if they had planned for Vaan to be the main character or not, but as it turned out, we clearly see that he doesn't really play a big role.

Your idea does make sense - that we now view the world in Vaan's eyes, merely an observer. We are used to playing the very main character itself in the other FF series, and so it came as a big disappointment to some of us when we finally see something that is quite different amongst the rest.

However, I think the fact that Vaan was actually in the party didn't exactly change anything drastic as far as experiencing the story firsthand. I mean, he was usually with Balthier, Ashe, and the rest of the gang that it really wouldn't have mattered (story-wise, anyway) if we were to view it in Ashe or Balthier's eyes. Why? Because the party were always together. They never really separated ways during their journey, (at least nothing permanent) so viewing it in Vaan's eyes would might as well be the same as viewing it in Penelo, Fran, Basch, Ashe, or Balthier's eyes. It wouldn't make a big impact or major improvement to the story.

I think the problem is that some people just didn't like Vaan, simple as that. Perhaps viewing the story in his eyes and having him as the main playable character had something to do with some people disliking the game...? Because usually, when someone dislikes a "main" character (not to mention a playable one), they let that factor affect what they think of the game overall. -Shrugs- Just a thought.

Honestly, I couldn't have cared less if it was viewed in Vaan, Ashe, or Balthier's eyes. The game was good enough for me, although the story didn't interest me as much. I don't know, maybe I need to give this game another chance because I do see some potential. The characters and storyline just didn't captivate me as much as I had hoped.

 

[Reality.Fantasy]

I'd have to agree that SE screwed up. At first, it seemed as if Vaan really was going to be an effective character what with the sneaking into the Rabanastre Palace and going into Lowtown and doing all of these things to further realize his own ambitions, but I think that his goals get overshadowed by those of Ashe and Balthier. I'm not saying that the three don't have common interests, but it seems as if those of Ashe and Balthier really take over, leaving characters like Vaan and Penelo in the dust in terms of character development.

I think it's pretty much obvious that Vaan is meant to be the opening character what with his importance in the opening events, him being at the top of the party list, and the guy you control on the world map and in the towns. As far as Balthier's quote goes, I think that's just his self-confidence being shown rather than Square-Enix showing who the real main character is.

 

[Daughter_of_Gaia]

I think too MUCH emphasis was put on Balthier's character, so much that it totally overshadowed the others. Even though Ashe is "the main female", she gets only a quarter of the dialogue and attention Balthier gets (plot twists, etc). The other characters don't get even a tenth of that. Fran, who is supposed to be his partner, is hardly explored at all, save for the Eruyt village, and the dynamics behind their relationship are barely touched upon. To be honest I saw no hint of true friendship or the like between them at all. But in the vein of this thread I would say yes, Balthier is much more of a main character than Vaan, who just seems to be the "vessel" of which the events in the game are viewed. Not that much happened in it anyway...but that is just my opinion.

 

[Donald Trump]

I think that the criticism aimed at vaan is unfair, as to me all the characters are pretty bland.

As much you dont like it, the game is seen through Vaan's eyes, its from his prospective, and Vaan's character is the one who develops the most, which tbh isnt saying much.
Balthier is a much more charismatic character, with his good looks, the strahl, and with Fran as part of the package, we see him as the suave thief.
But he is a pirate, and was once a judge, not the most admirable of professions, remember, its only through vaan that we see sky pirates as being a positive thing, the others seen somewhat negatively disposed towards his profession.

Balthier is also arrogant, it could be seen as cocky, but its still not a positive attribute, Tidus was also to a certain extent, yet Tidus didnt really take his cockyness to seriously, but Balthier believes himself to be the leading man, which is debateable.

Also he has a messiah complex, he feels he must die for his cause, eg at the end he goes into bahamut, without really thinking he could save the city, he does but that is just luck, it could also be interpreted as bravery, yet he did it to show he was fully willing to die for the cause.
The plot is mostly driven by Ashe, yet her intentions arent pure, she desires power, not only to get independence for Dalmasca, but to wield power to enforce her will and protect her from enemies eg archades, but possibly this will manifest in a desire to destroy archades in the future, as she is obssessed with power, like bilbo and frodo in lord of the rings, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Vaan and penelo are our only innocent characters, they may not be the main characters, but they are the real heroes, as they go on this adventure and remain uncorrupted at the end of it, this is what differentiates them from the other characters, the fact that they are pure, although Ashe comes to power, so does Larsa, who is kind and will be a benevolent ruler, and we know that al-cid will come to power in rossaria, thus ensuring that there will be peace in the future

 

[Daughter_of_Gaia]

Very interesting point placebo, about Ashe's lust for power, so essentially we could say that she is the first ever FF heroine that is not totally pure of heart...a nice change from Square, if - big if - that facet of her personality had been better elaborated...
I liked your comparison of Ashe to Bilbo in Lord of the Rings, very similar!

 

[Daenerys]

Ashe's lust for power, so essentially we could say that she is the first ever FF heroine that is not totally pure of heart...a nice change from Square

Interesting point, but one could argue that Ashe has pure intentions at heart, since many people hate and fear the empire, and she wants to liberate her people from Imperial control.

I think that all the characters in XII had a lot of potential...it just wasn't explored. Fran and Balthiers sky pirate history could have been explored more, life under the empire for Penelo and Vaan...etc.