Would you like to see a Cid main protagonist?

Razberry Knight

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Often times we see a character named Cid. He's usually a supporting character, sometimes playable, but always on the sidelines.

Very recently, Cid has been a main antagonist (Type-0) and soon will be a female (Final Fantasy XV).

But how would you like it if there was a Cid that was the main protagonist? And no, i'm not talking about being one of the main characters, but the lead character that we follow mainly and hear his thoughts, and his motives, and his backstory extensively.

EDIT:
(Warrior of Light from Dissidia doesn't count)
 
Cid tends to play a certain role, even if it is a varied and only vaguely defined one.

Cid is usually a mechanic, an engineer, a pilot, or a scientist of some sorts. Sometimes he is a combination of all of these. In the rare exceptions where the scientific genius aspect is not explicit (i.e in FFVIII, Tactics, etc) then the Cid holds a position of authority.

Whether he is a party member of not, Cid usually acts as a support character.

I don't think we need a Cid as a main character as that'll only free up a vacancy for another character(s) to play the role that Cid usually plays. From a gameplay perspective Final Fantasy's creators usually find that it is better to give the party access to the airship about mid-way through the game. Meeting Cid doesn't always equal meeting the airship, and they can delay it for a significant part of the game, but with Cid as the main character it'll be more difficult to justify having no airship.

If we were playing as a Cid from the start then they'll have to write into the plot a decent reason for the lack of an airship, or the lack of the resources for building any sort of vehicle. They could find a way to make it work (perhaps a global power-cut and energy shortage, etc).

Having said all of that, it would be rather fun to have a game where Cid, a genius engineer, is the main character. It would be quite awesome to be able to build machines and ride them at different points in the game.

Perhaps they would be more comfortable if they made it as a spin-off title rather than a numbered FF title.
 
We've seen so far that Cid role has moved up to main antagonist too. yes, Cid is often an engineer, but he's also been in political power.

Characters such as Noctis (a prince) and Vaan (a sky pirate) both had lots of potential to being "Cid"
 
I'd prefer to see a new character with no links to other FF games as the main character, myself. I like having Cid in every game, but I would just rather he stick to being someone a bit less important than the main character :).
 
I'd prefer to see a new character with no links to other FF games as the main character, myself. I like having Cid in every game, but I would just rather he stick to being someone a bit less important than the main character :).

Cid isn't the same as Gilgamesh where he is the same character that originates form FFV and then jumps from world to world as a secret boss/supportive character.

each Cid in each FF are their own version, but they are part of the ff staple of having an FF. I personally don't think it would hurt to see it at least once. Maybe not in a main FF game but at least in a spin off.
 
I think it would be fine having a "Cid" as a main character. I mean now it's just a name, he really isn't "the pilot" or an engineer of any sort in the last few FF games I've played (think X was the last time he was the one to give you a ship.)

Heck it would be interesting maybe to have a lead Cid... Then Biggs and Wedge can be supporting characters! :wacky:
 
that actually sounds great to me.

Think that is the first time we agreed on something!

But thinking now, it would be interesting to have a side game with a "main" Cid and then throw in Biggs Wedge, even Gilgamesh as supporting characters, and have the game with the very common elements and enemies such as Cactuars, crystals, moogles and so on.
 
Cid isn't the same as Gilgamesh where he is the same character that originates form FFV and then jumps from world to world as a secret boss/supportive character.

each Cid in each FF are their own version, but they are part of the ff staple of having an FF. I personally don't think it would hurt to see it at least once. Maybe not in a main FF game but at least in a spin off.

I know all this. I'd rather have uniqueness for the main character, rather than a side-staple.
 
I know all this.
the correct response is "let me clarify" "sorry for the miscommunication, what i meant to say is..."
I'd rather have uniqueness for the main character, rather than a side-staple.
its not a "side" staple, its a main staple in the series. just as it is summons and others.

I'm merely saying a character can remain "unique" just by sharing the name of Cid. Cid isn't always the same as previous FFs. But even then, Cid isn't always a mechanic, or engineer. often times he's somewhere in the political power. and thats also something to consider, how many "unique" aspects of a character do we get until they move toward using supportive-type character roles for main roles (such as Cid).
 
Cid as an authority figure does seem to be an important part of his character too… Looking at it etymologically the name Cid (via a Spanish loanword from Arabic Sayyid) means ‘Lord’ / ‘ Chief’ / ‘Master’, etc. Cid being a figure of authority is just as much a part of his character as his engineering and piloting competence. It may also be appropriate for FF’s Cids usually being ‘masters’ of technology and science.

Let’s break down the Cids that I’m familiar with…

Cid (FFII) – A former knight and owner of an airship.

Cid Haze (FFIII) – An inventor of sorts. He creates airships.

Cid Pollendina (FFIV) – Most explicitly a mechanic and engineer. He wields a spanner and dresses for the role. He designs and builds airships.

Cid Previa (FFV) – An engineer who designs many machines. Responsible for creating the Fire Ship, and then later fixing and remodelling the ancient airship.

Cid Del Norte Marquez (FFVI) – Inventor of Magitek technology. Eccentrically dressed (I’ve heard his appearance compared to Banana-man in a condom suit more than once). He is a scientist and engineer.

Cid Highwind (FFVII) – A pilot and mechanic / engineer. Designs planes, airships and space rockets.

Cid Kramer (FFVIII) – The first deviation from the Cid model, but not by much… Cid is the headmaster of Balamb Garden, but it is also revealed that he had an important role in remodelling the ancient Centra tech into the Gardens for housing SeeD students. This makes his role comparable in a way to Cid Previa from FFV. Also, the Gardens are later shown to be able to fly, which is something that Cid Kramer reveals.

Regent Cid Fabool IX (FFIX) – He is regent of Lindblum which is the Gaia capital of engineers and mechanics. He himself is an accomplished engineer and has designed airships.

Cid the Al Bhed (FFX) – He acts as the leader of the Al Bhed, and so is an authority figure. He is also a competent engineer. Like Cid Previa and Cid Kramer he also unearths an ancient airship and is able to remodel it.

Cid (FFXI) – I don’t know anything about him but I know he was a sort of engineer.

Dr. Cidolfus Demen Bunansa (FFXII). A guy as crazy as his name. I don’t know so much about him as I never completed FFXII, but I know him to be an engineer, inventor, scientist, etc, etc, and to have had a big role in designing and building airships in particular. He also acted as one of the antagonists.

Cid Raines (FFXIII) – General of the Cavalry brigade, etc, etc. He is quite a forgettable Cid, in my opinion. He commands an airship, but I’m not sure if he has any engineering competence.

Cid nan Garlond (FFXIV) – I’m surprised by this Cid as he turns out to be one of my favourites. He is a very classic Cid. He is an eccentric engineer, scientist, inventor, etc, etc. He creates airships. He is dressed like a mechanic, likely taking some inspiration from FFIV’s Cid Pollendina.

Cid and Cindy (FFXV) – Cindy may not be the game’s Cid, but she is perhaps close enough. Cindy may instead be comparable to Mid Previa (FFV), who was the grandson of Cid Previa. I’m not sure if anything about the game’s actual Cid has been revealed other than him being a grandfather or some relation of Cindy. They both appear to be mechanics.




As seen, the numbered titles of FF tend to follow a pattern for the role that Cid plays. The deviations from that model seem to be from spin-off titles. Let’s see them…

Cidolfus Orlandu (FF Tactics) – A Holy Swordsman and commander of an order of Knights. A figure of authority. As far as I know he has no engineering competence, and has nothing to do with airships, science, or anything Cid-like. He is perhaps, therefore, the first Cid to completely depart from this model.

Judgemaster Cid Randell (FF Tactics Advance) – This Cid is the leader of the Judges. He is therefore a figure of authority, but like Orlandu this Cid is not an engineer or anything.

Cid (FF Tactics Advance 2) – I never played this game so I know nothing about this Cid other than that he is the leader of a certain ‘Clan Gully’. He is therefore an authority figure, but I don’t think this Cid is a scientist, engineer, mechanic or pilot either.

Cid Aulstyne (FF Type-0) – I know nothing about him as I have never played Type-0. All I know is what I’ve read on this site and on FF wiki that he is the main antagonist, and that he leads the enemy empire. His attire looks like something we’d expect from a Metal Gear Solid game rather than a Final Fantasy game… I don’t know if he is an engineer, but airships and technology seem to be associated with him still, but perhaps only because he is a military commander and dictator rather than because he designed them. I don’t know.

Dr. Sid (FF: The Spirits Within) – This Sid from the movie is a scientist and loosely follows the model of Cid from the numbered titles.


There may be other Cids that I do not know of, but these are most of them.


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I would be fine with them creating a game where Cid was a main character, but they would have to follow the Cid model to an extent. Cid is not just a name. The characters that wear the name Cid all have completely separate personalities, but the FF team have created a model of what a Cid stands for that has generated certain expectations from the player.

Perhaps we could picture Cid as a block of marble that has been cut and chiseled roughly to shape, but it has not yet had its finer details carved and smoothed. The FF creators can still do anything with a Cid’s story, appearance, and personality… So long as he is sculpted from the same material that a Cid is usually sculpted from.

If Cid didn’t resemble a Cid at all then people may wonder if another name would be more appropriate for the character. The internal reference of having a Cid character would no longer make sense if, for example, we had a Cid who acted a lot like Vaan… Unless, of course, Cid-Vaan was responsible for the technology for crafting those abs…

A game with a mechanic / pilot / scientist (and so on…) Cid as a lead protagonist, however, might be enjoyable if they do it carefully.
 
the correct response is "let me clarify" "sorry for the miscommunication, what i meant to say is..."

The correct response is "I'm sorry, I now realise you didn't imply in any way that you didn't know about Cid being a staple of the series that doesn't travel between universes".

its not a "side" staple, its a main staple in the series. just as it is summons and others.

I'm merely saying a character can remain "unique" just by sharing the name of Cid. Cid isn't always the same as previous FFs. But even then, Cid isn't always a mechanic, or engineer. often times he's somewhere in the political power. and thats also something to consider, how many "unique" aspects of a character do we get until they move toward using supportive-type character roles for main roles (such as Cid).

The name Cid is definitely a side staple. It's just a name, like Biggs and Wedge. Chocobos, moogles and summons are much more prominent in the games than just a name.

To me, a main character needs a completely new and unique name, to go with their personality, with every game. If you have a main character called Cid, you have a distinct feeling of nostalgia and having seen them before, before you even know who they actually are. They may be different and unique in the end, but not from the get go. I don't like this idea personally.
 
The correct response is "I'm sorry, I now realise you didn't imply in any way that you didn't know about Cid being a staple of the series that doesn't travel between universes".
nope. You knew you could have clarified better. So why is that on me?The name Cid is definitely a side staple. It's just a name, like Biggs and Wedge. Chocobos, moogles and summons are much more prominent in the games than just a name.[/quote] characters arent just randomly named cid, biggs and wedge. Biggs and wedge are often dual type characters who are often portrayed as brothers or close friendship. Cid on the other hand, is often with engineering or has a place for political power.
To me, a main character needs a completely new and unique name, to go with their personality, with every game. If you have a main character called Cid, you have a distinct feeling of nostalgia and having seen them before, before you even know who they actually are. They may be different and unique in the end, but not from the get go. I don't like this idea personally.
The idda of every character is 100% is already out there. So of course, youre not going to see that idea. Me? Uniqueness is there, but I believe providing a main character cid can provide just as much new uniqueness. When I look at cid from type-0 I do remember previous Cids but I dont get that to cloud the current character named cid. Thats why I asked this question, to spark the idea of a more unique Cid in an FF. And like I said, doesnt have to be main series. I highly doubt you care that much that you prefer not a single ff to ever touch the idea. Heres something to consider. The name "sarah" appears as well often times and of course associated to princess. For example ff13 changed it to serah. Its no biggie.I would just like the idea explored.
 
Yeah, I think it would be great so see Cid as the main protagonist of a Final Fantasy game!

In fairness, whenever I think of Cid I always, always automatically think about his persona in FFVII. It's hard to imagine "Cid" as something else, even though he is in so many of the FF titles. I do still think that despite me thinking of the VII version, Cid deserves to be the star in a Final Fantasy game. :D

I'd play it!
 
Having Cid as a main character could be really interesting for a Final Fantasy game. I think it would be fun to see how it would impact the storyline and gameplay. Maybe the main character is a young aspiring airship pilot like Vaan who wants to explore? Or an up and coming magitek soldier sent out into combat? Or an engineer forced to survive in a post-apocalyptic wasteland?

The gameplay could involve using scraps and after battle spoils as bits and pieces to put together/improve weapons, a game's main airship, armor, etc. I think it'd be a fun new twist to have a smart, handy main character that could build his/her own stuff from scratch, etc. I'm all for the idea.
 
I would love to see a Cid that breaks all of the Cid Stereo types if he were to me the main protagonist. have the story sort of shape him into the type of cid people expect to see. maybe have him interested in creating little gizmos and gadgets and let that expand into other awesomeness later in the game.

Maybe not have his actual name be Cid, but have his initials be C.I.D.
 
I would love to see a Cid that breaks all of the Cid Stereo types if he were to me the main protagonist. have the story sort of shape him into the type of cid people expect to see. maybe have him interested in creating little gizmos and gadgets and let that expand into other awesomeness later in the game.

Maybe not have his actual name be Cid, but have his initials be C.I.D.
i wouldn't like that...especially since theres already other characters in ff that are severely close to Cid's name and confirmed to not being Cid.
 
This actually sounds like a really fun idea!

IMO Cid's function in the series up to now doesn't really matter, because whatever function he traditionally has had could be incorporated into the main character for a little twist. So he's an engineer--cool, let's have a main character that can fix his own busted airships for a change. It would be a fresh perspective and could result in some unique gameplay elements.
 
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