Levi
[XIV] ok so I am still awake at this hour so I'm doing a bonus one of these, another character analysis/change, this time for Wuk Lamat
Levi
I am a big Dawntrail defender and I will defend Wuk Lamat even though I'm not even that gung ho on her, because honestly the absolute bullshit this character has suffered is ridiculous
Levi
It wasn't really their intention, but SE managed to create a character that would draw the attention of every misogynist, racist, and transphobe on the planet and I've seen a lot of people trying to mask their various -isms under the guise of "criticism"
Levi
But that's not what we're here to talk about because there are problems with Wuk Lamat's character, but none of them have to do with "stealing the spotlight" or "being annoying" or "kicking my dog"
Levi
Ok so the first real issue with Wuk Lamat I feel like is the extremely weird disconnect between her near laser focus on culture and her inexplicably shallow understanding of it
Levi
They try to explain it away as she lived a sheltered life in Tuliyollal, but it's super jarring that she's that ignorant of everything
Levi
She's been to Ihihana yet literally can't even remember the name? She "never bothered" to go back to Yak Tel?
Levi
LIke it would make sense if she didn't have a deeper understanding of Tural's cultures but she should surely know more than she starts out with.
Levi
She should probably know a little more than just "the Pelupelu are the merchant clan"
Levi
We already have the WoL, the twins, and Krile to be the audience stand ins to teach these things to
Levi
Like this isn't a major problem or anything but it is a noticeable one and it just makes her look kind of ignorant instead of sheltered
Levi
Having her be a little more knowledgeable from the getgo will make it easier to write her connecting with her people
Levi
And less like she's a tourist in her own country
Levi
It wouldn't hurt for her to know more of the basics about the Hanu and not just "they hold a festival each year" but more about the importance of reeds in their lives instead of her learning it when she gets to Ok'hanu
Levi
and by participating in reviving Ihihana brings her the deeper knowledge of the festival's true purpose
Levi
Also as an aside despite what people claim, I don't think "the Hanu don't know the purpose of their own festival" is not that big of a plothole, these seemingly important details DO get lost over time
Levi
Most people don't know why we decorate trees for Christmas, it's just the thing we do
Levi
If you grew up not knowing that Ihihana is a ritual spell for good crops wouldn't make that connection year-to-year until your crops actually start failing
Levi
It was something the Hanu took for granted for years
Levi
It is more fantastical but it's a similar principle
Levi
Anyway enough about that, the basic idea here was that I think Wuk Lamat should have had a little more understanding of her people than what was shown
Levi
Anyway I have been doing a real proper replay of Dawntrail and I think I identified what is probably a very big major problem for Wuk Lamat
Levi
Which is holy shit the writers went in super hard to make her look as bad as possible for the start of the story
Levi
Her flaws are showcased extremely aggressively without also showing her strengths to balance it out
Levi
Take the seasickness thing, like man they drag this one facet of her out for far too long
Levi
The first proper cutscene we've got Erenville saying that her efforts to help during the storm at sea were useless and possibly even detrimental to the rescue efforts because her seasickness was so bad
Levi
That's like...not really how you want to introduce a character we're supposed to be rooting for
Levi
(yes I know this technically isn't our introduction to her because we really first met her during the EW patches, but this is still the getting to know her phase)
Levi
And then the seasickness just keeps being a thing to the point that it's treated as a running gag
Levi
But not like a "this is a reason to find the character endearing" type of running gag, such as Estinien being a weird cryptid
Levi
It really comes off as a "look how absolutely useless this character is" running gag
Levi
And then we get to Tuliyollal and some of the Tuliyollans come up to talk to her and they're like "Your brothers are so regal and intimidating, but you're just so approachable!" and it's portrayed as a backhanded compliment
Levi
and to a viewer, it can read as the people don't respect Wuk Lamat
Levi
Like it's supposed to be an indication of her hidden strength, but it's just not well portrayed here
Levi
And it only gets reinforced during the start of the Rite of Succession when people are just talking shit almost nonstop about her
Levi
I think a better way to do this would be to have the citizens first greet her a little more warmly without the comparison to her brothers, to show that there are people who actually do just like coming up to talk to her, or feel like they can come to her with their concerns
Levi
Instead of "you're just so easy to talk to!" maybe a better line would be "we know you always make time for us and listen to us"
Levi
And when people are expressing doubts about her fitness to rule, it should be more about how she'll have a hard time keeping up with her more accomplished brothers and not "she hasn't done shit"
Levi
I get the idea that the purpose was the portray her as an underdog in the competition but they went a little too hard and what this kind of does is prime the player to dislike her
Levi
Anyway on account of "lacking any accomplishments to her name" instead of literally nothing, it would've been better to give her like. Something. Something that might not seem impressive compared to Zoraal Ja or Koana's accomplishments.
Levi
Like maybe she's one of Tuliyollal's best hunters, maybe she once drove off a beast that had broken into the city. Maybe she helped some community initiatives happen.
Levi
Something that really drives the idea that she has the potential to make things happen.
Levi
That if given the chance, she can go on to do something bigger and better.
Levi
Anyway another thing I would do is just kind of cut the mini arc about her pretending to be tough and untouchable.
Levi
It doesn't really do anything for her character aside from kind of just make her look bad.
Levi
I know there's the whole "she has to learn to ask for help" thing but that was so minor and got resolved super quickly also she's ALREADY asking for help by enlisting such a big entourage for the rite in the first place
Levi
Maybe she can feel self conscious about having such a big group of helpers instead
Levi
Maybe instead of acting tough, she tries to do too much by herself to solve the peoples' problems
Levi
Something like that would better hammer home how much she prioritizes the happiness and well being of her people
Levi
In ways that Zoraal Ja and Koana just aren't naturally attuned to
Levi
Another thing I kind of take issue with is when Wuk Lamat is asking what her special trait and her strength is, the answer that's arrived to is her "love of peace" and like
Levi
no that's a lame answer
Levi
Koana is also a proponent of peace
Levi
Her strength, and the important quality she inherited from Gulool Ja Ja is the ability to understand others and forge connections
Levi
To understand the hopes, fears, and suffering of those she meets
Levi
And to do something meaningful to make a difference in their lives
Levi
Contrasted to Koana, who only viewed things from the angles of "problem solving" and "general advancement and prosperity"
Levi
and couldn't see any way other than "just copy whatever Sharlayan's doing"
Levi
Speaking of Koana he does deserve a dive of his own but that's for another day
Levi
But yeah like the basic idea here is just
Levi
Y'all didn't need to make her have such a bad first impression
Levi
And that you need to emphasize her strengths more
Levi
Anyway I know another issue people have is that Wuk Lamat is way too attached to the hip to the WoL an easy solution to that would've really just been to include a third person to the split up groups
Levi
Having another NPC to bounce off of would make her seem less attached to the WoL and help her forge stronger connections to the rest of the entourage
Levi
Anyway I wonder if the writers were just like. Too afraid of making Wuk Lamat look like a Mary Sue or something so they veered off so hard in the other direction that she just honestly looks completely incompetent at times
Levi
And like for every moment we get where she shines we get like three where she's looking like a comic relief joke character
Levi
And her shining moments need to shine more!
Levi
When she saves the chirwagur from the bird, her answer to why should be a wishy washy "I don't know" "I guess I just didn't want you to die"
Levi
It should be "because we are all Turali and it's my job to protect my people"
Levi
like at this point she's learned via alpaca to face people averse to her and reach out to them even when they metaphorically or literally spit in her face
Levi
and it shows that she's willing to consider the chirwagur her people even when they actively spurn her
Levi
It would have been better for her to let the bird attack the chirwagur and she knows this
Levi
And she can carry this moment with a small group of chirwagur into the Yak Tel segment, where she has to contend with an entire village actively against her
Levi
anyway I am actually sleepy now zzz I will probably add more later
ADELEDJI’D
I do kind of wonder how the writing credits ultimately work out because I can’t tell if I’m just trying to attribute the parts of the story I thought were weak to a guy who did a sidequest series I thought was bad or if it’s Kawasaki on his weird bullshit again
ADELEDJI’D
Like I keep going back and forth on whether I think he can cook or not. I do feel like “I know fuck all about all these other cultures” feels like a miss comparable to “we’re just pretending cid was fine with Gaius after Prae now”
ADELEDJI’D
along with commitments to bits that feel fine when they’re about funny fairy tale animals but end up feeling weird as the cornerstone of a main character
Levi
It is something to think about, though I don't know nearly enough about the subject to even speculate
Levi
I thought about things more and I'm coming around to the idea that Wuk Lamat (and by extention, Koana) shouldn't actually be named Dawnservant until later in the MSQ possibly as far as until the end
Levi
So that they can both better prove to the people and the player why they deserve the title.
Levi
It is mentioned that Gulool Ja Ja won't actually yield the throne unless he believes that the winning candidate deserves it of course
Levi
But it's easy to forget a single line in a cutscene
Levi
And given the peoples' doubts about Wuk Lamat earlier, they will need some convincing
ADELEDJI’D
honestly it’d be nice to have Gulool Ja Ja around longer I love lizard dad(s)
Levi
Same though I do think it is important for Gulool Ja Ja and Zoraal Ja to have their duel
Levi
One possible solution would be that the Rite is interrupted right at the end or the attack happens before Gulool Ja Ja officially names Wuk Lamat successor
Levi
So the throne technically "empty" with Wuk Lamat and Koana serving as the temporary Dawnservants out of necessity and crisis
Levi
Anyway I know that functionally doesn't change much, but it'll look more like Wuk Lamat and Koana deserve to be Dawnservant for their actions instead of (what looks like to an outsider) because Wuk Lamat won Gulool Ja Ja's little game
Levi
Another thing I want to add to the game is a scene during the attack on Tuliyollal where Wuk Lamat goes to Bakool Ja Ja who is in Landsguard custody (having willingly turned himself in after the events of Mamook) and releases him
Levi
And he's confused as to why and she explains that she is asking (emphasis on asking) for his help to defend Tuliyollal
Levi
And he's like "do you think this is a wise idea? releasing the man who unleashed Valigarmanda and was previously planning to subjugate your people"
Levi
and she just says that she trusts him
Levi
A scene like this would do a lot for the story IMO
Levi
1. It explains why Bakool Ja Ja is even in Tuliyollal to begin with at the time of the attack, much less moving around it freely
Levi
2. It handles the "so they just kind of let Bakool Ja Ja off without consequence?" issue a little better
Levi
yes it is mentioned in optional content that Wuk Lamat spared Bakool Ja Ja the worst and commanded he serve in the Landsguard as penance but this puts it directly in the MSQ
Levi
and crucially explains it sooner
Levi
anyway 3. It shows off Wuk Lamat's kindness even towards her (former) enemies
Levi
4. It parallels Bakool Ja Ja placing his trust in Wuk Lamat during Mamook
Levi
5. It helps them grow their budding respectful relationship that started in Mamook
Levi
6. It's better for Bakool Ja Ja's redemption arc where he has the option to just. Leave. Abandon Wuk Lamat and Tuliyollal in their time as need when he and his people saw them as the enemy for so long. But he doesn't.
Levi
He stays to help
Levi
Because he truly understands now the values and principles that Gulool Ja Ja used to unite all of Tural
Levi
And that he wasn't blessed with life to be an instrument of misguided ambitions or carrying the imaginary burden of hundreds of dead children
Levi
But that he should be using the life he was lucky enough to receive to live how he wants to and be a good person, and that is how he can truly honor those who came before him
Levi
He stays and helps because he wants to, not because he's indebted to Wuk Lamat, but because he sees her vision now
Levi
And this can lead into later, that if Wuk Lamat can change Bakool Ja Ja, maybe she can change Sphene too (she can't, but it was still worth the effort to get to know and understand her)
ADELEDJI’D
Indeed. I also did kind of want something between Gulool Ja Ja and Bakool Ja Ja because all the times GJJ looks really exasperated with BJJ takes a different vibe when you Know
Levi
oh yeah that would be cool and would go into the hypothetical "how I would improve Bakool Ja Ja" edition
ADELEDJI’D
Like I’m mostly happy with Bakool Ja Ja even if I do think the resolution was a little clumsy
Levi
Bakool Ja Ja's general story was fine, I think it just needs more general expansion
Levi
I'll have to find a way to fit such a scene in which is hard when GJJ has his ass firmly parked in one spot for 90% of the story
Levi
like you could put one in after Yak Tel/before the succession but I'd kind of want something before BJJ has learned his lesson
🥀molto☆cringé🥀
I think the worst part is I do see these criticisms of Wuk pop up in Twitter discourse but its used by both reasonable ppl and completely unhinged MAGA ppl that are furious abt Sena Bryer voicing Wuk that its impossible to have a normal objective convo abt DTs flaws
🥀molto☆cringé🥀
but yeah I agree with all of this and I find it so odd they didn't write Wuk as the approachable, dedicated Promise when thats entirely what Sphene ends up being. the foil template is there, idgi
Levi
it's very difficult because even outside of MAGA there's just people who are being disingenuous to begin with
Levi
like I once saw someone say they didn't like Wuk Lamat because she was "entitled" like what
🥀molto☆cringé🥀
*ends up being for Alexandria when we first meet her, sorry lost a whole sentence there
🥀molto☆cringé🥀
HUH
Levi
the Wuk Lamat who spends half the story with the worry in the back of her mind that she doesn't deserve to compete for the throne?
Levi
She's entitled to taking part in the competition she is LEGALLY ENTITLED TO PARTICIPATE IN?
Levi
a lot of people when "criticizing" Wuk Lamat just name a bunch of negative traits and say that's what she is even if that isn't ture
🥀molto☆cringé🥀
yeah MAGA was shorthand sorry. there's just a horrible venn diagram of conservative politics and bad gamer takes driven by "girl too manly, needs 36DDDD titz"
Levi
yeah I get it
Levi
like I've said before a lot of the reason people hate Wuk Lamat is because she isn't sexy
Levi
and how dare my game full of hot people have a stinky furry in it
🥀molto☆cringé🥀
didn't they make Au Ra less creaturelike bc of this exact sort of negative reception back in the day?
Levi
I don't know the reason why it was changed so I cannot confirm nor deny
Levi
but I do know that there are a lot of players in the game that are just like. Straight up prejudiced against Hrothgar
Levi
like people blamed Hrothgar for being the reason Viera couldn't wear hats
Levi
Because "dev time went to Hrothgar instead of finishing Viera"
Levi
and like yeah also being hot doesn't fully exempt you from scorn, exhibit A being Lyse so it's also "how dare a girl steal my spotlight"
Levi
so if you made Wuk Lamat an attractive male character no one would have an issue with her (him)
Levi
like I don't think it's a coincidence the fandom zero lasered in on Koana as being the only "good" Dawntrail character until Waifu Sphene came into existence
Levi
Anyway it's also like "Wuk Lamat sucks for getting kidnapped and forcing us the rescue her" you know who else got kidnapped, forcing us to rescue them?
Levi
Aymeric
Levi
and Aymeric's kidnapping had MUCH dire consequences
Levi
As it was the event that led directly to Haurchefant dying
Levi
but no one takes Aymeric to task over that
Levi
even though Aymeric getting himself kidnapped is a top 10 boneheaded stupid move in all of FFXIV
Levi
at least Wuk Lamat can say that she didn't know the person who kidnapped her had bad intentions
🥀molto☆cringé🥀
JSHXHGDBD
Levi
meanwhile Aymeric over here is "I'm going to ask my clearly evil dad who doesn't like or respect me to stop being evil. I'm going to go alone without help or backup" then immediately gets grabbed by the Heavens Ward
ADELEDJI’D
Coming back to this I do think it would have been nice if like. Wuk Lamat’s early supporters are a bunch of old people so I feel like one of them could really easily be like “yeah she arranged a donation drive when my husband broke his leg and couldn’t help with the market stall she’s got my vote even if she’s silly”
Levi
Yeah it's just super underwhelming when people are like "I don't want to go back to the days of war so I support Wuk Lamat" but like
Levi
Koana is also anti-war
Levi
he makes this stance very clear
Levi
and I'd want to people to support Wuk Lamat because they support her, not because they oppose Zoraal Ja
Levi
Even if it's just a simple "only Wuk Lamat seems to really stand for what it means to be Turali"
Levi
"Only Wuk Lamat seems to have Tural's interests at heart"
Levi
Zoraal Ja wants to go on a quest of domination while Koana only cares about Sharlayan it's a simple avenue to go
ADELEDJI’D
“Wuk Lamat cares about the little guy”
Lassarina
Yeah there's a lot of circle overlap around her and it's super frustrating
Lassarina
The seasick bit made me so tired
Levi
It's so weird like you look at Ysayle and that's like a general incompetence thing
Levi
You look at Y'shtola and that's a "we're afraid of her being an actual character"
Levi
You look at Wuk Lamat and wonder "were they trying to make the player hate her?"
Levi
It's like "oh we can't have our new characters be too likeable"
Levi
Anyway like, despite all these hiccups I genuinely do believe Wuk Lamat is a good character
Levi
They just managed to engineer a set of circumstances that greatly amplify her worst traits and hide her good ones
Levi
Like I do think it's important for FFXIV to have characters who aren't the strongest or the smartest or the most hyper competent like most of the main cast are
Levi
And to have those characters voice their insecurities and overcome them to succeed
Levi
so it's like
Levi
I understand why people wouldn't like her, but she absolutely does not deserve the rabid vitriol hate that she gets
Levi
Wuk Lamat haters have literally made it their entire personality
Levi
Not even Wuk Lamat lovers think about her half as much as they do
Levi
and I do fully believe the political climate of today's world like I mentioned in the beginning only amplified it
Levi
like you take a character that isn't a conventionally attractive woman, you make her and the story around her latin america inspired, her English VA is trans and then you do her dirty like this it's like blood in the water for the culture war sharks
Levi
Also as a minor aside I think it would do Wuk Lamat a lot more good if you actually make it clear she's extremely young
Levi
She is canonically at the oldest, 19
Levi
It's only stated once in the MSQ and in an extremely roundabout way (Wuk Lamat mentions offhandedly that 20 summers is "more than she's seen" meaning she is less than 20 years old)
Levi
It would give the people of Tuliyollal a natural reason to doubt her abilities because she's literally still a goddamn teenager
Levi
Regardless of how skilled and competent they are, people would naturally have reservations about putting a teen on the throne
Levi
Koana is probably only a few years older than her, but "in their 20's" sounds a lot better than "in their teens" even if the actual difference in years isn't that big
Lassarina
I feel like the youth thing is kind of emphasized because ShB and EW had so many Adults Doing Things too
Lassarina
The twins have grown up and everybody is experienced people solving massive fucking problems
Lassarina
It is a little jarring for your main companion to then be so young (it's not bad! It's just different!) but like lbr if she was Alphi 2.0 it would've been fine
Lassarina
By which I mean if she was a male young naive person