Few Playable Characters

[HighwindPilot]

Let me start off by saying that I believe there are more playable characters than what has been confirmed.

Topic:

But let's just say, for the sake of this topic, they did in fact introduce to us our new FFXIII roster. How would you feel about working with a relatively small cast?


Reason:

I brought this up because it seems everyone here is hoping for more, but after rewatching a demo, I'm starting to see the positives to it. This thinking was inspired by an image of the group at what seemed to be a heavy moment in the game. Despite their differences and complexes, the group seemed to have a certain "tight" feel to them.

Thoughts:

When you think about it, in most FFs, there are one-to-a-few "disposable" characters around. These are the characters that pretty much have no real business being there. This could be due to a lack of relevance in the plot, no real positive motives tying them in, poor usability, etc... Different things that make the character an addition of little value.

But with only 5 members, they could be cutting characters like that out. As a result, the characters that are available should receive more focus, character development, and character interaction. This could mean improvements in each of those categories, making for more enjoyable or interesting figures to follow. That's not to say this can't be accomplished with more characters (VII, IX, etc...), but I'm sure the smaller pool is a lot easier to polish. That, and there's a certain kinsmanship feel that I get from a smaller band.

 

[Cecily]

If this is the complete cast... then I have no problems with it.

I agree with almost everything you said. If five characters are all the game needs to advance the story and make the gameplay experience enjoyable, then that's all I can ask for. I can't remember ever playing a game and thinking, "Oh, this would be so much better if only it had a few more characters." The number there is the number I deal with.

Which brings me to the only, trivial thing I disagree with - I've never thought of any FF characters as disposable, haha. But I'm one of those people who obsessively levels everyone equally (in games where that's possible) because I think there might be a situation when I'm forced to use certain characters. (The only games I think have too many characters are the Fire Emblem games, but that's necessary because team members can't be revived once they're killed.)

 

[Sohryuden666]

This is true. The less characters there are, the more they can focus on character development. A large cast tends to hurt the story pretty badly, and some of the character just end up useless in the end. If the characters they've shown so far are the only playable characters in the game, then I have no problems with it.

Still, it's also true that the older FFs managed character development very well. But, I think this only applies to the more classic FFs. The newer ones (like FFXII) handled their characters very poorly. So, at the rate this is going, a smaller cast would probably a better option. Unless SE manages to prove the people wrong with FFXIII.

 

[Gingerbread Lesbian]

I think there'll be 1 or 2 more full on playable characters, then maybe 1 or 2 that join the party then leave again but I think the roster on the whole is a strong one.

Lightning
Snow
Hope
Oerba
Sazh

They only have 5 main characters atm so I think there'll be 1 or 2 at most, I don't think it'll be like SO:TLH where there were 9 >.>

 

[HighwindPilot]

Cecily, I'm sorry, I don't mean to call them "disposable". It's more that, for better wording, you end up with characters that usually fall under one of two things (sometimes both):

The character has no real connection to the story. Like they're just along for the ride or fulfilling their own personal kind of quest and using the protagonist's quest to do so. More often than not, these characters never end up very impactful to the story either, so they just seem kind of caught up in it all.

Or

The character is fairly useless in battle. This case doesn't happen so much, as you can really make just about every character work. But there's always one or two who, apart from a decent ability or two, don't bring a whole lot to the mix.

Sorry, I didn't mean disposable, but just, umm, tier 3?
----

I think there'll be 1 or 2 full on playable characters, then maybe 1 or 2 that join the party then leave again but I think the roster on the whole is a strong one.

I hooope not, 'cause then that's pointing towards Lightning and Snow. But I'm not so sure, 'cause I recall reading up on Hope, and it said things about how you can train him/help him to be brave and refuse to run from the fight or something. That'd seem an awful lot to make him a part time fighter, I think.

They only have 5 main characters atm so I think there'll be 1 or 2 at most, I don't think it'll be like SO:TLH where there were 9 >.>

Lol, that was a load indeed. I really thought they were gonna cut a couple off early or something.

 

[darkman616]

if there is only 5 wouldnt that make it uneven? im not sure but during battles is there a max of 3 fighting,? if so shoulnd there be at least 6 chars maybe there is 1 they are trying very hard to hide.

 

[HighwindPilot]

if there is only 5 wouldnt that make it uneven? im not sure but during battles is there a max of 3 fighting,? if so shoulnd there be at least 6 chars maybe there is 1 they are trying very hard to hide.

Oh I'm almost certain there are at least 1-2 more. The staff of Square are marketing geniuses, and I really can't see them giving away everything about the game at once.

But this is just about the idea that we do only have a minimal cast, and what that would mean to everyone.

So yeah, I agree with you about the awkwardness of having only V. It'll bother the people who like to "evenly train".

 

[Cecily]

Low-tier characters! It's cool, I know what you meant.

I think there'll be 1 or 2 full on playable characters, then maybe 1 or 2 that join the party then leave again but I think the roster on the whole is a strong one.

Really? So that would mean the actual party is two with three temporary guests. That's such a radical departure I don't even know what to think.

 

[Gingerbread Lesbian]

I mean 1 or 2 more full-on characters which brought the main party up to 6 or 7 then 1 or 2 temporary characters that'll join then leave D:

 

[Cecily]

OH, that makes more sense. I know I just said it doesn't matter how many characters there are, but having only a couple of permanent characters would probably be too much for me to handle, so I'm glad that's not the case.

So yeah, I agree with you about the awkwardness of having only V. It'll bother the people who like to "evenly train".

Any possibility of this game having automatic leveling in the style of FF7? You'll still have to use all of the characters evenly to get all of their abilities, but they will still level up while not in your party.

 

[Bambi]

why does it matter if it's uneven? FFX has 7 playables and that's no problem, especially if you can switch your guys in and out, like X & XII

I'd prefer a smaller cast tbh, it makes grinding easier, although...what worries me about smaller groups is there might be a job system. I'm, not into that at all.....

 

[Kitab]

It's worth remembering that the first three Final Fantasy games in the series only had four characters, and Final Fantasy V had five characters, and this was perfectly normal. FFIV and FFVI were radical in introducing a large cast. So, I would say that it doesn't matter how many playable characters there are, so long as they are all well-developed people and fit into the story and into the battle system cohesively.