iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Just as the second boss of Aetherfont was our secret preview to 7.x dungeons dominated by lightning themed bosses, I'm predicting that a reoccurring theme of dungeon bosses in 8.x will be illusions of trickery/illusions/'lying' perceptions. Think first boss of Meso Terminal

001

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Nah, it's only if you want a strong in-universe reason for Halm to have very limited presence (which only argue if you want her mostly saved for later expac stories). Having her having to hide her brandlessness/anachronism is still being involved w/ the Fourth's whole thing

000

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Count me in the "it's obvious that she predates the realmships and brands (we need her to infodump our 110 Sad Villain Backstory Dungeon) and she knows how to fake one"

110

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Died several times on that first board - I think my first attempt I didn't make it to the third boss. Yeah it was trivial afterwards, but certainly not from start The swapping enmity with pet I figured out in the first fight and was angry it was Crucible exclusive while I finished leveling to 50

001

Reposted by heget

Totem（兔腾） @totemyang.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

I don’t wanna forget you

52280961

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Also bravo to 7.56 for finally making me excited for further plot involvement from Calyx

000

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

MSQ knew the key to jangle in my face

000

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Which also means I know something unexpected like Lumull and all of Treno will delight me

010

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

My reaction to both Calyx and Real!Sphene was disappointment with a boring retread and/predictable story and character tropes, with neither character offering a smidge of excitement of fresh ideas: plot or character dynamics. So I'm going into the final patch of DT with the same level of tepidity

110

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Well, chalking this up to Dynamis DA- got Stone Vigil and the tank was a gladiator wearing sub-30 gear AND the lvl 1 Garlean pieces from the lvl 50 MSQ Asshole proceeded to bitch at the poor Healer, bragging that he did this dungeon w/ bots w/ no deaths, claiming that they weren't even trying

000

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Most of my childhood was East Coast (Maryland, RI, Florida technically), but year 2-4 was Cali ...gonna blame parents (constantly moving military brats both themselves) who both had a sizeable portion of childhood in California (though one has a mostly Pittburgh accent of all things)

100

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Nevada is one of the few states I've never even driven through. These are hard because I'm not sure if my answers accurately reflect what I sound like, and the weird artifacts that trip the test up. I can pour on the Texan but I know I won't sound 100% native. Naval Brat problems.

my dialect map quiz results. Speech therapy in Rhode island and almost 30 years in Texas can't overcome the less than 2 years in California?

100

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Intellectually I know why Emet is popular. It's the "he's funny" defense that is the one that I wish saw any push back on, because he wasn't. (Elidibus I hated from ARR, really hated as an Ardbert fan, but the post SoS cutscene was the brief moment I liked him. Which didn't carry to Themis)

010

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Happy Birthday to me, got "Angler Eternal" and "Of Golden Scales"

FFXIV screenshot of chat log showing the catching of Xehabopo'u and the achievements for every DT fish and all fish total

000

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Endsinger Trial, that halfway point, always some variation of: "And now to play OUR Boss Music"

010

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

The Disney+NFL line has amused me in many ways: Pair of certain characters and teams ranging from "Best possible option" to "WTF" and if that influenced if it's sold out already or not That DC is cursed with the worst option, so I can continue to justify ignoring the official team of my birthstate*

000

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

which is also why Calyx is a Clive to me- he himself is nothing new and doesn't have a design or personality/backstory twist to him. That's why I hope his gimmick is, if he survives 8.0, if to continue to radically swap cliche appearances and tropes

010

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

That distaste for the generic-ness of Clive Rosfield's design, even though his character is something new for a FF protag? That was the realization I needed for why everything about Calyx's presentation pre 7.4 did nothing for me Squirrel!Calyx is a different Clive but won't redo the 7.2-3 plot

110

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Recently learned about "Billy Possum", the failed teddy bear follow-up I am related to a woman has a collection of almost 50 stuffed possum toys and collectibles. My visit to Queensland included hunting for every book, postcard, and stuffie featuring an Australian opossum This is a Godsend

000

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Gets a Lodestone story about him, stars alongside Kan-E-Senna in the EW tank role quest ...still hasn't shared (or picked out) his new name

030

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Easy: Landebert the Ala Mhigan Socialist

021

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Still no luck with Xehabopo'u. Which makes 3 failed attempts, when every other DT Legendary has been caught in first or second attempt window. Disappointing, but honestly for the very last fish of DT, I'll accept if it had to be any, better it's the last one that I need.

000

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Favorite characters by expansion (which hard for me to pick singular favs): ARR: Wilred, (runners-up are Nanamo, Moenbryda) HW: Ysayle, (Alphinaud) StB: Fordola, (Gosetsu) ShB: Ardbert, (Ryne, Chais) EW: Vrtra, (Hermes, Jullus) DT: not sure- Gulool Ja, Otis, Bakool Ja Ja or Wuk lamat, Zoraal Ja

010

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

As the huge FFX fan bitterly disappointed in the lack of almost anything X related in DT, I still think reading predictions for EC into this is dumb. Moose's post on the same mentions a piano for the questline, so it's that Zanarkand is THE FF Piano piece

010

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Also The Main Character spotlight of Hardiboiled and Hildy as the one doing the final fight was to me the same clever send-up as Merchant's Tale 'main character' dialogue option and more so continuing the lampooning of MSQ that EW's Hildy questline did

000

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

HARD disagree I suspect optional Hildy trials this late into expac chain are discontinued, but also Ashura was a letdown and Lich was even more lackluster the dodge/parry was, while familiar to the XVI crossover event, the only redeemable part about the fight plus being a Hardi + Hildi duty

100

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

No validation better than having dropped a series because strong dislike of author's plot/worldbuilding choices and uneven treatment of characters to put it kindly, only to learn internet drama has a growing list of grievances for said author

000

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Wait This is a Variant Dungeon made for branching paths changing with Homunculus boss and mechanics, Ed maybe too combative as the guide character so..idk Winry? But the collect the pieces puzzle-nature of Variant with the secret boss would fit FMA better than anything

010

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Bonus dialogue option in quest if you leveled Arcanist (Alkehestry will be referenced as well) crossover is manga/brotherhood based except sure '03 portal to other dimensions as the plot instigation excuse

100

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

gear rewards: Amestrian uniforms, Ed's coat, at least one other cast outfit. Armored Al minion bosses have to include: Barry the Chopper, Dragon!Envy, Pride-controled Alphonse, Greedling, Gluttony, Scar... trash mobs: Chimeras, immortal soldiers, Failed candidates Fifth Lab as part of dungeon

100

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

The correct answer to: Which media *do* I want a XIV crossover with? remains: Fullmetal Alchemist which means I'm trying to plot it out and i think what I want are a pair of optional dungeons (can't cut it down to one but not enough for A-Raid and it works better as dungeon than trail)

100

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Exactly! that's what's the core of the identity twist -and I'd argue the VII party as whole is The special heroes (Aerith, Zack) die and it's the ...well, Vaans and Penelos, guest party Cid, left over to save the Planet. Vincent (and Yuffie?) is probably the most special and connected of the party

020

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Backstory Cloud is unenhanced grunt that defeats Sephiroth, sure it's his hometown that got torched but the point of contrast to Zack is Cloud is last person standing to kill Seph. Basically a Vaan. Then in VII proper he is a Cecil, but only because prev Bartz behavior has elevated him

120

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

the WoL didn't defeat Hades because they were descended from Azem, but even base ShB makes it clear that Hades's attention was Azem projection (which is also where I noticed this narrative switch). It's a specific power fantasy that I think explains some of Emet's popularity & my hatred of him/it

120

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Final Relic steps are EXACTLY what I, completionists of all ARR and HW relics, wanted

000

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

We help them fight off the VII invasion and convince them that those memories, while similar to XIV's homage version, belong to the other game world. Recreates Cloud's arc while hiding the actual late-game twist about Cloud

000

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

You know how you do a great FFVII crossover that recreates its plot and themes and preserves its twist? In the XIV's version of Midgar, a NPC has memories of VII's Cloud Strife SOLDIER thanks to Jenova/Lifestream exposure

100

Reposted by heget

FINAL FANTASY XIV @en.finalfantasyxiv.com · 25/07/2026

Behold, the Realmship of Fire, Hringhorni! 🔥⚙️

6449144

Reposted by heget

Big Salty @ GATEWAY SOON🐡 @biggestsalty.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Very hyped for the new job - Basstion

152247997

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Before the Camp Westwind rework, my WoL entered one last time to blow a final kiss to Rhitahtyn. So yes, Squirrel needs to become a Bastion.

Old FFXIV screenshot, blowing a kiss to Rhitahtyn

000

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

"Keyboard Warrior" as the title reward for the new mini-game would be funny

000

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Inverse for me. Could not care in the slightest about Eva for story or aesthetics, but part of my interest in the VII raid is wondering if they're salvaging any Ever Crisis ideas since that's shutting down in Oct

000

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Gameplay: I didn't know that when you died in dungeon combat, the return button was not instant and had to be held down. Wasn't the only reason why that first Cutter's Cry I was WORST SPROUT EVER, but part Also it took me about 3 sessions to figure out that TAB cycled targets. "Ah! Tab-target MMO!"

020

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Got it. Will never use the damn thing and it was more frustrating and time-consuming in its own way than the Diadem

000

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Trying to get these last few Crystalline Conflict wins to get the mount have firmly convinced me to HATE PVP and its gameplay feel/tempo with a burning passion

002

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Yeah, I'll watch a Wat Tyler historical fiction movie. Make it a trend; there's plenty to pick from.

000

Reposted by heget

Patrick Wyman @patrickwyman.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

This is potentially a very big deal - hoping we see a bunch of papers with really old aDNA from Africa soon! Access to that information could answer a lot of outstanding questions about migration back to Africa, admixture with archaic humans, population structure, and much more.

331139

heget @squirrelwrangler.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Phone app version wants third party age verification. Yeah no. I don't use this place enough to do that

000