Vaan is the character who should've never been. Squeenix admitted that Basch was initially intended as the XII protagonist only to be replaced with Vaan because of their assumption that the younger audience wouldn't find the ancient 27 year old Basch as attractive in the lead role. Instead of appealing only the older gamers, ultimately no one was satisfied with who is universally regarded as the worst FF lead.
Legend tells that his personality improved in Revenant Wings, but who the hell actually played that? Vaan has a checkered past in this contest, and I would implore anyone that dislikes him to nominate him so that he can overtake the bottom of the STATS where he righteously belongs. I would also implore anyone who actually likes Vaan to nominate him as well so you can try to get him some REDEMPTION. Also it would be hilarious to watch pj try to do this when he's failed super hard before.
2. Yunalesca - The Legit Nom
I've been trying to get Yunalesca in for years now, and yet time and time again a different flash-in-the-pan representative gets the X (or Yevon forbid, the X-2) nod instead. Now I might be solely responsible for the likes of Dona, Isaaru, and Braska, but all but one of those are characters I've only supported for a gimmick and let die afterwards (or in Braska's case I'm willing to let die) for a legitimate contender. I never asked for Maechen, Anima, or Bahamut, though of course I supported them because they were there. I certainly never asked for Leblanc, Lenne, or especially O'aka XXIII and refused to touch any of those outside of a trade.
I feel like Yunalesca is the last major omission from the X collective that affects the plot in a lasting and significant way. Sure there are other characters that are present throughout more of the game like Rin and uncle Cid, but their function is to sell you things or get you from point A to point B and the plot advances the same with or without them. You only see Yunalesca in two scenes, but she actually owns them. Her presence: commanding. Her boss battle: epic. I'd like Rin in eventually, but this contest I've decided to focus on villains because many have gotten far, but to my knowledge only Kuja has ever won unless you count Gilgamesh or Reno (I don't).
1. Ba'Gamnan - The Niche Nom
We've had at least two different viera in the contest and they've done reasonably well in the past. Don't you think it's about time we get some baanga representation up in here*? Ba'Gamnan also fits in my Year of the Villains theme, but has the added benefit of coming from a far more underrepresented game than X which is why I'm pushing him over Yunalesca this time around. Final Fantasy XII is literally down to two characters as of right now, and though Ashe and Basch are almost certain to return that's still criminally low for a mainline FF game.
If you guys help me get Ba'Gamnan in, Braska will almost certainly be out in the first 30 rounds as I cannot keep both alive by myself and would prioritize the new over the old. That's incentive for both X overrepresention to trim some fat and for X fans to have more focus on more important characters. Truly, it's a win for everybody involved! Plus look at this bounty hunter's badass design:
And both he and his weapon look even better in motion:
https://youtu.be/9AhA-yUDfC0 (skip to 1:03 for Ba'Gamnan and his motley crew) [I forgot how to direct link a time stamp sorry]
My promise is this: Help Ba'Gamnan qualify and he will not embarrass himself like Gabranth, disappoint everyone like Vayne (sorry Char), or go softly into that gentle night like Dr. Cid has many times before. I plan to keep him around for at least 2 more contests if he does reasonably well in this one, but he's not going to overstay his welcome.
*Disclaimer I have no idea if any of the XIV or TA entrants have been baanga and do not care to do research.
FFXIV really only has 1 bangaa character of note: Ba'Gamnan again
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"We'll tell the customers that the features promised are in a place outside of Heaven now" -- GransonEx
