Yes, clickbait title. But this is truly one of the most bizarre MSQ quests in this game. When I played it I had no idea why it's in the MSQ and what the writers were trying to do.
The message itself is pretty simple to parse, but like, this dialogue literally sounds like a back-and-forth between some lefty and a neoliberal budget hawk. WTF?
https://ffxiv.consolegameswiki.com/w...ltana%27s_Duty
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[Godbert]
My apologies, Your Grace, I have kept you waiting!
[Nanamo Ul Namo]
No apologies are necessary, Godbert. My request was sudden, and you were kind to make yourself available at such short notice.
[Nanamo Ul Namo]
As to the purpose of my visit, I would have your thoughts on how the crown might best aid the refugees residing in Thanalan.
You are aware, I am sure, that many of the Ala Mhigo's displaced sons and daughters long to return to their newly liberated homeland. And you are also aware of how they will suffer without shelter and work to sustain them.
I would use our nation's wealth to spare them that suffering. What advice have you for me on the matter of how it might best be distributed?
[Godbert]
...The unusual circumstances of our meeting, and Your Grace's choice of companion, would suggest to me a desire for an honest and unvarnished opinion. I shall give you one.
My advice to you is: "Stop." Taxing Ul'dah's wealth to save Ala Mhigan refugees is a terrible, terrible idea.
[Nanamo Ul Namo]
You oppose my proposition?
[Godbert]
Most emphatically. I agree with Your Grace that the refugees must have housing and employment, but what profit is there for Ul'dah in this arrangement?
[Nanamo Ul Namo]
Profit? After all you have done for Gyr Abania's displayed, I thought you the very last person to seek to benefit from their misfortune!
[Godbert]
Forgive me, Your Grace, but you appear to be laboring under a misapprehension.
It is a fine endeavor to support one's fellow man. I fear, however, that your stance is one born of pity—your intent is to "save" the refugees, is it not?
For all our potential, we are indolent creatures by nature. If unconditional charity is all we know, then we begin to rely upon it—to expect it.
And then we must consider Ul'dah's own poor and downtrodden. Should they hear of you spending the nation's coin—not to improve their lot, but to nurture the distance citizens of Ala Mhigo—it is unlikely they will applaud your generosity.
Surely it is not Your Grace's intention to foster new resentments, but to spread goodwill?
[Nanamo Ul Namo]
Indeed.
...Then any support I pledge to the refugees must promote self-sufficiency, whilst also serving the interests of the people of Ul'dah.
[Godbert]
Exactly so! Such an arrangement will create a far more equitable relationship with the returning Ala Mhigans, even as it generates the revenue required to win the approval of your subjects.
[Nanamo Ul Namo]
You have given me much to ponder, Lord Manderville. I thank you for your candor.
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When I played through this quest back in 2017, I had a complete whiplash. I don't even care about what ideology this quest is trying to convey, but it was so tonally dissonant from every other part of the MSQ, it felt like someone on the writer team was trying to shove in their own personal beliefs. We all know what happened in Nov 2016.... And the 4.1 quest would have been written shortly after that time. I wonder if it's a response to that event...?
Now, regardless of whether you agree with Godbert, surely you'd agree that this quest is bizarre? Literally reads like something Hayek would write.
But it also went nowhere. After this quest, we never hear about any budgetary issue or anything else from Ul'Dah. The tone before and after this quest is basically "with the power of friendship, we can do anything." And this quest is like "no, you need to keep political and budgetary realities in mind." ?????????????????????????????
Continue reading...
The message itself is pretty simple to parse, but like, this dialogue literally sounds like a back-and-forth between some lefty and a neoliberal budget hawk. WTF?
https://ffxiv.consolegameswiki.com/w...ltana%27s_Duty
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Godbert]
My apologies, Your Grace, I have kept you waiting!
[Nanamo Ul Namo]
No apologies are necessary, Godbert. My request was sudden, and you were kind to make yourself available at such short notice.
[Nanamo Ul Namo]
As to the purpose of my visit, I would have your thoughts on how the crown might best aid the refugees residing in Thanalan.
You are aware, I am sure, that many of the Ala Mhigo's displaced sons and daughters long to return to their newly liberated homeland. And you are also aware of how they will suffer without shelter and work to sustain them.
I would use our nation's wealth to spare them that suffering. What advice have you for me on the matter of how it might best be distributed?
[Godbert]
...The unusual circumstances of our meeting, and Your Grace's choice of companion, would suggest to me a desire for an honest and unvarnished opinion. I shall give you one.
My advice to you is: "Stop." Taxing Ul'dah's wealth to save Ala Mhigan refugees is a terrible, terrible idea.
[Nanamo Ul Namo]
You oppose my proposition?
[Godbert]
Most emphatically. I agree with Your Grace that the refugees must have housing and employment, but what profit is there for Ul'dah in this arrangement?
[Nanamo Ul Namo]
Profit? After all you have done for Gyr Abania's displayed, I thought you the very last person to seek to benefit from their misfortune!
[Godbert]
Forgive me, Your Grace, but you appear to be laboring under a misapprehension.
It is a fine endeavor to support one's fellow man. I fear, however, that your stance is one born of pity—your intent is to "save" the refugees, is it not?
For all our potential, we are indolent creatures by nature. If unconditional charity is all we know, then we begin to rely upon it—to expect it.
And then we must consider Ul'dah's own poor and downtrodden. Should they hear of you spending the nation's coin—not to improve their lot, but to nurture the distance citizens of Ala Mhigo—it is unlikely they will applaud your generosity.
Surely it is not Your Grace's intention to foster new resentments, but to spread goodwill?
[Nanamo Ul Namo]
Indeed.
...Then any support I pledge to the refugees must promote self-sufficiency, whilst also serving the interests of the people of Ul'dah.
[Godbert]
Exactly so! Such an arrangement will create a far more equitable relationship with the returning Ala Mhigans, even as it generates the revenue required to win the approval of your subjects.
[Nanamo Ul Namo]
You have given me much to ponder, Lord Manderville. I thank you for your candor.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When I played through this quest back in 2017, I had a complete whiplash. I don't even care about what ideology this quest is trying to convey, but it was so tonally dissonant from every other part of the MSQ, it felt like someone on the writer team was trying to shove in their own personal beliefs. We all know what happened in Nov 2016.... And the 4.1 quest would have been written shortly after that time. I wonder if it's a response to that event...?
Now, regardless of whether you agree with Godbert, surely you'd agree that this quest is bizarre? Literally reads like something Hayek would write.
But it also went nowhere. After this quest, we never hear about any budgetary issue or anything else from Ul'Dah. The tone before and after this quest is basically "with the power of friendship, we can do anything." And this quest is like "no, you need to keep political and budgetary realities in mind." ?????????????????????????????
Continue reading...