Are there any particular xiv npcs that you like a lot, or that you've thought about more than others, or daydreamed up stories of them interacting with your characters?
This is a difficult question in all honesty - not because I couldn’t think of any NPCs who fit the description but because there are too many! I think that FFXIV has a lot of good characters, and even those who play a small part or have in an antagonistic role can be sympathetic or interesting.
I’m going to a list a few of my favourites (including ones whom I’ve imagined interacting with my characters in Warrior of Light AUs).
Minfilia - I know Minfilia gets some flak, but I found her sympathetic both because of her background and her status as a struggling(?) leader of the Scions. In Cain’s WoL AU, I imagined him having perhaps the closest bonds with her, with the two of them sharing some things in common (maybe?) and respecting each other’s strengths.
Thancred - Thancred is a cool guy, a fun guy and a poor guy all at the same time. He and Cain could have some amusing conversations (especially since WoL Cain is probably even snarkier than main universe Cain), and I like Thancred in how multifaceted he is.
Arenvald - While I haven’t (yet) thought a lot about how my characters might react with Arenvald (though the idea of him and WoL Storm meeting is... intriguing), I like him a lot. He strives to do his best despite his sad backstory, so there’s plenty of reason for me to feel sympathy towards him.
Aymeric - Hardly a surprise, eh? Aymeric reminds me quite a bit of Cecil from FF4, and he is cool yet caring. Lumien would most likely be his fanboy.
Fordola - Fordola is quite certainly my favourite “villain”. Her backstory served as an inspiration for Storm’s backstory, and I like how she is tough and competent but not irredeemable or completely uncaring. I can’t wait to have Storm meet her through the main story... and imagine how things would go if it really happened.
Tataru - Tataru is sweet and hardworking and tries her best, and I genuinely wish the player character could have soothed her with a hug or something in the Requiem for Heroes quest.
Sadu - I am oddly fond of how intimidating Sadu is at times, and I like how she is fierce and bloodthirsty but not completely reckless. She is also shown to care about her tribe members and makes a good leader for the Dotharl, I feel.
