Thoughts on FF8 after the Game is Over (Part 1)
So I found out someone actually initiated a discussion on Final Fantasy VIII yesterday-ish on 
boss_battle. I figure I shared my thoughts on that post since yeah, FF8 is my game like FF7 is to some of you guys. :)
Feel free to comment on your thoughts on my opinions or if you have any of your own that you want to share! I would LOVE to hear them! :D
G A R D E N S and C O N T I N E N T S
TRABIA
I think in any real post-FF8 fic, especially if it's immediately after the game, Trabia being rebuilt would be a major plot device. The fact that it is desecrated. That the entire Garden is still in pieces should be a good way to introduce plot. The Final Fantasy VIII world, along the same lines as a FF7 world, is about rebuilding. You had the Third Sorceress War (Possessed Edea and the Galbadia military) that more or less took out one of the main Gardens.
Yes, Trabia escaped total destruction but what we see in the game, they still managed to take a destroy parts of it. Casualties-wise, I wouldn't be surprised to see that maybe half of the population was gone. Maybe even three quarters. You have to remember, it did move away from its original location. Not far, mind you, but far enough that it's not completely destroyed and some parts of that Garden is still standing.
As for the Headmaster, you can really go either way. You can say that one of the casualties was the death of the Headmaster. Or you can say the Headmaster is still alive but injured (how severe, is up to the writer). Like all SeeDs (or my perception of SeeD), I think Trabia has that will of steel and determination to move forward. They are determined. I don't think a writer should be writing them like they've been KO'd completely. They're down but they're not out.
Most of SeeDs resources probably will be heading toward Trabia because it's the 'worse' off than the other two Gardens. So even if the focus is not on Trabia, Trabia should be mentioned, no matter what. Don't forget about this Garden, people. It was vital to Selphie's character and you really can use this Garden as a metaphor for SeeD in so many positive ways, in my opinion.
GALBADIA
Second on the list of priorities should be Galbadia. Yes, during the Sorceress War, this Garden was set up as an enemy base for Ultimecia!Edea and Seifer but it's still a Garden. But more than that, it's a Garden that serves the Galbadian Military. There are no SeeDs here. Instead it is a Galbadian Military Academy among other things. I stress on the word Military.
A Writer can easily wave off the reconstruction of Galbadia Garden as the pet project of the Galbadian Military, however, it would be more effective if that writer didn't. Even though the war was masterminded by Ultimecia, it was still under the control of Edea (and if memory serves, she took over the Military after the president was killed). In my opinion, Ultimecia would have, for the sheer purpose of destroying SeeD, used up all of the Galbadian Military's resources and funds in her pursuit to destroying SeeD in the past.
Whether this is true or not, is up to the individual writer. There might still be more money that Galbadia could have to actually use to rebuild their Garden. However, Galbadia as a whole country might in fact actually be fearful of SeeD because of the War.
We played FF8 through the eyes of Squall and company. We played FF8 as a SeeD. We know nothing about how the actaul Galbadian people thought about the war. For all we know, they could honestly think that it was SeeD who were the bad guys. Ultimecia!Edea and/or Seifer, among other powerful people, could have used propoganda to manipulate the Galbadian public into thinking that.
So maybe, just maybe Galbadia might be trying to take their Garden as their own and try to cut ties with the rest of SeeD and the other Gardens. That brings up the idea of Political intrigue here. If you take that into a story, do you allow Galbadia to keep G Garden as their own? If not, how do you convince them not to do that.
If you don't want to go with Galbadia rebuilding their Garden, then you can probably focus on looking for another Headmaster for that Garden. A Headmaster that the Orphanage Gang can trust. After Martine, how do you find such a person? Do you just plop say Quistis into that seat? I hope not. She might have gotten more confident post-game but I don't think anyone should put her in that seat of power just yet. Maybe in the future, like a few years after the Game ended.
BALAMB
I think, after the game was over, Balamb Garden probably actually landed back in its original spot. In that final FMV, they actually flew over the town of Balamb. Once that Garden probably landed, whatever fuel or power that was used to allow it to hover (or fly, whatever you want to call it) is probably depleted.
Yes, they went to the Shumi Village for a while but you can argue that there wasn't enough "time" for them to stick around and really learn what allows Balamb Garden to move. It was probably a long tedious process and most of that technology, outside of the Shumi is probably lost so relearning that would probably take a lot of time.
Leave it in Balamb Island, I say. Let it remain there. You have the Ragnarok for urgent travel and the trains and ships coming out of Balamb Island should remain. Balamb Town was inhabited by the Galbadian Military. It might not be destroyed but there could still be some problems lurking about, whether it be with actual money, buildings, or whatever. Also, having the Garden on that Island, you can create possible more revenue than what is just needed for Balamb Garden to be in top condition. The remaining profits could actually be placed toward the reconstruction of Trabia.
GALBADIA THE CONTINENT/COUNTRY
I wouldn't say it's completely crippled. It's morale might be down. There might be more fear in the streets because of the Sorceress War, probably toward SeeD and Sorceresses in general but even so. It's probably not completely falling apart. I can actually see Galbadia trying to rebuild itself and make itself become better than it was before. However, I also see Galbadia wanting a Speedy recovery more than anything else.
That said, I can actually see this country overlooking important things. The Presidency might be filled by someone that isn't the right person for the job. It could, in fact, be someone who might be a Hitler, or someone completely inadequate for the position. Depending on who that person is, how that person rallies his (or her) country is another thing you should ponder on.
Do they try to attack SeeD again because of the loss they had in the War? Do they try to rebuild? Do they act nice with SeeD and Esthar? Do they isolate themselves like Esthar once did? What happens?
For the first question, I want to point out, War equals Money. However, you take that is up to you. At least that's how I always seen it. If you want to point out otherwise, be my guest.
Also, in my fic, I actually see Galbadia employing SeeD as a sort of "you owe us" type thing because of all the devastation caused directly (and indirectly) by the War and SeeD.
ESTHAR
I think it's inevitable that Esthar would now be known to every part of the world, or at least be known to Galbadia. Lunatic Pandora was filled with Galbadian Soldiers (and Seifer) and it caused the Lunar Cry to happen. Something which if I assume right was impossible to occur if the Shields of Esther weren't damage though I could be wrong.
Plus, as a country overrun and damaged (possibly) severely by the Lunar Cry, Esthar would need a lot of reconstruction. Possibly more than Trabia though with maybe a lower casualty rate. Laguna never really struck me as too prideful that he wouldn't ask for help. He probably would, he probably would ask it from SeeD. In the worst case, he'll probably as Galbadia for help, or even Fisherman's horizon.
News of Esthar existing would have already spread to the other civilizations once Esthar was done rebuilding itself.
Possibly in exchange for aid, they would share some of their technology to the world but, you have to remember this is Laguna as President, he's not Ultimecia!Edea or even President Deling. He's different and his politics might actually be different. How different is up to the writer. Odine might be the one who would want to force their technology onto Galbadia and the others but I don't see Laguna doing that.
Laguna, after all, was a former Galbadian Soldier. In theory, he should still feel something toward his former country.
To Be Continued
boss_battle. I figure I shared my thoughts on that post since yeah, FF8 is my game like FF7 is to some of you guys. :)
Feel free to comment on your thoughts on my opinions or if you have any of your own that you want to share! I would LOVE to hear them! :D
G A R D E N S and C O N T I N E N T S
TRABIA
I think in any real post-FF8 fic, especially if it's immediately after the game, Trabia being rebuilt would be a major plot device. The fact that it is desecrated. That the entire Garden is still in pieces should be a good way to introduce plot. The Final Fantasy VIII world, along the same lines as a FF7 world, is about rebuilding. You had the Third Sorceress War (Possessed Edea and the Galbadia military) that more or less took out one of the main Gardens.
Yes, Trabia escaped total destruction but what we see in the game, they still managed to take a destroy parts of it. Casualties-wise, I wouldn't be surprised to see that maybe half of the population was gone. Maybe even three quarters. You have to remember, it did move away from its original location. Not far, mind you, but far enough that it's not completely destroyed and some parts of that Garden is still standing.
As for the Headmaster, you can really go either way. You can say that one of the casualties was the death of the Headmaster. Or you can say the Headmaster is still alive but injured (how severe, is up to the writer). Like all SeeDs (or my perception of SeeD), I think Trabia has that will of steel and determination to move forward. They are determined. I don't think a writer should be writing them like they've been KO'd completely. They're down but they're not out.
Most of SeeDs resources probably will be heading toward Trabia because it's the 'worse' off than the other two Gardens. So even if the focus is not on Trabia, Trabia should be mentioned, no matter what. Don't forget about this Garden, people. It was vital to Selphie's character and you really can use this Garden as a metaphor for SeeD in so many positive ways, in my opinion.
GALBADIA
Second on the list of priorities should be Galbadia. Yes, during the Sorceress War, this Garden was set up as an enemy base for Ultimecia!Edea and Seifer but it's still a Garden. But more than that, it's a Garden that serves the Galbadian Military. There are no SeeDs here. Instead it is a Galbadian Military Academy among other things. I stress on the word Military.
A Writer can easily wave off the reconstruction of Galbadia Garden as the pet project of the Galbadian Military, however, it would be more effective if that writer didn't. Even though the war was masterminded by Ultimecia, it was still under the control of Edea (and if memory serves, she took over the Military after the president was killed). In my opinion, Ultimecia would have, for the sheer purpose of destroying SeeD, used up all of the Galbadian Military's resources and funds in her pursuit to destroying SeeD in the past.
Whether this is true or not, is up to the individual writer. There might still be more money that Galbadia could have to actually use to rebuild their Garden. However, Galbadia as a whole country might in fact actually be fearful of SeeD because of the War.
We played FF8 through the eyes of Squall and company. We played FF8 as a SeeD. We know nothing about how the actaul Galbadian people thought about the war. For all we know, they could honestly think that it was SeeD who were the bad guys. Ultimecia!Edea and/or Seifer, among other powerful people, could have used propoganda to manipulate the Galbadian public into thinking that.
So maybe, just maybe Galbadia might be trying to take their Garden as their own and try to cut ties with the rest of SeeD and the other Gardens. That brings up the idea of Political intrigue here. If you take that into a story, do you allow Galbadia to keep G Garden as their own? If not, how do you convince them not to do that.
If you don't want to go with Galbadia rebuilding their Garden, then you can probably focus on looking for another Headmaster for that Garden. A Headmaster that the Orphanage Gang can trust. After Martine, how do you find such a person? Do you just plop say Quistis into that seat? I hope not. She might have gotten more confident post-game but I don't think anyone should put her in that seat of power just yet. Maybe in the future, like a few years after the Game ended.
BALAMB
I think, after the game was over, Balamb Garden probably actually landed back in its original spot. In that final FMV, they actually flew over the town of Balamb. Once that Garden probably landed, whatever fuel or power that was used to allow it to hover (or fly, whatever you want to call it) is probably depleted.
Yes, they went to the Shumi Village for a while but you can argue that there wasn't enough "time" for them to stick around and really learn what allows Balamb Garden to move. It was probably a long tedious process and most of that technology, outside of the Shumi is probably lost so relearning that would probably take a lot of time.
Leave it in Balamb Island, I say. Let it remain there. You have the Ragnarok for urgent travel and the trains and ships coming out of Balamb Island should remain. Balamb Town was inhabited by the Galbadian Military. It might not be destroyed but there could still be some problems lurking about, whether it be with actual money, buildings, or whatever. Also, having the Garden on that Island, you can create possible more revenue than what is just needed for Balamb Garden to be in top condition. The remaining profits could actually be placed toward the reconstruction of Trabia.
GALBADIA THE CONTINENT/COUNTRY
I wouldn't say it's completely crippled. It's morale might be down. There might be more fear in the streets because of the Sorceress War, probably toward SeeD and Sorceresses in general but even so. It's probably not completely falling apart. I can actually see Galbadia trying to rebuild itself and make itself become better than it was before. However, I also see Galbadia wanting a Speedy recovery more than anything else.
That said, I can actually see this country overlooking important things. The Presidency might be filled by someone that isn't the right person for the job. It could, in fact, be someone who might be a Hitler, or someone completely inadequate for the position. Depending on who that person is, how that person rallies his (or her) country is another thing you should ponder on.
Do they try to attack SeeD again because of the loss they had in the War? Do they try to rebuild? Do they act nice with SeeD and Esthar? Do they isolate themselves like Esthar once did? What happens?
For the first question, I want to point out, War equals Money. However, you take that is up to you. At least that's how I always seen it. If you want to point out otherwise, be my guest.
Also, in my fic, I actually see Galbadia employing SeeD as a sort of "you owe us" type thing because of all the devastation caused directly (and indirectly) by the War and SeeD.
ESTHAR
I think it's inevitable that Esthar would now be known to every part of the world, or at least be known to Galbadia. Lunatic Pandora was filled with Galbadian Soldiers (and Seifer) and it caused the Lunar Cry to happen. Something which if I assume right was impossible to occur if the Shields of Esther weren't damage though I could be wrong.
Plus, as a country overrun and damaged (possibly) severely by the Lunar Cry, Esthar would need a lot of reconstruction. Possibly more than Trabia though with maybe a lower casualty rate. Laguna never really struck me as too prideful that he wouldn't ask for help. He probably would, he probably would ask it from SeeD. In the worst case, he'll probably as Galbadia for help, or even Fisherman's horizon.
News of Esthar existing would have already spread to the other civilizations once Esthar was done rebuilding itself.
Possibly in exchange for aid, they would share some of their technology to the world but, you have to remember this is Laguna as President, he's not Ultimecia!Edea or even President Deling. He's different and his politics might actually be different. How different is up to the writer. Odine might be the one who would want to force their technology onto Galbadia and the others but I don't see Laguna doing that.
Laguna, after all, was a former Galbadian Soldier. In theory, he should still feel something toward his former country.
To Be Continued