Usually I don’t comment because Ri is pretty sufficient at taking care of people shitting on Vaan, but I feel like she’s always doing it alone.
Vaan isn’t a bad character, at all, and people who have this imagined hate for him are ignorant and rude to say the very least. FFXII doesn’t have a story where you’re constantly reminded of everything that’s happened and comes with a lot of inference. He’s not “owo i want to be a skypiwate wif balthiew” like everyone thinks he is. He isn’t a happenstance character. None of them are. If you think Vaan is a plain or boring character, then you haven’t played the fucking game with your eyes open, with a want to know the characters. Sorry everything is spelled out for you and poorly written so everything is apparent like some other games.
Vaan suffered consecutive losses at a young age and took it upon himself to feed the orphans of Dalmasca. Everything he does is to better his people and then when he sees an opportunity to seek revenge for the death of his brother, he does. His dream of being a sky-pirate is more or less him seeking freedom from a heavily burdened life that he never asked for. Yes, he ASKED for his parents to be taken by the Plague. Yes, he ASKED for his older brother to be tried as a war criminal. Yes, he TOTALLY ASKED to see his half-dead brother be kept alive long enough for a trial to go on. (That was sarcasm, btw.)
When he finally saw that little glimmer of hope, that chance for action, he took it because it was something. And something is always, always, always better than nothing. That’s when he stumbles into Balthier and Fran, all swaggered and smooth. They give him more adventure than he bargains for and he does his very best to keep up with everything while trying, as a 17-year-old teenager might I add, to process his emotions. Which is when Basch, who is perceived entirely as the one responsible for his brother’s death, comes in. Of COURSE he’s going to snap. Y’all would, too. Don’t even fucking play.
Everything that they go through from that point on is development for Vaan. It’s a young man finding his purpose through wars, hunts, flying, falling, losing, and gaining plenty. He’s growing up, changing his views and stances. His mission in life changes and if you think his snub comments of “I’m here for my brother” while he’s pissy are the ONLY thing going on, then you have no concept of depth as to characters and should shut your fucking mouth in terms of critique. Balthier eventually says he’s just along for the ride and yet he and Fran do so much for the team, he lets Vaan fly the Strahl.
Vaan’s a great character. He’s young and he’s learning. Responsibility was shoved onto him at a young age, but he went with it and gave it his all. He was angry and spiteful, but he grew up as time went on. He did what REGULAR HUMAN BEINGS DO. He GREW. I’m tired of hearing that Vaan is boring and unnecessary. Don’t give me that because all it is to me is noise.
Learn what character depth and development are and then come talk to me.
One other thing I don’t understand when people bash Vaan, they usually compare him with Balthier, preaching how amazing Balthier is.
Well Balthier is another great character, but those people will only see the sassy pirate.
Hey you know what people ? Vaan is more pirate than Balthier !
It’s even said by Reddas during the game. But that’s at the ¾ of the game so I guess haters never went that far.
Usually I don’t comment because Ri is pretty sufficient at taking care of people shitting on Vaan, but I feel like she’s always doing it alone.
Vaan isn’t a bad character, at all, and people who have this imagined hate for him are ignorant and rude to say the very least. FFXII doesn’t have a story where you’re constantly reminded of everything that’s happened and comes with a lot of inference. He’s not “owo i want to be a skypiwate wif balthiew” like everyone thinks he is. He isn’t a happenstance character. None of them are. If you think Vaan is a plain or boring character, then you haven’t played the fucking game with your eyes open, with a want to know the characters. Sorry everything is spelled out for you and poorly written so everything is apparent like some other games.
Vaan suffered consecutive losses at a young age and took it upon himself to feed the orphans of Dalmasca. Everything he does is to better his people and then when he sees an opportunity to seek revenge for the death of his brother, he does. His dream of being a sky-pirate is more or less him seeking freedom from a heavily burdened life that he never asked for. Yes, he ASKED for his parents to be taken by the Plague. Yes, he ASKED for his older brother to be tried as a war criminal. Yes, he TOTALLY ASKED to see his half-dead brother be kept alive long enough for a trial to go on. (That was sarcasm, btw.)
When he finally saw that little glimmer of hope, that chance for action, he took it because it was something. And something is always, always, always better than nothing. That’s when he stumbles into Balthier and Fran, all swaggered and smooth. They give him more adventure than he bargains for and he does his very best to keep up with everything while trying, as a 17-year-old teenager might I add, to process his emotions. Which is when Basch, who is perceived entirely as the one responsible for his brother’s death, comes in. Of COURSE he’s going to snap. Y’all would, too. Don’t even fucking play.
Everything that they go through from that point on is development for Vaan. It’s a young man finding his purpose through wars, hunts, flying, falling, losing, and gaining plenty. He’s growing up, changing his views and stances. His mission in life changes and if you think his snub comments of “I’m here for my brother” while he’s pissy are the ONLY thing going on, then you have no concept of depth as to characters and should shut your fucking mouth in terms of critique. Balthier eventually says he’s just along for the ride and yet he and Fran do so much for the team, he lets Vaan fly the Strahl.
Vaan’s a great character. He’s young and he’s learning. Responsibility was shoved onto him at a young age, but he went with it and gave it his all. He was angry and spiteful, but he grew up as time went on. He did what REGULAR HUMAN BEINGS DO. He GREW. I’m tired of hearing that Vaan is boring and unnecessary. Don’t give me that because all it is to me is noise.
Learn what character depth and development are and then come talk to me.
It’s Vaan that saves Ashe at the beginning. It’s Vaan that garners attention in Bhujerba to get the Marquis to notice them after Balthier wonders aloud HOW CAN WE POSSIBLY GARNER THE MARQUIS’ ATTENTION. It’s Vaan that spearheads through the ancient village Eruyt and demands to find where Mjrn went when Balthier didn’t say a word. It’s Vaan whose anger and hatred rivaled Ashe’s so deeply that the Occuria were tempted to use him as their pawn before choosing her to manipulate.
And finally, hello, it’s Vaan that literally saves the entire rest of the party, flying the Strahl that carries oh, I don’t know, the future leaders of Archadia and Dalmasca inside of it to safety from a falling warship forged by a rogue god.
Vaan does a ton. I’m not sure where people get this idea he doesn’t do much. He does so, so much.
Get your head of of your ass and play the game
Love,
Riley
Incoming Rant I have a lot of feelings on this
May I also add that it’s Vaan who is one of the first (if not THE but I haven’t played in a couple months) person Ashe has a civil conversation with. You know, the conversation where it’s clear they both relate to their feelings of hatred of the Empire and seeing their deceased loved one’s Occuria ghost. The one where Ashe actually kinda smiles, and Vaan tells her he’s going to find his own answers in life, which include how he’ll deal with his grief.
If you really boil down every Matsuno game ever made including FFXII, it’s about examining two central characters that go through similar stuff or came from similar backgrounds. You have Basch and Gabranth, but there’s also the Ashe/Vaan dynamic. Both lost someone dear to them, to the extent that they see a loved one’s ghost by the Occuria, and are bound by their personal hatred and their sense of duty (Vaan to family, Ashe to country). Vaan is an optimist through and through that wanted freedom more than anything in the world, if it meant running from his problems. Ashe buried herself in obligation and duty so hard that it almost destroyed her. They help each other grow throughout the course of the game and balance each other out. Arguably, IMO, the most with each other than with anyone else.
Vaan is pivotal to preventing Ashe from becoming The Occuria’s Dynast Queen. From shaking off Occurian influence after the Tomb of Raithwall, to being one of the first people to openly talk to Ashe not as a subject (Basch) or too distant to commentate (Balthier), but as a friend. To later speaking to the heart of things when Ashe questions if her party sees her as someone so strong she was always meant to lead- Vaan humanizes her by saying she doesn’t have to be. She has great friends.
He may not be the man that stops a war by himself but Vaan’s emotional impact on the protagonist, Ashe, is vital to how the story ends up the way it does.
/rant
Maybe I’m being dumb but man nobody talks about how important of companions Vaan and Ashe end up becoming. It’s so much more organic than the stilted relations she has with anyone else.
I barely entered Archades and there were so many things to say !
Basch casually putting his arm around Vaan’s shoulder. This is so meaningful. In a previous post I mentioned Vaan holding someone responsible for his brother’s death. At the beginning of the game, it was Basch, the traitor. Now they both are confortable enough with small skinship. And as I headcanon Dalmascan to enjoy casual skinship with their close friends, I like it very much.
She’s so surprised Vaan mentions Larsa. He knows her so well. And not one moment there is a cliché “you can’t befriend him, he IS the Empire”. No. Larsa is a kid, a good kid. He made sure Penelo stayed safe, so archadian or not, Vaan is grateful.
I stated countless of times how much I like clueless!Vaan, but here it is the complete opposite. He knows Penelo is worried after Bur Ominace, he helps her the best he can. They are family after all, they take care of each other.
This scene is so important guys. They’ve just arrived in the heart of the Empire, they should be full of anger and sadness. But no ! They are excited to discover a new city, new people. As Vaan said, it’s because he’s seen new horizons. But clearly traveling might have done the opposite. He witnessed misery in Nalbina Dungeon, the destruction of Bur Ominace, he could be even more hateful towards the Empire. But no. He learned to differientiate the city of Archades, the citizens, the culture, from the ruler(s) who are responsible for the war. Vaan is finally able to put a face, a name, on the people to blame. That’s why he could move on and stop being angry at anyone.
The second important thing is Penelo’s feelings here. She is the epitome of tolerance and peace. She still holds the Empire responsible but she already knew they should put the past behind and wish for a better future. She took care of Vaan since his brother’s death, she saw him always angry, putting himself in danger. Her worst fear has always been Vaan being imprisoned or worst because of his behaviour towards Imperial guards.
But now she knows. He won’t do that anymore. He became more tolerant, he won’t disappear far from her.
It’s Vaan that saves Ashe at the beginning. It’s Vaan that garners attention in Bhujerba to get the Marquis to notice them after Balthier wonders aloud HOW CAN WE POSSIBLE GARNER THE MARQUIS’ ATTENTION. It’s Vaan that spearheads through the ancient village Eruyt and demands to find where Mjrn went when Balthier didn’t say a word. It’s Vaan whose anger and hatred rivaled Ashe’s so deeply that the Occuria were tempted to use him as their pawn before choosing her to manipulate.
And finally, hello, it’s Vaan that literally saves the entire rest of the party, flying the Strahl that carries oh, I don’t know, the future leaders of Archadia and Dalmasca inside of it to safety from a falling warship forged by a rogue god.
Vaan does a ton. I’m not sure where people get this idea he doesn’t do much. He does so, so much.
Get your head of of your ass and play the game
Love,
Riley
After @skystones’s post, I need to write a few words about Vaan too.
A character doesn’t have to do Big things to be a good, well-written, enjoyable and important character.
One trait I utterly love about Vaan is his instinct to protect and defend powerless people.
Vaan is always the first to speak his mind, especially when someone needs protection.
In Eruyt it’s not Balthier who get mad at Jote when she won’t do anything to find Mjrn. Even though he’s the closest to Fran. No, Vaan does. Of course Vaan does it because he cares about Fran, but also because he can’t understand the behaviour of the Vieras. One member of the community is missing and no one cares ? Well, they care but they won’t act ?
Vaan cannot accept this situation. If one kid in Rabanastre would go missing, Vaan wouldn’t come back home until he find them. Hey guess what ? That’s what he does for Penelo ! And also for the missing kid in Giza plain (was it Jin?)
In Nalbina Dungeon there is this one unarmed Vangaa who get beat up by those two big Seeq. Vaan shout at them to stop.
Even in Bhujerba, when they meet “Lamont”, Vaan immediatly acts as a big brother. “Don’t worry, you’re in good hands”
Sometimes a character’s actions and behaviour is important plot-wise, sometimes it is not. Nevertheless, a good characterization, and empathic feelings are a very important trait of character, and I’m glad Vaan exists.
Oh I forgot one thing I’ve noticed : Ashe’s voice when we leave Bur Ominace is so soft. When she asks Balthier how to get to Archades. I don’t think it’s really meaningful, but she always has to speak with a harsh voice, struggling to prove she is strong and capable. It was nice to hear her speak so softly.
Final fantasy XII &co 