- Thanks to KuroPup for the inspiration!
Anyways, same could be said I think for the 6 Paradigm Roles and the 6 character’s inner conflicts. Lightning as Ravager, Snow as Sentinel, Sazh as Synergist, Hope as Medic, Vanille as Saboteur and Fang as Commando. Each of these Roles seems to represent the respective character’s weaknesses or what they need to learn. I’ve already got my interpretation of it, but I’m interested to know your take.
A while back I wrote about how the eidolons in Final Fantasy XIII represent the main characters’ problems. Same thing for the Paradigm Roles as the main characters’ weaknesses. Any of the characters can use any of these skills. I think KuroPup has a point matching characters with Paradigm roles.
Ravager
Ravagers wield powerful magic spells, dealing damage of fire, ice, lightning, water, and other elemental affinities.
Ravager is a primary role for Lightning, Snow, Vanille, Sazh, and Hope, and a secondary role for Fang. It’s a strength, as they learn to work as a team. But it’s also a weakness, as they’re feeding off of each other’s issues to push them along in battle. Fang, of course, wants to go alone. She doesn’t have need for this type of team activity…
Sentinel
Sentinels are defensive specialists. They provide interference, drawing enemy aggression toward themselves and using their enhanced defense to minimize damage to the party.
Sentinel is a primary role for Snow and Fang, and a secondary role for Lightning, Vanille, Sazh, and Hope. Snow Villiers and Oerba Yun Fang specialize in Sentinel. This makes sense for Snow; he sees himself as a watchful protector (who keeps failing to protect Serah each time). Fang sees herself as Vanille’s protector. Lightning, Vanille, Sazh, and Hope had someone they loved, but couldn’t protect.
But both Snow and Fang take this to extremes. They’ll masochistically take punishment to save those from they love from harm. But they don’t need to beat themselves up to protect each other, or for their failures.
Synergist
Synergists employ a wide range of abilities to enhance their allies’ effectiveness in combat.
Synergist is a primary role for Sazh, and Hope, and a secondary role for Lightning, Snow, Vanille, and Fang. Sazh and Hope see themselves as both either too old or too young to help. But they prove to be invaluable to the team as well. But this is probably the weakest analogy of the bunch. Sorry, guys. If I’m missing something, please provide what you think is more interesting below! 🙂
Medic
Medics are healers, capable of restoring HP, removing status ailments, and even reviving KO’d allies.
Medic is a primary role for Lightning, Vanille, and Hope, and a secondary role for Snow, Sazh, and Fang. Lightning, Vanille, and Hope ironically need the healing. Snow, Sazh, and Fang want to help heal those close to them, but don’t know how.
Saboteur
Saboteurs use their skills to weaken enemies. Their bag of tricks includes not only attribute-lowering abilities but also those that inflict status ailments, like Poison.
Saboteur is a primary role for Vanille and Fang, and a secondary role for Lightning, Snow, Sazh, and Hope. Vanille and Fang, in an attempt to defy their fate, attempt to fight the fal’Cie. The others become fal’Cie much later, which is probably why it’s secondary for them.
Commando
Commandos are offensive specialists, employing brutal physical attacks and damaging magic as the tools of their trade.
Commando is a primary role for Lightning, Snow, Sazh, and Fang, and a secondary role for Vanille and Hope. Lightning, Snow, Sazh, and Fang both seem to have a problem. They feel they need to take on every aspect of their problems alone. They’re also the most straightforward of the group, with nothing to hide from each other. Fang believes that she can do it all, both take down the enemy and stagger the enemy. But it’s about teamwork, and that’s the weakness Fang has to overcome.
But mostly for Fang, as we all know she loves going Commando.
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Hope and Vanille don’t have this problem, mostly because they’re cowards who don’t normally go headlong into battle. They were the first to run away (especially Vanille, who’s been running away the entire game). Vanille keeps in a lot of secrets, and Hope is holding onto unrequited revenge.
Part of their weakness is running away, keeping things in and holding back; their strength in overcoming this.
So then, Paradigm Roles are more like unconscious behavioral traits, with how they deal with their problems. When the battle’s won, they no longer have to fight. They’ve overcome their weaknesses and learned what they needed to learn.
By the way, KuroPup, I’d love to hear your interpretation. I’d also like to hear everyone else’s 😀 Feel free to write what you think below!
We learn from each other by interacting with each other. When you interact with others, you learn something about yourself.