Emet-Selch’s involvement in EW was planned as far back as Shadowbringers, says the fan’s positive reaction did not influence their decision to bring him back. Yoshi P says they had to halt merchandise being made for Emet during Shadowbringers until his story was finished.
Yoshi P says a lot of work was done on Hydaleyn’s primal form and it was heavily influenced by Amano’s artwork.
The idea for Venat = Hydaleyn was not planned the entire time but they made it up along the way.
The original story idea for the Ascians from 1.0 was scrapped and beginning with 3.0 they began writing new stories for them.
The “In From The Cold” solo duty was originally much more difficult before release so technically they have nerfed it twice now.
Yoshi P says it took him a long time to finish the scene where Hydaleyn dies and he cried so much that he ran out of tears.
They had to do a lot of work for the trust trial against Hydaleyn. They programmed Y’shtola to never fail a mechanic on her own (she can still get hit if another character runs into her).
The scene where Estinien visits you in your bedroom and jumps out of the window was surprisingly expensive to animate.
They did not want to make Zenos the final boss, but they did want to make Zenos the final encounter, as they felt Zenos does not simply think of you as warrior of light but as an adventurer.
Yoshi P jokes that Lalafell warriors of light are able to punch out Zenos because of the power of Dynamis.
Yoshi P originally thought the character design for Hytholadeus was too young, Yoshi P thought he should have been much older (older than Emet), but his art team won him over with their vision for the character.
Yoshi P comments on how Soken wove different themes through different zones. The prologue theme is mixed with ARR, Thavnair has Heavensward, Garlemald has Stormblood, and Elpis has Shadowbringers.
The story for 7.0 has generally been decided on.
Derplander will change jobs from PLD to something new for 7.0 but they haven’t decided yet what his new job will be.