Why Leo?

As one of the many people attempting to make a Leo hack (though I'd like to think I'm approaching it more wholistically than most), I've had to ask the question of why? FF6 already has so many characters, so why would I care to add one more? Why does everyone want Leo, and nobody wants Banon?

Part of it is because Leo makes a huge impression, while Banon feels like an escort mission. I admit to being "shocked" when Leo attacked 4 times and covered the battlefield with the Shock ability. I couldn't say the same for "Health".

I think another part is that Leo has all of the setup to be a main character. He shows up everywhere in the story. He has a setup scene (the military base), character development scenes (Gesthal's banquet, the ship, the meeting with the Espers), and all of the reason in the world to be on your team. He shows up in flashbacks, and the NPCs in Vector even talk about him. He's got everything except a theme song and a chocobo riding sprite. Then, you finally get him, and... you lose him. I realize it was meant to be jarring, but there's a reason it created the dream in many of us of getting him back.

The final reason came to me though as I was re-watching some Marvel movies this past week. It's because he's the same character as Captain America. He sees the good. He sees people. He has principles, and he stands up for them. When the first Captain America movie came out, the studio didn't know if it was going to be a hit, since Cap was such a goody-goody. However, they pulled the character off with utter sincerity, and... strangely enough, it worked! FF6 is no stranger to melodrama, with complex characters that go through some trying circumstances finding their identity. In the midst of that, Leo is a breath of fresh air. He knows who is. He is not conflicted. He is just a guy who wants to do what is right. In being who he is, he serves as a perfect foil. He's Faramir from LotR. He's Jin from Xenosaga. He's Dunban from Xenoblade. His character works in its simplicity.

Does that mean I'm not going to give him an intrapersonal conflict or a development journey to go through? Oh hell no! Gesthal's and Kefka's betrayal in Thamasa, and their subsequent murder of Banon, shakes him deeply. He will also, through the Lola letter-writing sidequest, have to come face to face with one of the men whom he led astray, leading to his recruitment scenario in the WoR, where he takes Cyan's place as the letter writer. But everything starts with the character that managed to capture our imagination 20-some years ago.

Well said. I like what you want to do with this. I liked Leo for the all the same reasons you mentioned.

I want to ask and answer the same question with a different tone.

Why Leo? His story is one of hubris that's brought full circle by his death. Without that, his story loses it's true meaning and Leo becomes a two-dimensional character. Hubris is kind of a two-part concept that's one-part character flaw and one-part plot outcome. The modern definition of hubris, involves a mixture of pride and arrogance that causes a character's downfall.

Leo possesses a warped concept of honor and loyalty that causes him to blindly trust in and remain ignorant of a blatantly corrupt fascist bent on world domination. During the opening shot of the game Leo is established as one of three Generals in Emperor Gestahl's army. At this point, Gestahl has invaded the world of the Espers, enslaved it's people, tortured them, in some cases to death, in order to magically power an army to conquer the world by force. He willfully chooses ignorance by turning a blind eye to not only these events, but he later reveals that he's also aware of the events of Terra's origin and enslavement. When we actually first meet him, he's just been recalled from the prolonged siege of Doma. A country, who's only crime was resisting the unlawful subjugation of their country the foreign Gestahlian Empire. Leo is seen "ordering" (more like begging) Kefka, who is assuming command by the Emperor's order, not to poison the Domans. This establishes that Leo knows about Kefka's plans and that he chooses to, once again, turn a blind eye to the ever worsening situation, and allows Kefka to do the dirty work that he can't bring himself to do.

Allowing Leo to survive ultimately changes the narrative and sets him up for a redemptive story. It's the story of an ignorant general who comes to understand how his choices and failures have hurt not only the people he now cares about, but the enitre world. It's actually a great story arc. I'm sure that's why they gave it to Celes. Bringing him back from the dead instead of killing him only makes it more cliche.

Ultimately, the sense of strength and honor that makes Leo interesting is nothing more than a cloak of ignorant hubris, that literally leads to his downfall, Kefka's godhood, and the destruction of the entire world. Killing him is non-negotiable, it's the ultimate conclusion to a story of hubris. His death is necessary and best serves as a betrayal of his own bllind ignorance by Kefka's hand disguised as the Emperor Leo blindly serves. It's poetic and powerful and to undermine it is hot fanservice garbage.

Seriously, why Leo?

Nice input there Timbo, I have to say I agree with much of that myself. I never really had much of a fascination or 'man-crush', if you will, on Leo, but I admit I did try to resurrect him via the 4000 dinosaurs rumor as a kid lol... He is pretty damn cool with his equipment and skill of course when you get him for a second, that much is true. I prefer my Leo dead though!

It's poetic and powerful and to undermine it is hot fanservice garbage.

I mean, we're on a rom hacking site. Isn't it all fanservice?

I agree with a lot of what you said though in his character study though. If he doesn't die, he has to go through an arc where he realizes his blindness and seeks redemption. You're hitting the nail on the head of why I am going through all of this work when General Leo Edition already exists. In my view, Celes and Leo are two sides to the same coin, but they ARE different. As far as we know, Celes was ignorant of Terra and defected the first chance she got. However, she received a Magitek infusion. Leo, on the other hand, refused the Magitek infusion, but blindly stayed with the Empire, leading men to their deaths for something that wasn't real. They both have something to bring to the story.

The key to all of this is his relationship with his soldiers. In my hack, I have given the "Injured Lad" the name of "Dak" (after Luke's co-pilot in the battle of Hoth). He is the soldier that Leo talks to in the military camp ("You're from Maranda, right?..."), so he doesn't show up in Mobliz until after you get the airship. He explains that he was trying to catch up to Leo to warn him of Kefka's plan of poisoning, but Kefka sent troops to rough him up and dump him in the river. He and Leo have a short scene if you visit him prior to the floating continent. In the World of Ruin, Leo is the one writing letters on Mt. Zozo. He explains that Lola/Dak made him realize the depth of his blindness, and he's been writing letters to bring hope to the loved ones of the men who served under him and died because of it. In his diary, you learn he has done this for over 20 soldiers. He rejoins you out of an attempt to right his wrongs.

Also, any hack has to have a death in Thamasa that carries the emotional weight of the story. I've done a rewrite of the story that puts Banon in that place.

I want to ask and answer the same question with a different tone.

Why Leo? His story is one of hubris that's brought full circle by his death. Without that, his story loses it's true meaning and Leo becomes a two-dimensional character. Hubris is kind of a two-part concept that's one-part character flaw and one-part plot outcome. The modern definition of hubris, involves a mixture of pride and arrogance that causes a character's downfall.

Leo possesses a warped concept of honor and loyalty that causes him to blindly trust in and remain ignorant of a blatantly corrupt fascist bent on world domination. During the opening shot of the game Leo is established as one of three Generals in Emperor Gestahl's army. At this point, Gestahl has invaded the world of the Espers, enslaved it's people, tortured them, in some cases to death, in order to magically power an army to conquer the world by force. He willfully chooses ignorance by turning a blind eye to not only these events, but he later reveals that he's also aware of the events of Terra's origin and enslavement. When we actually first meet him, he's just been recalled from the prolonged siege of Doma. A country, who's only crime was resisting the unlawful subjugation of their country the foreign Gestahlian Empire. Leo is seen "ordering" (more like begging) Kefka, who is assuming command by the Emperor's order, not to poison the Domans. This establishes that Leo knows about Kefka's plans and that he chooses to, once again, turn a blind eye to the ever worsening situation, and allows Kefka to do the dirty work that he can't bring himself to do.

Allowing Leo to survive ultimately changes the narrative and sets him up for a redemptive story. It's the story of an ignorant general who comes to understand how his choices and failures have hurt not only the people he now cares about, but the enitre world. It's actually a great story arc. I'm sure that's why they gave it to Celes. Bringing him back from the dead instead of killing him only makes it more cliche.

Ultimately, the sense of strength and honor that makes Leo interesting is nothing more than a cloak of ignorant hubris, that literally leads to his downfall, Kefka's godhood, and the destruction of the entire world. Killing him is non-negotiable, it's the ultimate conclusion to a story of hubris. His death is necessary and best serves as a betrayal of his own blind ignorance by Kefka's hand disguised as the Emperor Leo blindly serves. It's poetic and powerful and to undermine it is hot fan service garbage.

Seriously, why Leo?

I like the way you think Timbo, seriously

but yeah I admit as a kid I would have loved it to have Leo come back and sure thats fan service, but when you break it down the way you did it just makes so much sense, I swear the same shit has been on my mind lol

I guess I see Leo in between PowerPanda's initial post and Timbo's breakdown, closer to the former interpretation. Leo admits he did willfully turn a blind eye at times, but I also think he is genuinely a compassionate, principled soldier. His fault might be trusting in an institution that is more craven than he realizes, but I think at the core, he does want to do what is right and isn't wrapped up in being a good soldier for the Empire's stake.

I can't read that Doma situation as negatively as Timbo, though. Leo, an officer, was recalled forcibly from the operation he was leading. He can't disobey orders and not leave Kefka to himself, because even if he wanted to, his men would never follow him. We see what Imperial soldiers did to Celes and she was a general. I can, though, take a more cynical view of his later actions if I'm in the mood for it.

Also, a big part of the problem with how to view Leo is that since the game is from the perspective of the rebels, we are not privy to his actions outside of what is seen, and from what is seen Leo does seem to be a soldier with true honor, just misguided. He could be actively ignoring what is happening in the Empire, or maybe he is feeling guilt after the fact end overly blames himself for his actions.

It does serve the narrative of the game for him to die, rather than live, not because of Leo's own faults, but because the death of Leo goes to show how depraved Gestahl and Kefka are, not only to fake a truce but to trick and kill off their own ally for being too principled. Yes, Leo may have died in some part due to trusting the Empire, but let's be clear: he's a sacrificial lamb first and foremost who just happened to be on the wrong side. To me, he's more of a victim than a tragic hero.

But everyone loves the heroes who for the most in media, and reviving General Leo is pure wish-fulfillment. That's why he's chosen.

I guess I see Leo in between PowerPanda's initial post and Timbo's breakdown, closer to the former interpretation. Leo admits he did willfully turn a blind eye at times, but I also think he is genuinely a compassionate, principled soldier. His fault might be trusting in an institution that is more craven than he realizes, but I think at the core, he does want to do what is right and isn't wrapped up in being a good soldier for the Empire's stake.

I can't read that Doma situation as negatively as Timbo, though. Leo, an officer, was recalled forcibly from the operation he was leading. He can't disobey orders and not leave Kefka to himself, because even if he wanted to, his men would never follow him. We see what Imperial soldiers did to Celes and she was a general. I can, though, take a more cynical view of his later actions if I'm in the mood for it.

Also, a big part of the problem with how to view Leo is that since the game is from the perspective of the rebels, we are not privy to his actions outside of what is seen, and from what is seen Leo does seem to be a soldier with true honor, just misguided. He could be actively ignoring what is happening in the Empire, or maybe he is feeling guilt after the fact end overly blames himself for his actions.

It does serve the narrative of the game for him to die, rather than live, not because of Leo's own faults, but because the death of Leo goes to show how depraved Gestahl and Kefka are, not only to fake a truce but to trick and kill off their own ally for being too principled. Yes, Leo may have died in some part due to trusting the Empire, but let's be clear: he's a sacrificial lamb first and foremost who just happened to be on the wrong side. To me, he's more of a victim than a tragic hero.

But everyone loves the heroes who for the most in media, and reviving General Leo is pure wish-fulfillment. That's why he's chosen.

Hubristric characters like Leo are very often honorable, moral, and compassionate because they need to be able to connect with the audience. Leo is almost a good person, but his "blind eye" is a huge flaw. I honestly, believe that Leo had more respect than anyone in the Empire. Had Leo stood up for what was right he may have been able to end the war ages ago. He could inspired his men to abandon the empire and lead a coup to stop Gestahl. He could have dealt with Kefka on equal footing. He could've struck down Gestahl before Kefka was given his infusion. He didn't and that's why he's hubristic.

This is why Leo fits perfecty the lawful good allignment(D&D reference), he's definitely good but the fact he believes deeply that law(Gestahl)
must be followed, as in most of the times, becomes an obstacle in the very end

Hubristric characters like Leo are very often honorable, moral, and compassionate because they need to be able to connect with the audience. Leo is almost a good person, but his "blind eye" is a huge flaw. I honestly, believe that Leo had more respect than anyone in the Empire. Had Leo stood up for what was right he may have been able to end the war ages ago. He could inspired his men to abandon the empire and lead a coup to stop Gestahl. He could have dealt with Kefka on equal footing. He could've struck down Gestahl before Kefka was given his infusion. He didn't and that's why he's hubristic.

Even though I disagree with aspects of your character interpretation, I have to admit it is refreshing.

The central problem with any interpretation of Leo is that due to the point of view the game uses to tell its story, we as the audience never know enough to make any judgment beyond that of the characters. The Empire is obscured intentionally so we never get more than the vaguest glimpses of its inner workngs. We only get to see it from the perspective of its victims.

For instance, Celes turned traitor. However we are not giving any sort of context or backstory as to what drove her to her decision, or even what she did. The only direct, specific mention of her former deeds comes from Cyan. It's telling that despite Leo and Celes being both generals and perhaps the only two authority figures in the Empire who were arguably decent people, there is no actual on screen interaction between them in the game. Basically, Leo reintroduces her to Locke and that's it; Leo means more to Terra than Celes.

Leo, thus, is a prop, and that's why I have trouble seeing him beyond what the playable characters see him as. I see him more as gullible than proud, and let's face it. Even if he weren't flawed, there's little way for him to escape his bitter fate.

If Leo stood up for what was right before, there's a good chance he'd either be in Celes's position or dead. It's evident a lot of the soldiers serve not out of choice but out of fear, and I don't think Gestahl was a helpess old man. It's clear he's been juicing on some super secret infusions himself; at best, a Leo-led rebellion would inspire others after it failed. At worst, Leo would be used as an example why not to cross Gestahl.