Shattered Destinies: The R Team

Recently, I took to Reddit to share the concept of Shattered Destinies and to see what characters and ideas others would suggest for a crossover RPG. I went in with the expectation that I'd learn about a few characters I hadn't known very well and that there would be significant crossover with the characters or games I'd already chosen. Instead, what I got was a group of heroes with no crossover whatsoever in terms of characters for our heroic party, and indeed no crossover with the games they were from. I came away with a much richer knowledge of RPGs and the half cocked promise of writing a story about the bizarre, eclectic team that was cobbled together. As there are no characters that overlap with my main series, I've decided to write about them and their misadventures as "The R Team". The R can stand for Reddit, where I got the suggestions, but it can also stand for Reserve. This group of heroes will have their own base, their own set of villains and enemies, and may or may not overlap with the main crew. Think of this as a side story that happens in tandem. It would make for a fun DLC experience or as bonus missions in between main chapters.

To start the process, I went to r/createaroster, a subreddit dedicated to posting fan made rosters or hosting community based roster building. The sub is primarily for fighting game rosters, though users are free to include other genres, such as racing, asymmetrical survival, hero or villain teams, or even RPG parties, which is clearly what I chose to do. I laid out a handful of rules to follow, though most never became an issue, and one I modified early on to help keep things interesting. The rules were as follows:

• Characters had to originate from an RPG

• Characters had to be playable in some form

• Non-protagonists were preferred. If tied, protagonists would take lesser priority.

• Only two characters per franchise, though spin-offs would count as separate (this never became an issue)

I posted each day, with whichever eligible character got the most upvotes being added to the team. There were a few days where there were ties, and I generally added both characters when that happened as they weren't protagonists. I chose to run a larger party size than the main roster, allowing for a total of 15 characters. Again, the results were pretty far from anything I expected, and I had a ton of fun with it.

Today, in addition to laying out the concept and formation of The R Team, I thought I'd introduce the first two members. Unlike the main crew, I haven't gone so far as to commission art for The R Team, primarily due to the shorter time frame and lack of expendable money to pay amazing artists. I'll likely change this in the future, but for now, I'll just be using official renders of the characters. Without further ado, I present the founding members of The R Team.

Link (Hyrule Warriors)

"Hyeeeh kyaah kyaaah!"

Hailing from the Kingdom of Hyrule, Link is one of three characters that is in a constant state of reincarnation. Wielder of the Triforce of Courage, more often than not it is Link's destiny to save Hyrule, wielding the sword of evil's bane, the Master Sword. In the vast majority of his appearances, Link is the quintessential silent protagonist, wordlessly and stoically marching against the forces of evil. While this trait is sometimes poked fun of in his main games, I would absolutely want to lean into it for Shattered Destinies. I imagine other characters speaking for him, and anytime he does go to speak up, another character will speak over him or something in the environment will prevent it.

While he is a man of no words, he more than makes up for it with his actions. Quick to fight evil and defend others, his greatest virtue is undoubtedly his bravery. Never one to back down from protecting others, there are few characters better suited to lead the charge against the forces that seek to destroy the multiverse. A master of the sword and shield, he's also incredibly versatile, utilizing a variety of different weapons with seemingly no prior training. This would allow him to change tactics as the player finds and collects new gear, giving him plenty of options both in and out of battle.

His greatest weakness, if one can truly call it that, is that he primarily works alone. Though no stranger to working with others, this is generally only done in short bursts with specific goals in mind. As such, despite his clear heroic tendencies, it's hard to imagine him having the charisma to truly lead a group of heroes. He'd need someone in the party who's used to dealing with strong, silent, loner types, which seems like the perfect segue to our next team member.

Rinoa Heartilly (Final Fantasy VIII)

"There are no guarantees in the future. That's why TODAY, the time we have now, is important."

Rinoa, the daughter of a military general and an idol singer, distanced herself from her father after the tragic death of her mother. At seventeen, she moved away from home, used her mother's maiden name, and joined the Forest Owls, a group of freedom fighters rebelling against the Galbadian government. Through a complicated relationship with Seifer Almasy, she learned about the mercenary services that SeeD offers, which eventually leads her to meeting Squall Leonhart and contracting his aid from Balamb Garden. Her relationship with Squall becomes the centerpiece for Final Fantasy VIII, and does much to drive the story.

Rinoa is warm, compassionate, and friendly, which stands in stark contrast to both Squall and Seifer. Despite her naivete, she can be incredibly stubborn, a trait almost required when dealing with Squall. She is incredibly loyal to her friends and committed to doing what she feels is right. She often clashes with Squall and Quistis over their cold and mechanical attitude in addition to the perceived impatience with her relative inexperience. In Final Fantasy VIII, she serves as a foil to Squall as she can freely express emotions, a trait he tends to struggle with.

In Shattered Destinies, she would be the first person to find and fight alongside Link. Used to dealing with silent loner types, she would easily pick up on his courage and willingness to help those in need. Though he may not speak, she would be able to read him like an open book due to her extensive experience in dealing with Squall, and would be eager to speak up for him when he struggles with words. I can see the two of them quickly becoming close allies, comfortably leaning on one another for support.

In combat, she uses her Blaster Edge, a wrist mounted device that launches blades that return to her after being fired. Combined with her high stats in Magic and Spirit, she is a versatile party member that can attack at range while providing healing and support. She also travels with her loyal dog Angelo, who would increase her versatility even further. Though not a function in her original game, I can see Angelo having utility out of combat in pointing to hidden objects or finding secret areas. Like in Final Fantasy VIII, the player would be able to find special Pet Pals magazines that would unlock new abilities, including the infamous Angelo Cannon.

I cannot stress how official this attack is.