Al-Cid as playable or even as an NPC in your Party is a welcome addition and yet another reason to pick this up in the future :D

Damn, seems like in most places where I've put up that scan and the news, people go crazy over Al-Cid. Didn't know he had so many fans, though that could be folks who think he should've had more than 2 or 3 scenes in the game.

http://i20.tinypic.com/5djugx.jpg

Now I'm wondering if we might see some folks from the previous game, or at least references to them.

A strong point in the Ivalice games, at least with Tactics, Vagrant Story, and XII, is that there are always a strong supporting cast of characters. Al-Cid really was well done in the XII, and I felt that his character would have benefited the game with more of a presence. I love the robust worlds we see in this whole project, though. My disdain for Tactics Advance aside.

That would be most fans I'd guess, including myself. I really do feel though, even with my fan-glasses off, that Al-Cid's role was too short in the game and he should have had at least a few more scenes, if not showing a bit of Rozzaria in the process. Oh well... perhaps his limited appearance was due to the team shuffle-up and the main producer getting sick? (IIRC The game was delayed half-way due to some Team Management situations or something)

Where do you guys see that he'll be a NPC? He does have a unique job, Agent, and its abilities will be geared towards supporting the female members of your party (Reception and Escort), but this doesn(t mean that he isn't playable during the game, much like Agrias and Orlandu had unique jobs.