Whether it's the wrench-wielding airship mechanic in FF IV, or the glasses-wearing school headmaster in FF VIII, or the chain-smoking badass in FF VII, you can always count on a character named Cid to show up at some point in a Final Fantasy game. While all the incarnations of Cid are different in their own right, there's a common spirit that they all seem to share, not to mention some distinguishing characteristics -- Cid's usually an inventor or machinist, connected to the game's airship, older than the other characters, and often plays an integral part in the game's story. In many ways, the collection of Cid characters feel like individual parts of a greater whole, much like the Final Fantasy games themselves. Cid, in all his incarnations, is the heart of this legendary RPG franchise. There's your blueprint right there, Square! If you wanna get Final Fantasy back on track, make him a main character and get back to basics. After all, Cid loves blueprints.

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