Ashe is the leading heroine and is the closest thing XII has to a main character. her journey is the story of XII so I would argue with Heath's statement about her being as intrical to the plot as Cloud or Squall. Yes she's a bitch, but in real life a bitch like Ashe will get things done. Not a a wishy washy frail pain in the ass like Yuna who can't blow her own goddamn nose without her guardians being there... Sorry playing through X again and I'm being reminded how much I hate this girl...

There really isn't a leading man but I do like the Larsa suggestion. Basch seems more like the classic hero type and his story is probably the most touching in XII but it was said a few times that Matsuno liked Balthier so much that he ended up giving him a larger role. In fact he was repoted to even joke about having the entire story rewritten with him as the main character. I don't know why people hate him so much but I do feel he's one of the more interesting characters in the game.