Is it just me, or did 5.3 represent a big decline in storytelling? (spoilers)

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Originally Posted by Derio

I do think that those quests are necessary for storytelling, not because they drag the story out, but because they show a sense of stopping to do the little things here and now again.

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The smaller quests like that really help set pacing and reset the mood, which is a big part of why this game's overall storytelling works so well I think.

The last MMO I played rarely ever had moments like that for the main story and as a result it was just this endless climb of trying to one-up the last Big Epic Thing that happened and eventually big epic things just weren't interesting - it all just mashed together and stopped being impressive.

I think FFXIV does a great job of giving short breaks before ramping up again, so when something important comes along it can actually feel that way.

I mean isn't it canonically the WoL's personality to take interest in the minutiae of everyday life? To help collect grapes.
I can hear Fray's teeth grinding at it but it's who the WoL is.

I adored this patch and the ShB conclusion. Heartbreaking, but hopeful. Heavy with just the right amount of light-hearted moments.

I loved how they used Amarot to great effect. Loved how they highlighted the similarities and contrast the differences between Emet-Selch and Elidibus' motives for carrying out the rejoining. Quietly sobbed during Seto and Arbert's reunion. I normally don't care for time paradoxes and still don't, but I was satisfied with where G'raha ended up even if the logic probably doesn't fully add up.

And I truly smiled at the touching goodbyes from the Scion's to all of the citizens of the First.

As for setting up the final arch: I'm hopeful. Not that I hate Zenos or anything. He makes for a frightening foil. His single minded pursuit for power isn't very interesting, but it is chilling to know that there's nothing he wouldn't do to be the strongest. And Fandaniel (the true mastermind) is counting on it. I get the feeling he wants to bring back Zodiark, but unlike the unsundered, he doesn't want to go back to a long dead era.

The only thing I didn't like is that they're setting up Zenos as the final big bad it looks like. He is my least favorite villain. I don't like the way his character is written. He's as boring and one dimensional as his motivations.

For what it’s worth I enjoyed it all.

The setup to this expansion (way back in 3.x) could have been done better, but I’m not sure they even know where the game was going when they started that arc. It’s very much TV writing/Tabletop RPG planning, where you sow a bunch of different concepts and then can later pick them up/expand as needed..then play that you had been planning the thing all along.

Again, still enjoyed, would still rate it fairly high for an MMO since the devs can’t possibly know how many “seasons” they need to write.

Nah, not really. It felt a little rushed though, but overall I didn't think the story was bad at all.

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Originally Posted by Theodric

snip.

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That's a lot of words to say "I am a contrarian".

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Originally Posted by Razard

That's a lot of words to say "I am a contrarian".

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Hardly. I've been invested in the story since the days of ARR. The game has some incredible world building, yet often fails to do as much with it as it could due to falling back on predictable tropes and a lack of consequence for the vast majority of characters.

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Originally Posted by Razard

That's a lot of words to say "I am a contrarian".

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This is on a level with "he's just trolling" as a reaction to someone expressing dissatisfaction with how they handled the story, and is a good example of the sort of cultish attitude that puts many people off this forum and the more vocal elements of its community.

Perhaps you ought to acknowledge that people have different reactions to and views of things, rather than trying to psychologise why they do so. If you can't, well then at most you'll be reduced to substance-free one-liners, like what you posted.

Not really. Shadowbringers as a whole has been very well done in terms of its writing with there only being to points that have nagged at me. The first is Ran'jit, and specifically that his backstory is revealed 4-5 hours after you needed to know it for the climax of Thancred/Ryne's arcs in Amh Areng. The other is that Eulmore's plot wraps up with basically a fairy tale ending, with the only thing to cause it being Alphinaud giving them one speech about how terrible they've been. A lot of the best writing in this game has been examining why this exact thing doesn't work. You can depose the evil pope and kill the evil dragon but that isn't going to stop the war, there's cultural momentum that's going to resist that and to actually make change you have to do work to route out the rot.

5.1-3 probably should have spent a little more time letting us get to know Elidibus to make the payoff stronger, but overall that's a pretty minor gripe.

I've skipped every cutscene so far but sounds like the story is pretty good. Maybe I'll go back and watch the scenes one day.

I greatly enjoyed 5.3. The only things I didn't like were:
- After defeating Elidbus and reviving the Scions back on the Source, the way we got G'raha was... Kinda eh? I was expecting like some sort of crazy RP instance where you had to fight with himself to "fuse" together or even some scene with you there witnessing it, but we just got a "several days later". (Unless him being "unstable" will be a plotpoint later, we will see)
- Not sure still how I feel about Zenos nor Fandanial atm, but I'll give it time.

It definitely ended happier then I expected, that's for sure.

I liked the story but im not too happy in the direction of the main antagonists being the most mundane characters in the game. buuuuuuuut 5.4 will thickin the plot and we all know how 4.4 went with its plot maybe shed some much needed light on the fractured ones. also Elidobus was essentially a thrall at this point emet showed more personality as he was his own person and Elidibus is technically a primal.

5.4 has its chance to wow me so not worried with the story even if my expectations considering the villains are lower , my main concerns with FFXIV is its content and how its being trivialized or that dreaded pitfall of "casually focus" crap that kills many series.

Are we talking about story-telling or plot?
A plot by itself has no value ; here it's just the umpteenth story about a lost civilisation, dimension travel, bad guys who have their reason gnagnangna whatever else ; it's not interesting to talk about it.
About story-telling, narration ; in FFXIV 2.0+ it has always been mediocre, be it cut-scenes or gameplay. 5.3 cut-scenes are definitely higher quality. Gameplay-wise, it's still pretty much inexistent.
So 5.3 is a little better than usual.

I agree with the OP.

If anything, I love the idea, hate its execution.

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Originally Posted by LaylaTsarra

Don't agree I think the story was amazing.

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Take my like because all this.

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Originally Posted by Razard

That's a lot of words to say "I am a contrarian".

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If you see his posts in any opinion based thread, it's usually the case.

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Originally Posted by Gula

If you see his posts in any opinion based thread, it's usually the case.

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That's hardly the case at all, nor does it acknowledge the simple fact that this forum represents only a very tiny portion of the game's total players. Neither does it acknowledge that within this very thread multiple people have expressed disappointment with the direction of the story. Opinions are mixed. Both here and on other sites that I've posted on in relation to FFXIV. That's fine - and it can make for some intriguing discussion, so long as civility is maintained.

I mean, it’s fine to be dissatisfied with the story. If nothing else it gives devs a grade on how they’re doing. If enough people voice discontent, they know to up their game.

Thankfully SE has become quite receptive to player input since 1.0’s mega-flop. Theodric obviously likes the game for how long he plays/posts, and while I don’t agree with some of his views, I appreciate his criticism.

Especially regarding Elidibus, I really wasn’t feeling it. The reveals for him just weren’t that impressive and ideally, we should have his story laid bare in 5.1ish, without using Ardbert.

As in:
He appears the first time during starshowers as the warrior of light,
our party does the whole “wtf, he’s a liar!”,
figure out he is indeed the original WoL, and his function or even relationship with Hydaelyn (Did she choose him to be the first? Was the promise he made to her? Or the Ascian that became her? These are the things we should have learned)

The part where he turns out to be a primal...meh. Better he were a straight up Ascian who manipulates by creating heroes as opposed to Emet’s nations. Even better if the reveal is that he grooms heroes to take their bodies/power.

Personally I was expecting more reveal into the nature of Hydaelyn and Zodiark themselves.

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Originally Posted by Theodric

Hardly. I've been invested in the story since the days of ARR. The game has some incredible world building, yet often fails to do as much with it as it could due to falling back on predictable tropes and a lack of consequence for the vast majority of characters.

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Or maybe I believe after 7 years a Heroic Fantasy story isn’t going to magically change genres because some edgy 14 year olds on the forum want it to? Just some food for thought, dear.

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Originally Posted by Lauront

This is on a level with "he's just trolling" as a reaction to someone expressing dissatisfaction with how they handled the story, and is a good example of the sort of cultish attitude that puts many people off this forum and the more vocal elements of its community.

Perhaps you ought to acknowledge that people have different reactions to and views of things, rather than trying to psychologise why they do so. If you can't, well then at most you'll be reduced to substance-free one-liners, like what you posted.

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Or I was disagreeing with him, maybe? And know his post history enough to know his modus operandi? Also this meme needs to stop. I love the claims of cult mentality when on any given day 80% of the the various sections of the forums are whine threads. 5 seconds in the Healer forums will instantly dispel any goddamn notion of the “legion of sycophants” fantasy you made up in your head. Or any given Summoner thread.

Also, I do acknowledge them. Doesn’t make them any less wrong, though. As such not every opinion should be fawned over and taken seriously. That sounds kinda cult like.

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Originally Posted by Razard

Or maybe I believe after 7 years a Heroic Fantasy story isn’t going to magically change genres because some edgy 14 year olds on the forum want it to? Just some food for thought, dear.

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It has very little to do with wanting things to be 'edgy', though I'd say it's pretty clear that you're not nearly as familiar with my contributions to various threads as you seek to present yourself as being. I've never once pushed for 'edgy' - merely the concept of balance and realistic consequences for at least some of the major characters in the game.

Or a more consistent followup to intriguing plot threads that are introduced in one patch and then quickly abandoned in the next. You're free to disagree, of course, but I'm inclined to believe that you're more interested in stirring the pot than engaging in a civil debate. Especially when you falsely present constructive feedback as being equivalent to 'whining'.

This patch was a step up from the last few, IMO.

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Originally Posted by Razard

Or maybe I believe after 7 years a Heroic Fantasy story isn’t going to magically change genres because some edgy 14 year olds on the forum want it to? Just some food for thought, dear.


Or I was disagreeing with him, maybe? And know his post history enough to know his modus operandi? Also this meme needs to stop. I love the claims of cult mentality when on any given day 80% of the the various sections of the forums are whine threads. 5 seconds in the Healer forums will instantly dispel any goddamn notion of the “legion of sycophants” fantasy you made up in your head. Or any given Summoner thread.

Also, I do acknowledge them. Doesn’t make them any less wrong, though. As such not every opinion should be fawned over and taken seriously. That sounds kinda cult like.

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Originally Posted by Razard

That's a lot of words to say "I am a contrarian".

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That isn't "disagreement". That's simply a bad faith attempt to try to argue he's making the points simply to be a contrarian. Don't even bother pretending otherwise. It's not going to fly.

You also don't really acknowledge them. You're just asserting they're "wrong", even though enjoyment of the story is subjective, which you then twist into this strawman that every opinion should be "fawned over"... which no one is arguing. Pretending that the OP is alone in their opinion, though, when others have expressed similar sentiments? That is gaslighting.

The fact that other quarters of the forum have disagreements is rather irrelevant to the fact that there is a contingent of posters here who will defend whatever is thrown at them, and try dismiss the views of players who are not satisfied with certain elements of the game.

I think it's quite obvious you're arguing out of bad faith, have no real ability to understand other people without trying to insult them by likening them to "edgy 14 year olds" and just have an ax to grind. Not really a person worth my time.

Can anyone explain to me what Elidibus was actually trying to tell us by running us through all the expansion content? Maybe it's obvious, but it went over my head.

^short version, elidibus is basically a "machine" of sort, he was program to bring the ascian back to its former glory and to do that he start with eradicate us, and us being WOD its only normal for elidibus to apply WOL to fight WOD (and considering first world is all about overflowing light, its kinda given)

thats like super short very rough version of it, iam sure other can tell you more in detail.

also... decline? i dont know about decline but 5.3 story is a "closure", the end for SHB arc, you can literally put "the end" on the bottom corner when alisae doing that "The Girl Who Leapt Through the Time" iconic jump and it will be a fitting end.

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Originally Posted by Sonikku

Can anyone explain to me what Elidibus was actually trying to tell us by running us through all the expansion content? Maybe it's obvious, but it went over my head.

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It's basically just the 60-70 Dark Knight quests again. "You're a monster leaving a trail of death in your wake" with an added temper tantrum of "You want to keep killing my friends? Kill your own!"

The core plot of 5.3 is amazing but the representation is just okay. and i agree with some character feels off but at still okay, some of the cutscebe is soooo cheesy i cringe at the ending the aliase jump...

i however dislike the ending, i love Graha but reviving him is extremely cheap move, i rather he stay dead or crytalized or whatever than having him revived like that... then again he probably gonna be a one of the cow to be milked from now on...

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Originally Posted by Miminming

The core plot of 5.3 is amazing but the representation is just okay. and i agree with some character feels off but at still okay, some of the cutscebe is soooo cheesy i cringe at the ending the aliase jump...

i however dislike the ending, i love Graha but reviving him is extremely cheap move, i rather he stay dead or crytalized or whatever than having him revived like that... then again he probably gonna be a one of the cow to be milked from now on...

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Considering all the talk of his other self in the tower I had a feeling that he would utilize the soul crystal thing for himself. Despite knowing that, seeing him die once was pretty sad. I think my only complaint about the whole thing is that we didn't get to do the reviving ourselves from a player perspective. We just ran into the tower and were met with a "3 days later..." That, to me, was the only thing that felt cheap. The added tension of "but it may not work!" was also unnecessary. We all knew it would. But it'll be nice to have him around. Might be one of only a couple Scions that I like.

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Originally Posted by EusisLandale

It's basically just the 60-70 Dark Knight quests again. "You're a monster leaving a trail of death in your wake" with an added temper tantrum of "You want to keep killing my friends? Kill your own!"

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Fray sitting in the back thinking, "That's cute."

Several months have passed since the release of Patch 5.3, and I think I am finally ready to write what I did not like about it, and not in the form of a stream of consciousness and not in the form of swearing words about "ugly disgusting creatures" (just kidding, although every joke has its share of ... jokes). I understand that my brother and I are in the minority, and the post will still be large, and it will most likely be a cry into the void, but there is always at least a small chance. For example, the fact that the developers somehow monitor the forum.

There are several reasons, the majority of my complaints have been brewing for a long time, and the released patch was just the “last straw”.

1) I did not like that by raising the topic “try to convince your opponent”, the developers did not realize this possibility. They did not let me convince Elidibus. I have missed this opportunity since the days of Heavensward. Even then, we were shown this- we were able to convince two old dragons in the possibility of peace between dragons and mortals, with all the features of the dragon’s memories, but we could not convince an old man (Thordan). We did not even try. Neither the protagonist, (not to call him rudely), nor such a diplomat as Alphinaud even had such a thought. Why is this important? Because the hero is not the one, who makes pretentious speeches and can beat up anyone. More precisely, it is about this kind of heroes they say: "kill one and you are a murderer, but kill thousands and you are a hero." The right hero must be humane, and humanity is impossible without compassion, the ability to be merciful, to be able to hear the others and walk a mile in their shoes. Such a person will not try to solve a problem by force as a first choice. And it wouldn’t be a problem if the game had a serious storytelling with a gray morality, like Witcher. Final Fantasy XIV is more of a fairy tale with a clear division into Good and Bad.

Other characters around us show compassion. This is Widargelt throughout the storylines from the 50s levels and beyond, who, before, during and after the battles, continues and continues to try to persuade his opponents. These are Lyse and Arenwald, Gosetsu and Hien, these are characters of small side quest arcs, like the inhabitants of Ala Giri, who did not want to give the imperial officer to the Resistance.

continuation of the post:

More than one person noted that the solo challenge in 5.3 is similar to the level 60 dark knight quest line. For me, this topic can be raised at least in every patch of each of the extensions - because the game still has not given an answer. No conclusions are drawn. We still solve everything exclusively by force. Why did Midgardsomr suddenly believe in us and in humanity? Because we are strong and by fighting we have restored Hydaelyn’s blessing. However, how, I would like to ask, does this answer the claims that he made against the "sons of man"? We didn’t say a thing to Tiamat’s story, which Midgardsomr wanted us to know. Why did Hraeswelgr agree to help us? Because we defeated him in his trial. But how does this respond to his claims and doubts in mortals?

Returning directly to patch 5.3, if we were given to convince Elidibus, it would not be a “victory of a fist”, once again, but an ideological victory. It would serve as an answer to both him and Myste, and would give an answer to the question of why the protagonist is the hero whom anyone can and should be equal to. Why exactly he is morally higher and better than his opponents are. As a game goes by till this day – the answer is no. Moreover, it turns out that our enemy, the Ascian, was able to reach out to us, to show himself and his people as people, to accept us - as the game claims and, which undoubtedly attracts so many to Emet-Selch. All this is his and only his merit and achievement. And when we were required to do the same, we did not do it. As a result, the line and death of Emet-Selch himself is also perceived by me as something that was lost in vain, gone “into the void”. If we succeeded, all of this would fit in its places, like the price paid for the built bridge, for the second chance received by both parties. But no...

I understand that in MMO gameplay plays the main role. Players need battles, challenges. I understand that technically this trial was needed. And I liked it very much, as well as the plot twist. But what prevented the player from returning to convincing Elidibus after the battle?

In addition, a successful outcome in convincing opponents offers the potential for interesting interactions with truly different and unique characters. In the end, all of Scions, city leaders and other "our pals" are monotonous; they are all like good guys and nothing more, almost licking the protagonist’s heels in adoration. Not only does it seem to me that the adoration pouring from all sides is smeared into one and only feeling towards the main character from all over the world, and it does not seem deserved and therefore especially dear to the heart, but it is more interesting to observe those relationships in which there is a conflict. Not the hate, don’t get me wrong, but having different points of view where you can say “they both have correct statements in their beliefs”. That’s also what makes a good drama.

In other words, I really hoped. And now I feel like a hungry man with a waved meat in front of his nose, and then showed the fig. (Technically speaking, it is impossible to speak within the framework of the game about a thing \ action, and not give an opportunity to do it. There will certainly be someone who want to do such thing. Someone can remember other Final Fantasies, so I’ll try to explain myself. In the single games, the main character is always fixed - we just watch his story, be it Cloud or Noctis, or someone else. If that character makes a successful attempt to convince someone - we are happy, if he is not successful - we get upset, but we do not have a feeling of being deceived. If he does not try, we can be angry with him, but not angry with the people who wrote the script, realizing that this is the idea, this is a character - his story, nature, path. All this does not work if the character is not fixed, and we "write" him ourselves.) Right now, I am waiting for the end of the Sorrow of Werlyt with Gaius and his “kids”. And for some reason I have little hope that this time something will change.

2) Implementation of an attempt to convince. We are venting frustrations on Elidibus, waste our time on stupid questions like: "What are you up to?" Although the game itself immediately gives much more interesting things that you can cling to and use in that confrontation. Lost memories, which we see immediately in the first meeting, and I am not talking about the question of Elidibus whether we called him here or not. In Amaurot, we can state once that there can always be a compromise. But without a specific suggestion, these are nothing more than empty words. He himself appeals to ideals, which also makes sense, but first I would like to ask, who sees a compromise in what exactly? Where can there be a compromise? Bend a knee to us, for we live now and we far more deserving than you? Since recalling the last Rising event, I would like to recall the words of one of the characters there. Why should only one side compromise? Moreover, if at the very first objection of your opponent you wave your hand with the words “you do not leave me a choice,” from the outside it looks as if you are not interested in peaceful solution. If you raise the issue of compromise, if you believe in it, you need to be more persistent, you need to persuade, and offer. Finally the ending of the patch. I wanted to bash my head against the keyboard. Honestly. “All your friends are dead / You won't bring them back” and “You have nothing to fight for” is all that you can squeeze out of yourself, especially after words about compromises?! Yes, logically speaking those statements are correct. But if a person is in despair, on the verge of breaking and has lost literally everything, including his memory (Our memories are what make us ourselves. By losing them, we literally lose ourselves. It's scary. It's very scary, it’s worse than death), he will cling to his " duty” even stronger, without any influence of the eikon \ primal, having heard such a thing. It's like saying to someone standing on the edge of the roof: "You are a loser, you won't get a job, your beloved dog died, and your girlfriend is mine now." And after that do you honestly believe he must decide - life is beautiful, why should I jump from the roof? It doesn't work that way. Where are the arguments at least? Not to mention, this is the moment to suggest an alternative if you see one. Remembering how Ryne fought to help and save Gaia, all the same way as Arenwald with Lyse did that for Fordola - I want something like that.

From what I personally saw, the story with Elidibus is the reverse of our story with Emet-Selch. What was his achievement? He showed that the Ascians are not evil fanatics of chaos and destruction, but people like us. Who fought to save their world. We needed to do the same. So that in the end, we

needed at least to listen, and not erected walls of an emotional barrier. For this you need to talk. Talk first. Behavior in the style of "you’re guilty" - will not help the persuasion. But the game itself ascribes behavior of the protagonist in this way. And G'Raha’s at the same time.

Again, I understand that rich and ramified dialogues are not and never have been Square Enix strong forte. And they are still very conservative in this regard. But in such cases, if you said "A" then you need to say "B". Or not say anything at all, as I see it. Sometimes half measures are worse than none. So, according to the results of the game’s implementation, our hero looks like an insensitive asshole in my eyes.

It is possible that we would have failed. There are many reasons from the loss of memories and natural ones like the past millennia of life to more complex ones. More than one reasons can have an impact. I had a theory that the personality of Elidibus does dissolve inside the Zodiark. The other side of the duality of its current nature. (The last story convinced me of that even more.) The mechanism I see is something like this: on the one hand, it, being the heart of the eikon, merges more and more with it over time; plus Elidibus’s own aspirations to save everyone, to be needed, to fulfill his mission, being refracted through the prism of the eikon's programs, as it were, raised to a degree; plus all the theme with heroes. But the more he tried to strengthen himself due to the connection with the eikon, and the more he went into dedication to his goal, the more he was absorbed by the Zodiark. That is, his feelings for everyone allowed him to return, and later it played a cruel joke on him, further accelerating and strengthening the process of merging. But on the other hand, he was not yet completely absorbed. If you watch carefully, you can also see that he shows doubts, at times even trying to see something in us, and sometimes even delineate where he is and where the eikon program is. Or maybe, absorbing the aspirations of the characters, he became their reflection, ceasing to be himself (this would explain the final scene)...

You can edit a post to get around the character limit.

Ultimately, almost everyone can be convinced. Sometimes this is limited by the allotted time, often by the available information. And absolutely always - by desire. I did not see this in the implementation of our "attempt". While it would seem, after the finale of the original Shadowbringers, after the promise to remember – this is the chance to do what Emet-Selch did to us. Not everyone will want to try that, yes. That’s the point of Roleplaying. That is why I repeat, you need to either go all the way and write a full-fledged dialogue, (even better with a different outcome, returning to what I said above) or not touch this topic at all. In order not to seem contradictory to myself: I did not expect a favorable outcome with Elidibus before the release of the patch. My brother was hoping. I told him that the probability is 1% at best. But since everyone turned around in the patch itself, with the "convince" theme specifically raised, it left me devastated and mad. And for months now I have not been able to stop scrolling in my head what else could be said or done. I already keep silence about the fact that in the whole story starting from Realm Reborn, I saw a character who needed help most of all. NOT in the adventuring form "give me this or bring me that", and not "kick someone’s ass", but in human participation. For all this reason, I remembered Undertale with how to play through the game without killing anyone and make Flowey Asriel again. Usually such things pay off. Why does low-budget game created by only two people all that, and that is not available for a very high budget game?

3) From here I pass directly to the third point. The ending. So contrasting that I again want to ask - why? Why show that our opponents are also people who also suffered and fought for their world, only to say in the game: " He’s dead and good riddance!” Now we can have fun with G'Raha. You can feel it in the atmosphere, in details like the words of Landaniel, and even Unukalhai! God, I wish I hadn't gone to see what he had to say ... There is no sense of justice in this. Because, let's approach everyone with the same morale. We either say that intentions are important and it’s enough, as in the case of Arbert and his team, with whom the fact is carefully glossed that, willing or not, they did cause the Flood, and then came to destroy the Source to save the First. Yes, and G'Raha is ambiguous in this light, since with all the promise of a "paving a path for the tomorrow" he did not try to save the future in which he woke up

(and there at that moment more than one generation passed), but preferred to save the past and us specifically ... By his success, by the way, he simply erased all people from that future. I don’t know how anyone, but for me it is not much different from the Ascian genocide. They also were saving their world, and those who were dear to them. (And, by the way, whether we like it or not, thanks to them races of the Source and Shards also live, in particular thanks to the sacrifice of the same Elidibus, since if they had not stopped their ancient catastrophe, it is very likely that the world would be dead and everyone would not be in it. Whether the decision to summon the Zodiark was the right one or not, but the fact does not change from that).

Or we say: "it doesn't matter what you wanted, it is important how you got there." Then no participants should be justified. For example, tell the whole truth about Warriors of the First, including their ugly episodes. Let everyone decide for themselves whether they are heroes or not. But no, certain people want everyone inside the game to remember Warriors of Darkness as heroes and heroes only.

My point is that with such a picture, a second chance had to be given either to both sides of the conflict, or to none of them. So it would be fair and there would be no hypocrisy. The producer's letter, as I remember, said that they wanted to make the ending both bitter and hopeful at the same time. But the problem is that it only works for G'Raha’s fans, which I admit are the majority. Which does not mean that they are the whole fanbase of the Final Fantasy XIV. (I will return to this later) For people like my brother, and me for example, there was no hope, and everything was drowned in that same bitterness and despair. Because yes, the Ascian’s theme emotionally hit me the most. In the light of what was revealed, I saw in them as another unfortunate people, drew a parallel between Convocation and the Scions, and even saw Lahabrea from a different angle (although if you listen to the original Japanese voicelines and not the dubbing, it already feels differently). Although in the Final Fantasy XIV itself there were storylines successfully implementing all this. For example, the Hildebrand storyline in Heavensward. There is also a sad note - Gigi, having spent the entire ether, turned off; and that very hope - that if he picks up enough ether, he will be able to wake up again. And sense of justice is present – the Grand Sers did not get back their youth, but they are alive and have found something else in return. Or the storyline of Omega, where there is a line of succession to Omega represented by Alpha.

I also still see the final scene after the fight before my eyes. Everything about it somehow feels wrong. Again comparing: Yotsuyu got a second chance, did not use it, but found her revenge in the end; Omega realized what he was missing (and to be honest, the words and behavior of Sid, exactly like Alpha, are more sane than what is attributed to the main characters in Shadowbringers). And here what? A semblance of peace? When they say “when the duty is done, we will be together, but you are not here,” I don’t feel it at all.

It's funny, but after all this, I emotionally coincide with the Ascians, and not with "our bros" - I feel offended and enraged. As if something dear to my heart was taken from me in order to give it to someone else, and in return they gave me G'Raha. Even wishing to revise the final cut scene on top of the Crystal Tower, I found that only the part of it with G'Raha was preserved in the "diary". They didn't even leave that part of Elidibus to me. And no, I previously treated G’Raha well, but on this basis I am starting to quietly hate and despise him. And I want to say to developers: you can keep him, I don’t want and don’t need G’Raha.

4) Role-play. The game openly started to describe who and what the player's character once was. And it would be okay if it just said that he was a member of the Convocation with a certain name. But we are told that he was always an adventurer. I always think over all my characters: their motives, views and goals, biographies, etc. This is the only way, I believe, to make roleplay possible. And not all of them are adventurers. Yes, the game presents us as an adventurer, but in the "present world" I can still mentally "delete" the Adventurer’s Guild from my character’s history if it does not fit, or imply that the others see “the adventurer” due to their perception, but when the game tells me: "you have been an adventurer at

all times" - it becomes somehow hard to ignore. (And the last of the stories even went into the modus operandi of the Azem) All this would be okay if the protagonist was a prescribed character like in the old Final Fantasy games. But we have Main Character as a "blank sheet", “hollow shell” due to MMO genre.