This story is really underwhelming - it's opened to mixed reviews.

If you removed the Warrior of Light from the story the story would not change.

I say this as someone who loved Stormblood... SE really needs to re-evaluate its writing and story pacing. They *desperately* need an actual editor with experience. So many narrative elements have been getting worse since ShB. Nearly every conversation/cutscene is 10-20 lines too long. When every conversation and cutscene is minutes too long, you end up with what feels like an *extremely* padded game. You have a visual medium. You have every opportunity to show, not tell. But you insist on telling, repeatedly, again and again. You've shown repeatedly that Wuk Lamat is impulsive and a bit immature. You don't need MULTIPLE 5+ minute conversations explaining that after you've established that. Where's the narrative skill? This writing has all the subtlety of a sledgehammer.

One sequence around lvl 93 is particularly egregious from a plot perspective. I won't spoil anything, but it is so far beyond dumb.

It feels like the writers for this expansion just aren't familiar with the regular cast. The twins have been reduced to cardboard cutouts who occasionally chime in with some robotic line. I keep coming back to the thought that this just isn't well written. And it's a shame for a series that has some pretty high narrative marks.

Reporting back in, the zones are legit the only thing good about this expansion. The last zone is *chef's kiss*

The story is still laughably bad at 100. People joke about the Naruto comparison, but most don't know just how accurate that is.

Yeah, it sounds like A Realm Reborn, the beginning of a NEW adventure.

Of course ya'll are bored, you guys are so used to the highs of previous expansions and the emotional roller-coasters they put you through, and once you climb down from all that, it's like: "oh crap, i don't know how to relax anymore"

You guys seriously need to pace yourselves if this type of intro to a new adventure is draining you, because you have 2+ years to go for this expansion, and it's barely begun.

Or you could just LOGOUT and find something else to do; some of us would REALLY like to log back into our HOME servers.

Sorry but this old song and dance some of you folks put on is getting old.

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Originally Posted by Neoyoshi

Yeah, it sounds like A Realm Reborn, the beginning of a NEW adventure.

Of course ya'll are bored, you guys are so used to the highs of previous expansions and the emotional roller-coasters they put you through, and once you climb down from all that, it's like: "oh crap, i don't know how to relax anymore"

You guys seriously need to pace yourselves if this type of intro to a new adventure is draining you, because you have 2+ years to go for this expansion, and it's barely begun.

Or you could just LOGOUT and find something else to do; some of us would REALLY like to log back into our HOME servers.

Sorry but this old song and dance some of you folks put on is getting old.

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It's not the writing! It's everyone else that is the problem!

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Originally Posted by AnimaAnimus

It's not the writing! It's everyone else that is the problem!

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Apparently wanting an exciting vacation and treasure hunt is being unreasonable.

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Originally Posted by Dulcia

If you removed the Warrior of Light from the story the story would not change.

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So far I'm left with the impression that we're not meant to serve as the main character here. I'm witnessing the WoL being viewed merely as a 'companion' you commonly witness in JRPGs as opposed to the 'party lead'.

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Originally Posted by Turtledeluxe

Despite their striking designs, I find myself so incredibly bored with the tribes. Thinking about Matsya vs anyone I've met so far, there's just no comparison. There's no comparison to the Matanga in general in Dawntrail.

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I liked Mablu, she at least had a story, I can't remember a single NPC from the Hanuhanu side.

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Originally Posted by Neoyoshi

Yeah, it sounds like A Realm Reborn, the beginning of a NEW adventure.

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Good writers can make segments of a long story interesting all the same. I had played multiple episodic games that span over a decade and each episode still draw toward their individual conclusion.

Heaven Ward for the most part was pretty self-contained, and it was regard as one of the best story expansion. Than it was followed by Storm blood that most considered the weakest story ... until now.

Now reaching the end of Dawn Trail, I can say that the premise isn't bad, and the majority of the problems of Dawn Trail are pretty much are 100% self sabotaging.


Dawn Trail's story doesn't have to be bad because it is the start of a new arc. It was forced to be bad by bad writing, that's all. When you write a story that people don't feel compel to move forward, or at least curious to find out what happens next than your writing fail, there is no excuse to that.

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Originally Posted by Neoyoshi

Yeah, it sounds like A Realm Reborn, the beginning of a NEW adventure.

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I'm very much fine with a reset of sorts, but so far at least, and I'm at the level 99 dungeon, it's not remotely a beginning of a NEW adventure, it feels like a self contained Wuk Lamat adventure where the WoL is simply hanging out taking it easy. This doesn't have an ARR vibe, or a new 10 year epic vibe in the slightest. Maybe the ending cutscene will be a "we're on a new world" sort of ending, but that's the ENDING of an entire expansion.

That said, there is a lot I'm really liking about the expansion, maps, dungeons, music, are all just slapping so hard, I just wish the story didn't focus so much on a single character that isn't the WoL. As someone said, the WoL could not be here, and nothing would change really.

Some people here are oposition for the sake of "i am against it. I am special and against the mainstream"
I read books from various genre, played games from Gatcha to ARPOG to Soulslike to Citybuilder to RPG and none of them are this boring, repetetive with their main selling point. Wuk Lamat is nice but has no depth or growth to her but she is the MC of a SLice of Life story with facebook mom advice in a Game about beeing the hero in a epic story. This is so of the mark it is not even on the same planet anymore. The writing is absolute amateurish and a disgrace for the whole franchise. I do not have a problem with slice of life or a simple adventure or not beeing MC. I have a problem with not going on a adventure, not beeing part of the story - we are not a mentor or teacher, we stand there in silence and do nothing - and i have problem with that there is almost no lore or to learn. Everything is flat and one dimensional. For crying out loud Krile and Erenville are the most interesting NPC and plots and those are so thin and still better then the mainplot.

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Originally Posted by DarkCobalt

I'm giving it some slack since they did say it would be a slow adventure-type story, but after about 10 hours it's really hard to stay engaged with it at all, even just as a sightseeing experience. The culture and tribes are kind of bland? Dare I say uninspired? I don't really know how much they thought people would find like bartering or crafting as a super unique and fun cultural thing, we've seen it a dozen times over in every other major region of the game. I feel like if you've played some of the beast tribes, you've seen all there is to offer in the opening segments of Dawntrail, which isn't exactly what I was hoping for when I heard them saying it was a laidback story. It's a little TOO laidback.

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I'm now further into the story. The absolute whiplash that transitions into the first trial and then the massive whiplash at around the level 96 point is absurd. The pacing is horrific.

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Originally Posted by Dulcia

If you removed the Warrior of Light from the story the story would not change.

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If the WoL hadn't been there, the first prince would probably have come to power and he would have gone on the warpath anyway and the WoL would have been busy.

I think if they had attacked, our WoL would have laughed his ass off.


Well... it happened. Let's see what the next story chapter in 3-4 months will bring. Hope no more lamat.

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Originally Posted by Vejj

If the WoL hadn't been there, the first prince would probably have come to power and he would have gone on the warpath anyway and the WoL would have been busy.

I think if they had attacked, our WoL would have laughed his ass off.


Well... it happened. Let's see what the next story chapter in 3-4 months will bring. Hope no more lamat.

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The scenario you described sounds better than what we got.

>Story which Yoshida repeatedly said will be more chill that previously does not carry the same weight as EW which had 3 expansions worth of buildup.
Who would have thunk it... On the sidenote, i'm personally ok with my WOL not being the protagonist for once but just an observer. Thus far i'm more interested in exploring the new world we're in.

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Originally Posted by BeoCat

>Story which Yoshida repeatedly said will be more chill that previously does not carry the same weight as EW which had 3 expansions worth of buildup.
Who would have thunk it... On the sidenote, i'm personally ok with my WOL not being the protagonist for once but just an observer. Thus far i'm more interested in exploring the new world we're in.

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I just think the handling of it could have been better. On top of tossing the scions in favor of focusing on the Promises instead. Chill doesn’t mean it has to be boring.

This is a little disingenuous because steam separates out expansion reviews so this has only had 600 reviews…. So only X % of that have left mixed and glancing some they aren’t well written reviews not to say there is no issue but when there is more players then that in one zone in the instances times by areas and worlds there are way many players who are just playing the game and enjoying it or if they don’t.. why bother leave a review lol it makes more of an impact if you silently leave

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Originally Posted by BeoCat

>Story which Yoshida repeatedly said will be more chill that previously does not carry the same weight as EW which had 3 expansions worth of buildup.
Who would have thunk it... On the sidenote, i'm personally ok with my WOL not being the protagonist for once but just an observer. Thus far i'm more interested in exploring the new world we're in.

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It seems, that you confuse "chill" with "boring".


Cheers

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Originally Posted by CStrife912

This is a little disingenuous because steam separates out expansion reviews so this has only had 600 reviews…. So only X % of that have left mixed and glancing some they aren’t well written reviews not to say there is no issue but when there is more players then that in one zone in the instances times by areas and worlds there are way many players who are just playing the game and enjoying it or if they don’t.. why bother leave a review lol it makes more of an impact if you silently leave

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I've seen a lot of people shitting on the story in shout chat lol

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Originally Posted by BeoCat

>Story which Yoshida repeatedly said will be more chill that previously does not carry the same weight as EW which had 3 expansions worth of buildup.
Who would have thunk it... On the sidenote, i'm personally ok with my WOL not being the protagonist for once but just an observer. Thus far i'm more interested in exploring the new world we're in.

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There's a difference between being chill and having no agency. Take ARR for example, it's slow, you're recruited by a relatively secret org because you have a rare gift, you then go to zone with one of their experienced agents, but in the cutscenes and the quest, you are the one doing everything, when the bad guys show up you deal with it. The story progresses through your actions.

Mid way through Yawntrail, there's a story trial

susanoo esc big attack that needs to be blocked. at a moment with you and all the scions fighting, that should be the point you step in as the main character stop the attack to help the others but nope, you stand there like a plum while Wuk lasuck, yeahs get behind me everyone I'll protect you and "saves" us.

It's pathetic, and insulting to play.

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Originally Posted by SirShady

I feel the opposite. Lyse's development might have been lacking, and the story didn't really earn the pay-off of her becoming a political leader, but she is far more interesting and fun to be around than Wuk Lamat. I'd rather have Lyse's brashness and occasional airheaded moment than watch Wuk Lamat accidently fall down or cry about something she doesn't like for the sake of "comedy" or give an emboldened speech about the power of peace and friendship for the 30th time in a row. SHE'S JUST SO QUIRKY!

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It just comes down to taste, I guess. That being said, I like neither character. In Stormblood, at least I had Alisae being my sassy little sister to carry me through it. In Dawntrail, she seems to have lost her entire personality somehow.

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Originally Posted by PercibelTheren

It just comes down to taste, I guess. That being said, I like neither character. In Stormblood, at least I had Alisae being my sassy little sister to carry me through it. In Dawntrail, she seems to have lost her entire personality somehow.

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It came out for a brief second in the third zone...If you talk to her just before she goes to the village near that giant crevice she says

"Just to let you know if you push me I will be very cross with you" it was very Alisae and desperately needed good writing in regards to real humor per unique characters.

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Originally Posted by Malthir

There's a difference between being chill and having no agency. Take ARR for example, it's slow, you're recruited by a relatively secret org because you have a rare gift, you then go to zone with one of their experienced agents, but in the cutscenes and the quest, you are the one doing everything, when the bad guys show up you deal with it. The story progresses through your actions.

Mid way through Yawntrail, there's a story trial

susanoo esc big attack that needs to be blocked. at a moment with you and all the scions fighting, that should be the point you step in as the main character stop the attack to help the others but nope, you stand there like a plum while Wuk lasuck, yeahs get behind me everyone I'll protect you and "saves" us.

It's pathetic, and insulting to play.

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So... Stop playing it, then?

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Originally Posted by BeoCat

>Story which Yoshida repeatedly said will be more chill that previously does not carry the same weight as EW which had 3 expansions worth of buildup.
Who would have thunk it... On the sidenote, i'm personally ok with my WOL not being the protagonist for once but just an observer. Thus far i'm more interested in exploring the new world we're in.

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This was a big problem I had with wow back when I played it, your character was just an observer nothing more to the plot. The thing is the WoL has never been that in FFXIV we've always been the main driving force behind things and now, it really feels like we are a side character in this. I hope they take to heart what people are saying when it comes to the story post the MSQ cause it sounds like most people are all saying the same thing (( Have not finished the MSQ yet))

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Originally Posted by DBriggs304

So... Stop playing it, then?

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I had been trying to give it a chance, but it got so bad that was impossible. I've got 8 days left of play time and I intend to finish this piece of -redacted- so that if by some miracle, they release some content that doesn't suck or when 8.0 comes out, I never have to see this terrible story again.

Just skip the rest of the cutscenes, trust me, the game becomes a lot more enjoyable and you can always read a summary starting where you left.

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Originally Posted by xxmiamorecadenza

So far I'm left with the impression that we're not meant to serve as the main character here. I'm witnessing the WoL being viewed merely as a 'companion' you commonly witness in JRPGs as opposed to the 'party lead'.

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I mean, from a writing perspective you could have replaced the warrior of light with any other character. What did the warrior of light add that only the warrior of light can? Wuk Lamat did everything in the story that the Warrior of Light would be doing.

I feel that even were we taking a backseat in someone elses story that doesn't remove our role as protagonist, and that is role that you can't really remove from the Warrior of Light because this is a game and the Warrior of Light is how you experience the world through. But in this Expansion the best character to tell the story through was not the Warrior of Light, it was Wuk Lamat. Everything interesting happens to Wuk Lamat, so why aren't we playing Wuk Lamat instead?

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Originally Posted by Verathel

It came out for a brief second in the third zone...If you talk to her just before she goes to the village near that giant crevice she says

"Just to let you know if you push me I will be very cross with you" it was very Alisae and desperately needed good writing in regards to real humor per unique characters.

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One of the very few moment in Dawntrail that made me smile. A nice reminder of what I used to enjoy about these characters before they became Wuk Lamat's cheer squad.

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Originally Posted by Garruss

This was a big problem I had with wow back when I played it, your character was just an observer nothing more to the plot. The thing is the WoL has never been that in FFXIV we've always been the main driving force behind things and now, it really feels like we are a side character in this. I hope they take to heart what people are saying when it comes to the story post the MSQ cause it sounds like most people are all saying the same thing (( Have not finished the MSQ yet))

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Oh I still remember when during ShB/Endwalker Launch, all the Wow refugees came storming in. And one of the big points that was constantly talked about and they seemed to love about FF was just that. That you as the character are the focus, the Warrior of Light, people know you, people know what you did for the world. You are important to the story, not just a silent spectator of sorts. This was so new to many of them and it was seen in a positive light.

Don't get me wrong, I totally understand the appeal of being a new adventurer with nothing to my name, who has to build their reputation slowly by doing typical fetch quests for NPCs. It can work well, and I gotta say, while ARR is constantly being talked down to by the community, I adore the classic "newbie adventurer" appeal it has. But I think for DT, it doesn't work that well.

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Originally Posted by DBriggs304

So... Stop playing it, then?

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I think you missed the part in Dawntrail where it's explicitly stated that everyone should have a voice and that we as a community are all entitled to an opinion regarding the direction of said community. That the people who have complaints should feel free to express them to make things better for all.

Dismissal of concerns for something we all enjoy is spitting in the face of that message. Do you honestly think that if our complaints weren't heard, and if we had stopped playing entirely instead of voicing those concerns, that SE would have even bothered in the long run? Do you think ARR would have even been made as a stepping stone for Shadowbringers and Endwalker?

Spurn enough people, and even the things you enjoy will fade away.

I am only just past the second dungeon so far but the story started picking up for me around the level 92-93 quests. The beginning was a bit of a slog with the Pelu part really making me skim hard through it but I think the weakest part of the MSQ is the gameplay aspect. Wuk has been growing on me, but I was interested in her character development in the EW post patch content. I was a bit annoyed at first that I was a side character but honestly I think that was just the beginning part and just how there was nothing to hook me into the game at the beginning. We'll see where it goes from here but I am definitely enjoying the story itself more and more as I go along.

I'm just here for Wuk Lamat memes.

https://cdn.donmai.us/720x720/50/c5/...5e498cf08.webp

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Originally Posted by Riastrad

I think you missed the part in Dawntrail where it's explicitly stated that everyone should have a voice and that we as a community are all entitled to an opinion regarding the direction of said community. That the people who have complaints should feel free to express them to make things better for all.

Dismissal of concerns for something we all enjoy is spitting in the face of that message. Do you honestly think that if our complaints weren't heard, and if we had stopped playing entirely instead of voicing those concerns, that SE would have even bothered in the long run? Do you think ARR would have even been made as a stepping stone for Shadowbringers and Endwalker?

Spurn enough people, and even the things you enjoy will fade away.

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We'll be fine. If it is that over the top offensive like the poster stated, then. Stop. Playing.

The TLDR version of this story is

a sub par writer who stole the plot of act 1 of stb and act 2 of shb bolted them together but also did it poorly. Literally the same plotline just written infinitely worse.

Just having finished the last trial, which was a lot of fun, I really do think that they could have made a much better MSQ if they had dropped Wuk Lamat at the 3/4 mark, and cut down the padding. It's OKAY to have a more focused, streamlined main story line. You don't NEED to have 2 hours of downtime in every zone. Also, remove some of the plot points that were just obviously thrown in there for emotional beats without any logic behind them (a certain child comes to mind).

Honestly for the first time in FFXIV I thought. "Am I too old for this story?" it felt like it was targeted towards teenagers, including the horrible 90's bubblegum pop song in the end and the moral lessons that were hammered into your mind over and over. Hell, maybe I AM too old for these writers, but I feel like "I'm going to be the next Turali Hokage and make my people smile" repeat x 20 times in the MSQ is a bit tedious and disrespectful towards anyones time and intelligence.

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Originally Posted by Malthir

The TLDR version of this story is

a sub par writer who stole the plot of act 1 of stb and act 2 of shb bolted them together but also did it poorly. Literally the same plotline just written infinitely worse.

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You're 100% right. Cold as ice, but right.

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Originally Posted by Aniise

Oh I still remember when during ShB/Endwalker Launch, all the Wow refugees came storming in. And one of the big points that was constantly talked about and they seemed to love about FF was just that. That you as the character are the focus, the Warrior of Light, people know you, people know what you did for the world. You are important to the story, not just a silent spectator of sorts. This was so new to many of them and it was seen in a positive light.

Don't get me wrong, I totally understand the appeal of being a new adventurer with nothing to my name, who has to build their reputation slowly by doing typical fetch quests for NPCs. It can work well, and I gotta say, while ARR is constantly being talked down to by the community, I adore the classic "newbie adventurer" appeal it has. But I think for DT, it doesn't work that well.

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The funny part is that while WoW started off with your being just some adventurer nobody, you became one of the greatest heroes of all time. You frequently speak to kings and queens, you get referred to be special titles, you get handed weapons of legend, and ride dragons around in-story.

And those people act shocked that in FFXIV you're important as if they aren't in the story of WoW?

I haven't progressed very far in the story yet and wasn't expecting an overly epic hero plot. And today I just reached the third area.
So far I feel that my character's presence was essentially unnecessary. I saw lots of green and lots of Lizards.

For me it was disappointing that we don't get the Alpaka mount in the beginning, when we visit the farm and so on.
I hoped that I could use it during the MSQ for immersion. But I heard that we just get it when we are done with the MSQ. So..., when the time of heavily using mounts is over.

I also had the impression so far that in the cutscenes most of the time you see the princess instead of your own character.
I personally don't like that a lot.

Another thing that struck me as uncomfortable is how Erenville behaves/speaks. To me he often seems unfriendly and excessively grumpy.
I immediately wish Raha back. He was friendly and kind.

Apart from that, I liked the MSQ so far.
Maybe I give feedback again when I went through. :)

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Originally Posted by Rhysati

The funny part is that while WoW started off with your being just some adventurer nobody, you became one of the greatest heroes of all time. You frequently speak to kings and queens, you get referred to be special titles, you get handed weapons of legend, and ride dragons around in-story.

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Uh ... I don't think any of that come remotely close to the status of the WoL ... merely "speak" to kings and queens? Have you seen how the Eorzia Alliance table are set up? On one side it's the head of states, on the other side are the Scions. We're not merely speaking to them, we're literally considered their equal when it comes to the matter of states, and they regularly "defer" to us. Since its formation at the end of HW, there were never an important decision made without our input. Migarsorm wasn't just any dragon, he's the progenitor of all dragon of this star, and he's our ride.

While interaction with higher being is a rare privilege for mortal in WoW, for the most part the heroes is still a few level below in the pecking order. The WoL on the other hand stand pretty much on equal ground.