Personal Thoughts on Dawntrail (Spoilers, obviously)

I just wanted somewhere to put my thoughts to words, where I could be free from spoiling my FC of the story after completing the main arc of the expansion.

Overall, I have mixed feelings. What I looked forward to most is a fun adventure for my character, not some insert that I had no attachment too. The whole first half I was just being dragged along by Wuk Lumat for her story, her objective. Fine, whatever~ Get dragged around the first few zones for her ritual then the second half when the story develops my character can go out and do their thing right? No, We get to tussle around in one zone for a little bit without Lumat and then she immediately self-inserts into the second arc.

I love the concept of the Endless and the struggle against them, but it's not your story, it's Lumat's. That's what ruins it for me. I felt no connection since 90 some odd percent my character just nods and follows along. Even in the final trial, just when you think you get some one on one time with the final boss Lumat yet again main character's her way into the fray and I just deflated.

I'm not saying my character needs to be the vanguard all the time, but at least once within the whole expansion would've been nice. Could've taken Lumat out of the story altogether, instead making the rites just struggles you come across as your expedition explores this new land and I think it would've made the story 1000% more engaging.

That aside, world-building, zones, dungeons, trials, and other duties were amazing, loved them all, story gripes aside. Music was great in some areas and ok in others. Would've loved more FF9 related/remixed music added in, but the pieces we got were lovely to hear. Voice-acting with 'some' characters was a bit cringe, but with English VA can't expect 10/10 with every character.

Another issue is a lot of quests felt unnecessary. One in particular stood out as when returning to Tliyollal after defeating Zoraal Ja. Where you have to follow Lumat and Koana around as he is brought up to speed. My character was not needed at all, just an example of many I felt where the quest was completely pointless.

Also 7.5 million gil for a mount that doesn't even have a special soundtrack. And it doesn't even make a noise or anything, I feel jipped.

Overall will the issues above me cause me to stop playing, no. But it will bite into my love for the game and cause me to start skipping story quests just to get it out of the way so I can play aspects of the game that don't make me feel like a side character. Which hurts since the story was a high selling point of my time spent here.

As I said, just wanted to put my thoughts to words, so don't expect many to read let alone reply. But better to vent here then in-game when not everyone has seen the story and developed their own opinions on it yet.

Agree on the mixed feelings.
We were told that the dev team wanted to play other games (completely fine) but to be honest I would rather them to delay dawntrail for two months with argument they want to work on it, rather than two weeks because they want to play erderu ringo dee-err-cee.

new music? yes, BUT: things go bad? play ascian theme.
graphical update? yes, BUT: despite dozens of threads between and after both benchmark tools, some characters are still having visible texture issues.
new race? yes, BUT: rig issues.
new beautiful zone? yes, BUT: spoiler. can't go back.
and many such cases.

I would try to write list of examples but am not convinced anyone will bother. The development process already moved onto new patch so we can expect maybe some trial/raid related bug fixes and that's it.