[Possible MSQ-Spoilers] Concerning the boring story: What If ...?

Ok, so ... the story got a lot of complaints already, and no matter how much you like FF14, the writing this time is just bad. I'm perfectly aware that this is supposed to be the start for a new adventure, but come on - my cute little Miquo'te already has a stronger neck than any Mamool Ja from all that nodding while all my weapons are rusty because I never needed them for the most part of the MSQ. Seeing the story in its current state, I have to say that the writers had a chance to make this expansion really epic. What if ...

• What if we did not go to the new continent with Jar Jar Lamat but with Krile and Estinien to find out about her origins? So much more possibilities to give our hero something to do.
• What if while the Scions support the Wukie, we explore on our own, which could have given the writers the chance to put come challenges in?
• What if some factions plot against Wuk and/or Koana, we find out and help out (temporarily joining forces with the other scions)?
• What if the golden city was a REAL PLACE instead of a portal to another reflection, and the portal/the reflection a plot point for the endboss?
• What if during our exploration we had to fight Bakool Ja Ja and/or Zarool Ja, maybe in trials? While preventing harm to the Wukie crew?
• What if the endboss was, I don't know, Steroid-infused Zarool-Ja instead of a little girl-queenie-terminator-AI. I honestly believe this could have been an awesome story without traveling to another reflection (or "fusing" reflections, which I personally considered stupid).

Questions over questions ... ah, well, but I'm not a writer, what do I know. I just believe, even as a "holiday-season-expansion" this should have been more exciting, given the fact that they probably work on this storyline since Endwalker was finished ...

Definitely agree that I rarely pulled out my weapons for this one though - seemed like almost just every few hours when there might be 1 easy mob to kill, or for a dungeon/trial.

I personally enjoyed the story though, a lot of build up to some revelations about Krile and the reflections and some epic reveal moments like with steroid-infused Zoraal Ja or digivolved Sphene xD, and I liked doing this while exploring the new areas and getting a sort of relaxed, levitous experience. I liked being one of the group rather than protagonist again. Lots of potential plot points opened up too.
I did think the cowboy area was kinda... force in to buffer though. That was a drain to get through but maybe only cus I don't like the aesthetic - it was a nice change of pace after the rite of succession build up.
I'm happy overall.

My two sense no one will care about.

It was a weak MSQ unfortunately. While many didn't seem to like it, the pacing during the trials felt ok to me. That said, I did feel like the contest dragged out far too long. Post coronation I expected a change in pace and tone in the game, that however is where the xpac story started to fail hard for me. Shaaloani felt like more of the same structure, which by then I was very exhausted by. Heritage Found made little sense as to why we were not being actively pursed by the enemy, and I really didn't need yet another zone where I'm "trying to understand the local population and the customs". I understand the devs tried to make me care about Sphene, but that never happened. Just like EW the final villain is shoe horned into the near end of the game with little real opportunity to adequately develop the character.

This is the first xpac where I started skipping MSQ cutscenes because I was just done with the narrative.


Things I liked: Gulool Ja - just adborable
The scene where Erenville and his mother say goodbye - I cried

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ocridion

Definitely agree that I rarely pulled out my weapons for this one though - seemed like almost just every few hours when there might be 1 easy mob to kill, or for a dungeon/trial.

I personally enjoyed the story though, a lot of build up to some revelations about Krile and the reflections and some epic reveal moments like with steroid-infused Zoraal Ja or digivolved Sphene xD, and I liked doing this while exploring the new areas and getting a sort of relaxed, levitous experience. I liked being one of the group rather than protagonist again. Lots of potential plot points opened up too.
I did think the cowboy area was kinda... force in to buffer though. That was a drain to get through but maybe only cus I don't like the aesthetic - it was a nice change of pace after the rite of succession build up.
I'm happy overall.

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You thought the cowboy part was a drain? Like did Wuk Lamat kidnap you and force you into a brain washing program or something?

This expansion is honestly bad from a story standpoint. The WoL has no agency, not only that, almost every character in the plot not named Wuk Lamat has no agency. Alisae is with you 100% of the time for 4 out of 6 zones and is basically a total non participant in the story until the last zone she appears in. Alphinaud is barely any better. Krile is with you for 5 out of 6 zones but is nothing but a plot maguffin carrying bag until the final zone of the expansion. Erenville is the ONLY character who is with you the entire expansion yet somehow gets fewer lines for the whole story than Wuk Lamat does by the end of zone 2.

I think fanfiction for the most part is irredeemable crap. At least 25% of FF14 fan fiction I have read is better than the plot of this expansion. Again the problem is not "this story is not about the WoL". The problem is "the WoL serves no point in this plot and could be removed with no impact". These kinds of story lines are why I quit WoW, not even kidding. I got tired of my character being totally irrelevant.

What doesn't sit right with me for the first half was the fact it was meant to be a new adventure for us, but in reality it was just us being dragged along by Wuk Lamat. Instead, if it had been framed as, we are here, before you decide if you want to help in the rite of succession, take your time and learn about our lands and peoples and left us to it. This way, it is us, the player learning about the different cultures ourselves rather than being a third wheel to Wuk Lamat learning about them.

Which brings up a point that bugged me for ages. How is it that Wuk Lamat wants peace for Tural, but it seems like she has barely set 2 feet outside of Tuliyollal. The only reference, from what I remember, of her stepping outside of Tuliyollal is for the Hanu Hanu festival. She is over 20 years old, surely she would have explored more or at least Gulool Ja Ja would have taught her about these things, along with his other kids.

Alternative tory, we get to Tuliyollal, there is still some time before the Rite of Succession starts, go and explore Tural. Alphinaud hears of the Pelu Pelu, honest merchants and decides he wants to learn more about trade. We tag along, get involved ourselves and see Alphinaud grow as a person. Then, you have Alisaie take us to the Hanu Hanu. They are downtrodden after the storm, but we hear of the festival, Alisaie wants to get it back up and running as it would lift the people's spirits and so we help her.

Once we have done the 2 starting zones, Gulool Ja Ja can call us and can comment how well you seemed to have fitted in and tanks you for helping his people, which leads into, 'a little bird has told me you are a good fighter, I want to test this so called strength, how about a spar?'

Already, we are more involved in the story and our deeds are being recognised, just like they were at the beginning of ARR. We are just a (really strong) adventurer, learning about the world via our good deeds, not via the eyes of someone else.