5.2 MSQ rant ***Spoilers***

[linay]

Seriously, I'm waiting to find out who our character, the WoL/D, REALLY is. Is it possible that ShB 5.0 end-story may have shown too much, too soon? As in the ancient standing in place of our character for that brief moment? Was Emet-Selch seeing things, or did that really happen?

I think it did happen as a result of our joining with Ardbert.

[Fawkes]

I'm glad we got to see it even if my immediate reaction to being asked to go find a broom was "and we're putting off dealing with Ruby Weapon for this?"

Aren't you the one putting it off, though? Ruby Weapon is a separate sidequest by then, and you can do it before going back to the First.

[PeppermintBrown]

"and we're putting off dealing with Ruby Weapon for this?"

That's 100% on you nothing stopping you from taking care of the ruby weapon side quest before returning to the First.

[Averax]

The only big thing that disappointed me with the story was the last part in the dungeon. I really thought we would see more of that building but one part was on Bismarks back, then another big part was outside and we barely even explored inside. And the information we got here also felt like it was not enough.

Honestly how much Yoshida teased us about it and how great the trailer was I kinda felt like: Thats all? Even the parts we found out about Elidibus were barely that much.

My issue was that the trailer oversold it. A lot of the story stuff they showed us in the trailer was from the tail end of the patch. I knew not to really expect much story development from a .2 patch, they save the heavy hitters for .3 patches, but i can't help but have expected more from the story.

The worst part was that they kind of gave it away that the Scions would be leaving the First in the next patch. After Eden, they say "Hey, we're leaving now, good luck" and it's way too early, but they have no choice but to say it now because the next wing of eden won't come until .4, when the story will be shifting over to the next expansion's arc.

[linay]

I actually went with Ruby Weapon first because it didn't make sense to put it off when I'm already in the Source.

My issue was that the trailer oversold it. A lot of the story stuff they showed us in the trailer was from the tail end of the patch. I knew not to really expect much story development from a .2 patch, they save the heavy hitters for .3 patches, but i can't help but have expected more from the story.

How did they oversell it when you'll get everything that is in the trailer?

[Averax]

I actually went with Ruby Weapon first because it didn't make sense to put it off when I'm already in the Source.

How did they oversell it when you'll get everything that is in the trailer?

Like i said, they oversold it by putting all the very late story bits in the trailer. Like, the stuff that has been left open for the next patch. Typically the stuff being put into the story trailer is the stuff that's going to be covered.

[Harmonea]

This is literally how I felt. And I get it...it's for the sake of "world building" and story progression. All I'm saying is that with the PC doesn't really need to be there for events like that.

I understand what you're saying, but I think you should try to trust the devs more. Not everything is going to have a payoff, but the thieves that some other NPCs took care of, for example? You notice by the end of the patch, the guards were already tired of seeing us meddling in their adventuring? One of them said "You again?" That's going to be important. If all goes according to Elidibus' plan, they're going to be turned against us shortly.

Let them tell the story. They know players don't like chores and filler detours, so if they've included one, it's generally either to give us character insight or closure, or it's to foreshadow something.

[linay]

Like i said, they oversold it by putting all the very late story bits in the trailer. Like, the stuff that has been left open for the next patch. Typically the stuff being put into the story trailer is the stuff that's going to be covered.

I'm not sure what you mean by covered. Do you mean you wanted the resolution to what was raised in the trailer? I kind of figured there wouldn't be any considering they consider this as part 1 of a 2-part conclusion.

[Valorak]

Meh, I thought this patch did a good job of starting to build up Elidibus and make us question who he really is and what his scheme is on the First. It's also nudging us closer to fully understanding the Echo and Hydaelyn. Plus the Ruby Weapon side-story was a cool way to continue fleshing out Garlemald/Gaius, as well as the continuation of Eden which doubles as development for Ryne and healing the First. Now that I think about, I'd say that this patch was pretty rich in story, tbh.

As for the overall pacing of the patch; I don't really want the story to try to recapture the climax of 5.0 in every patch. We would quickly run out of meaningful story lines and it would turn into some theme-park ride of cheap highs and lows that I wouldn't really care about as much. I personally enjoy the little reprieves and character interactions. Not all of them resonate with me entirely, but I usually do end up more attached to the characters and it makes it seem less like the story is just a constant series of world ending crises.

Regardless, I'm not gonna pretend that I know better than Ms. Ishikawa or any of the members of the MSQ team when it comes to writing and dividing up their story. They've done a great job so far and I'm not gonna second guess them.

[Stepjam]

.Totally agree with this. Some were even hyping it to be the "climax of the Zodiark storyline."

Its the setup for the conclusion of ShB. Lest we forget, 4.3 was a pretty big and dramatic patch, but 4.2 was mainly just following Asahi around Doma and getting ready for a prisoner exchange. It wasn't until .3 that everything actually went down.