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

[Infindox]

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.

[Jirah]

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.

[Genz]

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.

[DatPotato]

I agree with the OP.

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

[Gula]

Don't agree I think the story was amazing.

Take my like because all this.

[Gula]

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

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

[Theodric]

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

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.

[kaynide]

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.

[Razard]

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.

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.

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.

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.

[Theodric]

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.

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'.