Final Fantasy XIV doesn't actually have that good of a story

[WanderingMist]

It's funny you talk about how "normal people" speak when referring to the writing in this game. I don't know where you are from but I have never heard anyone say things like " 'Tis no ordinary woman who can face a primal and emerge the victor! " and "Mayhap a brief summary of the situation would help clarify your thoughts on the matter" or how about "And all not afield will aid the fight from afar"

The writing is used to make the events and things said seem more sophisticated and grand. Here, I can do it too if you really like:

"Please go to the store to get some milk"
can be turned into:
"If you are so willing, go henceforth to the store and procure me some milk"

Both say the exact same thing. Which one was easier to read and understand? Which one sounds more like how people actually speak? You think that just because a character uses long words that it is more adult?

As for the characters, if they are so memorable, give me some defining character traits of say, Minfillia or Yshtola or Alphinaud. For all the time we have "interacted" with them, we know hardly anything about them. I know more about Sylvie from the Conjurer storyline than any of the Scions, despite having done a fraction of the quests with her.

[WanderingMist]

Just as a little exercise, let's compare what we know about Minfillia at the end of the base ARR storyline with Sylvie from the Conjurer storyline.

Minfillia
Backstory? Some vague hints about meeting Louisoix Leveilleur after the calamity (which is never really explained well during the storyline)
Character traits? She wants to stop the primals and loyally protects the other Scions
Character development? NADA

Sylvie
Backstory? Mother was a Conjurer who died healing others, using her own lifeforce instead of borrowing from the elements.
Character traits? Stubborn in her ways initially refusing to use the elements. Very sure in her healing abilities and dedicated to helping and healing others. Wants to live up to her mother's memory and be just like her.
Character development? Starts off using her own lifeforce to heal just like her mother did, thinking that borrowing from the elements was wrong and hurting the world. Eventually learns to listen to the elements and then use them to help the player character in need, and vows to study the use of the elements more and become a true Conjurer.

See the difference? One is a character that you can relate to and have meaningful interactions with. The other is just an exposition dump with no personality or defining traits, and is only there to tell the player what to do and where to go.

[Herebedragons]

It's funny you talk about how "normal people" speak when referring to the writing in this game. I don't know where you are from but I have never heard anyone say things like " 'Tis no ordinary woman who can face a primal and emerge the victor! " and "Mayhap a brief summary of the situation would help clarify your thoughts on the matter" or how about "And all not afield will aid the fight from afar"

The writing is used to make the events and things said seem more sophisticated and grand. Here, I can do it too if you really like:

"Please go to the store to get some milk"
can be turned into:
"If you are so willing, go henceforth to the store and procure me some milk"

Both say the exact same thing. Which one was easier to read and understand? Which one sounds more like how people actually speak? You think that just because a character uses long words that it is more adult?

As for the characters, if they are so memorable, give me some defining character traits of say, Minfillia or Yshtola or Alphinaud. For all the time we have "interacted" with them, we know hardly anything about them. I know more about Sylvie from the Conjurer storyline than any of the Scions, despite having done a fraction of the quests with her.

I'm not sure why people are so hung up on the way some characters speak. The use of colloquial, common or elevated speech in itself tells you something about a character. For example, let's compare Arenvald and Urianger. The former is an orphan who never received an education and resorted to petty crimes to survive, the latter is a Sharlayan Archon who was taught by Louisoix himself. Their speech patterns reflect that. It's not about being easy to understand, it's about character and world building.

As for characters being memorable, there's a part of subjective in that too. For some people it sticks, for others it doesn't. I agree with you about Minfilia, but not Y'shtola and Alphinaud. Someone else will think differently still.

Also, do keep in mind that the MSQ isn't the only content that gives information on the background of major characters: the SMN job quests, the ALC job quests, off the top of my head.

[SpanishInkwehsitor]

I had a guy say that Heavensward and Stormblood’s story was better than FF6 and 7 COMBINED.

Having sat through them all I can say is *WHEEZE*

[Wavaryen]

I had a guy say that Heavensward and Stormblood’s story was better than FF6 and 7 COMBINED.

Having sat through them all I can say is *WHEEZE*

I agree with that. FF6 and 7 story was boring.

[SpanishInkwehsitor]

I agree with that. FF6 and 7 story was boring.

I’ll admit, those games are lacking in the cat girls.

[Wavaryen]

I’ll admit, those games are lacking in the cat girls.

I thought final fantasy 7 story was over hyped myself 6 was ok..but compare to xenogears and chrono trigger, heck even breath of fire games. I don't know I just felt other rpgs was better.

[WanderingMist]

I'm not sure why people are so hung up on the way some characters speak. The use of colloquial, common or elevated speech in itself tells you something about a character. For example, let's compare Arenvald and Urianger. The former is an orphan who never received an education and resorted to petty crimes to survive, the latter is a Sharlayan Archon who was taught by Louisoix himself. Their speech patterns reflect that. It's not about being easy to understand, it's about character and world building.

As for characters being memorable, there's a part of subjective in that too. For some people it sticks, for others it doesn't. I agree with you about Minfilia, but not Y'shtola and Alphinaud. Someone else will think differently still.

Also, do keep in mind that the MSQ isn't the only content that gives information on the background of major characters: the SMN job quests, the ALC job quests, off the top of my head.

"It's not about being easy to understand" - I'm sorry, but when you're being asked to spend the majority of your playtime reading text dialogue, yes is it about being easy to understand. Maybe I'm just stupid but to me, the writing is so pretentious and long-winded that I spend more time deciphering it than I do actually connecting with the characters.

You say Alphinaud and Y'shtola are memorable? Alright then, let's do the same thing we did with Minfillia.

Alphinaud
Backstory? Has a sister named Alisaie and is the grandchild of Louisoix Leveilleur (again, Louisoix is never explained in the MSQ so unless you played ffxiv when it first came out, you don't know who this is).
Character traits? Wants to stop the primals
Character development? NADA

Y'shtola
Backstory? NADA
Character traits? Wants to stop the primals and loyally protects the other Scions
Character development? NADA

You may remember these characters more than others but that is only because you see their names more often during the story. But what do you actually KNOW about them? NADA

[SpanishInkwehsitor]

I thought final fantasy 7 story was over hyped myself 6 was ok..but compare to xenogears and chrono trigger, heck even breath of fire games. I don't know I just felt other rpgs was better.

No there’s definitely better stories than 7. It by no means hits a high-water mark. Failing to even hit that, though?

Alphinaud
Backstory? Has a sister named Alisaie and is the grandchild of Louisoix Leveilleur (again, Louisoix is never explained in the MSQ so unless you played ffxiv when it first came out, you don't know who this is).
Character traits? Wants to stop the primals
Character development? NADA

Y'shtola
Backstory? NADA
Character traits? Wants to stop the primals and loyally protects the other Scions
Character development? NADA

You may remember these characters more than others but that is only because you see their names more often during the story. But what do you actually KNOW about them? NADA

Alf had that “I lived a cushy life while people suffered and I did nothing” kind of development going on in ShB.

Y’sh had a mom at one point and it never came up again. I truly feel she exists on horny alone.

[Herebedragons]

"It's not about being easy to understand" - I'm sorry, but when you're being asked to spend the majority of your playtime reading text dialogue, yes is it about being easy to understand. Maybe I'm just stupid but to me, the writing is so pretentious and long-winded that I spend more time deciphering it than I do actually connecting with the characters.

You say Alphinaud and Y'shtola are memorable? Alright then, let's do the same thing we did with Minfillia.

Alphinaud
Backstory? Has a sister named Alisaie and is the grandchild of Louisoix Leveilleur (again, Louisoix is never explained in the MSQ so unless you played ffxiv when it first came out, you don't know who this is).
Character traits? Wants to stop the primals
Character development? NADA

Y'shtola
Backstory? NADA
Character traits? Wants to stop the primals and loyally protects the other Scions
Character development? NADA

You may remember these characters more than others but that is only because you see their names more often during the story. But what do you actually KNOW about them? NADA

I'm not part of the localization team. You don't like the style they went with? Well, tough luck I suppose. All I'm saying is, this fancy talk isn't just to spite the readers. And I provided a plausible explanation, nothing more, nothing less.

If that's all you know about Alphinaud and Y'shtola, you're either way overleveled or you stopped paying attention at some point.