Endwalker was "meh" (for reasons other than technical issues)

[Bright-Flower]

Yes, the heart of the main deity primal that’s been around for 8+ years had 2 patches(and he wasn’t even around much to talk in 5.2) to shine. Vs the entire expansion Emet got, and the multiple expansion visits to Hydaelyn and Venat’s entire Elpis arc. My point is we got to have our own time with both Hydaelyn and Venat at separate times, yet we didn’t get that with Zodiark whatsoever. I think there’s a lot more we could learn about both tbh. Who was it that Elidibus swore a promise to? Who or how did they originally develop Zodiark and get the idea for him. Why were there already statues of him created before he had even been conceived. There’s lot of questions they could’ve gone into and answered. Not to mention the 5-6 remaining sundered ascians still around we could’ve gotten insight on that will probably just be thrown into pandaemonium and killed off.

The Elidibus stuff will probably be in the Pandaemonium raid. The npc we see in the stinger cutscene for it has his voice, and Elidibus remembered seeing us in Elpis despite not showing up for the msq. On top of that, Elidibus was not introduced in 5.2. We've seen glimpses from him all throughout the game, he first showed in what, 2.1 I think? He didn't just suddenly show up in SHB's patches. And there is still room to explore him further via the Pandaemonium quests in which it's likely he'll be one of the main NPCs involved.

I doubt that the other ascians will be killed off in the pandaemonium raid. It takes place in Elpis in the past, them even getting there wouldn't make sense let alone all being killed off.

How they developed Zodiark feels like a question we don't really need more answers on. They used creation magic and half the population's souls to make him, going into some details of how they did that off with magical technobable wouldn't really add anything. We know why they did it, we know the lengths they went to do it. I don't feel like there was much more to get out of his summoning.

[KizuyaKatogami]

The Elidibus stuff will probably be in the Pandaemonium raid. The npc we see in the stinger cutscene for it has his voice, and Elidibus remembered seeing us in Elpis despite not showing up for the msq. On top of that, Elidibus was not introduced in 5.2. We've seen glimpses from him all throughout the game, he first showed in what, 2.1 I think? He didn't just suddenly show up in SHB's patches. And there is still room to explore him further via the Pandaemonium quests in which it's likely he'll be one of the main NPCs involved.

I doubt that the other ascians will be killed off in the pandaemonium raid. It takes place in Elpis in the past, them even getting there wouldn't make sense let alone all being killed off.

How they developed Zodiark feels like a question we don't really need more answers on. They used creation magic and half the population's souls to make him, going into some details of how they did that off with magical technobable wouldn't really add anything. We know why they did it, we know the lengths they went to do it. I don't feel like there was much more to get out of his summoning.

I mean we know the raids will feature lahabrea somehow, so there’s clearly something more going on than just the past of Elpis. Especially considering how similar Lahabrea’s glyph is to the murals of both hydaelyn and zodiark. How they developed him would be kind of important considering that’s literally what this entire arc has revolved around? If we have to be fed info on the scions histories etc i don’t think being fed info on the deities that this entire arc has revolved around is any more far fetched. Yes we’ve seen glimpses of Elidibus but he wasn’t given actual main screentime until really 5.3. Beyond that it was mainly background scenes. As for the ascians being in pandaemonium, it depends on the story they go with, but things have never made sense with 14’s story recently.

[Evos]

I think the world building of the game is good. However, probably due to the que times issues and only being able to play comfortably at weird hours; but I'm in such a hurry at times (now more so than any other time). I don't skip at all and I really wanted to at times.

Actually my progress in the story is wayy behind where it usually is at an expansion, so yes, some parts are nice but after the 5th time (in a span of 2mins) its like "I was just over there" I don't have flying bruh lol.

If they space the 'accompany this character mech' out further, I would not mind it. I think it's a nice touch but since it's the new "hey players look at the evolution of story telling in the game" they overstressed its implementation a bit.

I will also say some climax moments did fall flat for me. The body swap, which was a really nice way to shift story gameplay and integrate writing plots; had me filled with anticipation. But....as I'm thinking omg this is crazy ...zeno's has finally made his move (especially as a reaper) to push the wol to the edge, only for nothing.

Overall I am enjoying the lore exhibitions because this story is 10+ plus years and I expected the density. They had alot of questions and plot points to fill out.

But man, is it me or did the 1st dungeon take forever to unlock. I felt like the lack of prolonged battle content with new abilities etc. was making the story progression drag lol. Especially when there was very little action or intensity. Still I like the story so far.

[Lauront]

They do contradict lore though. In the past the devs themselves stated lb’s were aether based, it even says it in the EE. Now they’re apparently dynamis? It’s just a way for them to hand wave plot armor and plot devices lol

TBF, I think it may mean they're able to explain LBs using either/or. The sources I posted on that were merely to contest the notion that a LB must be fuelled by dynamis and dispel the notion that there was no existing lore on them.

On Zodiark, I still would not be surprised if we get a better realised fight of him in Pandaemonium. He is something that can be realised from a concept, after all, and Elpis is from a time rich in aether.

[Bright-Flower]

I mean we know the raids will feature lahabrea somehow, so there’s clearly something more going on than just the past of Elpis. Especially considering how similar Lahabrea’s glyph is to the murals of both hydaelyn and zodiark. How they developed him would be kind of important considering that’s literally what this entire arc has revolved around? If we have to be fed info on the scions histories etc i don’t think being fed info on the deities that this entire arc has revolved around is any more far fetched. Yes we’ve seen glimpses of Elidibus but he wasn’t given actual main screentime until really 5.3. Beyond that it was mainly background scenes. As for the ascians being in pandaemonium, it depends on the story they go with, but things have never made sense with 14’s story recently.

We know it will feature Lahabreah in 'some' way but given that it's in Elpis, it could simply be past lahabrea being involved. We'll find out more tomorrow. It may well not have anything to do with the surviving ascians or modern day lahabreah at all, but it will almost certainly include Elidibus as the npc is probably him given the voice and the hair resembling the WOL hair.

As for Zodiark, we know who summoned him, why they were driven to summon him, what they gave up to summon him, the motivations of his followers, and that of his heart who without Zodiark has no inherent will. I feel like all the important answers are filled in at this point. Seeing more of Zodiark would just be for the sake of having more Zodiark rather than needing to learn anything new about him IMO.

Edit: On the LB thing it may also be a minor retcon, the EE books are written in universe and can have incorrect information as well. OOC of course the writers likely hadn't envisioned dyanmis as a concept yet, in universe it could be that the limit break lore was built on faulty assumptions because knowledge of dyanamis was rare and vague in general leading to assumptions about aether.

[Lauront]

They may not have envisioned it at the time and it may amount to a retcon, but given that aether is something observable and measurable in the setting, no less by the Sharlayans who are the sort who like to study things rigorously, I think the easier route would be to say either could serve as LB fuel. We shall see.

[Kuroka]

Absolutely agree on Ultima Thule and Omega. It was obvious from the outset. The same is true of the Moon and Y'shtola revealing the rabbits benefactor is the forum. Obviously the devs know we can figure it out so if there needs to be a moment of 'revelation' at least let us bring it up since we've been aching to point it out since getting to those zones.

There were multiple instances where i really felt insulted for being made this dumb...

[KizuyaKatogami]

They may not have envisioned it at the time and it may amount to a retcon, but given that aether is something observable and measurable in the setting, no less by the Sharlayans who are the sort who like to study things rigorously, I think the easier route would be to say either could serve as LB fuel. We shall see.

This is the point i was making yeah. They make it seem like it’s purely Dynamis but everything we know contradicts that so i guess we’ll see what the devs officially say if they even address it.

[Endariel]

Average expansion (be it story or job changes) with average vilain. Her motivation was interesting (or to be more precise her phrase "the true bliss is not to die, but never to be born") but she lacks charisma of Zenos and Emet-Selch. Then again, that's what you get for a surprise vilain development for only 3 levels.
Everything up until elpis could be cut and we would lose nothing.
But the brofight against Vegeta at the end saved it to be put below SB

[Nafreyu]

Having finished it last night, I absolutely loved the expansion.

Being end of days, of course it's going to be gloom and doom, with lots of death. How else could it be anything but?

I do agree that Garlemald was both disappointing as a zone, and as a story arc, and I felt in some parts the back to back clips were too much.