What's the point with that quite lackluster story in Endwalker?

[Lauront]

I am so glad this thread is making me feel... sane? I resonate so very much with the viewpoints of KizuyaKatogami, Lauront and Rulakir. It's just incredibly comforting to know I'm not alone, especially when talking about a story I was so invested into for the last 5 years. For the past 2 months I feel like my mind has done nothing but incoherently rant about Endwalker, which often felt like screaming into the void. (I wonder how many of us who are vocally disappointed in EW are Ascian fans?)

I have been one since ARR, back when I thought they might go in a more Sith direction for them. I was even more engrossed by SHB when they introduced their ancient history. I've never really cared much for the protagonists in this game. I only really play because I enjoy the Ascians and Garleans, the latter of which I was hoping they'd eventually take in a more Archades-style direction.

Am of the same mind regarding Elidibus, that white-robed Ascian who was supposed to be different from the rest. Then he sort of just took over Lahabrea's role after the breadman died, and Emet-Selch seemed to usurp his role. I'd hoped we would use that power-of-friendship trope to reach out to this man who really was not much different from us, even if he was forced to do some pretty monstrous things in our pov. Why couldn't we weaken him, then use the stones to remind him of who he once was, and have him be an ally of sorts and we'd figure out a way to rejoin without Calamities? This isn't that kind of story, though, unfortunately. But hey, at least the funny cheeseburger earwiggle shinyeyes cat got not just one, but two Unsundered kills, and wasn't bothered at all at the idea of ending these ancient beyond our mortal comprehension lives even if it was a kill-or-be-killed situation.

Yeah, I was also hoping they'd do something in that direction with EW, especially since the shards don't really add much other stars couldn't IMO, and I'm not keen on leaving the Source split... until EW went and killed all the other stars we know of. :`)

[OhNooo]

I've never really cared much for the protagonists in this game. I only really play because I enjoy the Ascians and Garleans, the latter of which I was hoping they'd eventually take in a more Archades-style direction.

It’s like the devs made the other side seem more interesting and engaging to me. So then when I compared them to the company I was forced to travel with, the scions just felt either boring or annoying to me. But I wasn’t just annoyed at the scions…I was also annoyed and disappointed with myself as the WoL/WoD. I just go along with whatever they want me to do and hardly seem to ever question anything. When I *do* question or comment on something I then just shrug it off and keep doing what I’m good at doing which is being a weapon for the protagonist side.

So now the game has taken this group of people (the ascians) that I want to keep learning more about and literally does everything they can to have me kill every last one of them while constantly trying to enforce the message that I had no choice. Then they pretty much hand hold me through the expansion like “this is the message of the expansion. See this person was right all along and you’re on the right side and don’t forget life is meaningless but make sure to have hope and live anyway. Ok let’s wrap up this ascian and hydaelyn/zodiark stuff. Uh and…let’s throw Zenos in for a final fight.”

Yeah no thanks lol