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

[tokinokanatae]

I think we're going around in circles, but there is one last thing I would say. I'd be wary of assuming your own taste is the taste of all players or that it's a purely rational "fact." More than one person in the topic has said they like the variety of locations that FFXIV explores and would be open to more. Assuming nothing fantastical could come out of locations like Africa or Australia is a failure of your own imagination, not the imagination of other players or--potentially--the devs.

[aveyond-dreams]

I think we're going around in circles, but there is one last thing I would say. I'd be wary of assuming your own taste is the taste of all players or that it's a purely rational "fact." More than one person in the topic has said they like the variety of locations that FFXIV explores and would be open to more. Assuming nothing fantastical could come out of locations like Africa or Australia is a failure of your own imagination, not the imagination of other players or--potentially--the devs.

Well when we get an Australia themed fantasy world that sells as good as Elden Ring's world did, please do let me know.

[Brinne]

It seems a little odd to point to "what is popular" and "what sells" as indicating what decisions the devs should make, in a discussion thread revolving around criticism of Endwalker, a wildly successful and popular expansion by all metrics. And often specifically criticizing the character of Venat, who is also incredibly popular and well-loved. Meanwhile, we've also been discussing why the Ancients in Shadowbringers were so narratively successful - by going against the grain of established tropes. So I'd like to think most of the thread can agree that more than "target audience" and "what sells" should be in consideration when making storytelling and setting choices.