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

[Vahlnir]

I'd have liked to see them push something so bad it required collaboration between the remaining Ascians (and yes, including Emet's ghost because we know they wanted to draw on that) and the protagonists as well as both primals. That to me would be a very compelling narrative arc, especially with all we learnt in SHB, and particularly if they threaded together the fate of the ancient world, the Dragonstar, the Omicrons' world etc. without the very bizarre approach they resorted to in EW, with entire stars written off with a few lines in a report. I'd probably dispense with Meteion altogether because I'd much rather see some manner of otherworldly life form like the High Seraph be the cause behind this all.

I think they plan to expand on some of that with the Omega: Beyond the Rift quests that are coming at some point, but yeah, the damage (or a complete lack of any substantial context in some cases) is already done.

[IkaraGreydancer]

But there’s a lot of objective writing failures that are either plot contradictions,plot holes, or just overall forgetful writing. Those don’t make sense, people can headcanon in ways so that it does make sense like for example you mentioned earlier with the ancients and the plenty, but in the expansion that was supposed to be tying up all these loose ends, we’re left with far more questions than answers. It’s pretty bad when they had to answer a lot of very important questions that have been around since ARR in an out of game QnA….and did so pretty half assedly.

There was no way it was gonna tie up every loose end with a story this vast. Anyone thinking it would were being very wishful. I'll be the first to say the story itself doesn't give you every little bit n piece. Sometimes you need to read between the lines.

End of the day some folks love EWs story. Some folks don't. Headcanon or not some make more sense out of the story than others. I personally wouldn't crap on folks who find EWs story and by large XIVs story to be perfect. Same as I'm not gonna crap on folks who opt to look for every little off detail. All I can say for those folks is I hope the story gets better for you

[Rulakir]

WOL fawning has literally existed from the start of the game.

Eh, I'd disagree. All throughout ARR the WoL is treated as a useful idiot. Minfilia and Alphinaud both essentially refer to you as an arrow in their quiver. The WoL's accomplishments may have resulted in elevating the status of the Scions by leaps and bounds, but it's still the Scions who receive the bulk of the notoriety. Even during the 'bloody banquet' despite all you've done for the realm everybody nopes out of assisting the WoL in their hour of need. Then in Ishgard we essentially have to prove our worthiness to be there while being a refugee accused of regicide (which everyone knows is false) in all the other city-states. Haurchefant and Aymeric are the first two characters who are specifically interested in you rather than the Scions as a whole.

Throughout 3.0 the focus is more on the trio of Ysayle, Estinien, and Alphinaud. At this point, the WoL doesn't stand out as Estinien is arguably more accomplished as the Azure Dragoon and Ysayle not only also has the Echo but can transform into a primal as well. It's not really until the end of 3.3 the WoL becomes the "Savior of Ishgard" and beloved by everyone in the city. I think until the end of 3.0 you have the kid in the Brume throwing snowballs at you and get the side eye from most of the city folk.

SB, on the other hand, wow, did the WoL get elevated to war mascot but quick with the resistances you're helping outright telling you they need you to ride on the front line to inspire the others. Both Doma and Ala Mhigo are essentially helpless without you and they don't mince words about it either.

No, i’m upset because the characters go from the last patch of the prior expansion questioning hydaelyn and then all of the sudden the character that was most sus about her let’s her take over her body… The bias again, is obvious.

My headcanon is always going to be Hydaelyn tempers. EW makes a lot more sense in that context.

[Ayuhra]

There was no way it was gonna tie up every loose end with a story this vast. Anyone thinking it would were being very wishful. I'll be the first to say the story itself doesn't give you every little bit n piece. Sometimes you need to read between the lines.

End of the day some folks love EWs story. Some folks don't. Headcanon or not some make more sense out of the story than others. I personally wouldn't crap on folks who find EWs story and by large XIVs story to be perfect. Same as I'm not gonna crap on folks who opt to look for every little off detail. All I can say for those folks is I hope the story gets better for you

I liked Endwalker but I kinda wish it had gone in the direction of this being the Garlemald expansion and next expansion being the Final Days and dealing with them. Everything happened so fast that the emotional beats never had the chance to land with me.

Now two expansions of the story, where one ended in Anima with the post MSQ ending on the moon and the next started up with the world in flames would mean a whole lot of Fandaniel and Zenos which probably would upset people.... Fandaniel is my favorite character in the game but I know most people dislike him and his archetype.

[Theodric]

I do hope a solid bone is thrown in the direction of Garlean fans. We're supposedly getting some more Garlean themed glamour but if the Garleans are being shuffled off towards the moon then it'd be cool if we helped build a futuristic city there...

I'd also really like to see more of Jullus.

[IkaraGreydancer]

I liked Endwalker but I kinda wish it had gone in the direction of this being the Garlemald expansion and next expansion being the Final Days and dealing with them. Everything happened so fast that the emotional beats never had the chance to land with me.

Now two expansions of the story, where one ended in Anima with the post MSQ ending on the moon and the next started up with the world in flames would mean a whole lot of Fandaniel and Zenos which probably would upset people.... Fandaniel is my favorite character in the game but I know most people dislike him and his archetype.

I could see that working. Though idk if I'd be a fan of dragging the story out. People already say EW dragged to long. To me Garl was just right BUT I wouldn't be against it being a tad longer. I'd say if things were different we wouldn't get what we got from one of my now favorite characters in Quintus.
It's kinda double edge. I like what we got quite a bit and it could've been better with split expac but it also could've been way worse.

Idk how to quote more than one post but yeah Theodric I'd be all for helping them build a city there. Doman Enclave esk but more involved like Ishgard. Also yes more Jullus plz

[AziraSyuren]

A Garlemald expansion would've dragged on even worse than early Shadowbringers or all of Stormblood did. They simply (messily, mind) resolved too many plot threads pertaining to it in ShB. There was very little left and it's only in retrospect of EW that people can tell themselves otherwise.

If there was a time to do a Garlemald expansion, it was 5.0. Not 6.0.

[KizuyaKatogami]

A Garlemald expansion would've dragged on even worse than early Shadowbringers or all of Stormblood did. They simply (messily, mind) resolved too many plot threads pertaining to it in ShB. There was very little left and it's only in retrospect of EW that people can tell themselves otherwise.

If there was a time to do a Garlemald expansion, it was 5.0. Not 6.0.

They had a lot they could’ve drew upon though. Nerva, 2nd legion, Anima, etc. They literally just killed the entire second legion off screen and also killed Nerva off screen. Two things built up throughout the entirety of ShB gone in a flash. Sorry but that’s horrible writing and i fail to see how an extra expansion giving actual depth and closure to these things would’ve been worse than what we got with Endwalker. A horribly paced expansion that despite supposedly tying up past plot points instead left us with more questions than answers to the point it was so bad the devs had to answer huge lore points in an out of game QnA. I’m pretty sure EW was rock bottom and anything else would be better.

[KageTokage]

I'd like to hope they still have a story to tell in Ilsabard given that the map remains almost completely covered after all this time.

There's only been much said about the provinces on the fringes of the continent like Werlyt, Bozja, and Corvos whilst happenings in the rest of the region are largely unknown.

[IkaraGreydancer]

They had a lot they could’ve drew upon though. Nerva, 2nd legion, Anima, etc. They literally just killed the entire second legion off screen and also killed Nerva off screen. Two things built up throughout the entirety of ShB gone in a flash. Sorry but that’s horrible writing and i fail to see how an extra expansion giving actual depth and closure to these things would’ve been worse than what we got with Endwalker. A horribly paced expansion that despite supposedly tying up past plot points instead left us with more questions than answers to the point it was so bad the devs had to answer huge lore points in an out of game QnA. I’m pretty sure EW was rock bottom and anything else would be better.

Thats terrible writing to you. To me it shows there's more going on in the world and the center focus isn't always just me the player. Gives the world more life to it. But thats also down to viewpoints. And It's really odd to see people throwing around the QnA thing like it's a solid gold point. Not everyone needed that QnA. But again it's the same deal as always, "EW is the worst". It just has to be said 124 times in 54 different ways. On the flip side I don't see the same folks who praise EW, praising EW calling it the best each and everyday.