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

[jameseoakes]

They could also do something like, if they just FOCUSED on the time between the timeloop and teh sundering.

One Idea i had was we could be able to intervene when venat starts turning into hydaelyn, like venat see's how the light aether is making her intolerent of others opinion, and how to someone under that, one option is superior even if it involves genocide and it horrifies her. maybe we get a trial to stop the transformation and help divert the sundering...

That's a way I think to rescue/please both venat fans and those who dislike the reasoning behind the sundering, wont help everyone but its a way to turn a shadow over ff14, to a slight shade or light shadow instead.

This doesn't really address the issue that the plot as currently given has pretty weak justication for her becoming Hydealyn in the first place as there seems to be limited reason for needing to stop Zodiark now and the whole sundering seems to be mostly about Venats extreme ideology

[Lucida3b]

This doesn't really address the issue that the plot as currently given has pretty weak justication for her becoming Hydealyn in the first place as there seems to be limited reason for needing to stop Zodiark now and the whole sundering seems to be mostly about Venats extreme ideology

Yeah, thats the issue isnt it, any suggestions for alternatives?

[jameseoakes]

Yeah, thats the issue isnt it, any suggestions for alternatives?

I don't really think they can fix it, with the true target of the sundering now being the the ancients themselves I don't think there is away to address it other than there current we don't want to deal with it approach. I don't think the writers wanted Venat to be a monster but then for almost no actual reason have her compleley exterminate her own people

[Lauront]

I was giving some thought to their desire to push this into a viable single player option (think what you will of that), and some thoughts cropped up in my mind as to what I think I'd need to see from them in terms of character (NPC) choice for this to work for me:

• Introduce breathing space for new characters - in terms of the total number of characters related to a specific scenario, only have say a certain proportion (say 1-2) of the characters be an established Scion in general, and where possible, allow for a choice of who, which fits with the scenario in question... I don't like these kind of quotas, but at the moment they're not giving nearly enough air time to newer chars, if any at all. They're all just side-characters, and it's a real pity, as some of the characters, like Erenville or Jullus, would make good companions... and this is meant to be a new story arc with the Scions 'retired'. Sure, they want to please existing fans, but to me this is stifling potential for new entrants. The ship has sailed for Scion deaths, but giving them a (long) break would be beneficial, especially if you come back to them later and they show growth. It'd also be good to try ensure to avoid making 1:1 replacements for the Scions, to avoid too much treading on toes. Maybe less of an issue where the Scion is genuinely being retired but still, it's a new character, so give them proper character building.
• Try aim for a variety of character backgrounds and perspectives - a Garlean or sundered Overlord companion, or someone like Fordola without their grit being eroded, would bring that. A sundered Overlord could at least pose an actual alternative viewpoint, bring in a less sanitised view of Venat/Hydaelyn and act in a role similar to Emet, in providing knowledge lost to the modern world - someone like Altima or Deudalaphon since we're a bit low on female characters who could join up outside the Scions. Gaia could've played this role but a bit late for that. Jullus could do something similar if we were to venture through former (?) Garlean provinces in Ilsabard, but so could Gaius. Jullus has some of that vim and vigour that Thancred used to have as a bonus.
• Make actual use of differing character perspectives and allow this to lead to occasional conflict - e.g. optionally allowing the WoL to pick a path and side with one or the other but in ways which don't alter the ultimate outcome... sometimes make it that following the advice of one or the other can have significant consequences where it concerns greater stakes as well, even if it isn't a matter of choice (other than in reactions.)
• Allow for characters with their own unique, and sometimes, opaque and personal agendas that don't necessarily align with "ours". I enjoyed characters like Edwin in Baldur's Gate 2. This game sorely lacks this sort of thing.

A personal desire of mine for a new addition, over and above what I already mentioned, would be for some kind of Auron-type auri male character, strong silent type with their own agenda to pursue, possibly linking to a future destination like Meracydia, since the Void looks like it'll be nearer-term material to me.

I think I'd just like anything to break the current monotony and hivemind the Scions have fallen into, as it's detrimental to my enjoyment of the story and the biggest gripe I had with 6.1, and why I am struggling to see myself enjoying this game going forward, even putting aside the huge dissatisfaction with 6.0's story plot - I was at least open to the new story in the hopes it'd improve things, but not so, at least so far. And as a contender for a single player? Sorry but there's many, many games which are built for that and therefore fulfil the role better. 14 would need to do a lot to compete. The only reason it can for me is it also has the MMO elements, but purely as a story, it's lacking in some of the aspects I'd look for in a single player RPG.