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

[Theodric]

I had a longer post typed up but decided against posting it. Today was bad, I feel more isolated and belittled than I already was when it comes to this game's future and direction. This isn't my game or my story anymore. It's theirs.

It's unfortunate but the recent Live Letter simply made it clear that this isn't actually a story driven game any longer. It just pretends to be one. Anyone invested in the story is punished for paying attention and even more so if they dare to want depth rather than lazy 'hApPy EnDiNgS' that mysteriously clad the protagonists in plot armour, give them everything they want and force the antagonists to lose absolutely everything they care about - including their ideals. Even the antagonists that stick around - such as Fordola and Gaius - are forced to admit that they were 'wrong' in a way that punishes them disproportionately.

I've already got one foot out of the door. The shift towards slice of life and 'comedy' already annoyed me but now the relic weapons are being tired to something that I loathe and find to be beyond childish. I'm going to be using Elder Scrolls Online as a stepping stone until Ashes of Creation comes out. This is no longer the game I fell in love with and it isn't going back to where I want it to be. Players who actually liked the setting for what it originally was have, unfortunately, been thrown under the bus.

I agree with Rulakir's suggestion, though - you're certainly not alone in your thoughts.

[Katoar]

until Ashes of Creation comes out.

I actually can't wait for it to release. I played in Alpha and healers lvl10 there were better designed than in FFXIV.

[GrizzlyTank]

I've already got one foot out of the door. The shift towards slice of life and 'comedy' already annoyed me but now the relic weapons are being tired to something that I loathe and find to be beyond childish.

O horror! O harrow!
O tyranny! O, humour in a game!

... The irony of such statements. Often coming from those who end up acting exceedingly childish themselves. Who do you think it is that writes this "childish" comedy?

Adults. Adults who wants to create. Adults who want to bring joy to others. Adults working to enjoy the world to the fullest and not restrict themselves with childish attitudes towards anything not deemed "mature".

[ReynTime]

O horror! O harrow!
O tyranny! O, humour in a game!

... The irony of such statements. Often coming from those who end up acting exceedingly childish themselves. Who do you think it is that writes this "childish" comedy?

Adults. Adults who wants to create. Adults who want to bring joy to others. Adults working to enjoy the world to the fullest and not restrict themselves with childish attitudes towards anything not deemed "mature".

There is such a thing as "too much".

Obviously I love hildibrand's quests but I agree with comments that XIV's writing got worse when they started leaking hildibrand style comedy into the MSQ so often.

Endwalker often downplayed it's doom atmosphere drastically willy nilly too. Every story has its breathers but they handled it extremely poorly paced here, with and without the humor.

[CrownySuccubus]

There is such a thing as "too much".

Obviously I love hildibrand's quests but I agree with comments that XIV's writing got worse when they started leaking hildibrand style comedy into the MSQ so often.

Endwalker often downplayed it's doom atmosphere drastically willy nilly too. Every story has its breathers but they handled it extremely poorly paced here, with and without the humor.

I don't even disagree with the argument that the comedy in Endwalker was mostly a "miss" for me. But, to be honest, the VAST majority of comedy in FFXIV is a miss for me. I can easily point to the 4.0 WAR quests as an example where I just did not care and never even cracked a smile.

But the "slice of life" arguments are hyperbolic, from where I sit. For the most part, these were not segments where we help Krile ask out the cute boy in English class or help Estinien try out for the basketball team. Even The-Scene-Which-Shall-Not-Be-Named and the dreaded Estinien night scene are either commentary on the events of the story, or (particularly in the latter case) the characters trying to psych themselves (and the WOL) for whatever dangers are about to come. Do I think these scenes were 100% necessary and added integral depth and intrigue into the plot? No. But where I stand, they also aren't "abject proof that SE has lost its way", either.

[Theodric]

O horror! O harrow!
O tyranny! O, humour in a game!

... The irony of such statements. Often coming from those who end up acting exceedingly childish themselves. Who do you think it is that writes this "childish" comedy?

Adults. Adults who wants to create. Adults who want to bring joy to others. Adults working to enjoy the world to the fullest and not restrict themselves with childish attitudes towards anything not deemed "mature".

You seem to be leaping to some rather bizarre conclusions! I don't have an issue with 'funny' scenes being present. I have an issue with the lack of variety. The very same people insisting that people should 'get over it' and just accept every other side quest revolving around comedy are often the same people screeching about how even the slightest bit of grit or consequence in the story is 'too far'. If you read through this thread a common suggestion is for variety and a healthy balance to be embraced. Not...whatever the game has spiralled into becoming.

Let's not forget that this is all happening after the game decided to artificially cut short some of the main storylines that many of us were following and enjoying. We know the reasons for cutting them short were something of a lie too - because the 'new stories' are just tugging at existing plot threads such as the Void and Sil'dih.

Furthermore, this is a game with players from all over the world. Variety is required to appease different tastes, not just without block of players happen to be the loudest and most active on social media.

[Lauront]

O horror! O harrow!
O tyranny! O, humour in a game!

... The irony of such statements. Often coming from those who end up acting exceedingly childish themselves. Who do you think it is that writes this "childish" comedy?

Adults. Adults who wants to create. Adults who want to bring joy to others. Adults working to enjoy the world to the fullest and not restrict themselves with childish attitudes towards anything not deemed "mature".

Thanks for the TED talk, very informative.