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

[Vyrerus]

I thought the whole exodus thing was pretty good, except for the silly moon bunnies. I don't even remember what the Shadowbringers story was about.

Stopping an 8th Calamity by being Called to the First Shard by Catboy Sage Deluxe and the 8UC Timeline's Time Traveling Tower. Along the way we learned the Ascians' history from the Ascians' point of view. Interestingly enough, though it is the Ascians' history, a lot of folks and even the game itself distinguished between the Ancients of Amaurot by not calling them Ascians.

The post SHB content was learning a little more about The First, The Echo, Hydaelyn, and Elidibus. We learned that Hydaelyn is an Ascian. Though the focus ultimately wound up being, return the Scions to the Source, and make way for 6.0.

[Lelila38]

I thought the whole exodus thing was pretty good, except for the silly moon bunnies. I don't even remember what the Shadowbringers story was about.

So the "escaping on the moon thing"? Yeah sorry, that made zero sense. You have an opponent, who literally blasts the whole universe with her doom song, so leaving your planet helps how exactly? You will find safety somewhere else...where?

Not even starting on the fact you couldn't put everyone on that ship, you'd have to abandon a significant portion of the source's population to their doom, let alone the shards.

[Theodric]

At least 6.1 sort of pointed out how messed up it was for the escape plan to basically be a form of eugenics where only the 'right' people would be rescued.

It'd likely never happen, though it would have been hilarious if there was some sort of AU where the people left behind on the Source actually succeeded at defeating Meteion and then demanded that Hydaelyn and those who fled stayed away. I don't doubt that Hydaelyn and those she brought along would screech about it but maybe, just maybe, they'd get a taste of what it feels like to be displaced and replaced.

I think that's something really missing from this game's storytelling. The protagonists are in desperate need of being shown that the very things they're happy to inflict upon others or benefit from having it inflicted upon others are actually pretty messed up and there is no way they would ever accept it happening to themselves.

[Raoabolic]

At least 6.1 sort of pointed out how messed up it was for the escape plan to basically be a form of eugenics where only the 'right' people would be rescued.

It'd likely never happen, though it would have been hilarious if there was some sort of AU where the people left behind on the Source actually succeeded at defeating Meteion and then demanded that Hydaelyn and those who fled stayed away. I don't doubt that Hydaelyn and those she brought along would screech about it but maybe, just maybe, they'd get a taste of what it feels like to be displaced and replaced.

I think that's something really missing from this game's storytelling. The protagonists are in desperate need of being shown that the very things they're happy to inflict upon others or benefit from having it inflicted upon others are actually pretty messed up and there is no way they would ever accept it happening to themselves.

Remember the Crystal Braves thing? That was a pretty good storyline. Shame we don't get those anymore, lol.

[Vyrerus]

Honestly, sometimes I think they jam so much time travel into FFXIV because it leaves the door open for potential recycle of villains, but from another timeline.

Like we've had the uhh, saved by another timeline thing happen. And I guess now the saved by a time lemniscate loop thingie.

But I remember thinking to myself back towards the beginning of SHB that due to the 8UC succeeding in time travel, would it not follow then that there were other timelines where the Ascians got in on that? Like, I remember thinking that one of the ways they'd bring Emet back, was that an alternate timeline version of himself that was still full Rejoining committed would come waltzing out of the First's Crystal Tower's basement.

But I suppose if villains get access to time travel, we'd get villain fatigue. People would complain etc. Only the heroes get to get in on that sweet sweet convenient resolving or looping back in on itself time paradox saves the day schtick.

[Misplaced_Marbles]

Remember the Crystal Braves thing? That was a pretty good storyline. Shame we don't get those anymore, lol.

I remember Riol telling the WoL about his suspisions and the WoL just standing there with a vacuous stare as the words go in from one ear and out the other. If they write something like that again, i sincerely hope they put more thought into it.

[Lauront]

I remember Riol telling the WoL about his suspisions and the WoL just standing there with a vacuous stare as the words go in from one ear and out the other. If they write something like that again, i sincerely hope they put more thought into it.

[Teraq]

At least 6.1 sort of pointed out how messed up it was for the escape plan to basically be a form of eugenics where only the 'right' people would be rescued.

It'd likely never happen, though it would have been hilarious if there was some sort of AU where the people left behind on the Source actually succeeded at defeating Meteion and then demanded that Hydaelyn and those who fled stayed away. I don't doubt that Hydaelyn and those she brought along would screech about it but maybe, just maybe, they'd get a taste of what it feels like to be displaced and replaced.

Bonus thought: make these guys who stayed and succeeded... the remaining Sundered Ascians, doing what their original selves would have done: defending their planet.

[Rulakir]

Honestly, sometimes I think they jam so much time travel into FFXIV because it leaves the door open for potential recycle of villains, but from another timeline.

This is the WoW method and people were tired of it. :P Personally, I have no desire to defeat Hades again, I think we've watched him suffer and die enough (for a fan favorite character no less). I'm also not keen on 'saving' the 8UC as I'd like there to be at least one timeline where the Ancients (hopefully) succeed. Thought we were going to get that in EW but, silly me, such things only work for the WoL/Scions!

If the goal is to just 'get Emet back', that's real easy. Just have him be our Ardbert-esque ghostly guide on one of the shards, ideally one where he founded another empire.

I do wonder if there's a chance we'll get a partial rejoining at some point just because they contemplated doing it in ShB.

[Raoabolic]

This is the WoW method and people were tired of it. :P Personally, I have no desire to defeat Hades again, I think we've watched him suffer and die enough (for a fan favorite character no less). I'm also not keen on 'saving' the 8UC as I'd like there to be at least one timeline where the Ancients (hopefully) succeed. Thought we were going to get that in EW but, silly me, such things only work for the WoL/Scions!

If the goal is to just 'get Emet back', that's real easy. Just have him be our Ardbert-esque ghostly guide on one of the shards, ideally one where he founded another empire.

I do wonder if there's a chance we'll get a partial rejoining at some point just because they contemplated doing it in ShB.

What are you talking about? The Caverns of Time was an excellent idea! :^)