The feeling of beeing Home ...

[Eldtagg]

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If I may add to this;

My problem with the MSQ have always been the WoL.

I strongly dislike the "chosen" one trait thrust upon any player-made character in RPG's, but especially in FFXIV I feel that the WoL is incredibly badly handled. It's lazy.

Sure, I am not saying that the Scion's doesn't have problems themselves with character growth, which you have mentioned, but having played through ARR - Endwalker during the years I've played FFXIV, I've really come to understand why it's better in MMORPG's like ESO where the game does not focus on your character when you interact with a NPC.

WoL inserting themselves into cutscenes is also the biggest issue I have with FFXIV; The WoL is personality-wise obviously nothing like how I "head roleplay" or otherwise see my character as.

My character or rather me myself as a person (my character's are usally self-inserts) is closer to Sazh personality-wise in Final Fantasy XIII. I am also a father and Sazh story hit way home when playing through the game. Only time I've had tears in a Final Fantasy games because as a father that love my son above everything in this world I can empathize with and understand the pain Sazh is feeling.

Instead I have to suffer through cutscenes where "MY" WoL is standing around, looking incredibly stupid, awkwardly smiling, talking while being quiet, having an incredibly jarring idle stance... it is easily the worst part of FFXIV for me, period.

If the WoL is supposed to be our characters why does SquareE FORCE traits upon my character where he reacts nothing like I expect him to? Why doesn't the WoL ever struggle against anything? Why doesn't the WoL grow or otherwise get more experienced with time?

Playing the WoL as it has been up to now is unfortunately what I would call akin to backseat gaming because it feels like if someone else is playing my character for me and choosing the reactions which is out of character for mine.

Going back to your point about growth etc. I know the community will hate me for this, but; the story (MSQ) is enjoyable but "for being as good as a single player story" it's nowhere deep enough, dark enough, written well enough to get me that invested in the characters (Scions) or the world as a whole.

This is basically the MSQ every expac; Problem arises - WoL arrives - Problem solved.

Does either the WoL, Scions, Faction leaders grow during these events? Not really, we do it all over again next expac!

There is certainly a lot of golden nuggets in FFXIV and playing through MSQ is an absolutely must for me because I do enjoy it. However I find the story itself often is a bit too... teenagish? (no offence) for me to get invested in it.

Endwalker's story and the characters that set things in motions felt more like how I saw the world some 20 years ago as a teenager, then I grew up and became and adult...

The characters that moves the pieces in Endwalker didn't grow up unfortunately and they are obviously all teenagers. What it all ultimately ends up in is a pretty cringe and childish story, with some golden nuggets, but overall it's a by-the-numbers powerfantasy that I could absolutely see me adore 20 years ago.

This is a usual issue with a lot of JRPG's; they are written for teenagers and basically noone over that age group.

Final Fantasy XIV for all its bells and whistle, never goes anyway beyond that point with it's story.

Imagine if I a character like Sazh existed in FFXIV. You know "A REAL" character that actually makes sense and is not a "one-note 17 year old anime protaganist that goes to high school and has a power inside that they do not understand".

Imagine...

Maybe I grew old and cynical..?