Anyone else get the feeling they are still figuring out the story for 6.X and 7.0 ?

[Hurlstone]

I think they probably have a good idea of what they are doing at the very least, and likely a very detailed idea of exactly where 6.x and 7.0 will take us. Could things change between now and then? Sure, I doubt everything is set in stone yet but thats probably been the case for every expansion during said writing period. Personally speak I think we will get Void stuff for most of the patches, and then something new for 7.0 (Meracydia is my bet/hope!) All that said, I would not mind if the next expansion is a little longer then usual. I doubt they would do so intentionally, but I would rather they take their time. Plus could give us more time to explore The Thirteenth.

[KageTokage]

I am a little curious to what this event that will "completely change the story" at the end of 6.x could be.

I'm hoping it's something more...reserved like a sudden new threat from Ilsabard or Meracydia attacking Eorzea and we don't end up going shard-hopping again when we still haven't seen most of the Source.

It feels a bit soon to be dealing with world-ending existential threats again.

[ReynTime]

I'm pretty sure unlike with past expansions, since they wrapped up Endwalker itself in 6.0, they're trying to wrap up the void storyline using these patches so they can stop pretending they care that much about the plot threads started by Tanaka's team when 7.0 hits.

[VelKallor]

The release timing is also an issue, the fact that Endwalker might last until Summer 2024 is a thought that weighs heavy on my mind.

Then let that poor , troubled and care weighted mind find its ease, because that wont happen.

The interviews made it seem like the Void isn't even going to be the focus of 7.0, and that it's subject to the reception by some of the more vocal sections of the playerbase on social media rather than establishing a beginning, middle and end for character arcs and the setting.

Dont know where that came from, at this stage we dont know WHAT the focus will be in 7.0, so Id wait and see. You may be ( mind you i doubt it since you seem to think you can write better MMO content than the entire SE team combined ) pleasantly surprised.

. Maybe it'll be that we just have to deal with the scions until the end of 6.5 and after that we get a whole new party,

Ohhhh this..... "everyone doesnt want the scions anymore" schtick...Im still waiting for you to show me who "everyone" is..as far as I am aware, you dont speak for anyone save yourself.

Why on EARTH would the SE team throw away a character set that has a backstory from ARR to today now? What POSSIBLE reason would they have to do so? HOW would they even do that? On what premise?

Seriously....this seems to be your personal gripe...........but as far as I know, it aint anyone else's.

[Theodric]

I'm pretty sure unlike with past expansions, since they wrapped up Endwalker itself in 6.0, they're trying to wrap up the void storyline using these patches so they can stop pretending they care that much about the plot threads started by Tanaka's team when 7.0 hits.

Yeah, for whatever reason they really seem to want to get rid of most of the stuff tied to the days of 1.0. Unfortunately they seem more than willing to continue forcing the Scions front and centre - who are also from that era - but don't have much tact when it comes to appeasing those of us who like other things rooted not only in 1.0 but elsewhere.

Which, incidentally, is exactly one of the bigger mistakes that WoW made with its setting. A lot of people liked the night elves but instead of handling them well and treating them with dignity they were simply used as punching bags throughout many expansions.

Based on their responses to various interviews and their apparent surprise that people keep track of the story in...a story driven game I can't say I have much faith at the moment. Especially not with Endwalker being so steeped in protagonist centred morality and very childish takes on complex issues such as despair and societal disagreements.

[VelKallor]

Which, incidentally, is exactly one of the bigger mistakes that WoW made with its setting

Yes, well, THAT list would be more or less a full sized 200 page paperback.

[KageTokage]

Emphasis on "setting".

One of the reasons WoW's newest expansion has people optimistic is because it's focusing on existing plot threads and characters and takes place in a long-teased/mentioned part of the world when its previous expansion came almost entirely out of the left field to an extent that a common complaint was that it "didn't feel like Warcraft anymore". I'm genuinely afraid they might take that angle with XIV with all this mention of surprise and unpredictability in recent interviews pertaining to what's coming after Endwalker.

I don't care if it's predictable to go somewhere like Ilsabard or Meracydia next. It's the actual reasons we're going there that can be surprising instead.

[VelKallor]

Emphasis on "setting".

One of the reasons WoW's newest expansion has people optimistic is because it's focusing on existing plot threads and characters and takes place in a long-teased/mentioned part of the world when its previous expansion came almost entirely out of the left field to an extent that a common complaint was that it "didn't feel like Warcraft anymore". I'm genuinely afraid they might take that angle with XIV with all this mention of surprise and unpredictability in recent interviews pertaining to what's coming after Endwalker.

I don't care if it's predictable to go somewhere like Ilsabard or Meracydia next. It's the actual reasons we're going there that can be surprising instead.

Yoshi loves surprises, one reason this game (THANK GOD ) doesnt have a PTR.

i LIKE not knowing whats next...whats the fun if you know all about it ahead of time? As for WOW's new expac, its only in alpha and the cracks are ALREADY starting to show..not to mention the 2022 launch window which screams "rushed out the door" ....

Ilsabard? We are IN Ilsabard..thats where Thavnair is.

[KageTokage]

Thavnair is technically part of Ilsabard, but when it comes to the mainland we've only set foot in the outermost edges via sidestory regions like Terncliff and Bozja and the map remains hidden to this day.

The confirmation that we're not getting an exploration zone in this patch cycle is honestly making me feel even more strongly that 7.x could be Ilsabard given all the repeated mention we got of Corvos, yet it's seemingly going totally unaddressed in this patch cycle despite all the chaos that ensued over there during the Final Days.

We do still have a rather big elephant in the room situation when it comes to most of Ilsabard still being under the jurisdiction of the remaining Garlean legions and I could easily see that blowing up in the future with them possibly being the source of "change" that's been mentioned if they decide to take action in a manner that forces Eorzea and its allies to get involved.

[VelKallor]

We do still have a rather big elephant in the room

Nidhana is very svelte and cuddly, thankyouverymuch....