A Storyteller’s Point of View on Final Fantasy XIV

[VelKallor]

They all treat me as if I did great things when I didn’t.

Again, you arent reading quest text.

You are the personal envoy to the head of state, a position and an honour almost NEVER granted to a common adventurer. In each city, you are the personal representative of a city state, akin to a damned AMBASSADOR..to put it in perspective, it would be like an ordinary citizen being selected to be the envoy for the entire of New South Wales to a nationwide ceremony.

You are a mercenary. A sellsword. A silver dagger. Being chosen as the personal envoy of Gridania is almost unheard of. Your name is known by the Seedseers, you will meet the Admiral and the Sultana of Uldah, again a high honour.

Amongst your deeds, you saved the Guardian tree, which the Ixal may well have destroyed, or had you not realised its significance?

Or, quests could be constructed, where, as part of completing them, we would learn more and more about the troubles the empire has caused and hinting at what is to come.

You already did that quest.

Carteneau. The Calamity.

[MilkieTea]

I guess nobody is taking this 'professional' writer seriously after this, right? One of many, many spelling mistakes or errors.

[Kes13a]

(https://ffxiv.consolegameswiki.com/w...ridanian_Envoy)

We are tasked with delivering a missive to 2 allies.

My main issue with the story here is the same as the previous one. They all treat me as if I did great things when I didn’t.

While I am in flight, we get a cut scene about the imperials, and… well, other than I’m not sure how Dantie knows any of that, it’s fine.

imagine that, saving a tree the Gridanians consider massively important, central to their entire region, and you are just bumbling adventurer. obviously you skipped the parts where they explained the importance of the tree. thats okay, the "author inserts" likely distracted you.

the imperials, ah yes... the enemy of the Eorzean people, or did you miss that too?

ever heard of.. a writing technique thats used, its called... foreshadowing... or do you disapprove of that as well? or maybe its to let you know that other things are going on in your little world that may require you later? I am sure your stories are all about your main character. nothing ever happens ANYWHERE else. things just pop up when you need them to, and no need to foreshadow or mention things happening outside the view of your character.

at this point, I am not really sure what you are criticizing to be honest. its like you are watching a movie, but only paying attention to... I dont know... the lighting

[VelKallor]

Kes: Mother Miounne's reaction alone tipped me off the very first time that this was a HUGE deal. She reads the letter and almost falls over, I cant find the quest text right now, but as I recall she more or less said that having someone who wasnt even Gridanian appointed as envoy was a shock.

I have to say I think OP isnt reading quest text. At all.

Heres Raubahn ( Ul'dah as starting zone)

"Why you? Because your deeds mark you out as the nearest thing I have to a Warrior of Light. I can think of none more worthy of the role." Coming from him? That is is high praise indeed.

The General is not easily impressed.

He then hands you a letter giving you authority to use the airships, a rare privilege granted ONLY when necessary and no more

Momodi is delighted, and notes that what you have been given is a huge honour.

"Not many people get to go on airships" ( Note to OP: this as well is a mark of respect, airship travel is HEAVILY restricted )

[Kes13a]

Kes: Mother Miounne's reaction alone tipped me off the very first time that this was a HUGE deal. She reads the letter and almost falls over, I cant find the quest text right now, but as I recall she more or less said that having someone who wasnt even Gridanian appointed as envoy was a shock.

I have to say I think OP isnt reading quest text. At all.

Heres Raubahn ( Ul'dah as starting zone)

"Why you? Because your deeds mark you out as the nearest thing I have to a Warrior of Light. I can think of none more worthy of the role." Coming from him? That is is high praise indeed.

The General is not easily impressed.

He then hands you a letter giving you authority to use the airships, a rare privilege granted ONLY when necessary and no more

Momodi is delighted, and notes that what you have been given is a huge honour.

"Not many people get to go on airships" ( Note to OP: this as well is a mark of respect, airship travel is HEAVILY restricted )

for a writer/"storyteller" reading must have been an overlooked skill.

but I agree, Mother's reaction to a non lettered non professional author like myself, seemed like it was intended to be a great honour. but I didnt have anything to go on but, well, reading, I am sure the OP has many more mental tools at their disposal than a no one like myself

[VelKallor]

Found it

Paraphrased

"Appointed personal envoy?"And now you bear Elder Seedseers missive to our allies....well it seems youve made an impression on the great woman...short of a Warrior of Light, I can imagine no better adventurer to represent us, and that my lad is some compliment...

From this alone, we can see what was implied, in each city the dialogue emphasises who you are, what you have done to earn this honour.

Note that line: "short of a Warrior of Light", OP i I were you id go back to the opening cinematic, and see for yourself just WHO you are being compared with.

[Jojoya]

I guess nobody is taking this 'professional' writer seriously after this, right? One of many, many spelling mistakes or errors.

That's not something to hold against him. Professional writers make plenty of spelling and grammar mistakes. That's why they use spelling/grammar correction software and have others proofread their works.

His problem is he's subjecting a video game story to a literary technique analysis. Video game stories are not literature and should not be treated as such.

I had been hoping to just hear whether he enjoyed the story as someone who loves to write stories but that's not what we're getting so I'm at the point I'm just going to ignore the thread.

[Atelier-Bagur]

That's not something to hold against him. Professional writers make plenty of spelling and grammar mistakes. That's why they use spelling/grammar correction software and have others proofread their works.

His problem is he's subjecting a video game story to a literary technique analysis. Video game stories are not literature and should not be treated as such.

I had been hoping to just hear whether he enjoyed the story as someone who loves to write stories but that's not what we're getting so I'm at the point I'm just going to ignore the thread.

Yeah his approach at this point is very much flawed. This is no way trying to invalidate him not enjoying the story.

However trying to analyze a work that wasn't intended for a particular format like a novel isn't going to give you desired results.

[PirateRyanG]

That's not something to hold against him. Professional writers make plenty of spelling and grammar mistakes. That's why they use spelling/grammar correction software and have others proofread their works.

His problem is he's subjecting a video game story to a literary technique analysis. Video game stories are not literature and should not be treated as such.

I had been hoping to just hear whether he enjoyed the story as someone who loves to write stories but that's not what we're getting so I'm at the point I'm just going to ignore the thread.

Correct. I am a professional writer myself (not a self-published author), but he doesn't know the name of a literary technique that he is trying to discuss, and he is comparing two different storytelling formats as if they are the same. Video game writing is always going to be different from writing a novel. A lot of his criticism seems to be aimed at things he is ignoring in the game too.

[Renalt]

Well it WAS fun to read this for a bit because this...uh..."Story Writer" sucks as a writer...but now it's just getting sad.