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

[SentioftheHoukai]

"Why do you fight, WoL?"
"Because my Wonderous Tales book will expire next week. /shrug"

An infinitely more worthy thing to fight for, than Eorzea.

"To believe in Eorzea, is to believe in NOTHING."

Can't believe it took me so long to convert to the Gospel of the Lord Gaius....

smh

[Kaoru_Nagisa]

Did the final stretch of Legion questing needed for the Achievement to unlock access to Lightforged and Void, today, and couldn't help feeling some parallels between Venat and Xe'ra. Both attempting to impose and enforce what they think someone should do and the 'destiny' they should forge, regardless of how anyone else - especially the Chosen One - felt about it.

Was cathartic to see Illidan blow that overgrown chandelier up in denial of her trying to exert her own will and path upon him. Wish we'd had a similar option to at least say something against Venat, even if the game still forced us to continue on the path regardless.

On that note, WoW does a heck of a better job showing massive battlefields and fighting during apocalyptic-level invasions than FFXIV ever has. You'd think with how much Yoshi tried to copy it, he'd have at least took some lessons in how to create proper set pieces.

[KageTokage]

It is really awkward in hindsight how much of a stark contrast what we were presented with in the cinematic trailer and benchmark were compared to reality.

We have the entire world ablaze and the Eorzean Alliance having to unite their forces to keep the blasphemies in check, but come Endwalker proper, the vast majority of the on-screen damage is contained strictly to Thavnair and does not even manifest in any sort of persistent manner post-MSQ to remind you that anything had gone wrong there at all. Corvos is also stated as having been struck badly but for now, that's a big ol' case of tell but don't show until we go there eventually (Which is hopefully sooner then later given their recent statement of having plans for it).

The actual threat outside of those regions was so small as to not even warrant any large scale mobilization from the grand companies and for those who skip over the role quests it can simply be assumed that they managed to handle the problem without you.

[Vyrerus]

It is really awkward in hindsight how much of a stark contrast what we were presented with in the cinematic trailer and benchmark were compared to reality.

We have the entire world ablaze and the Eorzean Alliance having to unite their forces to keep the blasphemies in check, but come Endwalker proper, the vast majority of the on-screen damage is contained strictly to Thavnair and does not even manifest in any sort of persistent manner post-MSQ to remind you that anything had gone wrong there at all. Corvos is also stated as having been struck badly but for now, that's a big ol' case of tell but don't show until we go there eventually (Which is hopefully sooner then later given their recent statement of having plans for it).

The actual threat outside of those regions was so small as to not even warrant any large scale mobilization from the grand companies and for those who skip over the role quests it can simply be assumed that they managed to handle the problem without you.

Kind of worse after you do the role quests, cause you can chock each region up to, "Well, this one big monster caused a problem, and the WoL helped handle it with the city leader..." But then you know, you've got these random NPCs, some still without names (Keeper of Entwined Serpents) keeping pace with these absurdly strong Blasphemies. Which does basically mean they could have handled it without you if they'd had the gumption. Heck, in the Melee role quests, the blonde Lorens or Laurence or whatever his name is showing up and deducing he can shoot the Blasphemies problem energy balls to stop them is what lets you win.

As if the WoL wasn't just outright strong enough to stop any of the Blasphemies singlehandedly, you know, having stopped/being able to stop Meteion.

I mean, they do raise some lore and intrigue and have good character moments, but they're also basically monster of the week stories. I mean, I enjoyed them, but they don't do any favors for the MSQ whether done during or in post.

[SentioftheHoukai]

Aaaaaaah, you guys gotta stop reminding me just how bad Endwalker was. Seriously.

Forget the Journey, it's the narrative potholes and flaws and plotbumps that never end.

[Striker44]

As if the WoL wasn't just outright strong enough to stop any of the Blasphemies singlehandedly, you know, having stopped/being able to stop Meteion.

I mean, they do raise some lore and intrigue and have good character moments, but they're also basically monster of the week stories. I mean, I enjoyed them, but they don't do any favors for the MSQ whether done during or in post.

Except the WoL didn't single-handedly stop Meteion, either. It took the WoL, plus the 7 other "summoned" heroes, plus the Scions providing the shield against the second LB that would've completely the wiped the WoL otherwise...it makes perfect sense that a team of people likewise stops the blasphemies. And this time around, the role quests weren't meant to directly support the MSQ, but rather be optional side-stories that provide a good deal of world building for those interested.

[MagiusNecros]

Except the WoL didn't single-handedly stop Meteion, either. It took the WoL, plus the 7 other "summoned" heroes, plus the Scions providing the shield against the second LB that would've completely the wiped the WoL otherwise...it makes perfect sense that a team of people likewise stops the blasphemies. And this time around, the role quests weren't meant to directly support the MSQ, but rather be optional side-stories that provide a good deal of world building for those interested.

Nah man Zenos carried the whole fight.

[KageTokage]

I've come to accept that the WoL is simply as strong/competent as the plot/writers need them to be, and us being challenged/threatened by things we logically wouldn't have any issues steamrolling for the sake of drama is going to continue being a trend.

I think it's preferable to having constant threat escalation considering what we dealt with recently, though, and sometimes they make it work better by giving an antagonist some kind of sneaky trick or gimmick that we need someone's help to overcome.

[SentioftheHoukai]

Except the WoL didn't single-handedly stop Meteion, either. It took the WoL, plus the 7 other "summoned" heroes, plus the Scions providing the shield against the second LB that would've completely the wiped the WoL otherwise...it makes perfect sense that a team of people likewise stops the blasphemies. And this time around, the role quests weren't meant to directly support the MSQ, but rather be optional side-stories that provide a good deal of world building for those interested.

The Scions' "prayers" were WORTHLESS. Change my mind. Zenos is literally the only reason the Endsinger didn't carpet bomb our literal asses. And however non-canon it may be, Endsinger EX at least proves the WoL never actually needed their prayers. What with the constant insufferable meme-ing of "This is our boss theme!" and "Now we're the Final Boss!" it becomes abundantly clear that the "prayers" and the entire second phase of the fight was nothing more than hype.

No narrative was required, and thus no narrative was posited. We saved the universe through the power of friendship, but also because our meta 4D overlords from another dimension handed us a win because they thought we'd look cool kicking Evil God #380276894's ass.

[SaberMaxwell]

Cause: cutscene where the scions prayed and channeled their power to us.

Effect: a second lb3 to survive another blast that Zenos made no attempt to dodge.

Can't change your mind on this one Crowder but you're not making a good argument yourself when the Minstrel is your best reason we didn't need the Scions.