The atrocity that was the "In from the Cold" quest ending - *STORY RANT*

[BRVV]

My 2 cents: weird plot contrivances where all over EW for some reason

- Suddenly calling off the body swap is weird. Just make one of the good guys stop it somehow.
- GrahaBurgerTime coming just before the final in a forced break felt weird to me. Have it in actual downtime. Either after the final battle OR just write it so that there is a small part where we think we are done saving the world.
- No interaction in the past! That's what they said... then immediately it gets hacked by EmmetYourBoy even though OtherAscian(TM) should have seen that coming

It's like the writers forgot they can plan before and also go back to an older part and change it. #FirstDraftEW

[SannaR]

My 2 cents: weird plot contrivances where all over EW for some reason

- Suddenly calling off the body swap is weird. Just make one of the good guys stop it somehow.
- GrahaBurgerTime coming just before the final in a forced break felt weird to me. Have it in actual downtime. Either after the final battle OR just write it so that there is a small part where we think we are done saving the world.
- No interaction in the past! That's what they said... then immediately it gets hacked by EmmetYourBoy even though OtherAscian(TM) should have seen that coming

It's like the writers forgot they can plan before and also go back to an older part and change it. #FirstDraftEW

The burger scene happened before we even knew the Final Days wanting to be restarted was the actual plan. The only meal that happened right before we go to Ultima Thule is the one where we reminisce with Y'shtola, Thancred and Urianger. In a man we've come a long way so I just want to let you guys know that it's been worth it type of way. So that they could go off into the unknown with a clear conscience.

[BRVV]

The burger scene happened before we even knew the Final Days wanting to be restarted was the actual plan. The only meal that happened right before we go to Ultima Thule is the one where we reminisce with Y'shtola, Thancred and Urianger. In a man we've come a long way so I just want to let you guys know that it's been worth it type of way. So that they could go off into the unknown with a clear conscience.

I only remember one dining in the EW MSQ but that can be my memory mushing them together. The right before Ultima Thule... no before we got there. That's my point though. Can you imagine camping in front of the final boss of an expansion and be like "ah all the things we went through. Want some tea?" Imho makes more sense to do that after

[SannaR]

I only remember one dining in the EW MSQ but that can be my memory mushing them together. The right before Ultima Thule... no before we got there. That's my point though. Can you imagine camping in front of the final boss of an expansion and be like "ah all the things we went through. Want some tea?" Imho makes more sense to do that after

Definitely some mashing them together. As the meal with those three happen at the same time we have that talk with Alphinaud and Estinien after they had tea with his mother.

The burger scene was slightly after we had just delt with the tower of Zot and had just returned to Old Sharlyean.

[Iscah]

It's a classic jrpg staple to have a final "winding down" moment before a final boss. It's in every jrpg.

It's a lot like the campfire scene we had in Heavensward before going to meet with Hraesvelgr, or the opening scene from FFX that turns out to be a flash forward to another "late-game reminiscing at the campfire before a major event".

It's like a moment of calm before the storm. Stop and take a breath before you plunge into it, and appreciate the significance of what you're about to do.

[Kazhar]

I only remember one dining in the EW MSQ but that can be my memory mushing them together. The right before Ultima Thule... no before we got there. That's my point though. Can you imagine camping in front of the final boss of an expansion and be like "ah all the things we went through. Want some tea?" Imho makes more sense to do that after

I'm not usually one to defend anything about EW's writing, but to be fair, it wouldn't be exactly the first time it happened in the series. One of FFX's most memorable scene is the protagonist team doing exactly that. (in their minds at least)

Yes, it doesn't really make logical sense but stories aren't just about that. Having the restropective moment just before the climax is a good place to maximize the intended emotional impact.

[TaleraRistain]

I only remember one dining in the EW MSQ but that can be my memory mushing them together. The right before Ultima Thule... no before we got there. That's my point though. Can you imagine camping in front of the final boss of an expansion and be like "ah all the things we went through. Want some tea?" Imho makes more sense to do that after

Or maybe sharing some Cup Noodles?

[BRVV]

Or maybe sharing some Cup Noodles?

LOOK! LOOK! OTHER FINAL FANTASY BAD! *monkey-scream*

In all seriousness: does this mean FFXIV can just be a mesh of every bad thing that ever was put in an FF story? Actually that might be the plan with the current writing.

[TaleraRistain]

LOOK! LOOK! OTHER FINAL FANTASY BAD! *monkey-scream*

In all seriousness: does this mean FFXIV can just be a mesh of every bad thing that ever was put in an FF story? Actually that might be the plan with the current writing.

FFXV was hardly the first JRPG in existence to ever do that. Or the first game or book or movie. It's a common trope in any media that the main party often takes a moment of peace to reflect and appreciate each other and their journey before they go off to an uncertain ending in the final confrontation.

[BRVV]

The goal of End Walker was Hope, Not despair.

Yeah. That's fine If half of the planet burnt down and some NPCs from back in the day died that message would have more weight. Just imagine Kan-E-Senna whispering "Don't loose hope. Be glad for those you were able to save, not sad about those you couldn't." while dieing. We and some we could save escape to the moon. 6.x patches would be about finding a new place to live. Wouldn't that embody the message of hope and never loosing it in face of despair even better?

End Walker is the end of a poem to the players of FFXIV

Nice marketing material. How do you feel it was? Also it's "Endwalker". 1 word. Not meant as mocking btw. I genuienly don't know what you mean how this expac has been more a "poem to the players" than any other one.

Lastly this is a Teen rated game, FFXIV works very hard to keep it that way.
If you want a game of true dispare, FFXIV will never be it.

No one ever asked for "Requiem for a Dream" in video game form from SE. It's just that they set up EW to be about the Apocalypse and it became almost a Power Rangers episode or a story that could be Golden Sun. I like Golden Sun but there is a reason it's package said you would enjoy it more if you can read. To be fair FFXIV always had at least one writing technique that i only see in media for young children. That is painfully always stating what people are thinking. This is the worst in normal quests. Plus a lot of exposition dumps. The start of Bozja also has these a lot. I just hoped it would get better.

It's a common trope in any media that the main party often takes a moment of peace to reflect and appreciate each other and their journey before they go off to an uncertain ending in the final confrontation.

And i mentioned how the timing feels off for me. Also, again: am i not allowed to critizes it because of that? They also hardly reflect because they barely changed. My point with the rest is more about the timing. They could have made the downtime more justified. Actually have Endsinger take a break aswell for some reason. Or have us relax in order to fight of despair. That would have been lit (am i cool now? )

The "power of friendship"-trope is also in a lot of other media. It's also in Persona... and i hated it in P5. Feels like you don't need to write an ending anymore. Just copy the trope.