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

[Atelier-Bagur]

To be fair though, we've been able to comfortably criticize MSQ until Shadowbringers happened. After that? It's been literal hell trying to even say 'Stormblood bad'.. Because Shadowbringers somehow cleansed all of ARR-Stormblood. It was SO GOOD, "You have to like everything before it, because it sets up the story!"

They often forget all 3 ARR, Heavensward, and Stormblood had horrible pacing issues for the majority of their story. There are some good nuggets in there, but they could have been had for far less linear time and text.

I still count Shadowbringers among the terrible pacing. Truth is, every expansion suffers from pacing issues and its mostly because of the quest design being not fun at all. Sure there are story bits that drag on (like that damn Talos section TWICE) but if everything in between was sprinkled with fun battle content then it wouldnt be bad and the story would arguably be a lot better for it.

This is why I dont think FFXIV's story is THAT good. Its above average but what makes a game story compelling is when you also make it fun to go through. This is why other single player rpgs have FFXIV beat in its content because they make sure the gameplay experience is tailored to go along with the narrative, but the msq is bogged down by "talk to this npc" numerous times and its just not a good thing to swallow.

This problem isnt just EW related.

[R041]

I still count Shadowbringers among the terrible pacing. Truth is, every expansion suffers from pacing issues and its mostly because of the quest design being not fun at all. Sure there are story bits that drag on (like that damn Talos section TWICE) but if everything in between was sprinkled with fun battle content then it wouldnt be bad and the story would arguably be a lot better for it.

This is why I dont think FFXIV's story is THAT good. Its above average but what makes a game story compelling is when you also make it fun to go through. This is why other single player rpgs have FFXIV beat in its content because they make sure the gameplay experience is tailored to go along with the narrative, but the msq is bogged down by "talk to this npc" numerous times and its just not a good thing to swallow.

This problem isnt just EW related.

I agree with you there, I've never really loved the MSQ - Liked sometimes, sure. But I'm not big on visual novels. Most old players I know didn't really like the MSQ itself, because it was mostly just creating a backdrop of Final Fantasy, which was good enough. But now it's trying to be the thing? When we know it's not even that good of a thing, let alone the thing to be good? (lol)

It feels like they have 90% writers and 10% designers working on MSQ, and that means there's not much lasting or engaging content in there. I truly don't understand why they've put all their eggs in the basket of just making MSQ the longest visual novel to ever exist. It doesn't even really compete with most of the mainlines for writing, to me anyway. It's long, but that doesn't mean it's good, because most of it's just pure exposition and filler. The arc has overstayed it's welcome, and it's always had major pacing issues.


Edit: When you realize that I barely enjoy the MSQ, and I don't do Extreme/Savage.. You'll understand why I'm frustrated. Prob thinking "What the shit do you even do then?" Exactly. Wtf do we do, when we don't babytown the MSQ, or no-life raid.

Also, watching the world race right now - It's funny, 'cause there was a WoW player on talking about how XIV doesn't have a ramp up from Normal to Savage content, so that makes it a bit tougher. Then the other guests gleefully explain that's why XIV is better. ? ? ? ? ?

[Absurdity]

Also, watching the world race right now - It's funny, 'cause there was a WoW player on talking about how XIV doesn't have a ramp up from Normal to Savage content, so that makes it a bit tougher. Then the other guests gleefully explain that's why XIV is better. ? ? ? ? ?

So they invited nothing but sycophants, nice. Basically anyone with 2 braincells to rub together can see that having no difficulty curve and then a massive difficulty cliff from normal to even just extreme is not good design.