Quote Originally Posted by DPZ2 View Post
Your diagram is better interpreted as the components for each and every expansion. Leveling encompasses both exposition and rising action. The end of leveling is the Climax to the story. The post-release patches are the falling action with resolution of the primary story lines for that particular expansion as part of the final patch release. In the case of Endwalker, the Endsinger Trial is the Climax to the story. The post-release patches are falling actions (which may have their own rise/climax/falling action).

When writing multipart fiction such as trilogies, writers can (and do) cheat. They are not bound to the diagram you presented. Endwalker at release can be considered the resolution phase of the 2.0 through 6.0 story line itself. Complete with its own Climax (as multipart fiction tends to do).

Dawntrail at its release will utilize all of the plot components you've mentioned in its own self-contained story line, not a continuation of Endwalker.
I was speaking on FFXIV as a whole single pyramid, not individual expansions as separate pyramids side by side.