Dawntrail: Hopes, expectations and disappointments.

[Duskane]

its always subject to change, but i really like what ive seen so far

same tbh
double dye table,new scouting class,Criterion and Deep dungeon(tentative) and curious to see how the eyeglasses equipment slot works

[CNitsah]

It was never portrayed like that in the game. Scion-disliking players latched onto it as a hope, but it was made quite clear in the initial "disbanding" scene that they were doing it for outward appearances rather than a real intention to go separate ways forever. It was the organisational equivalent of faking their own death so people would stop expecting them to be a major actor on the world politics stage.

Additionally, they did go off to pursue their own activities for a while, but we're not going to see those parts when we're not with them.

And finally, because they are pursuing independent agendas at this point, it seems that may have set them up for different Scions to have gotten independently hired by different factions in this new region.

I disagree with that. The whole "we will go our own way and can't go adventuring all together" (especially the second part) scene was not needed for for a disband plot. Plus when you leave the game, and look at live letter, they did play with that idea during pre 6.1 and 6.2.

I get tired of people coming with subtext explanation when it suits them "But it's obvious the Zenos dialog at the end of world talk about the player", but conveniently ignoring subtext when it comes to that kind of things. You can disagree that was the intent, but you can't say that was not there. I mean, a LOT of people took taht as a declaration of intention. And since they never really left during the patch, it felt like it was meant for the next expansion.

[Heroman3003]

I disagree with that. The whole "we will go our own way and can't go adventuring all together" (especially the second part) scene was not needed for for a disband plot. Plus when you leave the game, and look at live letter, they did play with that idea during pre 6.1 and 6.2.

I get tired of people coming with subtext explanation when it suits them "But it's obvious the Zenos dialog at the end of world talk about the player", but conveniently ignoring subtext when it comes to that kind of things. You can disagree that was the intent, but you can't say that was not there. I mean, a LOT of people took taht as a declaration of intention. And since they never really left during the patch, it felt like it was meant for the next expansion.

Idk, they literally say explicitly in same cutscene that they'll spend some time apart doing their own thing, but whenever needed can rely on one-another for help on moment's notice or to come together when realm needs help, and that's how the patches ended up playing out (although we focused more on Y'shtola and Estinien specifically in those, rest of scions basically coming and going as trust setups needed them). If anything, new expansion runs on same idea better than patches - the scion groups are called in separately, but towards same place and for similar reasons.

[Iscah]

I get tired of people coming with subtext explanation when it suits them "But it's obvious the Zenos dialog at the end of world talk about the player", but conveniently ignoring subtext when it comes to that kind of things.

People see subtext in different things. Personally I strongly dislike the "oh, they're really speaking to the player" thing with Zenos – although I can't deny that they may well have written it that way.

And disagreeing with subtext is not the same as ignoring subtext.

The Scions did exactly what they said they would do. Split apart for a while, work on their own projects, but still come to each others' aid when needed for big projects. And even then they're coming and going, not all setting forth in one group at one time, or involved in smaller plots of their own like Myths of the Realm.

[Payadopa]

Honestly, if it's the same old follow MSQ and then grind FATEs with even more homogenised jobs I'll just do the story and leave. Apart from boring grinding there is almost no longevity to anything.

The screenshots of the new areas look nice but what are we gonna do there anyway? Attune to the aetheryte and the do more brain-dead fetch quests while killing monsters that are too weak, in a lifeless overworld with boring jobs.

Kinda like that awful FFXVI but with less particles.

[CodeAscalon]

My hopes are that I will at some point like the music from the teaser when it fully releases. Also some changes to summoner would be nice. and hopefully no skill bloat.

Disappointment would be the graphics update for hrothgar. All it did was add 15 years on his appearance and I hope when it actually releases its not going to be that bad... legit shocked when I saw that slider.
The maps look great and I am thrilled to go there into all that foliage. But like Payadopa above me said, mostly its rather disappointing because there is mostly not many purposes to explore the maps really, you go there, do some quests and in late do treasure hunts without paying attention to details.

[Carin-Eri]

My biggest hope is that they don't throw too many instances of having to play as an NPC into the story.

Whilst I can, more or less, see why they do it I've absolutely hated that scenario each time it occurred and really don't want more of it.

'Follow the NPC' scenarios are not as interesting as the Devs seem to think they are either.

[XianRo]

My hopes for 6.5 are they double-up hroth hair this patch so I dont have to wait til NEXT FREAKING SUMMER to use the 1 (one) hair I want (windcaller) because hrothgar being two patches behind viera is a stabbing ulcer that exists for no reason.

As for 7.0 I have 3 hopes just for 7.0 proper.
I wont spec on the raid or alliance series beyond hoping they dont involve the scions because Im sick to death of 6 pasty sharlayan nerds with the same hair color speaking on my behalf ugh.
1). FF7 bonus. Idk Clouds Buster Sword, his/zacks outfit as glam, Aerith hairstyle for all idk just yknow...nice if 7.0 had a 7 bonus somewhere lol.
2.) Corsair grabs me as hard as Reaper did reapers been the only dps I really enjoy this expac. I looked over ffxi corsair stuff and itd be nice if we finally got a melee buffbot a la ast bard or dancer. Yes most melee have party buffs but nothing constant like ast cards or bard songs. This would mean corsairs pdps would probably suffer like itd probably be lowest on the rdps rung of all melee but Id like a melee that has a bit more going for it beyond 2minute bursts (lets assume that doesnt get altered in 7.0).
3) Its been 2 expansions just give hroth and viera every hat already idc how has it been 4 years and this crap aint fixed like we CANNOT go into another expac wgerein 95% of new headpieces dont exist for two player races theres no excuse.

[Raikai]

Dawntrail: The start of a new adventure.

Expectations:
My main expectation is that this will not stay as a 'happy go lucky' expansion and things will take a turn at some point, possibly with an accidental death of one of the scions. After the high notes in SHB and EW, it feels weird going on a 'summer vacation' expansion.

I honestly feel that this will be the case, either midway, or as a cliffhanger leading to the patch storyline. The whole 'good vibes' seems almost as a smokescreen, and not just that, they really needed something more 'low stakes' to start a brand new arc, since they can't artificially just demote the WoL to the levels of a beginner nobody-adventurer anymore.

Disappointments:
Really have nothing to say here so far, since we have no real information other than the basics, I would say not mentioning an Exploratory Zone was a bit of a disappointment, along with the fact that we are STILL travelling with the Scions after they *cough* "DISBANDED", but there is always JP fanfest for that.

The interview the day after, YP hinted that field operations is something they're considering, so just because it wasn't announced right now doesn't mean it's not coming, there's hopes there as well. I'm also a bit bummed by seeing the Scions again, but I have a weird feeling that their presence might not be lasting, or part of the 'good vibes smokescreen. Also, Krile was stated to get a big role and yet she's nowhere to be seen.

Honestly, right now my biggest expectation is something that is probably content for the JP Fanfest, and it's about the combat system, job homogenization, 2min meta (or the chances they'll take a step back on it) and healer situation.

Second close would be a better overworld. FFXIV's world is just not interesting... The quests are often 'meh' and don't even give XP worth of your time. FATEs are repetitive. Give us secret things to look for, or rare enemies that aren't hunt trains. I think WoW, as flawed as it is, can be a good standard of how to build an interesting overworld.

[Raikai]

'Follow the NPC' scenarios are not as interesting as the Devs seem to think they are either.

Agree... It doesn't even give the actual 'stealth' feel that it's supposed to. In fact the mission where we control Thancred is much more that.

However they hit the mark with the "NPC follows you" situation, because it feels more organic since they're actual part of the quest progress.