Feedback: Feeling disappointed by 6.55's narrative, and thus unsure about Dawntrail

[Ryvick]

To be fair, we know quite a bit more than what the OP describes regarding well... everything.

Issue 1:

Re: Tural, we know it is made up of multiple disparate cultures working together under the leadership of a 2 headed Mamool-Ja whose name I'm blanking on but is something like Goolo or other and is titled the Dawnkeeper? We know he has 3 sons and a Daughter, 2 brothers are the Sisters elder, the 3rd hasn't been placed as 3rd oldest or youngest yet.

Re: Wuk Lamat we know shes happy go lucky, sure of her strength and perhaps overconfident, eager to explore and wants to make sure brother number 3 doesn't obtain the throne but otherwise doesn't really care if her other 2 brothers gain the throne. And she eats meat like she is a severely dehydrated person sucking down water in the desert.

Re: Political goals it seemed pretty clear she wants to stop her third brother and has no real plans beyond that.

Re: The other 3 contenders of the throne we do know some facts. (I'm blanking on the eldest brothers description but I believe it was generally described he is strong and a fair brother) The second eldest brother was described as having studied in Sharlayan at the Studium and is a Mi'qote and while studying, very few (possibly zero to 1 people outside of the Headmaster) knew of his royal lineage. The 3rd brother we do not know much about other than he has heard of the fall of Garlemald in Eorzea and seeks to gain the throne of Tural to invade Eorzea and the sister is looking to stop him.

Issue 2:

Largely a plot point so nothing one can do about it.

Issue 3:

This is tricky because it is entirely possible Thancred was going to come to us with the Petition Urianger recieved and waited to overhear what we were discussin and when he realized we were accepting a petition of our own from a separate petitioner for the same Contest in Tural he most likely decided the odds are better in everyone's favor if we split our effort amongst the 3 contestants actively looking to stop the 3rd brother.

To be fair to Thancred, he frequently listens in on conversations without letting his presence be known so it is hardly out of his character.

As for Urianger, he may simply wish for this to be a bit of a surprise or wants us to gather intel/ proceed with our actions independent of the knowledge that (most likely brother number 2) another petition was made to compete in the contest and that that petition was accepted until closer to this whole thing kicking off.

Issue 4:

Is it that no one knows anything about Tural or is it that we really only performed a cursory investigation in the public parts of the library. Much more information on Tural could be in the more private parts of the library such as political structure, military strength, economic capabilities, Notable Figures, etc. etc.



All in all this is going to be a looooong 5 months.


PS Totally forgot to mention it is highly likely Estinien is going to be in the new world and already signed up for the Eldest Brothers team making the whole contest a 4 way competition with Scions working on behalf of three of the contenders. Also why no mention of Y'shtola at all? And if Graha no go with, how will "Graha Taco"?

[undull1]

Haha you fools, FFXIV is immune from criticism, every line of dialogue is perfectly handcrafted to come together in the 10.0 expansion.

[Jatoi]

I admit, there was this feeling that I didn't like about the situation and you penned it down perfectly. Just... yeahhh

There should have been much more setup, you're leaving and involving yourself in a political thing that doesn't really have much to do with you at the whims of a complete stranger here.

[Carin-Eri]

Edited because the thread has actually managed to refocus on what it was created to discuss

[DPZ2]

I wish that were true, but the words spoken don't indicate that:

"And so I ask you: will you lend me your strength, and help me win the throne of Tulliyollal?
You don't need to decide right this moment.
But I will need you if I'm to triumph over the competition. I'll stay here as long as I can while waiting for your answer."

What precedes this:

G'raha Tia: I understand your reasons, but this being an event that will dictate the course of your nation's future, is it appropriate for outsiders like us to be involved?

Wuk Lamat: Oh, it's more than appropriate. The Dawnservant himself expressly encourages it. The ruler of Tural must navigate the intricacies of myriad cultures, and there's no better way to prove oneself qualified to do so than to work with foreign allies. That's why I sought you out. Through our hunt, I've confirmed that you're a warrior of considerable skill. But more importantly, one of good character as well.

What is said afterwards:

Erenville: Whether Wuk Lamat has the makings of a ruler, I couldn't say. But I do know that she deeply cares for her nation and her people. Whether you choose to help her, though, is for you and you alone to decide. Think on it well. Now then, it's past time I reported our mission's success to the guildship. I would've done so sooner, except Her Highness needed to have her royal meal.

As always, it's way more complicated ...

[AmorfaVex]

I won't deny the possibility for alternate readings, but given that he was waiting a mere 2 minutes from our dwelling, it seems like he could have chosen to discuss what was overheard with us. If he chose not to do that, then he chose to make it a secret.


I don't mind that Urianger won't show us his hand, but I do mind that he isn't telling us he's playing the game. Especially when it's not a game; the Scions have experienced far too much to treat a contest that will determine the well-being of at least one nation — if not the world — as if it were a game.

Regardless, I'm not writing off the expansion yet. I like Wuk Lamat as a character. I'm eager to see Tural. But there do seem to be some red flags that the writers don't understand the characters or the world they're writing, and that has me concerned. I hope I'm wrong.

Im with you here.

It is entirely possible the situation in Tural was explained very differently to Urianger and Thancred than it was to us. Given Thancred's wry smile when eavesdropping, im assuming they are treating it as a game, not a political struggle. I really dont think Urianger would ever betray us again.

Estinien will likely get scooped up by a third faction, and Y'shtola, who went oddly unmentioned, possible the fourth with promises of learning secrets of teleportation to the first.

The Scions and their motivations dont concern me as much as getting railroaded by Wukie into joining her crusade.

Im not concerned yet, but was hoping to see, at the very least, a third dialogue option saying something to the effect of "I'll go to evaluate the situation, but I'm not making any promises." That alone would have made me feel better.

[Kalaam]

It's almost like we'll learn new information and change our stance as the story unfolds and we learn more informations.
Ya know, kind of like when we learn the truth about ishgard in heavensward.

[Iscah]

There should have been much more setup, you're leaving and involving yourself in a political thing that doesn't really have much to do with you at the whims of a complete stranger here.

Although Wuk Lamat herself is a complete stranger, she comes with an implicit recommendation from Erenville, who we do know and trust and who seems to be level-headed and insightful.

I won't deny the possibility for alternate readings, but given that he was waiting a mere 2 minutes from our dwelling, it seems like he could have chosen to discuss what was overheard with us. If he chose not to do that, then he chose to make it a secret.

I feel like you're making a stretch from "honesty between friends regarding important matters" to "obligated to inform us of anything he hears". Doubly so when that would be a direct betrayal of Thancred's trust just to inform us of something that doesn't really change anything. Triply so when, again, he is our direct competitor in a contest, whatever you may think of the quality of the writing that set the contest up.

What would we actually do with the information that they will be our opponents? We'll find out soon enough. It might be as simple as that we'll find out as soon as we're off the boat in Tural and go to the "official launch of the contest" gathering.

On a side note, Thancred and Urianger are also characters who have a good insight into things and a strong moral compass. I cannot believe that they would be willing to participate in this contest on behalf of someone who should not be supported.

...the Scions have experienced far too much to treat a contest that will determine the well-being of at least one nation — if not the world — as if it were a game.

Regardless, I'm not writing off the expansion yet [but] there do seem to be some red flags that the writers don't understand the characters or the world they're writing, and that has me concerned. I hope I'm wrong.

We don't know what they're treating it as, exactly, but if the writers intend to portray it like a game then we may just have to go with it.

I'm wary about the writing choice of that particular plot point, but I'm not going to let it get in the way of what I think about everything else or getting enjoyment out of the parts that the story does do well.

[Jatoi]

Although Wuk Lamat herself is a complete stranger, she comes with an implicit recommendation from Erenville, who we do know and trust and who seems to be level-headed and insightful.

The issue I take with this is that they are still a stranger to us, even with recommendations because the pace of this doesn't do this justice. It's why I think the story about the Void had taken too much precedence when it should have been shortened. That I think is more of the core problem here, because this is quite sudden indeed and there isn't much to chew on between this expansion and DT, especially because I think there are 5 months left?

[Denji]

She's still a stranger.

I'm interfering in the politics of something I don't understand for a complete stranger.

What the hell?