Unenthused About Dawntrail

[Ardeth]

Story wise, it all just feels so contrived. At least with other expansions, the lead in is interesting, and this one just isn't. I don't care that I'm going to this new place. I've already forgotten its name.

[Supersnow845]

If they wanted me to care about the new world they needed to start setting up plot threads in like 6.3, like when graha started pulling the scions into the first during 4.x

Having the ~~not~~ ripped out trial storyline take up the entirety of the 6.1-6.5 space gave them no time to set up the right plot threads to hook me and at this point I’d rather support wuk’s miqote scholar brother over her given what I know about the characters at this point

[xxmiamorecadenza]

If they wanted me to care about the new world they needed to start setting up plot threads in like 6.3, like when graha started pulling the scions into the first during 4.x

Having the ~~not~~ ripped out trial storyline take up the entirety of the 6.1-6.5 space gave them no time to set up the right plot threads to hook me and at this point I’d rather support wuk’s miqote scholar brother over her given what I know about the characters at this point

It’d have been super neat if instead of the void we explore the brother’s perspective as well as his sister’s. Thus allowing the scions to organically form their opinions on the matter instead of rushing it.

[rawker]

I am excited but weary. Until they bring the old pet management back, i will not be fully happy with the upcoming expansion. And no, I am not going to play a limited job

[Hanayumi]

Curious why do folks believe they know how the story is going to play out? Haven't ya'll learned from the Zodiark?

[Ardeth]

Curious why do folks believe they know how the story is going to play out? Haven't ya'll learned from the Zodiark?

That still bugs me. 13 or 14 years of buildup excuse me I can't remember when 1.0 came out and if the Ascians were even a thing, but at least 11 soon and all that build up was a wet fart in the end. Zodiark got cheated.

But it's ok y'all were going on summer vacation! I don't have much faith left in the writing team anymore, but I'm open to being surprised.

[Daralii]

That still bugs me. 13 or 14 years of buildup excuse me I can't remember when 1.0 came out and if the Ascians were even a thing, but at least 11 soon and all that build up was a wet fart in the end. Zodiark got cheated.

But it's ok y'all were going on summer vacation! I don't have much faith left in the writing team anymore, but I'm open to being surprised.

They were around in 1.0, they just looked similar to Ascian Prime from Aetherochemical Research Facility and were far in the periphery.

[Supersnow845]

The only time you see one in 1.0 is after you beat 1.0 ifrit you see one (as above said they look like ascian prime or eden promise) floating around that you hide from and your path partner makes a comment about them

It’s obvious they had no direction for them in 1.0 as the paper thin story of OG 1.0 before the meteor project more focused on conflicts with the beast tribes

[Ardeth]

Still, though, at the end, it's all meaningless. For as much as the community loves Emet, his whole goal becomes a joke in the hands of his fellow Ascians.

[Supersnow845]

Emets plan was good in ShB. He didn’t deny he facilitated the rejoining to return the ancients and he functionally doesn’t even see us as alive. However he does make an effort to see how far the source residents have come to see if there comes a point when they can stop the rejoinings even if it’s prior to all 13 shards being rejoined. Sure he kinda goes off the deep end at the end but that’s mostly because the WOL “failed” his test. There is no reason to think 1 or 2 rejoinings down the line he wouldn’t try again

What ruined emet was using him at the end of EW to come in and say “you have gone further than even we could” as a cheap way of deflecting the criticism that there is no valid reason why venat wouldn’t tell the ancients what was learned in elpis (outside of the closed time loop which is its own problem that should have just been rectified by the WOL playing azem in elpis with the CT being used to send the WOL’s memories into azem)

They flanderised emet selch’s character and ambitions so they could defend venat when she really doesn’t have a valid excuse for not trusting in the ancients (their society was flawed yes, that doesn’t mean you metaphysically nuke it from orbit), especially since they literally chanced upon the correct solution anyway even with no knowledge. Venat has no justification for not telling the ancients what was learned in elpis and the time loop is used as a cheap way to treat it like she had no choice (which again they should have dodged by not doing a closed time loop)