Quote Originally Posted by Shurrikhan View Post
What Dawntrail changes do you think have negatively affected the game or your experience thereof?
I have a broader issue of the game that has (as far as I am concerned) begun in Shadowbringers. MSQ writing has been paralysed in order to cater to people who could not let go of their "WOLship". I have had a lot of discussions with friends about the game and came to the conclusion that the writers seem to be scared of sacrificing a key character because of social media backlash. The realisation that any given plot consists of not being allowed to sacrifice someone has been killing my interest in the main scenario. It kills all suspense because any threat you may see it's just Goody Two-Shoes WOL and the Scions to the rescue and nothing ever goes wrong except for the occasional expansion-exclusive side character dying (see Tesleen, Galool Ja Ja). The last time we genuinely lost a Scion was Papalymo all the way back at Baelsar's Wall. That was in 3.5, that was seven-and-a-half years ago. That is still more than double the time I've been playing this game. The Exarch has been the greatest offender. He repeatedly hints and then tells us all that he will sacrifice himself for us. Two expansions later he is sitting on a love boat with the WOL, how convenient for all the Twitter WOLship fanatics. Not so much for the players that just want a thrilling story.

What does it mean for Dawntrail? I already entered MSQ with a poor taste in my mouth, knowing that there would be no key characters lost. And I was right! The only key supporting character they have killed off was the parting two-headed Dawnservant whose wiser face has already died years ago. That is about the most cowardly way you can write a death. Yshtola and Graha have not even been close to any threat. Yshtola's involvement in the MSQ was poor in general. Basically comes in just to tell us what an interdimensional rift is, and then tells Graha to fix it basically. Estinien's involvement in the plot was to kill a few drones in Shaaloani. Krile has been advertised as a woman on a mission with a newly acquired fighting skill. In the end, she gets two truly relevant plot sections (the Lalafellin couple handing the child to Galuf, and Krile later meeting the Endless of her parents. She was also seen using her pictomancer kit once in the MSQ. Even Alisaie and Alphinaud may as well just stayed in Sharlayan for the first 70% of the story. Just don't put anyone in danger please, the Twitter horde might not like it.