/r/ffxivdiscussion: Japanese reception to Dawntrail MSQ [SPOILERS]

[Reinha]

Oh wow the JP comments are savage... and on point.

Please actually just get Ishikawa to write the story again.

[Dogempire]

I thought the same thing; however, we have to keep in mind that these are handpicked quotes reflecting the discourse we have ourselves. I appreciate the OP trying to give a clear picture of the discussion. Still, this is also I believe a forum that is known to have a negative opinion about many things - I think lol.

I really hope the general consensus on the JP side is the story is bad, b/c it was handled in the absolute worst way compared to what we've been given - far FAR worse than ARR or Stormblood imo. I hope so b/c like you said, the JP playerbase has a far stronger influence than we do - despite I think our playerbase being larger? (Please correct me on this if I'm wrong).

We'll have to see if this changes anything though in the post patch - it might be too late for that though sadly.

While I agree that the forums is very negative, it also isn't inherently bad since the FFXIV community tends to dogpile/make fun of anyone who speaks negatively about the game. It's a very annoying toxic positivity and coming to the forums to complain is honestly better than going to somewhere like reddit where you'll likely get bombarded with downvotes.

[Vahlnir]

The thing with Lyse is while she wasn't a strong character, she's at least self-aware and not obnoxious. The only reason she temporary step up to the leadership role at the beginning was because the Ala Mighan resistance were very distrusted of any oursider, and they desperately need a local figurehead in which her father name carried weight. Lyse was in over her head but the thing is she knew that. Once Rahbaun joint she immediately defer to him.

Wuk was basically given a miracle Mary Sue transformation who had to insert herself into everything and must have every last worst. Forget FF14 or MMO in general, I honestly can't remember the last time I see such an obnoxious character who the players supposed to like and love. This level of obnoxious does exist in other characters and games, but usually they're reserved for characters who we're supposed to hate or rage again.

As far as Lyse goes, if we actually got to see her development and accomplishments ourselves, I think she would have been viewed more favorably. Sadly, a lot of the good she did was done off screen. She's far from my favorite character, but she was also a victim of bad writing.

I'm seeing the same exact problems arising in DT. They prefer to tell instead of show, when showing instead of telling is the best way, especially when there's a lot to unpack. A near endless stream of cutscenes and dialogue aren't going to get most people engaged. Quite the opposite, in fact.

[Ruri]

Pretty much agree with every one of those statements. Even ARR was more fun than this lol

[DreadCrow]

Square Enix is a very small indie developer. Working around something like bunny ears on the head is something that can take several years and the creation of many new graphical design and 3d modeling tools, innovating the industry to new heights.

People like to say comments like this without realizing the truth of the matter is; when it comes to hrothgar, there's not enough to actually make it worthwhile to spend the resources to give them hats. There would be an argument for male viera, mind you, but then you alienate female viera and all hrothgar. So it gets ignored; especially when there's other cosmetic things that take priority to more players.

Bean counters suck.

[PercibelTheren]

People like to say comments like this without realizing the truth of the matter is; when it comes to hrothgar, there's not enough to actually make it worthwhile to spend the resources to give them hats. There would be an argument for male viera, mind you, but then you alienate female viera and all hrothgar. So it gets ignored; especially when there's other cosmetic things that take priority to more players.

Bean counters suck.

Why male and not female Viera? Bunny girls are extremely popular.

[Lusarae]

I was curious how the JP community were receiving the expansion. I can't say I disagree with their sentiments. Thanks for sharing. However, it's important to keep in mind these are handpicked comments on a possibly biased forum. I'd be interested in what our JP fellow WoL's are enjoying about the story too.

I agree with the criticisms posted here though. It feels like the writers who wrote the characters and dialogue haven't even played XIV before. Where's Alisaie's sassy sarcasm? Where's Alphinaud's leadership and Estinien crush? Where is our WoL? Almost every single line Wuk Lamat has said reminds me of our characters when we go to rally our team, forge ahead, fight for what's right, and make some super stupid decisions. I don't even mind another main character but at least let my character do something; teach her, guide her, admonish her. There's maybe one line about her sulking. I'm literally just a background nobody in a video game.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, if I didn't want to play as the main character I wouldn't play a video game, I'd watch a movie / read a book / partake of any other kind of media. My WoL wasn't always super powerful, often times we lost or were on the run to try to figure something out; I don't need a power trip. I just wanted a well balanced and properly integrated story into this beautiful new continent with a genuinely sweet and cute character, Wuk Lamat. What I got was writing that has no idea how to integrate the WoL or anyone else besides the new characters that they themselves made up. I truly, truly hope this isn't the direction this game is going in, because it's sad to see characters I've played alongside for 10yrs get lobotomized and thrown in the background.

It feels like I'm playing World of Warcraft again basically. I looooooooved how integrated the WoL was in the plot. We were the star, we had actual relationships with the cast, it felt so natural. DT makes me feel like I'm just the "CHAMPION of Azeroth" all over again, doing menial chores for people just for them to kill steal me at the end. I loved seeing us develop from a green adventurer who has to kill trash while Thancred or Y'shtola tanks the real threat. To them being the trash clearers while I fight the real threat. To them literally existing in an event where we can play as them, struggling to stay alive stalling for time until WE show up. Compare that to having the character we assume control of just win while the WoL leans up against a tree looking like an idiot wondering why we are here.

I'm telling you right now. If Wuk Lamat was in Endwalker, she'd be the one we sacrifice ourselves for so she can finish the game for us. This is how useless I feel. I see people compare her to Zero as if both are just some equally cringe protaginist doing amazing things on their own. But no. Zero, actually tried to be the star. She failed. We had to save her. Playing as her, or playing as Alisae... and fighting against a monster that was like it was some raid boss. Then we play as the WoL and fight the same thing like its a trash encounter. It matters. Its different. The things Wuk Lamat fights are not trash encounters. Where is she even getting all this strength from lorewise? Other than plotarmor... I just don't see how she got so good at fighting just because she had a child race teach her about trading or had the WoL convince someone to make a gem.

[Lusarae]

People like to say comments like this without realizing the truth of the matter is; when it comes to hrothgar, there's not enough to actually make it worthwhile to spend the resources to give them hats. There would be an argument for male viera, mind you, but then you alienate female viera and all hrothgar. So it gets ignored; especially when there's other cosmetic things that take priority to more players.

Bean counters suck.

No... no. You don't have to do ANYTHING to give a viera half the helms in the game. I don't care if the ears just vanish. Let me wear the dragoon helm, and not have ear holes for it. Or not have any ear shaped sleeves that protect the ears. All you're doing is just copy/pasting an already existing model onto my head like every other race. As for the hats, or other helms that realistically could have ear holes... miqo'te have them. Why can't viera? I saw on twitter where someone already did all that "hard work" on their own. Got working hats for all viera and the hrothgar males. Just steal their work for all I care. What are they going to do? Sue square for stealing their work in some illegal mod square never gave the modder permission to make in the first place? LOL

[WeebPolice]

I hated the first dungeon. The second dungeon and first trial were actually pretty cool, but that first dungeon was sooo boring.

The second half of the game is acceptable, citizen, and you shall find more than your fair share of worthy foes.

This is good news, only the JPs opinion matters to SE.

True and based, citizen.




Sun and moon light your way.

[Swordsman]

While I agree that the forums is very negative, it also isn't inherently bad since the FFXIV community tends to dogpile/make fun of anyone who speaks negatively about the game. It's a very annoying toxic positivity and coming to the forums to complain is honestly better than going to somewhere like reddit where you'll likely get bombarded with downvotes.

Yeah you'll just get shadowbanned really fast at r/ffxiv if you went there with a complaint. r/ffxivdiscussion has proven to be a much better place to provide criticism of the game.

Pretty much agree with every one of those statements. Even ARR was more fun than this lol

I can agree with that because ARR had a certain charm to it's campy dialogue and wooden voice acting. DT has mostly been the opposite of charming so far lol.

Sue square for stealing their work in some illegal mod square never gave the modder permission to make in the first place? LOL

SE's very risk averse when it comes to doing something that can possibly damage their reputation. If they were to steal someone else's work in the manner you suggest, it would be indirectly acknowledging that their own efforts and work have been subpar and that someone else other than their own devs are doing a better job.

The second half of the game is acceptable, citizen, and you shall find more than your fair share of worthy foes.

Lol I sure hope so. There's gotta be something in this game that is redeemable.