Was Dawntrail, Yawntrail? (Spoilers)

[ForteNightshade]

"Yawntrail" is such an overexaggeration imo. It was a slow start but I think overall it was a fine story. We seen better, yes.
But some of you make it sound like it was a 1/10 story. Alter your expectations.

Yawntrail is a perfectly apt description for me. I literally fell asleep, albeit it only for a few minutes, during the Pelupelu split because of how bored I was. I don't even necessarily blame that particular narrative itself since some of the Pelu I genuinely liked. Same with the Hanu. It's just so much of the same thing without even the slightest degree of conflict became incredibly uninteresting. Made even worse with how little of it was voiced. The Moblin is where I drew the line and actively began speed reading. Every expansion has low points, even the beloved Heavensward and Shadowbringers. I've never been legitimately put to sleep by them.

On the whole, I gave Dawntrail a 5/10. The second half does enough to salvage the story into average territory but can't carry the weight of an otherwise dreadful first half.

[ReynTime]

Is that discord from the good peeps of the Endwalker thread still open for invitations?

[Rhysati]

"Yawntrail" is such an overexaggeration imo. It was a slow start but I think overall it was a fine story. We seen better, yes.
But some of you make it sound like it was a 1/10 story. Alter your expectations.

I wouldn't rate it 1/10. But like....3/10? Sure. It's really REALLY below par. It hasn't just bored me, it has angered me that I wasted money on the expansion and I'm seriously considering cutting my losses and giving up on FFXIV.

[Vyrerus]

Is that discord from the good peeps of the Endwalker thread still open for invitations?

It's still kicking around though I think the folks within it are mostly unsubbed. A fair few are enjoying seeing DT get negative reviews, though it wasn't surprising to them, either.

I haven't looked in on it in a minute. I'm in too many discords

[Nestama]

MSQ is okay, nothing super stellar (sorta reminds me of FFXI in a way). Dungeons and Trials were very nice, though. Felt like I was actually playing a game.

[Ruris]

A great read up, thank you. I have yet to complete MSQ so I only read as far as I had progressed but a couple of things that you pointed out and I am still reeling over and am struggling to accept that SE decided to write.

I went back and watched a youtube video of a more up to date MSQ to see what information I missed that the cast chose not to push forward at the gate to the golden city, but instead wander off. Surely I missed something. No, they simply opted there were more important things than this fabled city they had been chasing the entire expansion. This is where the nerve of IGN comparing it to One Piece actually tickles me. It's as if the strawhats sail up to Laugh Tale and then decide it isn't necessary to go any further and sail back.

The disgruntled Tuliyollal citizens discussing the prospect of leader Wuk Lamat before the promises leave to battle for their succession. The game chose to show us their doubt. Then the game shows a united crowd under leader Wuk Lamat where she hasn't done a single thing to soothe or assure the hesitant in question over her leadership. This is incredibly par for the course for WL, where she wills something, and it is so. I would say I appreciate the writer's tick in attempting to show her as an underdog where you want to root for her stakes, and then magically deleting the underdog qualities when she achieves what she wants. But I don't appreacite it, I don't view myself as the intended audience for this level of writing.

The Scion's would have faired better just being absent for an expansion, with the exception of Krile. Thancred and Urianger may as well have been cardboard cutouts of the characters that Koana was carrying around with him for all they measured up to contribute. I don't blame them for this as Koana was wittled down to only knowing how to emotionally react to whatever was going on with his sister and not much of anything else. On that note, the twins do not get a pass and should have just shipped their own cardboard cutouts with us on the ship.

[CidHeiral]

I really disliked Wuk Lamat but other than that I thought it was pretty good.

[fioravictorine]

Nah its not Yawntrail

It's actually Dawnfail

[Aluja89]

I think a lot of the negative feedback also comes from people who have played FF16 and realized, this team isn't all that.

[PaleYonder]

I actually really loved 16, especially narratively it was the dark fantasy FF I didn't have anymore after Heavensward, as much as I adore Shadowbringers and Endwalker. Some minor pacing issues aside, I enjoyed it and I'm glad it was made; it was pretty much exactly my thing.
But now I'd be happy if everyone involved in the writing came back and wrote 14 again (a guy can dream).