Dawntrail's MSQ story is a disaster and waste of potential. [full spoilers]

[Tethan]

Honestly I felt better after seeing I wasn't crazy. The game is what brought me down, the story. Walking away from a paralyzed kid I could cure, seeing my warrior of light nod to things that were so incredibly stupid like letting an old man keep his honor in death while his opponent clearly cheated with a reraise spell... gah the list goes on. I understand just wallowing in misery, and sure, to a degree I am - but it wasn't a few angry threads that started that or should hold the blame for it. It's the writing of this game. It's like watching a classic racecar that used to be last, finishing first over and over again then not only just lose the race but crash, roll over and go up in flames.

That's what brought me down. Not other people's opinions. Not other people's experiences. Reading the mess that is the XIV Dawntrail story - and EVEN then I wouldn't so much as stick around these forums after giving my critique if I wasn't honestly terrified that this the new direction of the game.

Yeah if anything, ranting and making jokes about it on the forums and other places is cathartic and keeps me from being too sad about this fiasko. It is also the only thing that gives me any hope for the future. If we can provide honest feedback, share our feelings (ugh) and not take ourselves too seriously while doing it, there might still be hope.

But you guys, the "no it's perfect don't change a thing" people? You make me so sad. You should try to be better.

[Sephi_Ravour]

That's what brought me down. Not other people's opinions. Not other people's experiences. Reading the mess that is the XIV Dawntrail story - and EVEN then I wouldn't so much as stick around these forums after giving my critique if I wasn't honestly terrified that this the new direction of the game.

This is so true and what keeps me coming back here despite my desire to move on and just forget that whole mess.

CBU3 has proven that they are able and willing to listen to critique. When people complained about 1.0 they nuked the whole world with ARR. When people complained about the StB-MSQ they listened and we got ShB and EW after that.
So I feel it's important to voice my complaints together with other people, in the hopes that the devs listen and do better in the future.

That said, the expansion isn't all doom and gloom. There are a lot of good things. The dungeons are fun and enjoyable, the music is top notch, the zones looks amazing, even though I dislike the mood in the last two, but that's tied to the MSQ problems. The graphics update may has some hiccups for some people, but it's going in the right direction.

Or maybe I'm just high on hopium/copium, but I'm willing to give CBU3 a chance to fix that mess.

[LittleArrow]

This is so true and what keeps me coming back here despite my desire to move on and just forget that whole mess.

CBU3 has proven that they are able and willing to listen to critique. When people complained about 1.0 they nuked the whole world with ARR. When people complained about the StB-MSQ they listened and we got ShB and EW after that.
So I feel it's important to voice my complaints together with other people, in the hopes that the devs listen and do better in the future.

That said, the expansion isn't all doom and gloom. There are a lot of good things. The dungeons are fun and enjoyable, the music is top notch, the zones looks amazing, even though I dislike the mood in the last two, but that's tied to the MSQ problems. The graphics update may has some hiccups for some people, but it's going in the right direction.

Or maybe I'm just high on hopium/copium, but I'm willing to give CBU3 a chance to fix that mess.

I know it's too late to course correct. It was stated in another thread, and I agree with the assumptions there, that there are just too many hands the story has to go through; scheduled VA sessions, writers, editors, localizations, etc. I'm positive they're 2-3 patches ahead and I know they already have the major beats / outline for the next 10yrs. Still, seeing how they handle the patches, even before criticism, will do a lot in my judgement with expansion as a whole.

Personally, my character did not come out well with the graphics update. She looks like she's having an allergic reaction and nothing like the character I had become so fondly attached to for years and years. However, I can't change that so I just accepted it, despite my intense negative reaction to it. You're totally right in many positives. I've really been enjoying the dungeon content, and it seems the sidequests still have some gems in them.

There are definitely positives to the expansion, but the MSQ is what drives and defines a lot of how I feel and enjoy about the rest of the game. If the story is stupid and it's not a huge deal / optional I don't really give it too much care. However, this was the MSQ - the defining thing about XIV. When I see people selling this game or players coming from other MMO's it's not the combat or raids that get people to come over. Time and time again I've read and heard players on both sides saying how much better combat / tab-targeting / raid encounters are in WoW compared to XIV - and I agree having played wow until WotLK.

The story is the foundation for many many players that take pride in this game. Yes, Xenos and probably 100,000s of players don't care about the msq, but I do.

I really hope the Devs are listening, to both sides. For those that enjoy a more laid back story or not being the main spotlight - we've done that before in other expansions and side quests. I know XIV can provide a great story that makes those that love this story even better. They can do better than this.. leagues better. XIV didn't become the MMO it is just because they accepted when their job was labelled "good." They've always reached for better each time even when trying new things. I hope they take this, fix the problems and improve on the positives.

[Lersayil]

Something something love, hate, indifference. The fact that we discuss and complain means we still care. DT wasn't so bad as to flip most people over right to indifference, but it does set a worrying course for the story, both in theme and writing quality.

Course correcting is still probably possible with some heavy handed patches, but we'll see how it'll pan out. It's possible that they already saw some of the plot holes before release just couldn't fix them in time.

[Tethan]

Something something love, hate, indifference. The fact that we discuss and complain means we still care. DT wasn't so bad as to flip most people over right to indifference, but it does set a worrying course for the story, both in theme and writing quality.

Course correcting is still probably possible with some heavy handed patches, but we'll see how it'll pan out. It's possible that they already saw some of the plot holes before release just couldn't fix them in time.

"The silent always leave first. If citizens are complaining, then it means they still care."

"Learn to listen and adapt. A complaint is worth twice a compliment."

- Naoki Yoshida, GDC2014

[MatthiusAbysswalker]

Terrible story, Wuk Lamat was an awful character. The English v/a was atrocious, had the emotional range of a spoon.

[PaleYonder]

Honestly I felt better after seeing I wasn't crazy. The game is what brought me down, the story. Walking away from a paralyzed kid I could cure, seeing my warrior of light nod to things that were so incredibly stupid like letting an old man keep his honor in death while his opponent clearly cheated with a reraise spell... gah the list goes on. I understand just wallowing in misery, and sure, to a degree I am - but it wasn't a few angry threads that started that or should hold the blame for it. It's the writing of this game. It's like watching a classic racecar that used to be last, finishing first over and over again then not only just lose the race but crash, roll over and go up in flames.

That's what brought me down. Not other people's opinions. Not other people's experiences. Reading the mess that is the XIV Dawntrail story - and EVEN then I wouldn't so much as stick around these forums after giving my critique if I wasn't honestly terrified that this the new direction of the game.

Seconded, yeah, this is catharsis and sanity preservation. Before this situation, I didn't think I'd take to the forums with complaints, and I went into this expansion rather positive at first.
But I need to voice these thoughts, and preferably where the feedback is actually heard by someone who can course-correct if those someones still care to do so.
I love this game, I wanted to continue loving it, and the presentation and gameplay are good. But storywise (and that is my focus in 14) I feel like an Ascian that just watched their favourite world get sundered, picking through the pieces and going "What is this?"
I'm currently right on the tipping point between still caring and indifference, and I have to wait myself where it'll end up once the dust has settled. But if there's a chance this game story can be salvaged again, I don't want to not have said anything.

[Bunyon]

I was surprised at how much they shafted Krile. They made her into a pictomancer and gave her the motivation of finding what happened to grandad, and then I just feel like she was completely overshadowed by everything else. I legitimately don't remember anything Krile did during the first half of the expansion, and then it gets revealed that she came from another reflection through the city of gold's portal and you don't even go back there, you just get told to go explore while they handle it. Then 3/4ths in, they're like "Your earring is actually a USB filled with data!" and that gets immediately shoved to the side until the very end.

And the big kicker is, even when Krile goes to use the earring it doesn't even work because she doesn't have enough clearance. The baby has to open the door. I felt like Krile's only signficant moment was in Living Memory and it felt super rushed. "Here's your parents, they're from another reflection, look here's a room with some minimal lore and weird masks, okay time to say goodbye to them."

[genuine_stranger]

I'm currently right on the tipping point between still caring and indifference, and I have to wait myself where it'll end up once the dust has settled. But if there's a chance this game story can be salvaged again, I don't want to not have said anything.

This was me after the conclusion of EW. I had come to despise the 6.0 story and the ability of the writers to ignore the established lore to push their ideals and morals. After a year-long and going through DT, I just enjoy looking at the burning house from the battle content bar.

[Lady_Silvermoon]

Honestly I felt better after seeing I wasn't crazy. The game is what brought me down, the story. Walking away from a paralyzed kid I could cure, seeing my warrior of light nod to things that were so incredibly stupid like letting an old man keep his honor in death while his opponent clearly cheated with a reraise spell... gah the list goes on. I understand just wallowing in misery, and sure, to a degree I am - but it wasn't a few angry threads that started that or should hold the blame for it. It's the writing of this game. It's like watching a classic racecar that used to be last, finishing first over and over again then not only just lose the race but crash, roll over and go up in flames.

That's what brought me down. Not other people's opinions. Not other people's experiences. Reading the mess that is the XIV Dawntrail story - and EVEN then I wouldn't so much as stick around these forums after giving my critique if I wasn't honestly terrified that this the new direction of the game.

I was sure they introduced that kid so we could explain that we've found a way to treat temperal imbalances and maybe make peace between our peoples, but instead we did nothing. But then I deleted a bunch of kids and realized the WoL must just really hate kids.