The Negative Impact of Poor Character Writing on the Quality of Dawntrail's MSQ

[eri_b]

You hit the nail on the head. Well said!

[EshKarasu]

I'd have to agree with mostly everything already posted in this thread, and I'd like to add an additional thought that has been bothering me during the 2nd half of the story (just reached Solution 9).

I feel as if Koana would've been the better choice for the 2nd half of the story heading into Heritage Found.
For one, for what little characterization he got during the rite of succession, he's been shown to care a great deal for Wuk his adoptive family since being abandoned by his biological family and is also shown to be unusually emotional whenever Wuk his family is in danger to the surprise of others, and rather than have this be one of many throwaway elements, they could've played into it more seriously when Zoraal Ja kills Gulool. This is the only father he's known his whole life! Who says only Wuk gets to be angry and wants to kill Zoraal for patricide? Koana has every right to feel the same as well, and it would push his emotional outburst from an ooc mini joke to an actual character trait!

Secondly, the setting appeals much more to Koana and his ambition for technological advancement for Tural in a way that can potentially challenge him on his worldview. The only time the story suggests that his perspective on technology may be wrong is when he develops an alchemical solution during the 1st feat, while ignoring the cultural heritage of the festival, even though the elector believes his solution to be acceptable and grants him his keystone anyways. Meanwhile, a Reflection that showcases an incredibly advanced technological society would be something that I feel he should be written to have a lot to say about, and could finally present an obstacle for him to tackle, when the story presents the science behind the regulators, and the questionable morality behind such a useful device.

Lastly, seeing as how the entirety of the story revolves around Wuk to the detriment of every other character's growth, this is the perfect scenario to take a break from her overbearing presence. Wuk would have been a great choice to leave behind to defend her city and her people being as she is shown to be charismatic and with alot of appeal towards the populace, and she should be able to reassure them and raise their morale before the impending siege on the city, as well as provide her fighting skills towards repelling the attack. Meanwhile Koana would have been a perfect addition to our infiltration of the dome, being as he has a strategic mind and the technological knowledge to help with the construction of the bomb train.

Really feels like missed potential. Or maybe the writers thought that people would call this "Stormblood 2.0" if they let Koana have as much presence as Hien did during the Doma arc. But in my opinion it would have really made this 2nd half of DT much more enjoyable, instead of dragging along the same tired character who has at this point overstayed her welcome.

[eohippus]

Just wanted to agree that you really hit the nail on the head with so many of the issues in the writing! I've been really struggling with how "off" it felt this time around (especially as someone who played all the previous expacs within the past 2 years) and it makes me feel a bit less crazy to see other folks who are able to point out clear, objectively detrimental changes in the writing. These are criticisms that me and a lot of friends have all arrived at separately and organically too, so I know it's not just my subjective taste making me feel so :/ about it.

I'm someone who only started playing because I loved the story when I watched my partner play thru msq, and I feel a little cheated that my first on content expac ended up feeling subpar as far as the writing went. I'm still trying to be hopeful that they can turn this ship around and get back on track for patches and 8.0, but it feels good to be able to name exactly what went wrong / made it so this one didn't click.

[JamsC]

The OP was excellent. I’m really, really shocked at how many basic errors of creative writing there are in the Dawntrail story. While I hope it isn’t a sign of things to come, the main writer’s previous writing for quest does fill me with dread.

[Finalvalkyrie]

I don't know if anyone has brought this up, but why does baby Zoraal Ja exist? It's never explained how or why Zoraal Ja had a kid. He just pops up, with the same exact rare trait his father had. Where is the mother? Why did he even have a son if he clearly didn't want a son? Is he a clone or something?

[Rannie]

I don't know if anyone has brought this up, but why does baby Zoraal Ja exist? It's never explained how or why Zoraal Ja had a kid. He just pops up, with the same exact rare trait his father had. Where is the mother? Why did he even have a son if he clearly didn't want a son? Is he a clone or something?

don't you know all shows, books, movies and video games become better when you add an adorable cute kid in the mix! it's an instant success! who cares about the details! /s

[Alleluia]

I don't know if anyone has brought this up, but why does baby Zoraal Ja exist? It's never explained how or why Zoraal Ja had a kid. He just pops up, with the same exact rare trait his father had. Where is the mother? Why did he even have a son if he clearly didn't want a son? Is he a clone or something?

I'm assuming we're gonna find out he was a clone and it'll be a Vivi parallel.

[Icycrits]

I feel as if Koana would've been the better choice for the 2nd half of the story heading into Heritage Found.

Now that you mention it, it would've been amazing. More character development. Giving Koana a taste of what too much technological advancement, too quickly, can do to a populace. Instead, he just gives up his entire world view despite all of the good he has done for Tural with the knowledge he's brought back from Sharlayan just because the overgrown cat woman "beats" him in the contest while being carried by literal Eorzean Jesus and his/her crew.

What a tremendously huge missed opportunity.

[chizLemons]

Now that you mention it, it would've been amazing. More character development. Giving Koana a taste of what too much technological advancement, too quickly, can do to a populace. Instead, he just gives up his entire world view despite all of the good he has done for Tural with the knowledge he's brought back from Sharlayan just because the overgrown cat woman "beats" him in the contest while being carried by literal Eorzean Jesus and his/her crew.

What a tremendously huge missed opportunity.

I agree! Koana deserved more. The only thing we ever learn about his character is that he is smart and likes Sharlayan technology, then that he suddenly always cared about his sister. He stops talking as much about Sharlayan after telling us that, and that's it. I don't even know what Wuk Lamat thinks of him othen than "my smart brother".
But having him there would probably mean the writers would have to actually think more about the technology than Wuk Lamat did, and they certainly didn't give me the impression they're able to do that. They can SAY a character is smart, but showing it?! It would be expecting too much.

[Aniya_Estlihn]

It feels like another writer took over, who had not been properly briefed on the target audience of the game..

Another writer did take over for Dawntrail, the one who penned Shadows of Werlyt, so its definitely not PG-13ification of the game as we KNOW what that questline dives into, and torturing kids and branding them with cattle rods and the complete dissolving of the self to be overwritten by the memories and personality of one of the elite of your country in a wannabe Evangelion story absolutely isn't "family friendly." They're simply not as skilled of a writer as Ishikawa is and likely wanted to play it safe for their first MSQ narrative. We were spoiled with her mastery of writing as an art-craft and have been given something written by someone who needs to learn the rules of creative writing.