Unpopular Opnion: Dawntrail MSQ one of the best yet! [Spoilers]

[Carin-Eri]

Odd really, considering the amount of negativity I've been reading about it, how it almost feels 'wrong' to admit that I enjoyed Dawntrail.

However, I did enjoy it - due in part to the fact that it delivered on exactly what was 'promised' during the later stages of Endwalker: made us less 'Warrior of Light' (in fact I don't recall that title being used even once in DT) and more 'Adventurer'.

[Icycrits]

Odd really, considering the amount of negativity I've been reading about it, how it almost feels 'wrong' to admit that I enjoyed Dawntrail.

However, I did enjoy it - due in part to the fact that it delivered on exactly what was 'promised' during the later stages of Endwalker: made us less 'Warrior of Light' (in fact I don't recall that title being used even once in DT) and more 'Adventurer'.

You should never feel bad for enjoying something other people didn't like. This is coming from someone who thinks DT is a narrative trainwreck.

That being said, I've noticed that those who enjoyed this expansion seemed to buy into the concept and insert their own narrative in between the lines, while those who dislike it tend to be more critical about the logic behind everything and general narrative structures. For example, you said you enjoyed the fact that we were more "adventurers" this expansion but honestly I have no idea where you're seeing this. We spent half the time intervening in the politics of another nation in a rite of succession in order to avoid all-out-war between nations, opting to seat a highly unfit ruler rather than a warmongerer, then spent the latter half of said expansion stopping a massive calamitous star-wide invasion from a highly technologically advanced shard that has the ability to fuse into our reality and even has a massive timewarping advantage. There wasn't even any adventure behind the "city of gold", gulool ja ja basically knew where it was the whole time.

I actually went into this expansion wanting a refreshing, low stakes adventure in the jungle with some of the scions. That is what we were promised, and instead we got two different stories smooshed together starring a brand new character that was set up to fail. Both of which were not very well written, full of plot holes and contrivances.

I'm not trying to shame you for enjoying DT and anyone who does is just rude. I just think it's important to have constructive criticism and understand why some people liked it and others didn't.

[Carin-Eri]

You should never feel bad for enjoying something other people didn't like. This is coming from someone who thinks DT is a narrative trainwreck.

That being said, I've noticed that those who enjoyed this expansion seemed to buy into the concept and insert their own narrative in between the lines, while those who dislike it tend to be more critical about the logic behind everything and general narrative structures. For example, you said you enjoyed the fact that we were more "adventurers" this expansion but honestly I have no idea where you're seeing this. We spent half the time intervening in the politics of another nation in a rite of succession in order to avoid all-out-war between nations, opting to seat a highly unfit ruler rather than a warmongerer, then spent the latter half of said expansion stopping a massive calamitous star-wide invasion from a highly technologically advanced shard that has the ability to fuse into our reality and even has a massive timewarping advantage. There wasn't even any adventure behind the "city of gold", gulool ja ja basically knew where it was the whole time.

I actually went into this expansion wanting a refreshing, low stakes adventure in the jungle with some of the scions. That is what we were promised, and instead we got two different stories smooshed together starring a brand new character that was set up to fail. Both of which were not very well written, full of plot holes and contrivances.

I'm not trying to shame you for enjoying DT and anyone who does is just rude. I just think it's important to have constructive criticism and understand why some people liked it and others didn't.

Totally understand where you're coming from. And in fairness, I never said I thought it was perfect/amazing etc - only that I enjoyed it.

There were definitely a fair number of head-scratch and WTF moments in there though.

[Icycrits]

Totally understand where you're coming from. And in fairness, I never said I thought it was perfect/amazing etc - only that I enjoyed it.

There were definitely a fair number of head-scratch and WTF moments in there though.

I actually enjoyed a lot of aspects of the story too, I really went in with an open-mind. Such an open mind that I ignored a lot of redflags on my playthrough. I'm just frustrated because there were so many balls dropped that would've elevated this story to higher levels. Heck, most of my problems with Dawntrail aren't even the narrative itself, but more so the lack of believable character writing. The zones were breathtaking, the dungeons were fun. The music was immaculate. You're not crazy for enjoying yourself, you're totally valid.

[Aurumis]

Odd really, considering the amount of negativity I've been reading about it, how it almost feels 'wrong' to admit that I enjoyed Dawntrail.

However, I did enjoy it - due in part to the fact that it delivered on exactly what was 'promised' during the later stages of Endwalker: made us less 'Warrior of Light' (in fact I don't recall that title being used even once in DT) and more 'Adventurer'.

You are not even an adventurer, you are babysitting. The adventurer here was Estinien, don't confuse things.