The many writing missteps of Dawntrain.

[Astrus]

Can we add how hamfisted "dissenting" dialogue choice were handled this go around?
In the past, while obviously leading to us doing what the plot wanted anyway, they at least got different or shocked reactions and served as a way of expressing our characters discontent with what plot dictates the next step ought to be.
This time they often get immediately downplayed and twisted into something completely different from your selection to keep up the happy go lucky atmosphere or feel like a multiple choice quiz where "wrong" answers give you the feedback that they're wrong and are subsequently removed from the selection until you either click on the "correct" choice or it's the only one left to pick so the game can go on like that was your heartfelt initial reply in the first place. At that point why bother?

[AddictedToWitches]

I disagree on bakool jaja having no foreshadowing, there were multiple small lines from him beforehand where he goes "I won't let them die in vain" or "we must retreat, for the sake of our kin"
I'd argue bakool jaja is the best written character in the expac

[Granyala]

-The dreaded beast Valigarmanda, hyped as a terrible nightmare of a creature, does not kill a single person. No devastation wrought.

They explained that: after struggling against the ice for 80 years, it's batteries are almost empty. It's basically half dead and just wants out to recharge. We kill it in it's half dead state.

Should it have recharged successfully, things would have turned out differently.

-Through the course of talking with the Endless, those who learn about us deactiving the terminals are all grateful. No one challenges us and says they don't want to die.

That, at least, is not a misstep.
They are TRAPPED inside a tiny dome with a static version of some dumb ass disneyland.

Yah, after 400 years, I too would beg the WoL to turn that forkin' terminal off. That is NOT an existence worth living, especially considering the cost.

-When we follow Sphene to the child who endures sickness from an aetheric imbalance, we never mention porxies or any way to aid his affliction.

Yep, my first thought was "Oi, didn't we found a cure for that already?"
Thee story also really drops the ball in acknowledging that my Kitten is a healer. Multiple NPCs getting hurt and Ifalna does nothing. <_<

-By the end of the game, if you measure by damage done in the final trial. Wuk Lumat is stronger than us, the Warrior of Light, and our entire group. This is the girl who got captured by bandits and swatted aside by Bakool Ja Ja earlier in the story. Again... power of friendship?

Wuk casually taking off 10% Boss HP with one attack irked me as well.
Though technically we were inside the Matrix, so maybe she just ran Cheat Engine. :'D

[Aulainn]

That, at least, is not a misstep.
They are TRAPPED inside a tiny dome with a static version of some dumb ass disneyland.

Yah, after 400 years, I too would beg the WoL to turn that forkin' terminal off. That is NOT an existence worth living, especially considering the cost.

The only people who supported us deleting them were their own parents... a bit of a bias. Literally everyone else was happy and didn't have a say. Also I do not believe it is static by design, you can literally see the world being built/changed, I am convinced the place would change according to what the people want to see under normal circumstances.

[Folsom]

The only people who supported us deleting them were their own parents... a bit of a bias. Literally everyone else was happy and didn't have a say. Also I do not believe it is static by design, you can literally see the world being built/changed, I am convinced the place would change according to what the people want to see under normal circumstances.

What? When you turn off the first tower, there are literally Endless happily waving goodbye, and at least in the first aether current quest, the tour guide happily tells you you're his last customer. If you talk to the knight after the cheesy event, he thanks you for ending his existence on a brighter note. And on and on.

... sometimes I feel like people just don't pay attention on purpose.

[Hallarem]

I don't think the new writers had gone through the MSQ themselves, just focused on their side content. The writing seems baffling, and rushed

[Granyala]

What? When you turn off the first tower, there are literally Endless happily waving goodbye, and at least in the first aether current quest, the tour guide happily tells you you're his last customer. If you talk to the knight after the cheesy event, he thanks you for ending his existence on a brighter note. And on and on.

... sometimes I feel like people just don't pay attention on purpose.

This.
Also I talked to random NPCs and they too said "I don't mind if it ends, I got to do what I wanted."

[fioravictorine]

To anyone that played Genshin,

Furina is the main character of the Fontaine arc while the Traveller (you) is just an observer.

But you still had things to do, like detective work etc but at the end inconsequencial to the story as the MC is Furina - only her actions will dictate what happens in the end.

Yet the story is very well received, and Furina is like super beloved by fans (and also made Mihoyo alot of money) because she is written in a way that is human, relatable and likeable. And she goes through alot of suffering and failure in order to save her people and country. Like alot.

[Vahlnir]

Dawntrail is the first time since ARR that the WoL is in an area solely because they chose to be and not because outside circumstances forced them in that direction.

With that in mind, and given the general characterization of the WoL across ffxiv, why in a thousand thousand lifetimes are they choosing to act as a mercenary in support of an unknown princess participating in a political succession trial?

“I want to see where this path leads” was the best answer the expansion could give…

We were promised an exciting adventure into the unknown and all we got was a motorcycle. Granted, it's a fancy one and totally worth it, but still.

[Granyala]

To anyone that played Genshin,
Furina is the main character of the Fontaine arc while the Traveller (you) is just an observer.

I'd like to disagree with that assessment.
We did actively push her into the final trial and resolved the whole prophecy issue.

That is NOT the role of an observer.

Also, I'd say that Focalors is actually far more important than Furina. Yeah Furina had a tough job for ~500 years, keeping up the sharade, but Focalors was the one that came up with the plan and made the ultimate sacrifice to oppose Celestia.

We were promised an exciting adventure into the unknown and all we got was a motorcycle. Granted, it's a fancy one and totally worth it, but still.

Now you're just being unfair.
While the story does have it's issues, it WAS an adventure into unknown territory and I actually enjoyed it for the most part. I really like the visuals of the Electrope tech. I just wish they'd handled the moral dilemma of using souls and the Endless a little better.