Dawntrail isn't 10 year plan that we expected it

[Eyrilona]

I think they have a base plan around it, e.g., with the subtlety of the key sharing the same insignia as the Azem Crystal

I have no issue with the gist of what you are saying, but I think we might have differing understandings of 'subtle'? I'd say it was blatant, rather.

[Kaurhz]

I have no issue with the gist of what you are saying, but I think we might have differing understandings of 'subtle'? I'd say it was blatant, rather.

Eh, maybe. Quite a few of my friends missed it, honestly - So just basing it off that.

[Khryseis_Astra]

I dont think there is any plan, endwalker pretty much proved that they are just blindly writing w/e comes to mind at each moment while trying to build on past xPacs, I promise you evil little bird girl did not exist back in ARR.

Honestly, that’s kind of the point. And they said as much in interviews, that player feedback would be important for shaping the next big story. To be fair, any long running tv show is much the same: from season to season, they’re writing the plot as they go. Unless they’re based on a book where they know they have to hit certain plot points, it’s pretty much writing the story as they go and leaning into the things the viewer feedback showed were popular. IMO it’s actually a great achievement that they tied together so many dangling threads with the ShB/EW story.

I think the shards are going to be a big deal, and not just because of the key, that I’m assuming will be able to open gates so people besides us can also enjoy shard travel. But there were a sprinkling of different things here and there making me think that, possibly because of all the rejoinings that succeeded and the ones that were being prepared, the balance between shards and Source is not as stable as it should be. Or they could just go in an exploratory direction, where we go to them just to see what’s there. I’m thinking Meracydia is going to come up soon too (maybe as soon as next expac), as well as any other place Emet specifically mentioned that we haven’t already seen. We also have Cosmic Exploration coming up… whether they tie that to the MSQ in any meaningful way, or if it just ends up being “Shame to let this nice spaceship go to waste! Let’s go explore!” remains to be seen.

Tl;dr: I think there’s more than enough little things in the DT MSQ that could turn into big plot points for a new 10-year story arc.

[koko-on-da-forumz]

Eh, maybe. Quite a few of my friends missed it, honestly - So just basing it off that.

Hahaha what?

I swear to god, ffxiv players.

[BakoolJaJa]

ARR ended with the Ascians meeting to discuss their next steps on reviving Zodiark and a closing shot of the giant purple crystal we thought was him. I don't get why people keep saying that ARR ended with as little future direction as DT.

ARR clearly set up the biggest future antagonists. It also set up a lot of the lore and questions central to the game - Hydaelyn, Lifestream, Source and reflections, Primals, and a lot more. (The one thing that continued coming up later but was NOT set up directly in ARR are the Allagans. Those came in 2.1.) Everything that came in ARR we were then untangling for multiple expansions. And the things I mentioned, everyone was interested to learn more about then and there. It wasn't a single McGuffin key that as of now is... a key to go to other reflections. Which is totally not something we have already done before without any keys.

The only thing that got people excited about the key is the Azem connection. Which is not even some beginning of a new ark, it's literally a continuation of what we learned in Endwalker... The key is just more ascian stuff, so much for a brand new ark.

All that said, thank god they do NOT have any 10 year plan. I sure would not want future story to be based on the mess that is "Wuk Lamat the Lion Queen" expansion.

[LyraShu]

I really think we are about to cause another disaster. I need to put something actually together for this idea, but I really think we are about to let our own ambitions lead us to the "wrong path". Nothing like Zenos, but that key has me curious

But besides my own excitement for possible new stories, this one was just something to play. I still have a laundry list of stuff to do so it was another stop for me~

[Gunz_Zbestest]

Lol…you guys get this emotionally tilted about stuff irl too? Story’s barely out and you’re crying enough to publish violin music. Zero appreciation and patience, 100% woe is me. …laughable.

This right here 100%. *SPOILERS AHEAD* I feel like everyone is piling on the metaphorical band Wagon before the story is even out yet. I had a very emotional moment with the child Gulool Ja. Being told that how could Zoraal Ja care for him, when his own father didn't? Those were probably his only and last words to his kid. Half of these complaints are because the community has main character syndrome and cannot stand the thought of being a support role.

[Voidmage]

Hahaha what?

I swear to god, ffxiv players.

Eh, I also missed it the first time. There is no shame in that you know?

We pay attention to different things at times.

This right here 100%. *SPOILERS AHEAD* I feel like everyone is piling on the metaphorical band Wagon before the story is even out yet. I had a very emotional moment with the child Gulool Ja. Being told that how could Zoraal Ja care for him, when his own father didn't? Those were probably his only and last words to his kid. Half of these complaints are because the community has main character syndrome and cannot stand the thought of being a support role.

Thank god people talk with each other about the story without throwing insults left and right.

[Syln]

80% the writing was on par with one of those 90's Disney plagiary cartoon, the other 20% was kind of average.

Never thought we would get an expansion inferior to 2.0 in term of story.

[Hallarem]

It's a start with a lot of systems, and waiting on QoL in patches to see how it folds out and further graphical updates.
They did a lot of good, but I feel like the bad story and same structure of formulaic quest design overshadow all the good parts.

The story is integral to a lot of people, because let's be real, the gameplay is pretty samey. The sidequests stories are actually good, but I feel like these guys didn't do a good job as the new writers and they need to be switched. It's borderline disney like someone else here said before me, the characters were great, but how they used them? Rushed, horrible and very cartoony.

70% Shonen anime nonsense 30% Disney = 4/10. The story made me feel like I was a teenager watching Naruto again and its really jarring after expansions that treated me like an adult.