Yoshi P - Your next live letter, DT msq and the damage to the brand

[ForteNightshade]

DT being "The start of a new story arc" doesn't justify badly written characters and badly written stories.

The entire first half of the expansion, the entire rite of succession thing should be entirely rewritten and replaced as there is no reason for the WoL to take part in it, and they're barely even in the story to begin with.

People keep saying Dawntrail is the start of the new arc... except Yoshida has never once said they were writing an arc. In fact, he openly speculated the possibility they won't do another arc but didn't rule it off the table either. Basically, it's the same non-response he's infamous for. Which isn't a criticism, just to be clear. I don't necessarily think they need to do another massive saga.

And that begs another question. What did Dawntrail even set up? Every major villain is either dead or reformed, and the remaining new additions all had their stories concluded. The only hint at anything beyond is Erenville's vague musings about going on another adventure. However, that isn't really a tie in to Dawntrail nor would said expansion be necessary. Contrast this to ARR which left several plot threads unresolved and ended with Nanamo seemingly poisoned, Y'shtola trapped in the life stream and the Scions in complete disarray. It feels far more likely 7.1 will be another Zero styled mini series because there's nothing to go off from Dawntrail.

[koko-on-da-forumz]

And that begs another question. What did Dawntrail even set up?

The dumb Azem hourglass thing.

I betting the original plan from here was to just go on shard adventures for a while. Still might.

[Bitmoar]

The argument that it's a new story arc is so ridiculous to me lol believe it or not, you can have a well written fleshed out interesting story at the start. In fact, an opening should grab your attention, leave you on the edge of your seat, leave you wanting more. I don't think you should aim to bore your audience to death with horrendous pacing, amateur writing, and unlikeable characters, then hope that word of mouth will bring people back in when the story "gets good" again.

[Maxilor]

The dumb Azem hourglass thing.

I betting the original plan from here was to just go on shard adventures for a while. Still might.

Still waiting for them to figure out the whole 'Shard Travel Network' so our buddies from Norvrandt can visit us.

[OMGJesuis66]

I feel you could describe Endwalker just the same way with the exception of the stakes. Lack of common sense and communication, we get the final boss to give up on her mission by hugging her, we stand there while we watch someone die without doing anything... the story isn't without it's flaws but it wasn't anything too grating to do "Damage to the brand" lmao.

To me that's all a matter of opinoin, I found the storylines compelling. but if I have a real critcisims is that there are so many action scenes turned into cutscenes. You barely control your character but to drag other NPCs around, so it's a cutscene at your own pace. I have all these cool abilities and I use them on maybe 15 encounters. I find the MSQ flawed, but not because of it's characters, it's the narrative that bothers me, with such an up of quality from EW in terms of content it's kind of sad we spend so much time reading a book.

You could say that from literally ANY expansion, even Shadowbringers. People praise the stories of other expansions as if they are the newest best narrative ever made, and they forget the same criticism they apply on Dawntrail also existed in the previous expansions. The way the MSQ tried to force down my throat, in Shadowbringers, that I should care and feel bad about Emet-Selch and the Ascians is something that will always bother me in this narrative. They forced the general views on many people to the point I felt such lack of immersion that ever since .1 of Shadowbringers, I hardly could relate with my WoL at all UNTIL Dawntrail as you reach Heritage Found and start to genuinely be bothered by all that's happening.

[Jeeqbit]

I guarantee Yoshi-P isn't thinking this at all.

I'm sure he's thinking this is the most pre-ordered expansion ever and is excited at the new stuff his team is working on.

[Aldath]

Anyone saying the english dub is bad now should go back and play with Japanese VAs since ARR. English was never good, it just got worse.

[Nestama]

The voice acting is fine.

[Voidmage]

I guarantee Yoshi-P isn't thinking this at all.

I'm sure he's thinking this is the most pre-ordered expansion ever and is excited at the new stuff his team is working on.

If he did that he would be bad at his job and he is anything but that.

Looking at feedback and reception of the story, correcting or strengthening curse, looking what worked and what not is hi entire job.

If he ignored all feedback and just looked at initial players and subscribers we wouldn‘t have the good dungeons now.
Mind you, I don’t expect nor want I an apology.

Sure they sometimes force stuff they think is right like blm job changes but they also said that 8.0 will be a change with that.

The feedback this time is big, it is loud and it is international with even positive cc‘s like Preach being ambivalent and even Mr. Happy just being ok. The former is known to be chill and interested in the lore and the later almost never says anything even remotely negative.
And no matter what others want to believe, those are people he watches and pays attention to.

There is no way he hasn‘t heard the feedback and no way he will at least look into some of it. Probably the biggest criticism like one character having too much spotlight, the player character missing too much agency or the missing gameplay in the story.

They reacted for far less negative feedback.
PR is important. Reacting to this stuff would be such an easy way for them to look good and play the whole „devs listening to their players“ card they would be stupid not to.

Now will they do it fast? Probably not because the first patches are already written.
Will they do everything I and others want? No because not everything would be the right curse like for example benching Wuk Lamat completely.

But some things will be addressed and I am tired of being insulted and accused because I want my character to actually have a point in the story.
I still hold the devs in high regard and wait for something.
IF they continue this path with the MSQ despite all this vocal stop signing then I will drop this game because they make it clear it’s no longer for me.

[Araxes]

While immediate changes would be most welcome and would restore my interest and emotional bond for the Story, I doubt they will go to action immediately. I fear we have to live with this mess until the next expansion. We can just hope that enough players quit their sub to make their voices heard because SADLY nothing else works in todays industry.