Even our content creators cannot pretend to like the trashy writings of Dawntrail.

[IvoryHawk]

Smile has to be the worst credits song we have ever had.
Bring back Susan for another epic ballad already!

She got cancelled some time back for like a tweet or something.

[Oku-1]

I've loved Dawntrail's story. It was a nice wholesome ride that was the perfect step-down from the high of Endwalker's literal universe-ending stakes, was fun to be the "mysterious mentor everybody can tell at a glance is the most dangerous person in the room guiding an inexperienced character on their own journey" archetype for a while, and it had some solid emotional beats and a stake-raiser that let me go back to being the main character for a bit.

Everybody is entitled to their own experience of course but my main question here is why should I care what some twitch streamer or a youtuber says?

Them not liking the story isn't going to somehow magically make me go "oh well if the YOUTUBERS didn't like it I guess I have to hate it now". Personally I think people put way, way too much stock in what content creators think. Either that or y'all just need to chill out with the seeking validation from people who make videos about video games.

[Cach]

Them not liking the story isn't going to somehow magically make me go "oh well if the YOUTUBERS didn't like it I guess I have to hate it now". Personally I think people put way, way too much stock in what content creators think. Either that or y'all just need to chill out with the seeking validation from people who make videos about video games.

It's because "content creators" have all the incentive in the world to lie (they run the risk of losing access / promos). If even they can't bring themselves to say its good, then it brings more weight to the argument that it is indeed... not good.

Also, they have a more direct line with devs, so they saying that might yield positive outcomes in the future.

And I say this as someone who profoundly dislikes "influencer culture" and can't stomach watching any of them for more than 5 minutes.

[Sol_Seppy]

Yes, because we should put a lot of stock into the opinions of content creators.

/sarcasm

[tsuchii]

Zepla is trash.

[Volgia]

If this makes Zepla quit the FF Content creation scene, i'll take all the Dawntrail controversy we can get.

[Turtledeluxe]

The writing in dawntrail was good. I get the feeling people who didn't like it can only appreciate the parts of literature when things are coming to a climax. world-building, character development over time, these things are still good parts of stories.

You should not be aware what you're experiencing in a game is world building when it is being executed correctly. Even in books, it's not like "ok this is the part where I world build". It's woven into dialogue, characters, environments. It's not just in the new story of the arc either. It's everywhere outside maybe the conclusion. Why do people keep using this excuse???

This is where DT fails in my opinion. It constantly leans on the "I'm new here" crutch as it blasts you with "isn't this what you expect from a new MMO arc" cliche. It does not trust the audience to be intrigued, even by something minute and seemingly uninteresting. It fails to explore the mundane parts of this new world in unexpected or novel ways.

I'm reminded of the camp fire scene with Jullus in EW. He was a new character whose story was mostly self contained in a new EW plot development. That was a moment where I think it was fair to expect we would just see him sulking. But the writer really cared enough to show us those two cultures healing. It feels cathartic because of the build up of the zone. DT has no such buildup to speak of and its more mundane moments stay pretty shallow.

In DT you heal cultures by like...helping them with fetch quests? Which is why the sesame street music blasts of Smile ring hollow. It's like "what the hell is even going on right now?" when it plays.

[SirShady]

You should not be aware what you're experiencing in a game is world building when it is being executed correctly. Even in books, it's not like "ok this is the part where I world build". It's woven into dialogue, characters, environments. It's not just in the new story of the arc either. It's everywhere outside maybe the conclusion. Why do people keep using this excuse???

Nah nah nah, the only true world-building is learning about farming, food, and soil composition. You know, inane stuff. If you don't find it interesting, even if its poorly written, you have no appreciation for culture or literature. This is THE first world building expansion.

Ishgard's long twisted history of war with the dragons and its ramifications that can be seen throughout the isolationist city-state? Yawn.
Their strict, almost archaic, judicial system that exhumes any perceived heresy and upholds trial by combat? Boring.
The criminal underbelly of the city striking out at the High Born nobles and the theocratic government controlled by the corrupt orthodox church? Snore.
The people's paranoid attitudes towards the growing threat of the Dravanians that is fueled by centuries of lies and propaganda? Lame.

I want REAL world building...

The Hanuhanu like to party and do a festival to grow their crops, except when they forget? YESSS!
The Mamool Ja are pissed at everyone cause they can't grow their crops because the soil sucks? WOW!
The Alexandrians grow their crops with artificial lights and sprinklers and some of the older folks don't trust refrigerators? NO WAY!

Come on Yoshi, more of this REAL insightful and interesting world-building!

[Turtledeluxe]

I think the biggest reason DT has such strong backlash isn't just that it has poor world building or even writing mistakes in general. What's really concerning is that Yoshi P signed off on it and didn't correct it. There is a clear issue with this expansion where the team was either forced to release this, or released it and just didn't care.

"Speak to Wuk Lamat yet again."

It almost comes across like "help us".

[Somnolence]

I think the biggest reason DT has such strong backlash isn't just that it has poor world building or even writing mistakes in general. What's really concerning is that Yoshi P signed off on it and didn't correct it. There is a clear issue with this expansion where the team was either forced to release this, or released it and just didn't care.

"Speak to Wuk Lamat yet again."

It almost comes across like "help us".

Idk how SE decided this is the guy that should be in charge of DT MSQ: