Please stop splitting the MSQ between two Stories [spoilers]

[nerf468]

Honestly wouldn’t be surprised if we see another split storyline in 8.0 if we end up staying in the source.

Consider the formula of SB/EW/DT:

SB: 3 Zones/City (Ala Mhigo) + 3 Zones/City (Othard)

EW: Sharlayan/Ilsabard (harder to apportion zones specifically since EW is a bit all over the place)

DT: 3 Zones/City (South Tural) + 3 Zones City (North Tural)

Extrapolating out to 8.0, and you’ll get my guess for next expac: 3 Zones/City (Meracaydia) + 3 Zones/City (More Ilsabard). Only other option I see is one of the above plus shard shenanigans, or another full shard story.

[Ramiee]

Yeah, Garlemald proper should have been it's own expansion.

An reccuring issue that started with the introduction of Zenos. Skipping out on the political drama. In SB Zenos was a black hole for it, not caring about it at all. In ShB Zenos was straight up used to kill it off. Bozja was cut short. And since then we haven't really had any of it to fill that spot.

So we are left with characters that don't really have that much weight to the world.

Im still so mad about this 12 years of build up

[Equitable_Remedy]

I gaze into the future, and 8.0 is one story in one location. The forum has 50 topics of people whining about being bored with that story and spending too long in one location.

[Eloah]

Im still so mad about this 12 years of build up

While I don't think it should've been it's own expansion, as even the Devs said it probably would've contained a lot more filler, it would've been nice to get more on them besides what we got in side and supplementary content. Most of the discord happened off screen, so it's a bit harder to resonate with.

[Daralii]

While I don't think it should've been it's own expansion, as even the Devs said it probably would've contained a lot more filler, it would've been nice to get more on them besides what we got in side and supplementary content. Most of the discord happened off screen, so it's a bit harder to resonate with.

I assume the idea was that it'd be creepy to enter the heart of a nation as large and advanced as the Garlean Empire and find nothing but silence and ash, but it was a lot of buildup thrown out for the sake of the Ascian of a thousand names and our bff. That said, I still think In from the Cold is one of the best solo duties they've made as far as intertwining narrative and gameplay goes, and Quintus's suicide was an excellent scene.

[Bright-Flower]

SB is the only issue where I feel like the region split was to the story's detriment. Largely because it was two separate storeies with little connection outside of both being 'resist the empire.' With the same goal playing out twice but in isolation mostly.

In Endwalker we do a lot of globe trotting. But it fits better because it's a single narrative thread with highs and lows.

In DT, the stories are fairly separate with Zoraal Ja serving as the connecting tissue to transition from one to the other. But the two halves are different enough that it doesn't have the same issue SB did for me. (Plus it helps that unlike Zenos in SB, none of the major villains are literally bored by the plot in DT.)

[Raikai]

Stormblood's story is fine being split, because it literally deals with the same foe (Garlemald) on both fronts they conquered. To me the big issue is that the Gyr Abanian portion of that MSQ is pretty bland compared to the richness that is Othard.

I feel the Garlemald-only expansion was really due, and it should've been 5.0, really, because it's the natural follow up of Stormblood. Then Endwalker to resolve the Hydaelyn x Zodiark saga in 6.0 and then Shadowbringers' plot moving forward in 7.0, leaving Tural to be explored in 8.0.

[TDawnstar]

Unpopular opinion: releasing the x.0 MSQ in one piece is a bad idea. It's IMHO better to release it in 2-3 pieces set a few weeks apart, with events in between to prepare the next phase. Then that filler wouldn't be that annoying and in fact, would contribute to world building.

[Andevom]

Stormblood: Story is not split. Both sides are in the midst of a revolution against the Garlean Empire. Going to different locations and seeing different perspectives is not "splitting the story".

Endwalker: Everything funnels into the Final Days.

Dawntrail: Everything funnels into the search for the Golden City. The "rite of succession" plot is all a step towards getting to that revelation.

[Basteala]

The level of entitlement here is unreal, imo. I almost feel insulted for the writer/writers.

Though the pacing might be fast and abrupt, I will disagree that the stories from your examples are 'split'. They are not.

Entitlement because someone doesn't share your views? Isn't that sentiment, umm...entitlement?