Dawntrail's MSQ story is a disaster and waste of potential. [full spoilers]

[ReynTime]

I have been saying that to myself, again and again, since 6.1... let me share your very desperate laugh

Speaking as someone who didn't like Endwalker, Dawntrail has been so bad it's making me appreciate Endwalker and the Zero story arc more than I thought I would, in spite of the issues I take with both.

[Carin-Eri]

I really wish Zoraal Ja would have won the throne. Would have been fun to watch him realize he bit off more than he could chew.



The plot could still have him end up joining forces with Alexandria and gaining the means for world conquest. We might have ended up with a more interesting plot if they didn't push Wuk Lamat into the forefront and spent some of the time developing Zoraal Ja.

This!

Though I guess I'd have to concede that it did make sense that he'd attempt to take over his homeland first.

[Raven2014]

This!

Though I guess I'd have to concede that it did make sense that he'd attempt to take over his homeland first.

It's most idiotic and contrive reason they could have given him.

I remember the first time it was revealed I was like ... dude, your country couldn't even make a searfaring vehicle. And the most recent breakthough is the hot air balloon your brother brought back from a country that constructed a space ship.

[franklinwi]

The problem with FF14 in general is we rarely get a real villain, Zeno was like the only tried and true, unapologetic villain. The only other I can think of is Asashi, but he's a side character.

You forgot the best one IMO. Nidhogg is still my favorite villain in the story. You understand where he's coming from, why he'll never move on from rage, but it never becomes a sob story. He's implacable, incurious, incapable of giving or receiving sympathy, and he looks considerably more badass than any of the other major antagonists. I struggle to think of a better "evil dragon" design in any media, ever. He's visually a demonic presence that totally sells Ishgard's 1000 years of war and Thordan's decision to seek godhood. Even his voice sounds like hell personified. He's enabled by Hraesvelgr until the latter has a change of heart, he transcends death to literally infect Estinien with his rage, he gets what is still the dramatically best trial in the game, and his true death reverberates through the expansions that followed without needed to resurrect him for cheap fanservice: Ilberd works as a thematic echo, Shinryu works as FFV fanservice and as a way to thread the legacy of Heavensward into Stormblood and Endwalker, Tiamat and Hraesvelgr are both fascinating contrasts that never step on Nidhogg's toes. He remains a singular presence in the story. Nidhogg fucking rocks.

[Lady_Silvermoon]

Wish they experimented more with the story, Dawntrail was way too predictable and boring. No plot twists or turns, just a straight predictable line.

Would be hilarious if you help Wuk Lamat become Dawnservant and then she becomes evil and betrays you, using you to gain that position and the evil guys who you fought against are actually the good guys, having to defeat her and making Koana or Bakool ja ja Dawnservant instead.

Evil Wuk Lamat would be the perfect plot twist, with how much they hype her being a good person, besides would feel so good getting rid of that nuisance.

Something that bothered me while going trough the story is... Who is Zoraal ja's sons mother? Nobody even questioned that. Just a random kid comming out of nowhere and being abandoned.

Who is Zoraal Ja's mother for that matter? All these lizard kids coming out of nowhere had me googling if male lizards can lay eggs. They can. Perhaps their origins will be elaborated on in the future.

The issue with Shonen is, it requires a massive amount of character development to be good. Naruto/One Piece/Bleach etc was good only because you got their entire backstory, them growing up, watching them change and become stronger both mentally and physically. Wuk Lamat got zero character development which makes her stale and boring and tons of plot holes in the Dawntrail story, theres not enough time to like or even care about Wuk Lamat. What i noticed with her also is, sometimes shes the smartest one around and sometimes shes dumb as a rock, constantly jumping between the two.

It wasn't a matter of time. She got more time than any character in the history of the game. It was that that time was squandered. They used it to blather on and on about her love of peace. Something that in no way influences her choices in the second half. Her brother kills 50 people and peace is no longer a consideration, he MUST die, which fine, great, but why have her blather on about how peaceful she is if she's gonna spend the second half granting everything in sight it's final peace?

[jameseoakes]

Who is Zoraal Ja's mother for that matter? All these lizard kids coming out of nowhere had me googling if male lizards can lay eggs. They can. Perhaps their origins will be elaborated on in the future.

For a story that seemed to be trying to make family a big part of the theme they seemed to have forgotten some really imporant family members

[RaitoRalana]

After reading the first post: Zoraal Ja, a good villain? For me, maybe the worst in entire FF14.
It felt like Zenos from Wish.

And yes, I dont like Wuk Lamat. German VA has a bit more emotions.. but the character is one dimensional. From lvl 90 to lvl 100. DT - Wuk Lamat + Koana as main character = Better

BUT:
I wont say, DT is "horrible" compared to other FF14 expansions. For me, DT is better then HW *Shruge*
First 4 zones were like world building. Was kinda nice.
5 and 6 area hopefully "announced" what 7.1 and 8.0+ will be.

And when I think back.. I can member people say "HW was so good because of the 2.1-2.3 story" .. and similar for Stormblood.. and for Shadowbringers 5.0 and 5.3, so Emet Selch and Elidibus. So everyone who already knows that DT is the worst expansion: How do you know, what we get the next 2~ years? We are at the early beginning of a new story.
We learned a bit about Tural, about Alexandria and that we can travel to other shards.
Oh and people who say DT was cringe.. have those people skipped through the other expansions? The alchemist elephant peeps etc sniffing Estinien.. or Fandaniel as a butler serving a nice candle light dinner for the WOL and Zenos, while Anima daddy is only one room away.. yeah, thats totally not cringe.
And for me: I skipped most of the Loporrit mainstory quests in EW. Their entire story was a -2/10 for me. And EW overall was still great

And to be fair:
Before DT release "Its so nice, that the WOL can have a beach episode, after rescue the planet/universe and most likely the void!"
After DT release "Its so bad, that the WOL had a boring beach episode and everything is just bad *Smadge*"

So, If they get rid of Wuk Lamat in 7.1-7.5, giving us more Shale, so she and Shtola can work on a way, to open a permanent gate to the first, DT will be the 2. best expansion for my. Like EZ.

And in my eyes:
There are parts in FF14 some people love and others hate. In ARR, in HW, in SB, in ShB, in EW and in DT. Not liking parts of DT, doesnt make it a bad experience for everyone and like I said earlier: Multiple story patches before DT is done.
Oh and the "Only X fights in the mainstory!" And? Eather current quests, dungeons, trials etc are enough fights for me. People make it sound like there isnt any combat in the game

[Lady_Silvermoon]

For a story that seemed to be trying to make family a big part of the theme they seemed to have forgotten some really imporant family members

That's why I say the theme was about legacy, not family, given how many people are killed and/or deleted by a family member, if the theme is family, what is it trying to say about family? "Be careful, they can and will kill you."

[TheJamJam]

One aspect of the story that really irked me was the ultimately disappointing experience of meeting Krile's parents, Robor and Alayla. Once they showed up, they were presented without any real sense of mystery or intrigue, and their introduction felt like a letdown.

Despite their ties to the hyper-advanced organization Preservation, they came across as just a pair of ordinary Lalafell. As one of the original possessors of the relic, I expected them to have some significant insights, yet they could barely tell us anything about it. Even the earring they left with Krile required a plot device, Gulool Ja, to be opened which felt downplayed their gift even further.

When they said their farewells, I found myself not caring much about their departure, just because how badly written the whole thing was.

In contrast, consider a brief interaction with Temulun, the elderly leader of the Mol tribe in Stormblood:

[The group heads out of the yurt. Temulun calls to the Warrior of Light.]

Temulun: You, wait. I would have words.

Temulun: A singular radiance. Shimmering. Like a jewel of the Dusk Mother, blinding in its brilliance.

Temulun: Stars flicker and flock to you. Before such gathered light, even the secrets of the gods may be laid bare.

Temulun: Some are fated to rise in grace and glory. Others to falter and fade, though not from memory. Both will be your strength and salvation come the end.

Temulun: Cherish the stars and the light they bring you in the dark. For you are a traveler, are you not?

Ishikawa managed to imbue Temulun with a sense of wisdom and depth even though her role is nowhere near as big as Krile's parents. She still managed to leave a lasting impression that makes you want to know more about her. In contrast, Robor and Alayla were written by Hiroi without any such impact, failing to live up to the expectations of their supposed intellect and importance.

[MartinFreeman]

One aspect of the story that really irked me was the ultimately disappointing experience of meeting Krile's parents, Robor and Alayla. Once they showed up, they were presented without any real sense of mystery or intrigue, and their introduction felt like a letdown.

Despite their ties to the hyper-advanced organization Preservation, they came across as just a pair of ordinary Lalafell. As one of the original possessors of the relic, I expected them to have some significant insights, yet they could barely tell us anything about it. Even the earring they left with Krile required a plot device, Gulool Ja, to be opened which felt downplayed their gift even further.

When they said their farewells, I found myself not caring much about their departure, just because how badly written the whole thing was.

In contrast, consider a brief interaction with Temulun, the elderly leader of the Mol tribe in Stormblood:

[The group heads out of the yurt. Temulun calls to the Warrior of Light.]

Temulun: You, wait. I would have words.

Temulun: A singular radiance. Shimmering. Like a jewel of the Dusk Mother, blinding in its brilliance.

Temulun: Stars flicker and flock to you. Before such gathered light, even the secrets of the gods may be laid bare.

Temulun: Some are fated to rise in grace and glory. Others to falter and fade, though not from memory. Both will be your strength and salvation come the end.

Temulun: Cherish the stars and the light they bring you in the dark. For you are a traveler, are you not?

Ishikawa managed to imbue Temulun with a sense of wisdom and depth even though her role is nowhere near as big as Krile's parents. She still managed to leave a lasting impression that makes you want to know more about her. In contrast, Robor and Alayla were written by Hiroi without any such impact, failing to live up to the expectations of their supposed intellect and importance.

Enough about Krile's parents. I want to hear more about Wuk!