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

[KazukoHimura]

-snip-

Yeah that explains it. With the exception of one point in 4.4's MSQ, it was all kind of meh. I did like the side stuff tho.

[Shibi]

One of the things that I can't shake about this MSQ is how no one talks like they did in the other expansions. Look at that Hythlo quote you posted. No one talked like that in Dawntrail. There was no depth to the dialogue - it was kind of insulting how childish and simple it was. Nothing was "quote worthy" to me and every single expansion had a moment like that - even ARR did.

Yes, the Moblins are just an absolute horror. They have lost the ability to talk in their endearing style. It's as if (akin) Hiroi-kun or Kate went and changed moogles to say Kuso (クソ / shit) rather than Kupo (クポ)
モブリンマジゴミ。あの可愛い喋り方すらなくなった。ヒロイかケイトがモーグリの「クポ」を「クソ」に変えちまったみてぇじゃねぇか。wwww

[ZXN]

If he was behind 6.x that would explain a lot. Poor guy probably doesn't have any friends or know how friendships work (see my above post)

If I recall correctly, Hiroi was made the lead writer starting with the 6.1 patch series in Endwalker, and I believe it was confirmed in a Famitsu interview somewhere that at the very least patches 6.1 and 6.2 were indeed written him and his team.

[KazukoHimura]

If I recall correctly, Hiroi was made the lead writer starting with the 6.1 patch series in Endwalker, and I believe it was confirmed in a Famitsu interview somewhere that at the very least patches 6.1 and 6.2 were indeed written him and his team.

That does track. Thank you for letting me know.

[Mapleine]

If I recall correctly, Hiroi was made the lead writer starting with the 6.1 patch series in Endwalker, and I believe it was confirmed in a Famitsu interview somewhere that at the very least patches 6.1 and 6.2 were indeed written him and his team.

I've not cared about the MSQ since 6.1, so I guess that tracks.

Sad thing is I'm a massive FF4 fan, FF4 was my first RPG so it feels like it should've been directed at me, but no the writing and characterization was just a drop off a cliff in quality.

[Striker44]

I have literally never thought I'd say this, but *I'm still struggling to get through the MSQ. It's actually that bad.*

Every single part of the writing is just horrendous. Dialogue, characterization, conflict, handling of themes... I never thought FFXIV could fall this low after Shadowbringers. I'm someone who plays through the MSQ with alts *for fun, without skipping cutscenes*. Yes, even ARR and Stormblood, and even I am struggling to get through this. The current writers simply *do not have the required capability to handle this.* Please, for the love of all that is holy, either bring Ishikawa back or STOP UPDATING THE GAME.

Just stop. If you can't do better than this, let us at least live with the memories of better times. This isn't even infuriating- Stormblood was infuriating. Half of Endwalker was infuriating. This is just sad.

You know what? You can live with the "memories of better times". Either stop buying new expansions or head to other video game pastures that you find greener. If you choose the former, all of the content you find "better" will still completely and entirely exist. FFXIV isn't like D2 that puts things in a "content vault", or WoW that completely redid the world. Every single bit of story and content that you enjoyed will still be there for you to experience to your heart's content.

Because here's the thing. Literally everything else you wrote in your post is nothing more and nothing less than your own personal opinion. I had a very different opinion. I've very much enjoyed the MSQ in DT. To me, it's quite good. Almost every part of the writing I've found engaging. I've laughed, I've smiled as Wuk Lumat and Koana each grew in their own ways, I liked taking on the role of mentor for the first half of the story and then getting back to a "major" threat as a front-and-center WoL for the second half. ShB for me was a 10/10, and EW was a 9/10. I'd call DT an 8/10, which to me is fine since it's the start of a new arc rather than the culmination of an established one. The only thing I find "just sad" here is someone throwing a temper tantrum and demanding they "stop updating the game" for everyone else who's enjoying it because that individual happens to not like it.

Your "memories of better times" are still there. They aren't going anywhere. I'm enjoying the new memories I'm making alongside the old ones.

[Shibi]

snip

Some of us just hope SE might stop phoning it in and in 7.1 upgrade you from 8/10 enjoyment to 11/10 enjoyment.

Whatever it takes to get the writing team to lift their game up to the level a Western Audience expects (or should have expect) of an 'S Teir' title.

The airy-fairy waving of ones hands in a "it doesn't matter, I enjoyed it enough but it wasn't spectaular" dismissal doesn't help achieve that goal and just encourages "Every child is a winner" mentality in adult writers and story professionals.

People feel the writer's game needs to be lifted. An S-Teir story sees the continuation of the game past 7.1, that bar for 7.1 is now set higher by some people than it would have been. SE get one chance now to correct the mistake before the game does suffer the exodus of adult paying customers tired of being treated like children.

And yes, sometimes we should be more constructive in our criticism, but welcome to the forums.

[ZXN]

Sad thing is I'm a massive FF4 fan, FF4 was my first RPG so it feels like it should've been directed at me, but no the writing and characterization was just a drop off a cliff in quality.

I will possibly get the ire of people for this, but I despised Zero and the entire post MSQ of Endwalker. For a world that has creatures and lore implications that have been massively used in-game since 2.0 and even 1.0, it genuinely could've/should've been it's own expansion with how much potential was there. Instead it was reduced to a watered down speedrun of FF4's plot about how an angsty edgy woman whose main quirk is tipping her hat learns that the power of friendship overcomes anything and everything and results in her making peace and friends with everyone, including the big bad villain.

Huh...why does this sound familiar...

[KazukoHimura]

I will possibly get the ire of people for this, but I despised Zero and the entire post MSQ of Endwalker. For a world that has creatures and lore implications that have been massively used in-game since 2.0 and even 1.0, it genuinely could've/should've been it's own expansion with how much potential was there. Instead it was reduced to a watered down speedrun of FF4's plot about how an angsty edgy woman whose main quirk is tipping her hat learns that the power of friendship overcomes anything and everything and results in her making peace and friends with everyone, including the big bad villain.

Huh...why does this sound familiar...

And hamfisting sympathy for their aether hunger. As someone playing a character with an aetherial/metabolic disorder, it rubbed me the wrong way big time.

[lolnotacat]

I will possibly get the ire of people for this, but I despised Zero and the entire post MSQ of Endwalker. For a world that has creatures and lore implications that have been massively used in-game since 2.0 and even 1.0, it genuinely could've/should've been it's own expansion with how much potential was there. Instead it was reduced to a watered down speedrun of FF4's plot about how an angsty edgy woman whose main quirk is tipping her hat learns that the power of friendship overcomes anything and everything and results in her making peace and friends with everyone, including the big bad villain.

Huh...why does this sound familiar...

At least the monsters they met in the first didn't force Zero to make tacos to progress the story.

GOLBEEEEEEZ LEESTEN TO MEEEEEE!