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

[Bananarama]

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.

I gotta agree here. Maybe the game's story isn't for me, but for most of the game outside of 3.X and parts of 4.X, I couldn't bring myself to be in line with how the game seems to want my character to feel.
The most recent thing was the point where Wuk Lamat is all like "Call me Llama tea!" and I said nothing and crossed my arms, only for another NPC to make sure she knows I WANT to call her that. Little nitpick, but it keeps FF14 from sticking out to me for its "super amazing" story. It's like it's maximized for "engagement" and discussion among fans, and people who aren't terribly into it are just along for the ride.

[sharknado]

They put out 10 years of bangers, start a new story from scratch, and y'all can't even let them get past the opener before calling it a failure.

People most addicted will see the least problems and any MMO is an addictive relationship that is very hard to break out of. Why are we telling sprouts and potential new players that "it gets good after ARR" instead of spreading only hearts and Moogles about everything in the game? Why are we supposed to take as fact that DT is some mythical stepping stone for the next 10 years? Just because messianic YoshiP said so? Or maybe each game has its flaws and this one isn't different and DT failed at one aspect of the game?

The game since Shadowbringers is releasing expansions based on a very strict template that has very little content in it and became very regressive due to following that template. FF14 tries to glue everything together with the story - you see your favorite characters, you see some cool cutscenes and now you are hyped to farm yet another grip gel or a raid/trial just because "it's cool". When the story isn't the best there is no hype and engagement and people will see more negative aspects of the game and complain more or just unsub quicker until some subsequent patch. We even have "plot watchers" that don't stay subbed for the expansion as a whole. MMO with 1-2 month players every 2 years.

The next patches and expansions will have Bun Bun, Bakool Ja Ja, and Honey because that will resonate with most players and give most sales on re-subs and sales of the next expansion. They will quickly opt out of Wuk and they will triple-check the next expansion MSQ. DT expansion zones will be left out like any previous expansion zones and suddenly it will turn out DT wasn't anything "special" for the next 10 years, just yet another expansion with its bees and cats. They know how to sell fan service and they will. They did admit to previous failures, they even nuked one and they will admit to current or future ones if they happen.

And we still don't know if the DT grind content/zone will be any good/"worth it" so get ready for that too

[Zolvolt]

Simple question, what actions will the team announce at the next live letter to try and repair the DT story writing?

Replacing one person as the msq writer isn't the complete answer by any means. The whole team must have reviewed, discussed and finally approved this msq over a lengthy period as a good enough product for the playerbase.

So, what next Yoshi P? Carry on as we are or announce revisions?

The next live letter will be very interesting.

MSQ doesn't need any revisions. heres a challenge for this unhinged community: try not thinking everything that slightly ruffles your feather is the worst thing ever.

I'd also like to add that the people most addicted to this game are the ones who get too lost in the sauce and end up finding problems where there really aren't any or end up making mountains out of lalafell hills

[Rayplicant]

If what you believe is true, the next live letter will just be a carry on as you are episode.
I feel it will be somewhat different.

SE's response to dt will tell one way or the other.

Oh, I do think MSQ complaints will be addressed in the next LL but not for the reasons you think. They'll mention it because of how loud and over the top the complaints have been.

DT story had issues with pacing, character motivations, line delivery etc. But nothing that is "damaging the brand" or anything so hyperbolic. You'd think DT destroyed Final Fantasy as a whole reading some of these comments.

I think DT is great besides the MSQ being a bit disappointing but I also didn't expect the MSQ to be near as good as Endwalker (the climax of a 10 year story arc).

[Mainasu]

I predict a reiteration of "We are listening to player feedback in regards to the future story", without directly saying anything was bad. They don't exactly want to throw their own team or anyone working on the game under the bus. I'd be surprised if it wasn't very delicately and diplomatically worded, but with all the craziness surrounding the game's MSQ reception lately, who knows?

[Rayne6665]

Whens the next PLL? I wanna know when we gonna get another Variant dungeon to solo and new alliance raid o: sorry if this is off topic ^^'

[Shinku_Tachi]

Simple question, what actions will the team announce at the next live letter to try and repair the DT story writing?

Replacing one person as the msq writer isn't the complete answer by any means. The whole team must have reviewed, discussed and finally approved this msq over a lengthy period as a good enough product for the playerbase.

So, what next Yoshi P? Carry on as we are or announce revisions?

The next live letter will be very interesting.

I'm gonna keep it a buck. It's not even going to be acknowledged, lol.

The critic reviews are generally favorable.
The user reviews are mixed or average.

Unless the player data somehow matches hatred and vitriol being posted here and other social media platforms (it's not). Then the criticism will go unheeded.

There will be no walkbacks, there will be no retcons, there will be no revisions. They have a plan, they're going to follow through with it.

[gumas]

my take is they going to pretend nothing happen, but quietly change some of the writing

there is no way they going to ignore this, this expansion almost breaking apart the whole ff14 community trust toward the dev

[Turtledeluxe]

Oh, I do think MSQ complaints will be addressed in the next LL but not for the reasons you think. They'll mention it because of how loud and over the top the complaints have been.

DT story had issues with pacing, character motivations, line delivery etc. But nothing that is "damaging the brand" or anything so hyperbolic. You'd think DT destroyed Final Fantasy as a whole reading some of these comments.

I think DT is great besides the MSQ being a bit disappointing but I also didn't expect the MSQ to be near as good as Endwalker (the climax of a 10 year story arc).

It's not just that DT is bad. It's that it is something bad that followed very highly rated xpacs. This magnifies how bad it is and naturally causes most people to question what the future of the game is. Assuming the mistake is a one off is bizarre. DT wouldn't be their first miss.

Outside the STB fumble, the game was on a literal upward trajectory critically and commercially. DT is like dropping off a cliff.

[ServerCollaps]

wow, people are still mad?