So that 7.1 msq...

[ovIm]

And it's exactly because, as many predicted back in 6.0, they didn't know how to up the "stakes" after we killed god and uber-god in Endwalker.
So they needed to invent some new mcguffin so they can go "oh no, the villain has somehow powered up enough to compete with the universe-ending godkiller that is the WoL."

When they did not even have to, to be honest.
Looking at Arcadion, its an engaging storyline without a world ending threat.
We could have had nations trying to woo the WoL on their side, because of the implied political power of housing the WoL.
We could have had people forming a cult about the WoL's existence, threatening to overturn the administration of their nation in a pseudo-religious zeal that we could possibly intervene with.
There could be a new rival on the block that tries to one up us.
There are ways to portray issues in the world that are not world ending and still interesting.

[Daralii]

When they did not even have to, to be honest.
Looking at Arcadion, its an engaging storyline without a world ending threat.
We could have had nations trying to woo the WoL on their side, because of the implied political power of housing the WoL.
We could have had people forming a cult about the WoL's existence, threatening to overturn the administration of their nation in a pseudo-religious zeal that we could possibly intervene with.
There could be a new rival on the block that tries to one up us.
There are ways to portray issues in the world that are not world ending and still interesting.

But then they wouldn't be able to continue speedrunning the entire setting. DT let them cross off two continents and another shard in just the launch patch.

[Absurdity]

When they did not even have to, to be honest.
Looking at Arcadion, its an engaging storyline without a world ending threat.
We could have had nations trying to woo the WoL on their side, because of the implied political power of housing the WoL.
We could have had people forming a cult about the WoL's existence, threatening to overturn the administration of their nation in a pseudo-religious zeal that we could possibly intervene with.
There could be a new rival on the block that tries to one up us.
There are ways to portray issues in the world that are not world ending and still interesting.

Absolutely true, but anything more than giving us a bigger bad would've taken writing above shounen anime tier.

[GartredZW]

When they did not even have to, to be honest.
Looking at Arcadion, its an engaging storyline without a world ending threat.
We could have had nations trying to woo the WoL on their side, because of the implied political power of housing the WoL.
We could have had people forming a cult about the WoL's existence, threatening to overturn the administration of their nation in a pseudo-religious zeal that we could possibly intervene with.
There could be a new rival on the block that tries to one up us.
There are ways to portray issues in the world that are not world ending and still interesting.

Or we could have a story with a nice woman whose treasured bracelet was stolen, and we have to investigate to take it back without anyone getting hurt.
I still hold that Dawntrail should have been a bunch of little Shaloanis with the trials of the rite of succession interspersed within. They do a pretty good job at establishing motivation, stakes, challenges, and rising tension even with such a simple low-stakes story.

[Jangles]

Or we could have a story with a nice woman whose treasured bracelet was stolen, and we have to investigate to take it back without anyone getting hurt.
I still hold that Dawntrail should have been a bunch of little Shaloanis with the trials of the rite of succession interspersed within. They do a pretty good job at establishing motivation, stakes, challenges, and rising tension even with such a simple low-stakes story.

This is how I thought the story was going to be. In the 6.55 quests when I told G'raha I had no interest in the rite of succession he said, "Just do your own thing in Tural and maybe you'll help with the trial if it intrigues you." Instead we were thrown right into it with absolutely nothing else coming up until it was done.