FFXIV has lost it's heart

[Dikatis]

Thavnair was supposed to have slaves, corruption, nobles and pleasure barges, and all that jazz according to some lore items. But it was pretty much solved too and rounded off as a happy go lucky place with just a representative of the nation and a dragon behind it, aside from the apocalypse that lasted for.. half a day?

Source on the slaves, corruption, nobles and pleasure barges? I remember absolutely nothing like that aside from the one jerk in the Hildibrand quests.

[Hallarem]

Source on the slaves, corruption, nobles and pleasure barges? I remember absolutely nothing like that aside from the one jerk in the Hildibrand quests.

Ahldskyf: “I would have the ship’s cook bake some bread using La Noscean flour and offer it as a gift to the ruling houses of Radz-at-Han, telling each house that the others had found its flavor to far surpass that of bread made from Ul'dahn sunset wheat. The nobles would have no choice but to agree, of course, and, not wishing to be outshone by their peers, demand that their kitchens also stock La Noscean flour.”

Ahldskyf: “The nobles of Radz-at-Han are obsessive about their odor. I suppose it comes from living in a land that is subject to the incessant beating of the sun’s harsh rays. The sweltering days and muggy nights leave nearly everyone on the island drenched in a perpetual patina of malodorous wetness. To cope, they spend absurd amounts of coin on all manner of fragrances and perfumes - and as luck would have it, one of the most prized is scented with none other than Althyk lavender! You see, my friend, the plant is very rare, with most wild varieties nigh on impossible to find in even the most fertile corners of Eorzea, let alone an isolated rock in the middle of the sea!”

Humble Servant: “Master sent you to find me? Yes, I suppose I was running a bit late. Please, do spare me the lash. I’m still raw from Master’s last bout of rage. I meant to make my way to the artisan’s shop to pick up Master’s order, but lost my way. Begging your pardon, I am newly come to this place, and have never known such city streets. Surely one so traveled as yourself has no such problems. No doubt the lash awaits me upon my return, but I fear the deed hopeless for me.”

Near Eastern Merchant: “I heard all from my useless servant. Thank you for your help in this. I confess, I know not which I am more eager to see─my servant put to the lash, or my new paper lantern hung aboard my pleasure barge. By the gods, this is a work of art if ever I have seen one. Just as I asked, it is a perfect blend of my own delicate tastes and a faraway exoticism. Servant! What of the job I put to you?”

Humble Servant: “If Master refers to the figureheard carving for her pleasure barge, then all is proceeding smoothly, save for just one small thing. The shipwright is a man of great pride. I fear he insists the special request Master made will require a sum more gil than originally anticipated.”

There's plenty of talk of alchemy houses, nobles.

[Daralii]

Eorzea and everything is just being washed squeaky clean. I didn't play 1.0 but I hear a lot of stuff including the horrid things the elementals did to people, like turning them into wildlings was washed away. I think the mining guild in Ul'dah was a bordello too? Aaand lo and behold, rubber bullets and happiness, and people casting aside ages of conflict because they like tacos.

The miner's guild dancers were touched on very briefly in some dialogue where the current guildmaster established that she used to be one.

[Hallarem]

Mind you, maybe slaves is the wrong word for it, indentured servitude maybe? Something akin to Ul'dahs debt slavery. Maybe I read into that too much, but the whole notion of any nobility was struck out from the main picture. It's not that I crave darkness, but the world was written as pretty dark in ARR even, more so in Heavensward and Stormblood, Shadowbringers too and suddenly it just began softening up. So turning it suddenly into this fluffy paradise is really jarring. It's total change of tone in the worldbuilding and it doesn't fit.

[ReynTime]

Mind you, maybe slaves is the wrong word for it, indentured servitude maybe? Something akin to Ul'dahs debt slavery. Maybe I read into that too much, but the whole notion of any nobility was struck out from the main picture. It's not that I crave darkness, but the world was written as pretty dark in ARR even, more so in Heavensward and Stormblood, Shadowbringers too and suddenly it just began softening up. So turning it suddenly into this fluffy paradise is really jarring. It's total change of tone in the worldbuilding and it doesn't fit.

Ala Mhigo/Gyr Abania is just really very poor in lore and undercooked as a nation. Doman society isn't a paradise though. That nation made people like Yotsuyu and Asahi happen, Garlean rule notwithstanding.
Tural was already an utopia by the time we arrive in it, which is the problem. And the people of S9 didn't have much of a normal human reaction to us showing up and destroying their way of life overnight.

[Hallarem]

Ala Mhigo/Gyr Abania is just really very poor in lore and undercooked as a nation. Doman society isn't a paradise though. That nation made people like Yotsuyu and Asahi happen, Garlean rule notwithstanding.
Tural was already an utopia by the time we arrive in it, which is the problem. And the people of S9 didn't have much of a normal human reaction to us showing up and destroying their way of life overnight.

Yeah dark subject matter and conflict..ish is there.. kinda? But they gloss over it with unrealistic reactions for anykind of person real or fantasy.

Ages of conflict... and the way they solve it was... "Combining their foods.." yeah. Sure. Someone shouldve stuffed a big animal into a tub of mulled wine. The Dragonsong war wouldve been over in a jiffy.

Bakool Ja Ja nearly destroyed the continent and he gets the equivalent of a slap on the wrist.

Railway dispute gets solved by a magical whistle where both sides get what they want and is solved in an afternoon.

Its all so uncanny valley and like a childrens cartoon

[DisgracedDairy]

Yeah dark subject matter and conflict..ish is there.. kinda? But they gloss over it with unrealistic reactions for anykind of person real or fantasy.

Ages of conflict... and the way they solve it was... "Combining their foods.." yeah. Sure. Someone shouldve stuffed a big animal into a tub of mulled wine. The Dragonsong war wouldve been over in a jiffy.

Bakool Ja Ja nearly destroyed the continent and he gets the equivalent of a slap on the wrist.

Railway dispute gets solved by a magical whistle where both sides get what they want and is solved in an afternoon.

Its all so uncanny valley and like a childrens cartoon

In 2.0 there was a moral dilemma presented by the concept of faith, primal worship, and tempering that implied the act of belief itself could give rise to unimaginable harm even when its source was from creatures as mild and well-tempered creatures like moogles. Much like the player and the scions, Gaius (and by extension, the Garleans) sought a solution to the endless spiral of conflict perpetuated by the primals. (The eikons, not the band.)

And then... it kind of just resolved itself overnight. It was a little jarring. What was even more jarring, was after that, they proceeded to use the power of the 'good' primals to fuel the magic rocket ship immediately after. The 'Myths of the Realm' series inadvertently turns the 12 into primals in ALL but name, makes them all simultaneously useless idiots who sit around and get worshipped all day, and then commit suicide by cop as soon as they feel they've 'fulfilled their duty.' We even get some nice bits of apologism from Halone, Nophica, and Rhalgr. (The elementals are only racist to moon cats and duskwights because they WUV YOU)

We went from playing in a nobledark setting to playing the Final Fantasy equivalent of Fairy Tale (as if Kingdom Hearts didn't already exist as a SE property) in a little over the span of a single expansion. Infantile is correct. 2.0's destruction has been catastrophic for the story and any stakes we could have possibly had in it.

[Exmo]

Ages of conflict... and the way they solve it was... "Combining their foods.." yeah. Sure. Someone shouldve stuffed a big animal into a tub of mulled wine. The Dragonsong war wouldve been over in a jiffy.

"Combining their food" happened at the celebration after peace talks had already commenced. Its importance is it symbolised a compromise between the two cultures could be reached. Peace talks began in the first place because the biggest meanest motherfucker in the land showed up and told them to sit the fuck down.

[cheeplikor]

Been a player in 14 since the 2.0 launch. This game isn't what it used to be and at first, my response to dawntrail was rather negative. It's neither here nor there anymore since it caused me to finally take a break from playing this game. I had no intention of returning but I have, albeit on a new character and a new account.

I don't disagree that what used to make the "heart" of this game has gradually vanished over the years, but I think it's less to do with the direction of the game and more to do with pining for bygone years. I mean this game was *the* underdog, playing it felt special because it wasn't the big machine it is now. The team have obviously stayed true to their vision for 14 but they've had to accomodate for a massive influx in player count and a stretching of the player skill level.

Jobs don't feel as unique anymore, content is easily accessible (good) and they're trying to cover the basics for everyone whereas before when we were a much smaller community, the direction the players wanted the game to go was the priority. Not so much anymore, now it's just a numbers game for SE. Which again, is okay.

14 Isn't the game i first logged into 10 years + ago. The characters, story, gameplay and world have all changed drastically and we've been witness to its ups and downs. I wish we could get that oldschool 14 feeling back but we can't and after taking a loooong break it's hit me that this isn't a bad thing. It's just the way it was always going to go.

Not to say we shouldn't still raise concerns or voice opinions. I do however think people do need to accept this isn't the 14 of HW anymore and it just won't be. Enjoy it for what it is and grow alongside the game like old friends.

[ReynTime]

"Combining their food" happened at the celebration after peace talks had already commenced. Its importance is it symbolised a compromise between the two cultures could be reached. Peace talks began in the first place because the biggest meanest motherfucker in the land showed up and told them to sit the fuck down.

Who the hell cares? That happened off-screen and before Dawntrail started. Any story and world building where 99% of the attrition gets resolved in flashbacks is pure garbage.