FFXIV population decline continues

[MicahZerrshia]

And then after it was out and the sentiment was overwhelmingly negative, he said it its reception was about what he expected. It's a good thing for Square that everyone will forget all that and preorder the next expansion immediately.

What made this statement worse was the fact that he thought it was due to just being a new story arc overall and not due to the horrible writing and bad pacing that was basically a shallow attempt at recreating old expacs, bad/overused characters, dreadful voice acting, complete disregard for already established lore/characters coupled with designs that have absolutely none of that final fantasy feel because they just added irl items without the ff flair and then to ice the cake, shoehorning in tech that has major consequences for every single civilization and person on the star, but wait, it doesn't. And now our new antagonist is stock anime teen mad scientist #26

I will say though, the drop in quality was EW was apparent for those not blinded by fandom, but they took it too a whole new and impressive level with DT. So, tone deaf, I think is putting it lightly.

[Hallarem]

What made this statement worse was the fact that he thought it was due to just being a new story arc overall and not due to the horrible writing and bad pacing that was basically a shallow attempt at recreating old expacs, bad/overused characters, dreadful voice acting, complete disregard for already established lore/characters coupled with designs that have absolutely none of that final fantasy feel because they just added irl items without the ff flair and then to ice the cake, shoehorning in tech that has major consequences for every single civilization and person on the star, but wait, it doesn't. And now our new antagonist is stock anime teen mad scientist #26

I will say though, the drop in quality was EW was apparent for those not blinded by fandom, but they took it too a whole new and impressive level with DT. So, tone deaf, I think is putting it lightly.

You can pretty much summarize the new villains dialogue into one sentence: "Hmmm.. my calculations"

Endwalker was the beginning yes, it destroyed worldbuilding, the balance of the world, the lore partially and hid the destruction in the middle of some neatly packaged emotional moments which I too liked.
DT just blatantly did an "insert FF AND insert "Oh this was a popular thing as a game right? Lets directly insert it into game, but do it horridly." Here's your cowboys from Red Dead Redemption... but with rubber bullets! because we wouldnt want anyone to get hurt! Here's your cyberpunk but with a society of toddlers, here's Tural, that has a magical peace forged by tacos and belief in papas peace, a 5 minute skypecall to Radz At Han to make an Alliance with a nation Vrtra knows NOTHING about, for a dragon cameo without any dialogue. Also have a random GUNDAM, because the devs must've been shaking in their seats to finally unleash their fanboying over it and RAMMED it into the game.

[DynnDiablos]

You can pretty much summarize the new villains dialogue into one sentence: "Hmmm.. my calculations"

Endwalker was the beginning yes, it destroyed worldbuilding, the balance of the world, the lore partially and hid the destruction in the middle of some neatly packaged emotional moments which I too liked.
DT just blatantly did an "insert FF AND insert "Oh this was a popular thing as a game right? Lets directly insert it into game, but do it horridly." Here's your cowboys from Red Dead Redemption... but with rubber bullets! because we wouldnt want anyone to get hurt! Here's your cyberpunk but with a society of toddlers, here's Tural, that has a magical peace forged by tacos and belief in papas peace, a 5 minute skypecall to Radz At Han to make an Alliance with a nation Vrtra knows NOTHING about, for a dragon cameo without any dialogue. Also have a random GUNDAM, because the devs must've been shaking in their seats to finally unleash their fanboying over it and RAMMED it into the game.

Endwalker's post-MSQ patches were the first time I started skipping cutscenes in 12 years. Some of the worst writing, storylines ever. At least I thought...until I experienced Dawntrail. Amazing how quickly my excitement melted away, thinking I was getting a fun "summer vacation" detour expansion and wound up with that tonally enept swill.

[Bitmoar]

Endwalker's post-MSQ patches were the first time I started skipping cutscenes in 12 years. Some of the worst writing, storylines ever. At least I thought...until I experienced Dawntrail. Amazing how quickly my excitement melted away, thinking I was getting a fun "summer vacation" detour expansion and wound up with that tonally enept swill.

I was the same, except I only started skipping in post DT quests. My eyes sort of glazed over during the fiends arc, but I still enjoyed it well enough because I personally liked Zero and Vrtra/Varshahn. XIV is the only FF I've played so their attempts at nostalgia baiting don't really work on me. The lead up to DT is where the trepidation started. I know people are sick and tired of hearing this but.... Wuk Lamat. I thought she was lovable enough in 6.5x, but our forced decision to back her as a ruler for her nation sort of left me stunned and annoyed lol. Thought the story would convince us that she's worthy. Well, no. She tripped and face planted into success repeatedly while we and every other side character served as emotionless props. Anyway, the topic has been beaten to death. Point is, I'll be skipping until we're done with her. I've heard 7.2 was actually pretty good, but I really can't be assed. She takes up all the oxygen in the room and I just pray to god that wherever we go next we leave her behind for good outside of small infrequent preferably unvoiced cameos.

[YovelaLindswood]

I was the same, except I only started skipping in post DT quests. My eyes sort of glazed over during the fiends arc, but I still enjoyed it well enough because I personally liked Zero and Vrtra/Varshahn. XIV is the only FF I've played so their attempts at nostalgia baiting don't really work on me. The lead up to DT is where the trepidation started. I know people are sick and tired of hearing this but.... Wuk Lamat. I thought she was lovable enough in 6.5x, but our forced decision to back her as a ruler for her nation sort of left me stunned and annoyed lol. Thought the story would convince us that she's worthy. Well, no. She tripped and face planted into success repeatedly while we and every other side character served as emotionless props. Anyway, the topic has been beaten to death. Point is, I'll be skipping until we're done with her. I've heard 7.2 was actually pretty good, but I really can't be assed. She takes up all the oxygen in the room and I just pray to god that wherever we go next we leave her behind for good outside of small infrequent preferably unvoiced cameos.

I play the game in german where the story is actually better so I didnt really hate wuk lamat. What I hated was Bagul Ja Ja. They had such a good irredeemable villain that was the antithesis of what Wuk Lamat stood for. Dude was arrogant prideful and the embodiment of nepotism. Believing he deserved it by merit of physical characteristics rather than quality of character. He was Wuk Lamat's internal struggle manifested as a villain who needed to be overcome. Such a strong plot vice did a complete 180 and im supposed to believe he released the angry bird and threatened an entire tribes existence because he cares about the lives of children? He abandoned his own team because he cares about his people? He was such a fun villain that completely fit the new world exploration lighthearted vibe of dawntrail. No world ending stakes just a new adventure with quirky enemies and laughable motives. When he became another bleeding heart "relatable" villain is the point I just skipped the rest of the cutscenes. They straight up character assassinated him and it felt like the story writers of the second half of the xpac were not the same as the ones from the first half.

[Jeeqbit]

I play the game in german where the story is actually better so I didnt really hate wuk lamat. What I hated was Bagul Ja Ja. They had such a good irredeemable villain that was the antithesis of what Wuk Lamat stood for. Dude was arrogant prideful and the embodiment of nepotism. Believing he deserved it by merit of physical characteristics rather than quality of character. He was Wuk Lamat's internal struggle manifested as a villain who needed to be overcome. Such a strong plot vice did a complete 180 and im supposed to believe he released the angry bird and threatened an entire tribes existence because he cares about the lives of children?

This was extremely sudden, I agree, but I came round to it after a while. It does make sense to me that he'd put his values aside and succumb to the pressure to represent his people (people fighting wars or born into fame have to do this); the problem is just how extremely sudden it was.

Let's take Darth Vader. Seems completely evil just choking people, not redeemable in the slightest. There is a slow process of Luke Skywalker slowly instilling into his brain that he has values he's been suppressing and that those values are the reason he wouldn't kill him. He continually says things like "that was why you couldn't destroy me", "I will not turn, and you'll be forced to kill me", "you can't do this, I've felt the good in you, the conflict", "like my father before me", etc. Leading to a moment where he has to choose between his SON and some "evil friend" he's had for decades, and he realizes Luke was right.

Whereas Bakool Ja Ja was completely out of nowhere with no build up to that turn, and at least no foreshadowing that I remember (but I didn't replay it yet). At least having some noticeable breadcrumbs we could use to start the process of relating to him may have made it a bit less sudden.

[Hallarem]

This was extremely sudden, I agree, but I came round to it after a while. It does make sense to me that he'd put his values aside and succumb to the pressure to represent his people (people fighting wars or born into fame have to do this); the problem is just how extremely sudden it was.

Let's take Darth Vader. Seems completely evil just choking people, not redeemable in the slightest. There is a slow process of Luke Skywalker slowly instilling into his brain that he has values he's been suppressing and that those values are the reason he wouldn't kill him. He continually says things like "that was why you couldn't destroy me", "I will not turn, and you'll be forced to kill me", "you can't do this, I've felt the good in you, the conflict", "like my father before me", etc. Leading to a moment where he has to choose between his SON and some "evil friend" he's had for decades, and he realizes Luke was right.

Whereas Bakool Ja Ja was completely out of nowhere with no build up to that turn, and at least no foreshadowing that I remember (but I didn't replay it yet). At least having some noticeable breadcrumbs we could use to start the process of relating to him may have made it a bit less sudden.

Yeah, pretty sure there wasn't a spot or gradual build up. Just a sudden 180 twist when the plot demanded it. Without going too deeply into the failure of the story of DT, that one was my pet peeve. Along with the clear easy choices like making the two "villains" do the cooking contest together and the two "heroes" instead of mixing it up. Kinda hypocritical of a contest thats meant to show you how the land works together and is enjoying ""Papa's peace" but I doubt these writers think too deeply about these things.

[Carin-Eri]

Anyway, the topic has been beaten to death. Point is, I'll be skipping until we're done with her. I've heard 7.2 was actually pretty good, but I really can't be assed. She takes up all the oxygen in the room and I just pray to god that wherever we go next we leave her behind for good outside of small infrequent preferably unvoiced cameos.

7.2 was good, and that was (arguably) for the exact reason you state. Without spoiling anything, Wuk Lamat does take a back-seat in 7.2. That isn't to say that she's gone, but she doesn't play a big part in it.

[TaleraRistain]

7.2 was good, and that was (arguably) for the exact reason you state. Without spoiling anything, Wuk Lamat does take a back-seat in 7.2. That isn't to say that she's gone, but she doesn't play a big part in it.

They use her in the places where it makes sense to use her and show her strengths. She isn't in everything because she isn't the best tool for the job in those other places. If she had gotten that treatment in Dawntrail then I think people would be a lot less fatigued of her.

[Mawlzy]

What made this statement worse was the fact that he thought it was due to just being a new story arc overall and not due to the horrible writing and bad pacing that was basically a shallow attempt at recreating old expacs, bad/overused characters, dreadful voice acting, complete disregard for already established lore/characters coupled with designs that have absolutely none of that final fantasy feel because they just added irl items without the ff flair and then to ice the cake, shoehorning in tech that has major consequences for every single civilization and person on the star, but wait, it doesn't. And now our new antagonist is stock anime teen mad scientist #26

I will say though, the drop in quality was EW was apparent for those not blinded by fandom, but they took it too a whole new and impressive level with DT. So, tone deaf, I think is putting it lightly.

That was the end for me. It made the plot of a Power Puff Girls episode look sophisticated.