7.3 MSQ Was Absolutely Terrific

[Mawlzy]

All this patch solidified for me was just how much I don't care about anything in this story. I am going to really try in 7.4 since it's a new arc, but we will see. They may have already lost me completely.

This is the bottom line for me. If one uses the analogy of reading a book, with many of the previous expacs I would have stayed up too late reading, excited by what might happen next and immersed in the many threads and mysteries.

Based on the reactions here to 7.0, I think I was happier with it than many people and thought Wuk Lamat was okay. But returning to the book analogy, in 7.1 through the bit of 7.3 I got through, it was like picking up the book, reading a paragraph, sighing, and putting it back down again.

[Gaddes]

I was really, REALLY hoping we wouldn't have to resort to more Ascian shenanigans since that always seems like a crutch now, but here we are. I'm assuming that was probably viewed as the easy way to try and win back people who didn't like Dawntrail, but we already ended all the full Ancients, so I don't want to be dealing with more half-baked Fandaniels... and I was really hoping that was the end of Calyx, who I found to be an insufferable anime villain trope.

[icicleteeth]

I will say, as someone who disliked most of 7.0, disliked (to put it lightly) 7.1 even moreso, and didn't care much for 7.2, I'm feeling more hopeful for MSQ now than I have since 7.0 released. Maybe that's me trying to glass half full this after being disappointed with the story for over a year now, but all the new bgm they made for the quests, an attempt to shake up the questing gameplay a little bit with the puzzle segment (even though I felt it could have been a little more challenging), the cutscenes themselves having better choreography, and in general our character having a more active role in the story (I still feel it could be better and there was still a bit too much of us standing around while other characters move the plot forward for my liking) but. For once, I am at least hopeful that the story is going to get better. Never thought I'd find myself saying that after a Dawntrail patch.

[Carin-Eri]

Same here. I really loved my character actually doing something unique to her job in the post-trial cutscene! I just wish the book in the inn gave us a pause button for the cutscenes so I could get a nice screenshot of that, because my timing on that one sucks!

I'll admit, I was grinning like an idiot when

Wuk Lamat dropped to the floor to reveal a pretty pissed-off looking Warrior of Light stood right behind and very willing to put an end to Calyx's BS!

And agree that it was really difficult to get a good screenshot there; this was the best I could grab:

[CaptainLagbeard]

The story is definitely getting better from 7.0 and 7.1. And the second boss in the new dungeon is actually quite fun as a Healer.

Also, I get the game to give me this image of my character as the WoL has canonically traumatized another person.

Same here. I really loved my character actually doing something unique to her job in the post-trial cutscene! I just wish the book in the inn gave us a pause button for the cutscenes so I could get a nice screenshot of that, because my timing on that one sucks!

One thing you can do for good screenshot taking for most cutscenes, ones available in The Unending Journey, is just record the game with something like OBS and then take a screenshot of the recording.

[CamuiKushi]

It was a solid 7/10 patch... right up until the twist at the very end, which brought it down to like... a 4/10 for me. I don't want to deal with Ascians for another 15 years, thank you. Oh sorry, """Winterers"""

[LyrisAdamanteia]

I was really, REALLY hoping we wouldn't have to resort to more Ascian shenanigans since that always seems like a crutch now, but here we are. I'm assuming that was probably viewed as the easy way to try and win back people who didn't like Dawntrail, but we already ended all the full Ancients, so I don't want to be dealing with more half-baked Fandaniels... and I was really hoping that was the end of Calyx, who I found to be an insufferable anime villain trope.

What are you on about? In one of the pre-release interviews for DT Yoshi-P said to remember/watch out for the members of the convocation that hadn't been seen yet. This was always the plan. That said I don't think the Ascian is the mastermind of this group this time, at least from the dialogue at the end of the patch they feel more like a gopher than the leader. Also there was no way Calyx was going to be gone, most of us called it from 7.2 that he'd be a wider scope villain. I think its interesting that The Winterers seem, at least for now, to be an organization composed of organizations each with their own projects and goals seemingly unlike the Ascians were who only had a singular goal that they all worked toward.

[CaptainLagbeard]

For the Ascians, we've essentially taken out their top leaders as it I do believe it was mentioned in the story that Lahabrea, Elidibus and Emet were able to escape the Sundering and remain as they were, and then the three of them worked to bring back the Convocation and they made everyone work towards the reunions.

Now that they're gone that doesn't mean we've gotten rid of all the Ascians, just that they're probably much less organized and they can have their own goals like Fandaniel did as they're no longer being kept on a leash.

[NotoriousQX]

Ascians were, indeed, always part of the plan. I think the difference is that we are passed the era of the Rejoining, and onto whatever Ascians are left pursuing their own ambitions that don't involve bringing back the Ancients. I don't see anything wrong with that.

[Chasingstars]

With 7.4 I am guessing either its more winterer stuff on a shard we haven't visited or using the key to past shards (13 and 1) to help people we already know there.