Echoes of Vana'diel FFXI Alliance Raid

[Raikai]

I just realized why I don't think I'm enjoying this raid storyline so far... It's the same reason why Endwalker's didn't vibe as well:

The pacing and the stakes.

DT and EW Alliance Raid storylines feel like as if I'm watching a long movie divided by commercials. The standalone chapters don't give me a sense of 'competion'... Let me think, what the 2 raids we have so far, in Echoes, actually mattered for? The first one to introduce Prishe, and that's all. We could just skip every other fight and stick to the story happening outside of the actual raids and it wouldn't change much. The Shadow Lord and the last boss of this one are cool, but they could be replaced by anything and it wouldn't matter. I didn't play FFXI, but I feel this is only happening to give some sort of fanservice rather than trying to make a solid storyline in all corners.

As far as I remember, the previous Alliance Raids, even Nier, each installment had some sort of major objective/happening tied to the last boss of the raid fights, and that made me much more invested in each 'episode'.

[Powercow]

I just realized why I don't think I'm enjoying this raid storyline so far... It's the same reason why Endwalker's didn't vibe as well:

The pacing and the stakes.

DT and EW Alliance Raid storylines feel like as if I'm watching a long movie divided by commercials. The standalone chapters don't give me a sense of 'competion'... Let me think, what the 2 raids we have so far, in Echoes, actually mattered for? The first one to introduce Prishe, and that's all. We could just skip every other fight and stick to the story happening outside of the actual raids and it wouldn't change much. The Shadow Lord and the last boss of this one are cool, but they could be replaced by anything and it wouldn't matter. I didn't play FFXI, but I feel this is only happening to give some sort of fanservice rather than trying to make a solid storyline in all corners.

As far as I remember, the previous Alliance Raids, even Nier, each installment had some sort of major objective/happening tied to the last boss of the raid fights, and that made me much more invested in each 'episode'.

Yeah the current explanation is... Sareel Ja is... bored and trying to find a new vessel for Gulool Ja Ja? And he thinks that depending on which boss kills us, that'll be the one? And so he needs to recreate Lower Jeuno and other random adventurers? I dunno, the dude seems hopelessly out of his league and like his plan has gotten away from him. I was kinda hoping he'd die in part 2 and part 3 would have us pitted against the likes of Promathia or Eald'narche or Nag'molada or something. He's really not a compelling villain and his plan is kinda dumb. At this point I'd settle for Kupenreich.

[Fawkes]

Windurst and Aht Urhgan, Shantotto using that new light staff and not the Shantotto's staff item that needs updating.

[Enkidoh]

FINALLY.. my beloved Windy.... (Heaven's Tower and Windurst Waters looks good in FFXIV's engine). Although... going to 'Laggate' is bringing back nightmares....

The giant Shantotto model has already long been in the game though (being used way back in 2013 for the original FFXI crossover event), so it kind of made sense to reuse an existing model (even with touched up textures).

[Diablo_Eichenwald]

I used to love the music in Aht Urhgan so much that I spent every idle minute in that city (showing off my Ares Gear Set too of course!). Can't wait to try this one out once I am done catching up!

[Fawkes]

The giant Shantotto model has already long been in the game though (being used way back in 2013 for the original FFXI crossover event), so it kind of made sense to reuse an existing model (even with touched up textures).

It looks like that's where the model for the old staff came from. Hopefully we don't have to wait a few years for the new one to be added to future Eureka lockboxes.

[Fawkes]

The reward for the current crossover event is upgrade items for RSE gear, it makes me wonder if we'll get that gear. Although it might be odd as the actual raid gear, maybe it could be a glamour coffer type thing.

[CidHeiral]

I for one find Shantotto annoying so I'm disappointed to learn she's potentially wasting a boss slot. Hopefully the rest are cool though. I think Promathia is probably a given for one of them. Maybe Hades for another? Hopefully we get some actual gear from the game for the sets as well.

[Miguel85NYC]

I for one find Shantotto annoying so I'm disappointed to learn she's potentially wasting a boss slot. Hopefully the rest are cool though. I think Promathia is probably a given for one of them. Maybe Hades for another? Hopefully we get some actual gear from the game for the sets as well.

Shantotto is amazing! Shes gonna make a awesome boss fight

[Fawkes]

Hopefully she just looks like this




Since they showed Windurst and Aht Urhgan, I think Shantotto will be the Windurst boss and either a Besieged fight or Gulool Ja Ja for Aht Urhgan. I'd love it if they did something unique for a Besieged fight. Make the Al Zahbi arena unconventionally large and laid out like the real thing and spawn as many enemies as the game allows (or more), and have an Astral Candysense that we have to protect. If it's just two little packs of trash pulls and a Gulool Ja Ja fight I will be sad.