Awfully weak story... or is it? [WARNING:SPOILERS]

[Enkidoh]

Sure, it's probably too much to expect even a superficial appearance of having choices, but in that case don't force players to make totally stupid decisions and expect people to be immersed. The Company of Heroes arc is an obvious one, but in general it just doesn't feel like the guys you're fighting for is even worth the trouble given they show no appreciation for your efforts either. At several point in the story you are able to choose some kind of response. It'd be nice if those actually appeared to have an impact. For example, if you can say, "Don't send me with those losers called Company of Heroes again", then later Minfillia can at least apologize for wasting your time.

I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to disagree here - half the game is spent with npcs of various factions all showing their appreciation for what your player is doing. As early as completing the level 10 storyline quest the proprietor of your city's Adventurer's Guild rewards you for your 'valiant efforts' by giving you free access to every Inn, and the ability to use levequests.

And look at the level 15 story quest - your own nation's leader gives you a free airship pass and makes you their personal envoy. And that's not even including the constant gil and items you're rewarded each time you turn in a sidequest. What were you expecting, a tickertape parade every time you do a fetch quest for someone? Your character is an adventurer, a do-anything-anywhere-anytime-type, hence your employment is based purely around whatever you're asked to do. The Adventurer's Guild even lampshades this right at the start admitting that often an adventurer's work will not be of 'realm-shattering importance', so really, your character knows what they're in for right at the start.

Case in point. In the Company of Hero arc, multiple guys on your side pointed out that you're working for a bunch of idiots on the far fetched hope that they actually know something. In fact, you, the Warrior of Light, is the biggest endorser of the said group of buffoons. While others express skepticism, your character is presumably saying, "I LUV KILLING DRAGON FOR CHEESE! WOULD DO IT AGAIN!" This is where having the hero not talk hurts a lot, since he doesn't talk we have to assume he has to be mentally retarded. If he talked, he could say like well these guys aren't reliable but they're our best bet. It'd still be pretty dumb but it'd give the hero a chance to prove that he's not retarded. It's because the story forces you automatically into some very dumb decisions and the fact that the hero never even tries to attempt to defend himself (because he can't talk) you get those compounded effect. Why am I fetching stew on the eve of the attack into Praetorium? But since the hero doesn't explain, I must assume the hero is just dumb and enjoys wasting his time.

It's frequently shown the player's character does in fact speak - they frequently open their mouth when you interact with another npc. However, whatever they said isn't directly shown as text, instead often the npc will actually paraphrase what the player's character apparently said in their own speech. In some respects it is a lazy way of handling player character dialogue, but it does give also freedom in how the player desires how their character would actually be played as. A lot of players after all go into elaborate detail role-playing their character and create detailed mannerisms and personalities. Having a default way of speaking to NPCs would prevent all that as the player would be forced into playing their character in a premade way - you might as well be playing a premade or default character created by SE themselves rather than one you've created.

Also, as I mentioned before, the player accepts these silly fetch quests willingly because, it's what they do. It's a coinpouch at the end of it. If this isn't up your alley, perhaps you should think of a career change for your character, as adventuring obviously isn't suited to you. j/k