Early acess impressions [Unhidden spoilers. Won't warn twice]

[Balipu]

Instead of letting it get lost in the myriad of smaller threads I decided to post here my complete documentation of what I think of Heavensward and the early access.
I must stress that this is only my oppinion and there may be changes that don't affect me.

So a bit of background. I play on phoenix, With the exception of warrior I have all jobs at 50, I leveled every crafter and gatherer, but none of them even close to 50. I have many clothes and even weapons in my armoir that I will eventually use for glamour, but I am not using any. Also only have like one prism in total. My main has ilvl 116 gear, so far from Dreadwyrm, but enough to not be completely helpless.
I had the pleasure to try 5 mmos and about three times as much final fantasy games before comming here.
So, let's jump in.

Day 1

First, the technical stuff:
- SE did an amazing job. Not only did the early access start on time, but I was in in minutes, lag was noticable but didn't impact gameplay and in the course of the whole day I had only 1 DC. Just one. And even then I could eventually come back and continue the cutscene where I was cut off. The data saving really is magical.

Voice acting: This is highly discussed as many english voice actors changed. Alphinaud, Tataru, Midgardsormr and Merlwyb definitely did. Maybe Cid and Ilberd as well. Oh and Urianger
Pro: Tataru and Alphinaud ( Her original voice was just plain weird and unpleasant to listen to. And Alph sounds grown up now.)
Con: Merlyb (she lost the metalic edge of her voice that made her so great to listen to) Midgardsormr (sounds more like a tired grandpa than a monstrous demigod). DOn't like Uriganer's new voice either.
- There seems to be more voice acting. I like that we have voiced banter in duties now.

Gameplay:
Pro: - Yoshie P certainly didn't lie. The zones are indeed massive and you are indeed in trouble if more than one mob attacks.
- I didn't notice a drop in ninja damage due to the added positional. That's right. no pluarl. Out of the old skills only one gained a positional.
- New jobs get two gear pieces. No more naked adventurers. Yaaaay.
- Contrary predicitons my armory didn't get bloated, despite the generous ammount of 115 ilvl gear offered in the MSQ.
- Thank the twelve for mounted teleport.
- Aetheryte current are fun to hunt.
Con: - Speaking of which. Where is my hunting log for 51-60?
- I was shocked by the increase of XP requirement for 51 from 560K to 800K
- A heads up that dusk vigil is not part of the main scenario would have been nice.

Story:
Pro: - We have choices. Both in dialouge and in picking which zone to do first. This is a small thing but gives the starting experience a whole different feal.
- Estinien is awesome. Has a nice sense of humor as well.
- The hunt for the heretics was great.
- Rescuing Raubahn was even better. Yugiri totally stole the show, but it was still fun.
- Alphinaud fights. Your move, Minflilia.
- Battling in the Akh Afah Amphiteatre again.
- All the callbacks: the guy you saved from the false- inquisitor has a sister, a random dragoon from the job quest becomes your student, Oboro and you go to the rouge's guild.
- Pope Thordan is a very interesting fellow. He plays the game of thrones well.
Con: - I'm kinda worried now. Okay, Nanamo has only been drugged. Cool. But everyone surviving the ARR finalee would make it pretty cheap. The only sensible approach now would be to let one of the Scions remain dead.
- Between Yugiri, Princess Yuki and Akagi there reaaaaaly needs to be an in game moment where we sit down and talk about the Au Ra.


Music and visuals: Perfect as always.


Day 2

Technical:
- Lag disappeared completely. In fact the game is more stable than ever.
- The single server crash returned at the exact same time. Someone should tell the cleaning lady to stop unplugging the internet when using the vacuum cleaner.

Voice acting:
- I don't recall hearing so much of a primals voice as I did now with Ravana. I have no idea how Titan sounds for example. I hope this will be the new norm.

Gameplay:
Pro:- Ravana was a very fun fight. An odd mix of Garuda and Titan.
I lalready replaced most of my ninja gear and my item level increased 5 points. That's not even counting all the stuff gained for other classes. Getting appropriate gear is much easier now.
Con:- The new dungeons didn't leave a strong impression in me. (the first two) Not a good sign.
- We clearly don't have enough xp. The quest rewards, the fate rewards and the challenge log all fell behind the massive jump in XP requirements. I get by, kinda, but I dread to think of how I'll level the other 12 classes.

Story:
Pro:- Really like the new ninja questline.
- The Gnath are my new favorite beast tribe. Why? Well good question. By the way, you know what I like to eat? Nachos. It would be a very nice surprise if you would bring me nachos.
- I am no longer an errand boy. Ysayle, Alphinaud and Estinien all gather parts of the stuff we need.
- Ysayle has the echo. She decided to use it. Your move, Minfilia.
- Ravana vs Shiva, Ravana vs Shiva, Ravana vs Shivaaaaaa
- Iceheart and Estinien are so cute when they argue. I'm totally shipping Icetinien ^^
- I liked how the Ravana fight was a more organic part of the story. Ifrit, Titan, Garuda, Mog, Leviathan, Ramuh and to an Extent Shiva, were all fought in completely isolated quest chains that weren't really connected, just place after one another.
- Female Ascian. My life is complete.
- MOOOOOOGLEEEEEES YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY (sorry)
Con: -How slow is this new assault? At this rate Ishgard will be a crater by the time we reach Hraesvelgr.
- This is a dark gothic expansion. Where are the vampires?

Music: - Carnival clown music and Viking anthem are weird choices for a fast paced swordfight againts and insect, but both are huge earworms.
- If hearing the new moogle theme for the first time didn't make you scream like a little girl, something is very very wrong with you.

Day 3

Technical:
- No cleaning lady error. Me happy.

Voice acting:
Pro: - Biggs and Wedge got new voice actors. Less ear piercing voice actors.

Gameplay:
Pro: - Finally a fun dungeon. I really enjoyed the Aery
Con: - Someone should teach moogles to mark quest targets better.
- Seriously? All the level 55 Main Scenario content is one dungeon, plus two short, walk and talk quests before and after it? First jobs shouldn't be this grindy.

Story:
Pro: - Yay, our times fighting Moogle Mog and Garuda become relevant. Love these call backs.
- The echo is given proper use again. We very rarely use it for visions. Was about time.
Con: - Why didn't anyone ask Lolorito about the Scions? Last time we saw them they were chased by Lolorito's men.

Just a remark: The farther we get into the story, the less I support the dragons.
- Hey, thanks for saving us all for Ravana. But we will still try to kill you.
- You are sorry for what others did to me? Too late. I hate you.
- Yes, I willingly gave half my power to a complete psychopath knowing full well he lost his mind, and he keeps Ishgardians alive so he could torment new generations of children all the time. I'm not sorry for what I did and I don't care that you are sorry for what your ancestors did.
- You gave me back my power? Cool, It will make it easier for me to kill you as I still hate you all.

Music: The mana cutter music is pretty nice.

Localization: In the Aery we were attacked from time to time by a terrbile dragon. So, what's a terrbile dragon?

Day 4

Technical:
- Had a lot of server hiccups today. The cleaning lady error came back with a vengeance.

Gameplay:
Pro: - New ninja skills work like a charm. Not having to use Huton all the time really makes a difference.
Con:- Not a single dungeon or trial for level 56. I've spent most of the day grinding moogle quests.
- Said moogle quests took a lot longer than they should have with the terrible objective markers. I don't want to play hide and seek with cowardly guards, plants and tools.

Voice acting:
- Apparently even old dungeons get more voice acting. Neat.

Story:
- Karasu is back. Yaaaaay
- Hildibrand gets a mention. Double yaaay.



Final verdict:

As tomorrow is release I guess it is time to end my early access impressions and give the final verdict.
While the end product is far from perfect, filled with moogle hide and seek, terrbile dragons, level gates and missing hunting logs, normal levequests and traits, i still love it.
Storytelling improved considerably. Appart from Merlwyb and Midi voice acting improved as well. The game looks better. I can fly, shoot guns and throw cards. All in all I am impressed. Keep up the good work.