Revelations from Patch 3.56

[Belhi]

Sums up my thoughts entirely. It felt like a flashy action movie. Pretty and enjoyable in the moment, but without a lot of content to get me hooked for the sequel - or next expansion in this case.

What I'm most excited for in Stormblood isn't the MSQ, but the Omega raid and Ivalice.

Well to be fair, 2.55's story only really served as a reason to get us to Ishgard rather than being a major part of the HW story.

For me, I need to chew on this for longer and let it digest but my initial thoughts are that it raises a lot of questions. Without a clear time scale its hard to be sure exactly when Lyse took over the identity of Yda. Was it before 1.0 (apart from the flashbacks) or was it post calamity? 2.0 started 5 years after the calamity and it wouldn't be unreasonable to think that at least a year has past. The other questions I have are in regard to Shinryu. There are a few aspects of the primal that don't quite fit the traditional model and I hope we can learn exactly why.

Honestly I would prefer the Ascians take a back seat role for a time. We have been bumping them off pretty fast lately and I would like to wait a while before the next one drops.

[ReplicaX]

It felt like a star wars a force awakening: han solo situation, papalymo die to save us from the primal that was suppose to be rhaegar and yet we had no funeral, no acknowledging his sacrifice, no mourning, nothing.

Why can't ppl accept the fact that Ilberd being Ala Mhigan simply had strong practices & beliefs in Rhaegar? We've seen this constantly in dialog with Ala Mhigans. Omega & Shinryu not only have a connection throughout the FF Series, but the conduit used by Ilberd was Nidhogg's eyes. Shinryu can also bridge in the Ala Mhigo & the Far East characters involved, since we know it's a Far East legend, yet Shinryu appears in Ala Mhigo.

3.XX coming to a close doesn't require a closure to Papalymo via mourning/funeral. It feels left open and can continue in with Stormblood. Especially now that Lyse is literally herself and could aid into developing her character more.

It's just too early to tell.

[Remedi]

3.3 was the true end of HW as an expansion for me, as some has told 3.4 and 3.5 were more the akin as the calm before the storm, also we should consider the fact that now leaders are searching for alternatives to the warrior of light as a mean to stop the primals.
All in all I think that 3.5 story served to give us a reason to move forward

[Moomba33]

It felt like a star wars a force awakening: han solo situation, papalymo die to save us from the primal that was suppose to be rhaegar and yet we had no funeral, no acknowledging his sacrifice, no mourning, nothing.

I felt the same. I was expecting some mourning at the end once the Omega stuff had calmed down but nothing. I feel like the story spent more time mourning Moenbryda than Papalymo.

I also didn't feel much of a reaction to the Yda/Lyse reveal. My character never knew the real Yda so it's kinda like having someone just change their name.

Eva started in Gridania and I wish I had gotten more invested in Papalymo and Yda as characters considering how long I knew them. As it stands I'm just kinda meh on their developments.

I don't have a problem with the overall story of the patch. Smashing soldiers with Nero's magitek was fun and I feel like the story is moving to Ala Mhigo and Doma fairly naturally without creating hype that won't be resolved satisfactorily like 2.55.

[Zohar_Lahar]

I'm inclined to believe that the domans only called him Shinryu because he resembled a similar dragon from their own stories, rather than them knowing exactly what it was.

Shinryu is essentially the Japanese name for Shenglong, therefore it makes sense that "Shinryu" would be an Othard term. Perhaps it was their name for Midgardsormr.

[TinyRedLeaf]

It felt like a star wars a force awakening

The comparison to Star Wars is apt, but I think Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back would make the more appropriate analogy. Episode V, like Heavensward, took the Star Wars saga into a darker turn, even as it delved far more substantially into world- and character-building. By building on the darkness, Episode V was not only contrasting itself with the more upbeat original, but it was also setting things up for an uplifting finale in Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi.

Similarly, the Heavensward/Dragonsong storyline has been all about cost, in contrast with its more positive predecessor. A Realm Reborn focused on the return of a foretold hero, and how that hero came to ascend to his or her destiny. As the hero gained in power, enemies and gods fell alike before his or her prowess. And, at one point, it seemed like nothing could stand in the hero's way.

From a storytelling point of view, what we had back then was a narrative that was going upwards, higher and higher. So, it was only natural, for dramatic purposes, to make a sharp U-turn in tone, and bring our hero, and the hero's companions back down to earth.

And that was essentially the point of Heavensward/Dragonsong. Each chapter brought some gains, but arguably heavier losses. Doubts have been growing, even within the hero (especially for those who experienced the DRK storyline). And we've come to a juncture where the very nature of reality is up in question, as we've learnt more about Hydaelyn and her shards, and Elidibus' motives become ever more apparently reasonable.

It's in this context that I noticed that the Scions and the Eorzean Alliance are about to be drawn into a war on two fronts that they don't want to wage, but feel duty-bound nonetheless to do so. The enjoyment, to me, is in noticing the nuances in the lines (alas, the English voice-acting wasn't quite up to par; that's one of the few criticisms I do have), and appreciating the politics behind the reluctant decisions to go to war.

In other words, I think the drama this time around is more subtle, and obviously not as in-your-face as it was in the conclusion to A Realm Reborn. It's a matter of taste, certainly, but I won't hesitate to say that I prefer it this way.

[Grayve]

Mostly enjoyable. I've never been to fond of Yda, since she played the idiot card way to often, so I hope Lyse is more intelligent. Although I do wonder why she played dumb... surely the true Yda couldn't be a scion and so unintelligent? I don't know, I never played 1.0.

Gosetsu was just odd... I wasn't expecting him to be the comic relief, but that seemed to be his role. I didn't find him entertaining, just perplexing.

Nero was brilliant. Smug, Smarmy, and oh so cocksure. I am rooting for a Slap Slap Kiss relationship for him and Yugri. Hehe.

The primal being another dragon was... well, I mean it makes sense from a franchise perspective on Omega, but I couldn't help but see it and feel SE copped out of showing us a primal of the twelve.

[Lauront]

I have to say that I feel like it was a disappointing end to the expansion. Where are the nuances? Eorzea has shifted into the role of the aggressor against Garlemald and I don't feel as though there's a good enough reason to take the fight to them at the moment. Nero having turned his back upon Garlemald completely leaves him as little more than a smarmier version of Cid. I just don't understand why characters on the 'other side' of conflicts but with legitimate, sympathetic reasons to oppose the Warrior of Light and Scions are killed off. The Warriors of Darkness, Regula Van Hydrus...the list goes on.

No attempt at diplomacy was made. Nobody brought up Regula's sacrifice even though his storyline really should be considered to be an extension of the MSQ's given how relevant it is to the game's story moving forward. I just don't get it - the lore book took the time to flesh out Garlemald as more than just a generic 'evil empire' and one can even argue that the Garleans were dealt a very poor hand, being unable to wield aether in most cases and being driven out of fertile lands in favour of living in a dangerous wasteland. They sought to survive, eventually becoming defiant and embracing magitek and military might out of necessity.

That doesn't excuse all of their actions, of course. Yet Ala Mhigo picked fights to prove it was stronger and because it wanted to conquer for the sake of conquering. As misguided as Garlemald's intentions may be at least they try and bring forth order and stability. The fight scene between Shinryu and Omega was pretty neat - we already know that Omega is going to be fight in the expansion and I have a feeling that Shinryu will be as well. The lack of a 'Steps of Faith' or 'Nabriales' for the patch was disappointing, though - we did get a duty but it was pretty lacking. Blowing up a goofy looking Roegadyn that felt like he should have been part of a Hildibrand quest didn't appeal to me. Nor did cutting through swathes of Garlean soldiers as if they were nothing. Can we least try to present Garlemald as a legitimate threat?

It's clear that stuff was cut. The Warring Triad storyline was going to be part of the MSQ's originally and as such would likely have been fully voice acted and referenced in future MSQ's. We were told that we'd learn more things from Midgardsormr about Silvertear but that hasn't been the case at all. I assume it has either been abandoned as a plot point or has been pushed into a future content patch. Zenos only showing up for a brief moment was a disappointment as well. In all fairness, he's the main antagonist of the upcoming expansion so he'll inevitably get his fair share of screentime.

Still, for me it all comes back to nuances. I really, really hope the Scions, Eorzean Alliance and Warrior of Light screw up badly by going to war with Garlemald since they'll be getting a lot of people killed and are, now, the aggressors. I hope this is highlighted and that Regula's sacrifice - or the existence of moral complexities within Garlemald isn't going to be ignored. Eorzea has a troubled history and a track record of treating its own inhabitants like dirt. Even after Ishgard's and Ul'dah's 'change' there's still people starving in the streets, inequality and xenophobia. It's understandable - that sort of thing isn't going away and sometimes isn't completely without justifications.

I guess I'll reserve my full judgement for the expansion itself. I just hope they truly do make an improvement over 3.0 for 4.0 just like 3.0 was a major step up from 2.0.

Yup, obviously the Garleans must've summoned a Primal, even though they're deadset against wiping them out of existence!

The Eorzean city-states are either thick in the head, or devious. I, for one, hope that the Empire wipes the floor with them so badly that they're forced to escape into Doma. It'd also be nice to see the main char lose their "blessing" again, particularly as Hydaelyn tilts further into imbalance. If it just turns into more deus ex machina, I'm considering finding another MMO, particularly as nothing they've suggested re the mechanical changes to the game so far inspires much confidence.

A complete waste of potential, so far, and nothing to show for it.

[Bloody]

First, off, definitely anti-climactic. However, I really liked the twist on Lyse. Shinryu looked kind of like an ugly, bastardized Bahamut, which disappointed me when they named it Shinryu, but the fight with Omega was pretty sweet. Some of the tying of loose threads seems almost too convenient in the wrap-up, but overall, even though it was short, it was sweet.

[Etwo]

How did Garleans ever win war before? This isnt the first time we kick their ass with just one magitec armor. We should just walk to Garlemald and take over.