Thank you for returning to "original stories" for Raids in Endwalker

[Eorzean_username]

I understand that this may be an unpopular opinion, and I don't mean to ruin anyone's fun if they've been enjoying it, but I have to admit that for some time now, I have really disliked the use of "fan-service" throw-away content for Raids and Alliance Raids.

I realize that these had some vague/token integration with the wider FFXIV lore, but it has still felt very "tacked-on" to me, and like content that belonged much more in a "Special Event" kind of setting (like Lightning, Iroha, or Shantotto).

I really enjoyed the (story of) the following content, because it felt like a distinct part of the FFXIV lore and world, and expanded our understanding of various "unique" aspects of the FFXIV lore:

• Coils of Bahamut
• Crystal Tower
• Alexander
• Shadows of Mhach
• Eureka
• Eden (if you don't count the 6 of 12 encounters that were just story-less, hasty recyclings of "memories" that we already encountered in ARR / 2.x)
• Bozja

Whereas, I really have not enjoyed these pieces of content, because they felt almost entirely like tedious, forced, unimportant "filler", "fanservice", or just straight-up "advertisements" disguised as raid content, which ultimately did not actually expand the lore very much, or just "tacked-on" or even "commandeered" a bunch of regions or plot elements solely to justify the raid existing in the first place:

• Omega ("did you know that FFV and FFVI are now available on iOS and Steam?")
• Ivalice ("also War of the Lions, now on iOS!")
• YoRHa ("Square-Enix also publishes other games, such as NieR: Automata!")

...It's just really disappointing, as a player who is fascinated by the "real" lore of FFXIV such as Voidsent and Mhach, to end up stuck for 1-2 years at a time with raids that are just fan-fiction-like cut+pastes of other SE game characters and stories.

So, I just wanted to offer some sincere / non-sarcastic positive feedback and a "Thank you" for the information that both the Raid and Alliance Raid series of Endwalker will return to telling "original stories".

[Iscah]

Omega ("did you know that FFV and FFVI are now available on iOS and Steam?")

While I agree overall and I didn't like Ivalice or NieR, I'm fine with Omega and I think it belongs in the group of stories that are original to FFXIV and explore elements of its world. (If merely being a crossover or tribute earns it a place on the naughty list, then the Crystal Tower has to go there as well because the locations and elements of the plot are straight out of FFIII. It's just better integrated and feels native to Eorzea.)

The fights in Omega might be ripped from other games, but the surrounding plot is original to FFXIV and builds on established characters like the Ironworks team and Midgardsormr. For someone who isn't reading beyond the game itself, it introduces the "Bozja Incident" and Cid's sense of guilt over it. And of course it plays a key part in the backstory for Shadowbringers.

Having the crossover elements isolated in the fight instances means that the plot doesn't spend much time on them at all. You don't feel like you're missing out if you don't know the context to the encounter.

[Cilia]

I completely agree.

There are too many heavy-handed references to other titles, particularly the Ivalice setting games, and relying so heavily on fanservice for worldbuilding reduces the setting's integrity.

(Yes, I am aware the devs have stated Ivalice is an inspiration, but there is taking inspiration from something and then there is importing carbon copies of characters, concepts, and locations.)

Further explanation would require rambling I've no energy for at the moment and would rather spend grinding for my relic weapon.

I'm aware this is an unpopular stance, but I'd rather see more of this world, this setting I fell in love with, than be forcibly reminded of how great some other game / setting is, particularly when I don't care about the referenced game / setting.

Stoked to see more original content in side stories.

Gonna go visit the hardware store to grab a flame shield; I'mma need it for pissing on the sacred cow (again). Catch ya on the flipside!

[KageTokage]

I'm aware this is an unpopular stance, but I'd rather see more of this world, this setting I fell in love with, than be forcibly reminded of how great some other game / setting is, particularly when I don't care about the referenced game / setting.

I'm of the same mind.

I don't mind stuff like the Crystal Tower raids that are heavily influenced/shaped to fit the existing XIV lore as opposed to basically just ripping characters and locales from another FF and dumping them into the game like they did with the Ivalice raids.

[Erendis]

At least Ivalice raids had some lore that put them in FFXIV, however Nier is completely alien and I absolutely hate it.

[Alleo]

I fully agree with you OP. This was one of the few highlights of the event for me. Finally two original raids again. And honestly I am fine if they do include some ideas of older games. (Like how the one raid has a certain name and might throw in some ideas because of that) This is the kind of fanservice that is still nice...maybe because if you dont know its fanservice you still can fully understand it.

Ivalice raids were kinda hard because even though they created a place for it in the FF14 world we still got huge amount of lore and information thrown on us because otherwise we might not understand it. Which for me just means that maybe its already too much fanservice.

Nier really took it to another level and I hope that they never ever do something like that again. Even right now most of it is shrouded in darkness, it does not feel at all like it fits with the game...nothing makes much sense and the fanservice is only there for people that already know it. It just such an obvious crossover that its annoying. Stick stuff like that to small events please...

[DamianFatale]

Crossovers are fun, but save them for events. Ivalice aside, these felt heavily shoehorned. I'm glad to see that we are returning to the feel that A Realm Reborn and Heavenward had. The Crystal Tower series, Coil, Alexander, and Mhachi felt so relevant to the world.

Ivalice felt.. like a separate Final Fantasy game location and story pasted into the games. I'm glad we got it though, because I love that series. It's my favorite 24 man.

[TheMightyMollusk]

I like the actual raids in the Ivalice series, but the story around it is pretty boring. The fetch quests for the dramaturge don't help. Surprisingly, spoofing annoying fetch quests with an extra-annoying fetch quest doesn't really work.

I'm reserving my judgement on the YoRHa raids until we actually see the whole thing (especially with Yoko Taro's known tendency to not tell most of the story until the final third or so, which we haven't gotten to yet), but I can see why a lot of people aren't thrilled with it being thrown in. The twins poking fun at the fourth wall was the best part. A raid story about, say, exploring the ruins of Ronka and filling out more lore on the First would've gone over better, but it is what it is.

Omega I could take or leave. For a plot thread that's been building for years (remember, Omega being buried under Carteneau was the original justification for PVP, and the cause for Teledji Adeledji's coup), it feels a bit awkward....but then again, the entire Monetarist arc didn't really go anywhere, so that kinda fits. Seems like the biggest lasting thing to come out of it in the end is a reason that we can't call on Midgardsormr for help anymore, but he wasn't exactly at our beck and call to begin with. I do love stumbling across Alpha out in the world, though.

[Roda]

Yes, the abundance of "unique to ffxiv" stories in end-game repeatable content for EW has earned a bit more loyalty from me, as I have ZERO attachment to previous FF titles and have gotten really sick of the blatant fanservice with little story substance. Omega, ivalice, and as much as I love it, YoRHa didn't really stand up on their own. (I am enjoying the yorha story, but I'm sure that's only because i'm actually invested in the IP and understand how its existance in XIV's world is justified. But I know that if I wasn't into drakennier it would seem out of place and stupid)

[Vyrerus]

I mean... Shadows of Mhach had original NPCs that were fun, but Cait Sith itself is an FFVI reference. Echidna is an FFIII reference. Ozma FFIX. Caliofisteri, FFV. Diabolos FFXI. Deathgaze FFVI. Almost every boss in FFXIV is a reference to an earlier title. Sorry, that's just the way it is. The only reason the Ivalice raids feel worse is because there's no natural build up or reference to earlier FFXIV content within it(and the NPCs are lame duck crossover attempts).

Omega probably feels the way it does to some people, because the storyline itself explicitly calls attention to the fact that the simulated battles are from other stories. The beauty though, is that we'd seen holodeck tech already in FFXIV well before this, in Azys Lla, and in Second Coil of Bahamut. Did you love/hate the Warring Triad? They're more or less the same thing.

Anywho, I'll be glad when we move away from Nier. I've loved the fight design and music, but I'm not really invested. I don't think anything Yoko Taro can cook up will satisfactorily connect it with the rest of FFXIV, and that's fine. The game has self contained stories here and there in sidequests too. I'm sure it'll be a good story, it's just not the one I'm looking for, but who knows, maybe he'll rock my socks!