All my hopes, all my fears

[Rookie1]

Everyone once in a while a game comes along at just the right time to really resonate with the player. It just fits with what is going on with your life and you know what the characters are feelings. My first experience with this was playing "The Longest Journey" in college. I really related to the protagonist then. It was like we were going through the same thing in life. When I tried to play it again years later it just didn't draw me in like the first time.

Endwalker seems to be fated to fit my me right now. My father just passed away recently. If EW had not been delayed he would have passed during the launch. It's almost like the delay was so I could get everything in order.
And then there is my emotional state. The last time I spoke with my father he said there were things I should know. But I dismissed him. Thinking there was plenty of time. How foolish of me. When I watched the Endwalker trailer and alphi said that end to not leave things unspoken because tomorrow isn't promised, I started crying.

As we approach the launch now I hope that this will be an enjoyable expansion for everyone. And I hope this will cheer me up again. But I don't get the sense that this is a cheery expansion. Mayhap I'm putting a lot of pressure on EW here. Mayhap it won't resonate with me emotionally at all. But I'm afraid my reactions can only be extreme here. EW will either be a amazing or terrible.

[Arazehl]

So sorry to hear about your dad. I hope that you find comfort beyond what EW might offer. I understand relating to a story rich game. There isn't a ton of them out there.

EW is an ending of course and we can only speculate how this will come about. I'm hoping to have some of the loose ends tied up. Answers to the burning questions, at least for those that have followed the story to this point. I'm expecting many revelations to occur, some we least expect. This story has been in the making for several years and I hope it's conclusion is everything we hoped for. I hope that you can find some meaning in it to relate to, during your time of sadness. Good luck and we'll see you in EW.

[Hysorn]

It feels bittersweet to me, seeing my character fighting through emotional stuff like I wish I could IRL. I started playing the game about 4 months ago now, my mother had just passed away when I started and I went hardcore on the game, I was sleeping about 3-4h a day and spending the rest of it playing, completely focusing on the story. I picked up DRK at 50 and the whole storyline talked about loss, grief, the lack of meaning in life, emotions you hole up, etc, you get the picture. It painfully resonated with me, but again, it was bittersweet.

I am sorry about your father however, losing a parent is something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy and I wish I had words of comfort but I still haven't find my own comfort in the situation, all I can do is hope you fare better than me.

[Floortank]

Condolences. FFXIV has been a port in the storm for me as well, at multiple different times of grief.

[Illmaeran]

Thinking there was plenty of time.

I faced a similar situation with my father before he died. I was able to spend time with him, but didn't have the opportunity to really talk with him before I had to leave, thinking my flight was a day later than it was. At least I was able to tell him I loved him.

Two years later I contracted a very aggressive cancer and had no idea if I was going to make it until they got me on the surgery table to see if it could be removed. Tomorrow is never guaranteed, NEVER let things that can be said today be left unsaid.

I hope you're able to come to terms with the circumstances of your father's death and someday forgive yourself. He loved you up until his last heartbeat and if you believe in an afterlife, loves you still.

[Rookie1]

Wow. going on 3-4h of sleep. I haven't tried that since I was a kid. You know its engrossing when you lose track of time

[Millerna]

It gets better, eventually...

As for the story, I've pretty much hit rock bottom already with the whole situation with Ysayle. The character story in general, and her connection with dragons (my Chinese zodiac is dragon) and Shiva (always has been my favorite summon) really made me love the character. I actually stopped playing for a little while after that fateful cutscene.

She's always with me though, thanks to the Ysyale minion. It's the only minion I've used since obtaining it