What's the point with that quite lackluster story in Endwalker?

[SassyAssassin]

There is no need to introduce a cast of characters to replace the Scions. One of the staples of being the/a Warrior of Light in Final Fantasy as a whole has been wandering, and this has typically been done with no or very few allies until such time as they were needed. It's also rather common for Final Fantasy protagonists to group with different people at different times, oft times finding new companions (and parting ways with old ones) as they reach new areas. Those companions needn't be fleshed out beyond merely being given interesting personalities and perhaps a bit of backstory to discover along the way. They are, after all, temporary.

It's fine for the Scions to pop up from time to time, but there's zero reason to have them be there every single time. Let the WoL strike out on their own for a while or something. It would be a nice change. Etheirys has a vast amount of land yet unexplored by the Warrior of Light. It's time for the devs to embrace the title they gave the game's protagonist by having them step out on their own in search of new adventures.

I agree with what angry looking man said, I want my own adventure, Scions can take a little holiday and reunite after :3

[Heroman3003]

I won't deny, it'd be interesting story.... If FF14's storytelling structure allowed for such story to be viable. From the first cutscene to the last quest of MSQ we have always been told what to do next one way or another. We have always been following people around, who will talk about environment and people around you and give the journey direction. There was never agency, and there never can be with silent protagonist in linear story with intentionally ambigous motives and personality of said protagonist. Scions 'disbanding' was clearly stated that it was basically a ruse to fool the public and they will all stay connected as friends and help one another - which is precisely how patches played out so far. And that they will get together again if world needs it, which will most likely happen by 7.0. In this game's structure there can never be true 'our own journey'. The part about wandering the world and exploring is handled via side content of all types. Us doing it is us doing the 'our own' wandering and adventuring of this game. And its a pipe dream to ever expect any more from an MMORPG with story structure like that.

[MagiusNecros]

In this game's structure there can never be true 'our own journey'.

FFXIV simply doesn't have a structure like GW2, ESO, FFXI, LotR:Online, SWTOR, Secret World Legends.

FFXIV has a story driven narrative but the narrative isn't about you 90% of the time. It's more about these NPCs and the player is a just a supporting character or plot.

It's like a DnD campaign and your characters only purpose is to participate in combat and deal damage. No real story involvement.

[Xirean]

FFXIV simply doesn't have a structure like GW2, ESO, FFXI, LotR:Online, SWTOR, Secret World Legends.

FFXIV has a story driven narrative but the narrative isn't about you 90% of the time. It's more about these NPCs and the player is a just a supporting character or plot.

It's like a DnD campaign and your characters only purpose is to participate in combat and deal damage. No real story involvement.

You've never played good DnD then.

[MagiusNecros]

You've never played good DnD then.

FFXIV just has a terrible Dungeon Master and a shit party.

[Heroman3003]

FFXIV simply doesn't have a structure like GW2, ESO, FFXI, LotR:Online, SWTOR, Secret World Legends.

FFXIV has a story driven narrative but the narrative isn't about you 90% of the time. It's more about these NPCs and the player is a just a supporting character or plot.

It's like a DnD campaign and your characters only purpose is to participate in combat and deal damage. No real story involvement.

The DnD campaign is a terrible comparison, but otherwise it is on point, yes. You do not have any agency, you are a hero on your hero amusement park ride. I don't think its neccessarily bad in and of itself though. That story structure can work and has worked in the past, and not just for FF14. But it comes with caveats - such as absolute reliance on companions and surrounding characters that actually will push your cart forward down the story lane. And if thats not for some people, well, I'm surprised they made it as far as Endwalker.

[Graeham]

It was certainly a genius move to chase out Matsuno while allowing several individuals who aren’t worth naming to fail upwards into positions of power - only for the writing in all aspects of the game to suffer as a result. If I had to choose between the current state of affairs and the way things used to be, my choice is obvious.

We agree with the post. The Realm Rebirth and the Heavenswart it is good because the Matsuno is main fanfic writer. Future of FF it needing guild to lead fanfic writing and show good way.

There is no need to introduce a cast of characters to replace the Scions. One of the staples of being the/a Warrior of Light in Final Fantasy as a whole has been wandering, and this has typically been done with no or very few allies until such time as they were needed. It's also rather common for Final Fantasy protagonists to group with different people at different times, oft times finding new companions (and parting ways with old ones) as they reach new areas. Those companions needn't be fleshed out beyond merely being given interesting personalities and perhaps a bit of backstory to discover along the way. They are, after all, temporary.

Is not true. Must kill off all the Scallion chara to be making the new one. Is need for the dark chocolate fantasy traditional masculine setting like the game of the thrones. It making the dramatic surprise and show fanfic writer not afraid to throw away the develop chara. But is bad to get rid of No Shadow God. Is why guild must be writing story for patch 70.

FFXIV simply doesn't have a structure like GW2, ESO, FFXI, LotR:Online, SWTOR, Secret World Legends.

Is true. Other MUD it is writing like the choose the own adventure book. Chara it can correct course of story and is have full control on ending like the Mass Effect 3 advertise. Is like be the ghost writing of story. BBB was high impress Mass Effect 3 advertiser for live up to claim.

[Vyrerus]

I'd love an expansion similar to Treasures of Aht Urhgan to come out for XIV. WoL sails away to the new world continent. Gets entangled with some grizzled mercenaries who don't know jack shit about WoL.

Perhaps fighting against some force backed by a deity that arose out of being some random unsundered creature that perhaps escaped Hydaelyn's attack through sheer folly. Or hell, back by aliens that are composed of Dynamis that are older than we know the cosmos to be or some shit.

Or hell, have the current arc somehow smash Etheirys back together so there's no more of this 9/14ths vs. 1/14ths vs. power levels are bullshit going on with the plot anymore. Make the place with the mercs be some uprooted nation that now has to fight/contend with the other uprooted nations on the recombined Etheirys. Make'em not only know jack shit about the WoL, but not know jack shit about their enemies or the new world around them.

Idk. Reintroduce stakes somehow. Man. I'm outta care to think up good ideas.

[Rosenstrauch]

Or hell, have the current arc somehow smash Etheirys back together so there's no more of this 9/14ths vs. 1/14ths vs. power levels are bullshit going on with the plot anymore. Make the place with the mercs be some uprooted nation that now has to fight/contend with the other uprooted nations on the recombined Etheirys. Make'em not only know jack shit about the WoL, but not know jack shit about their enemies or the new world around them.

Seven of the reflections have already been rejoined. Aside from the First and the Thirteenth, there are four reflections we've never seen. So if they recombined the various reflections into a single world, FFV-style, the plot could have us going through six new zones that are significant lands from their respective reflections. For the First this would probably mean letting us see some location that wasn't shown in Shadowbringers, like the coastal region between Lakeland/Amh Araeng and Kholusia. Everything else would be pretty brand new.

I'd like it, if only because it'd mean the developers have no excuse not to bring Ryne back.

[Vyrerus]

Seven of the reflections have already been rejoined. Aside from the First and the Thirteenth, there are four reflections we've never seen. So if they recombined the various reflections into a single world, FFV-style, the plot could have us going through six new zones that are significant lands from their respective reflections. For the First this would probably mean letting us see some location that wasn't shown in Shadowbringers, like the coastal region between Lakeland/Amh Araeng and Kholusia. Everything else would be pretty brand new.

I'd like it, if only because it'd mean the developers have no excuse not to bring Ryne back.

Maybe make those Role Quest NPCs come back too! I wanna get drunk with Giott again.