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

[BrokentoothMarch]

Oh man, this made me genuinely belly laugh, thank you

Only half-jest, no less. I don't think I can stress enough how everything we've seen in Venat borders on resembling a clinical narcissist or, if I were to stay in my lane, a prodigal coward. This entire story was simply a fetishization of pain and suffering with someone mentioning an analogy I agree with in saying it's as if "An aristocrat listfully thinking about the charm of what a peasant endeavors." A story about pain by people who don't know what pain is. And I'm to understand the one who made themselves into the divine protector of a now-wartorn world rife with calamity and viciousness from what we know of how beast tribes are treated and things like the Dragonsong War is the ultimate do-gooder that simply wants people to feel pain because pain builds character. Also people call her the Mother Crystal?

I was already beaten enough by my real mother, thank you. I don't need a virtual one chipping in.

Harrowing look into my personal life aside, this really is all I extracted from the expansion and with pretty potent bile growing in me. To worship what's adjacent to abuse and is just flat out treason? Bah, I'll leave well enough alone. It's definitely something I could get carried away from. I'll maintain that EW simply feels like it was written by people who are completely disconnected with those who have truly felt what it's like to be trampled underfoot while.. well.. idealizing said trampling (but it's okay because if you kill everyone who thinks you're wrong or happen to be favored by the right people, you'll be justified and nothing can hurt you. Right, Heidi/Scions?). I really hope 6.1 onwards is better.

[Kyohei]

Yeah, I got that impression as well. I also wonder if they had some plan to wrap up any of these questions we have somehow with the raids in the interim patches but I admit I'm having to reach quite a bit to see how it could happen. I'm just baffled.

I'd like to give them benefice of doubt but it's very hard. The only thing hope from the raids now is down to "wish they'll voice Themis at least". No expectation of more of the story unravelled or questions answered, or inconsistencies patched up.

[Kyohei]

Only half-jest, no less. I don't think I can stress enough how everything we've seen in Venat borders on resembling a clinical narcissist or, if I were to stay in my lane, a prodigal coward. This entire story was simply a fetishization of pain and suffering with someone mentioning an analogy I agree with in saying it's as if "An aristocrat listfully thinking about the charm of what a peasant endeavors." A story about pain by people who don't know what pain is. And I'm to understand the one who made themselves into the divine protector of a now-wartorn world rife with calamity and viciousness from what we know of how beast tribes are treated and things like the Dragonsong War is the ultimate do-gooder that simply wants people to feel pain because pain builds character. Also people call her the Mother Crystal?

I was already beaten enough by my real mother, thank you. I don't need a virtual one chipping in.

Harrowing look into my personal life aside, this really is all I extracted from the expansion and with pretty potent bile growing in me. To worship what's adjacent to abuse and is just flat out treason? Bah, I'll leave well enough alone. It's definitely something I could get carried away from. I'll maintain that EW simply feels like it was written by people who are completely disconnected with those who have truly felt what it's like to be trampled underfoot while.. well.. idealizing said trampling (but it's okay because if you kill everyone who thinks you're wrong or happen to be favored by the right people, you'll be justified and nothing can hurt you. Right, Heidi/Scions?). I really hope 6.1 onwards is better.

You forgot to mention the real world's name was lost in favour to calling it hers: "Hydaelyn"

[BrokentoothMarch]

You forgot to mention the real world's name was lost in favour to calling it hers: "Hydaelyn"

I ALMOST FORGOT THAT PART. THE COMPARISONS WRITE THEMSELVES!

[Skyborne]

Only half-jest, no less. I don't think I can stress enough how everything we've seen in Venat borders on resembling a clinical narcissist or, if I were to stay in my lane, a prodigal coward. This entire story was simply a fetishization of pain and suffering with someone mentioning an analogy I agree with in saying it's as if "An aristocrat listfully thinking about the charm of what a peasant endeavors." A story about pain by people who don't know what pain is. And I'm to understand the one who made themselves into the divine protector of a now-wartorn world rife with calamity and viciousness from what we know of how beast tribes are treated and things like the Dragonsong War is the ultimate do-gooder that simply wants people to feel pain because pain builds character. Also people call her the Mother Crystal?

I was already beaten enough by my real mother, thank you. I don't need a virtual one chipping in.

Harrowing look into my personal life aside, this really is all I extracted from the expansion and with pretty potent bile growing in me. To worship what's adjacent to abuse and is just flat out treason? Bah, I'll leave well enough alone. It's definitely something I could get carried away from. I'll maintain that EW simply feels like it was written by people who are completely disconnected with those who have truly felt what it's like to be trampled underfoot while.. well.. idealizing said trampling (but it's okay because if you kill everyone who thinks you're wrong or happen to be favored by the right people, you'll be justified and nothing can hurt you. Right, Heidi/Scions?). I really hope 6.1 onwards is better.

I still think, ~3 months later, that FF9 did the theme of 'life is worth living even if death is inevitable' in a much less out-of-touch and hamfisted way. That one black mage wondering why his friend just stopped moving one day? Infinitely more feels than most of Endwalker. And I don't remember them shoving it in our faces that the Terrans were all bad and terrible and silly for wanting to live.

Anyway, just funposting until I reach 69 -- then my purpose shall be fulfilled and I will carelessly toss my forum life away.

[KageTokage]

I'm still left feeling like the core issue is that they felt insistent on incorporating time travel into the plot mostly for fanservice reasons, but due to the fact that such would've ended up forming a causal loop by necessity thanks to XIV's pre-established time travel logic, they dug themselves into a narrative pitfall that they couldn't get out of without leaving the deep thinkers with questions.

As it stands, there's still no actual explanation why we're even able to keep returning to Elpis whenever we want after it was made to sound as though our time there was limited.

[BrokentoothMarch]

I'm still left feeling like the core issue is that they felt insistent on incorporating time travel into the plot mostly for fanservice reasons, but due to the fact that such would've ended up forming a causal loop by necessity thanks to XIV's pre-established time travel logic, they dug themselves into a narrative pitfall that they couldn't get out of without leaving the deep thinkers with questions.

Time Travel is the bane of any serious story because it's borderline impossible to reconcile. I don't know why they went for this because it's quite literally one of the first critiques voiced in most creative writing classes, but here we are--

[Banriikku]

I did not read all post so please excuse me if i write something stupid here.
I play a lot TTRPG (D&D, Pathfinder, Cyberpunk Red) and the story of Endwlaker was nice but like a good idea executed by a beginner with talent. Some parts are good and other rushed and pushed.
Others are just not explained, badly explained or even have a logical problem - meaning on certain parts where clarity was needed, it was missing or are even contradictory.
The big picture is good, cool and fun but on certain parts it feels like amateur work but with talent and a good idea.

[Brinne]

I'm still left feeling like the core issue is that they felt insistent on incorporating time travel into the plot mostly for fanservice reasons, but due to the fact that such would've ended up forming a causal loop by necessity thanks to XIV's pre-established time travel logic, they dug themselves into a narrative pitfall that they couldn't get out of without leaving the deep thinkers with questions.

As it stands, there's still no actual explanation why we're even able to keep returning to Elpis whenever we want after it was made to sound as though our time there was limited.

My impression is more the core issue being hellbent on Making You Love Hydaelyn and making clear that she is Good as part and parcel of a Feel-Good, Uplifting expansion where everyone is united and everyone wants to save the world and rally behind the WoL. When the primary writing intent behind a character is "making the audience like them," it rarely leads to great places, I think.

The time travel device isn't necessarily my problem at all. It's all the narrative framing around Venat herself and the story desperately wanting to sell you on seeing her in a particular way regardless of what she actually does.

[Kyohei]

It's a bit of both, if there wasn't a time travel or if Venat had lost her memories more people would be inclined to empathize. As it stands she seemed to be the only one with all the cards but went for a dreadful hand.