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

[Xirean]

I have a weird question for you guys.

...is there anything you guys liked about Endwalker?

There were quite a few things I found enjoyment in with endwalker. My criticisms is actually that certain moments didn't go far enough even with the "bad things" that happened. In from the cold was a crazy experience and my only critique is that nobody died. Ultima Thule was/is awesome/heartbreaking and nobody stayed dead. Aside from that, those sections I thought were great. No real complaints about Thavnair, Sharlayan, the rest of Garlemald, or the moon up to Zodiark.

All of that could have been forgiven though if it were not for Elpis being handled the way it was and Venat getting called a hero for pulling a genocide on her own people.

Even if that's what Square is having the most? o: Because "some hope that CBU3 will look at the backlash Endwalker received and course correct" might not happen if they think they did well.

Course correcting would require that the devs/writers retroactively change things that already happened. Endwalker being marketed as "the end" brings a bit of expectation that what comes after will be relatively unrelated.

[Rosenstrauch]

Even if that's what Square is having the most? o: Because "some hope that CBU3 will look at the backlash Endwalker received and course correct" might not happen if they think they did well.

Then I'll just keep crowing about it until the sun burns out, the rivers run dry, and my forum access expires.

[Midareyukki]

Then I'll just keep crowing about it until the sun burns out, the rivers run dry, and my forum access expires.

Alright xD

And yeah, overall, I disagreed with parts of Endwalker really hard, but I also found stuff that I enjoyed too. I found some stuff to be hella cringe, but other stuff to work just fine.

Well, still. I hope I didn't make anyone uncomfortable tbh. I just figured... "People are saying it sucked and that it's the end of that. And that the incoming content isn't being good either. But that can't be right, they have to like something, otherwise they wouldn't be continuously discussing it". As in, clearly there had to be something else, because only saying "I don't like it" and leaving it at that wouldn't make for an almost-800 page thread. Things would eventually just die out.

Even if this thread is among the "few" (questionable?) who are vocal about what the disagreement with the story is, hopefuly Square does hear at least some of it and can do better in the future.

[AwesomeJr44]

This has been the stance I've taken on a lot of things, Endwalker included. Some things are indeed opinion, but others aren't, and I won't pretend that objective fact is mere opinion. It doesn't matter if people hate me for it, I will speak the truth, Striker or Renalt's supposed majority be damned.

[Vyrerus]

So what about you guys?

I enjoyed the new visuals, fights, and the storybeats up until the last few cutscenes in Elpis.

In From The Cold was a special treat.

I would have preferred more Zenos or Zenos actually hurting someone while in our body, though.

I also enjoyed seeing all of my friends playthrough it, in spite of getting separated from them post Zodiark due to the queue login troubles / my GF pulling me away long enough that I got auto-logged out.

Right now, I stick around because I raid but also because I have a newfound apathy towards the story now. Like, I care enough to see what's new on patch day, do the seasonal events, and occasionally run a dungeon or two with friends... but my love for XIV is at an all time low. But I've always been the type to just stay subbed because I like to be able to access it at a whim if the mood strikes.

I hope that the writing takes a new direction. That the game's story interests me enough to continue doing my LP of it (which is currently stalled out in 6.1 due to my own lack of interest).

I'm also hoping to get a consolidated subscription reduction for having subscription to FFXI. I've been subbed to FFXI since 2003. With very few breaks in that sub. FFXIV since 2013. Wanna meet whatever caveat they will likely have to be eligible for the discount.

Plus I gotta be subbed so I can be heard here. I mean, there's only a small possibility that anyone at SE with any pull on development ever even so much as glances towards the English section of the forum, let alone opens it to read feedback. But I'll take that chance.

[Xeronia]

In response to if I did enjoy anything in Endwalker of course I did, the side content thus far as been pretty great in my own opinion. Also I own a house and it is too close to my FC to lose it to someone who won't decorate or turn it into a brothel/night club/casino.

[Renalt]

At any rate I do not understand why I should take those people seriously nor their constant need to jump in here. .

Because if you are going to talk like you speak for the rest of us...we will remind you that you don't. You might have a few followers like any cult would...the rest think you're just crazy.

[ReynTime]

The first visit to Thavnair sucked.
Old Sharlayan (in the beginning) was good. Garlemald was great until the pointless body swap. Second visit to Thavnair was fine.
Elpis was when 6.0 dropped off a cliff, never to recover.
And the current arc is just boring.

I'm not going to elaborate because I'd be parroting what has been said multiple times about the bad parts. Also Myths of the Realm is a gigantic disappointment. The twelve should have been left as mythical and mysterious instead of additional 12 simps with one-dimensional personalities. And I'm permanently burned out on eccentric scholars, who are a swarming plague in Etheirys at this point.
Aside from Pandemonium the writing has been abysmal.

Why do I have an active subscription? Only one reason. I have a colleague who subs on and off, and this as one of the games in which I help out.

[Rolder50]

Because if you are going to talk like you speak for the rest of us...we will remind you that you don't. You might have a few followers like any cult would...the rest think you're just crazy.

Hey now I can think he's both correct AND crazy, thank you!

[Rosenstrauch]

And I'm permanently burned out on eccentric scholars, who are a swarming plague in Etheirys at this point.

Hear hear! I never thought I'd get sick of this archetype, but then the story brought us to Sharlayan.