Why heavensward story is considered a better one then stormblood ?

[Atelier-Bagur]

Because Stormblood lacks two signs of good writing: impactful and believable character development and coherent storytelling.

Heavensward sets up Ishgard as its main focus and tells a story about its history and its people. We are on a journey with three characters that grow to be compelling (and eventually fan favourites) as we learn more about them or how events are shaping them in a different way (Alphinaud, in this case). We are thrown into events that are bigger than us and we are essentially just strangers. Yet, Ishgard "adopts" us, in more than one meaning, and you feel like you are helping because you want to, not because you have to since this is what the plot demands.

Stormblood sets up Ala Mhigo as the main focus, but the narrative quickly betrays its premises when the focus abruptly shifts to Doma. The result is that it feels like we are experiencing two different stories that should have been in different expansions. Nothing really gets the focus the story would have deserved, which results in an overall weaker storytelling. Our companions are not as strong as the ones we had in Heavensward. Lyse is overall a weak and superficial character, just like her motivations throughout the story. We are once again thrown into events that are bigger than us and we are again strangers in another land. This time, however, it doesn't feel like we are really playing a meaningful part or that we want to. It feels like we are just kind of there, enjoying the ride.

I felt the same way when we just stumbled into solving Ishgard's problems. The whole reason why the story made us go for that was for that end goal of getting Ishgard back on the Eorzean Alliance in order to properly fight the Empire. Stormblood was the same in the reason of us wanting to liberate Ala Mhigo and The Far East so that we could get more standing power for when we take the fight to the Imperials. Which paid off with the battle of Ghimlyt Dark where we had all of our allies band together to fight Varis and his troops.

Also I hate how people just absolutely brush off that we had characters such as Fordola, Yotsuyu, Gosetsu, Yugiri, flippin Hien (who in my personal opinion is one of the coolest characters in this entire game) and love him or hate him the introduction of Zenos. They all had their moments, and even Lyse grows up a bit after she started to interact with Hien and realized what it takes to lead. But nope gotta have that Stormblood bad, Heavensward good thing with this jaded community.

[CaptainLagbeard]

Stormblood is by no means a bad a story, but I think Heavensward is just simply a better story.

Stormblood also kind of has a bit of problems with pacing... It just goes from a 0 to a 100 when you reach the Naadam and just feels like the story is rushing you all the way to the end after that. Only stopping for a moment for Conrad.

[Atelier-Bagur]

We would have quests resulting from going from Gyr Abania back to Doma and then back to Gyr Abania to deliver the message or item and then back to Doma... It was as annoying as the Doma kids fetch quests in post ARR.

Bottom line Stormblood whether you feel is good it was looked down on. Systems from Stormblood were made easy and other systems like the Cross Class System was completely removed. Stormblood was an okay expansion it was not bad, but it just was not as good as ARR or Heavenward.

oh yeah like how quickly brushed off the odd pacing in Heavensward in the middle of us going through the Dragonsong War "oh Crystal Braves be still alive, we gotta save Raubahn" and we had to do those series of quests for a very...anti-climatic pay-off. Or lets not forget when we had to go back to ARR zones to break the msq pace to find Y'shtola. Yeah why is Stormblood any different when Heavensward had this exact same pacing issues?

[Kenarashi]

It's a matter of perspective, really. One man's trash is another man's treasure, so to speak. For many people, the storytelling was essentially focused around 2 separate regions, which really made it difficult to pull out much substance. Edit: This is why I disliked the story, anyway.

I do not like frozen peaks of ishgard or fighting dragons(i have enough of dragons because of world of warcraft expansions) etc. I much prefer stormblood since it has the eastern vibe, which I love. Plus it doesn't have mary sue Alphinaud, I wish they would kill him already.

[HisShadowX]

I do not like frozen peaks of ishgard or fighting dragons(i have enough of dragons because of world of warcraft expansions) etc. I much prefer stormblood since it has the eastern vibe, which I love. Plus it doesn't have mary sue Alphinaud, I wish they would kill him already.

Even though we like different expansions I completely agree and like you more than a friend. I wish they would just kill off the twins and annoying thou elf guy.

[Atelier-Bagur]

I do not like frozen peaks of ishgard or fighting dragons(i have enough of dragons because of world of warcraft expansions) etc. I much prefer stormblood since it has the eastern vibe, which I love. Plus it doesn't have mary sue Alphinaud, I wish they would kill him already.

lets be real here. The biggest mary sue/gary stu is our own WoL. At least SB had us put in our place when Zenos showed up for the first time. I was mad but I kinda enjoyed how our character took a slight backseat somewhat (emphasis on slight).

[Hanayumi]

Most iv asked just dont like the flip flop story with the 2 regions in sb

[Kenarashi]

Stormblood is by no means a bad story, but I think Heavensward is just simply a better story.

Stormblood also kind of has a bit of a problem with pacing... It just goes from a 0 to a 100 when you reach the Naadam and just feels like the story is rushing you all the way to the end after that. Only stopping for a moment for Conrad.

In stormblood we got antagonists Zenos and Yotsuyu and as supporting characters we have Yugiri and Gosetsu. Zenos is a far better arch enemy than anything we got in heavenward. That is my humble opinion at least.

[Atelier-Bagur]

In stormblood we got antagonists Zenos and Yotsuyu and as supporting characters we have Yugiri and Gosetsu. Zenos is a far better arch enemy than anything we got in heavenward. That is my humble opinion at least.

much better and interesting that evil elf pope. Although Nidhogg was still the better antagonist lol

[Kenarashi]

let's be real here. The biggest mary sue/gary stu is our own WoL. At least SB had us put in our place when Zenos showed up for the first time. I was mad but I kinda enjoyed how our character took a slight backseat somewhat (emphasis on slight).

I love that too, how you are humiliated by Zenos over and over again.