Building a better Alphinaud

[Vahlnir]

I mean my tastes have been aligned with success and failure given how I've been proven right on exploratory content, the handling of gender-locked races, so on and so on. Me being proven right is a common trend. Am I supposed to retract this?

I do not trust the current writing direction to properly handle more exotic locales after how badly they dropped the ball in Ala Mhigo. I would rather they play it safe with the next expansion's location - which after how Endwalker turned out would be a massive improvement, but instead we are taking the 10 year old cast into...the Void. Lovely.

On a lot of things, I have agreed with you, but man, you should probably learn a little bit of modesty. This is not a good look. I might say things that I feel strongly about, and that I feel that they are the truth, but I'm not foolish enough to think that my truth is the only truth. My opinions are exactly what they are. Opinions. I can believe in them all I like, but that doesn't make them hard facts.

[KariTheFox]

Well, it's been ground under heel by the Garlean Empire for the past 20 years and many of the local landmarks have been defaced or destroyed as part of Garlemald's M.O. of cultural destruction in the name of stopping the eikonic threat. It'd be weirder if everything were sunshine and roses.

That said, Gyr Abania is plenty beautiful if you know where to look. Ala Mhigan culture is also fascinating with how they've had to adapt and develop food and remedies from the local wildlife given how barren the ground is there. I love the sidequests in Ala Ghiri too and there's even a throwback to 1.0 in there.

I think the main issue with Ala Mhigo isn't the cultural aesthetic or appearance of the region, which does have some really beautiful vistas. It's just that there really isn't very much to do in those places.

It's less "people don't like these cultural aesthetics" and more "zones without much in the way of quests or content aren't super popular."

Also, Rhalgar's reach is probably the least interesting hub area to navigate. If they had just let it stay destroyed and moved all the essential NPCs to Ala Mhigo proper, maybe all those zones would be more fondly remembered.

[Dikatis]

I think the main issue with Ala Mhigo isn't the cultural aesthetic or appearance of the region, which does have some really beautiful vistas. It's just that there really isn't very much to do in those places.

It's less "people don't like these cultural aesthetics" and more "zones without much in the way of quests or content aren't super popular."

Also, Rhalgar's reach is probably the least interesting hub area to navigate. If they had just let it stay destroyed and moved all the essential NPCs to Ala Mhigo proper, maybe all those zones would be more fondly remembered.

I can agree with the "lack of stuff to do there", complaint. While I loved the finale of Stormblood, I was definitely disappointed by the lack of side content to do after Omega. The sidequests are great, but the lack of actual stuff to do post-MSQ really irked me.

I really like Rhalgr's Reach aesthetically though. The giant statue of Rhalgr, all the different kinds of people in it, the gushing waterfall, the little nooks and carnnies like the memorial and the entrance to the Temple of the Fist are all great in my opinion. But Ala Mhigo itself got done dirty, yeah. You have this sprawling complex and nothing in it. There's no real reason to stay there and it's a shame given how impressive the exterior and underground are. Not to mention how gorgeous the Royal Menagerie is. The city of Ala Mhigo is kind of an empty setpiece compared to Doma, which got ALL of the non-Omega side content and continued to get side content stuffed in it all the way into Shadowbringers thanks to its proximity to Bozja.

[Slatersev]

He's stated that he makes exceptions for East Asian cultures; apparently, he considers the cultural aesthetics of the Middle East, Africa, Oceania and South Asia uninteresting (in his own words, the middle two are "safaris"), but European and East Asian ones are supposedly the key to broad success.

Which is already ahistorical to the game and strange because reception to Thavnir and its major NPC's have been very positive.

[Iscah]

...

I'm not saying it's a bad place – it has more variety than people give it credit for – but it just doesn't feel like what I'd describe as "exotic".

[aveyond-dreams]

Well by all means then do not heed my opinions or my advice regarding the current handling of this cast's characterization...it will be curious to see whether or not this game holds on to its reputation for storytelling if we pair the lack of meaningful character development together with a lack of stakes, and a setting that fails to deliver on what fans want to go to and see.

Depending on what releases coincide with 7.0 there's a decent chance that I may not even bother with the MSQ once it launches, especially if something like FFVII Remake Part 2 happens to release too close to it. Or better yet, Dragon Age 4. Why should I stick around for another expansion, or goodness forbid 10 more years of Alphinaud going through cycles of regression while still taking up space in the cast? FFXIV is fast becoming a game that once upon a time I couldn't help but praise into a game I no longer have decent arguments for getting people to try out.

Why should I tell my friends to play this game and enjoy it for its "story" if that story is one that ends up like Endwalker did? That would be like me hyping up Game of Thrones despite knowing how that turned out as well. In FFXIV’s case, we ended up with a world now homogenous in terms of ideology and a party that ultimately wore away at the uniqueness of its members with little to look forward to when it comes to character interactions.

Most good stories feel better the more one looks back at them...yet in Endwalker this was the total opposite. The more I thought, even mildly about what I had just experienced the more the plot unraveled and laid bare what was ultimately a story that either shouldn't have gone through the re-write it did, or should have been constructed with better care.

[Iscah]

Why should I tell my friends to play this game and enjoy it for its "story" if that story is one that ends up like Endwalker did?

Simple enough – if they're not going to like the story, you shouldn't tell them to play it.

Different games cater to different tastes. Recommend them something else that you think they will enjoy.

[CrownySuccubus]

Well by all means then do not heed my opinions or my advice regarding the current handling of this cast's characterization...it will be curious to see whether or not this game holds on to its reputation for storytelling if we pair the lack of meaningful character development together with a lack of stakes, and a setting that fails to deliver on what fans want to go to and see.

Depending on what releases coincide with 7.0 there's a decent chance that I may not even bother with the MSQ once it launches, especially if something like FFVII Remake Part 2 happens to release too close to it. Or better yet, Dragon Age 4. Why should I stick around for another expansion, or goodness forbid 10 more years of Alphinaud going through cycles of regression while still taking up space in the cast? FFXIV is fast becoming a game that once upon a time I couldn't help but praise into a game I no longer have decent arguments for getting people to try out.

Why should I tell my friends to play this game and enjoy it for its "story" if that story is one that ends up like Endwalker did? That would be like me hyping up Game of Thrones despite knowing how that turned out as well. In FFXIV’s case, we ended up with a world now homogenous in terms of ideology and a party that ultimately wore away at the uniqueness of its members with little to look forward to when it comes to character interactions.

Most good stories feel better the more one looks back at them...yet in Endwalker this was the total opposite. The more I thought, even mildly about what I had just experienced the more the plot unraveled and laid bare what was ultimately a story that either shouldn't have gone through the re-write it did, or should have been constructed with better care.

Players come and players go all the time. You won't be the first, you won't be the last. Just like the real world, FFXIV can and will move on without you, whether you or your friends play or not.

Eventually, sure, FFXIV will either release some content or undergo some catastrophic change that causes the the player base to either leave outright or find another game to fill the void. But you don't get to call yourself a prophet if and when it happens. You might as well start a cult and have someone hold up a sign saying "The World Ends Today" every single day. Eventually, one of those days will be the right one, but you still won't be any more of a prophet.

[Zanarkand-Ronso]

Depending on what releases coincide with 7.0 there's a decent chance that I may not even bother with the MSQ once it launches, especially if something like FFVII Remake Part 2 happens to release too close to it.

Ive said it a couple of times already...go take a break and play something you actually enjoy.
The longer you sit here, the more it looks like you just want attention.

Why should I tell my friends to play this game and enjoy it for its "story" if that story is one that ends up like Endwalker did? That would be like me hyping up Game of Thrones despite knowing how that turned out as well. In FFXIV’s case, we ended up with a world now homogenous in terms of ideology and a party that ultimately wore away at the uniqueness of its members with little to look forward to when it comes to character interactions.

Game of Thrones is still a great series, and so is Breaking Bad.
Despite how both of these series end, I will 100% recommend anybody and everybody to watch them. They make for Amazing Drama.
IMO they dont end the best and leave me asking questions that leave me unsatisfied with how they end. But the road and journey that lead there will never stop being some of the best TV ive ever watched.
Even in rough patches, I can easily still say FFXIV is a great time. And I dont dictate or control other peoples opinions, I ask that they form their own. Just as you and theo have.
And like how the rest of us have.

[Raven2014]

This is like watching someone who try to lecture a band who currently top the selling chart who hold soldout concert in large stadium that they will fail because they don't follow your standard of musical theory and what crap. Like seriously, it's cringe.

I know it's hard to realize if you just hang around here since this forums with the large volume of complains, but the fact that this is one of the most successful MMO in history that won universal acclaim with the number to back it up. In the end, it costs $15 a month, and you have sunk a considerable amount of time into it ... most people don't make that kind of investment on something they don't enjoy. It's such a simple concept that I wonder how people like you seem to miss.

Or maybe you just force yourself not to think about it because it goes contrary to your belief.

Eventually, sure, FFXIV will either release some content or undergo some catastrophic change that causes the the player base to either leave outright or find another game to fill the void. But you don't get to call yourself a prophet if and when it happens. You might as well start a cult and have someone hold up a sign saying "The World Ends Today" every single day. Eventually, one of those days will be the right one, but you still won't be any more of a prophet.

People with the kind of ego being displayed by the OP seek more than just being right, they need it for self-validation. I think that has become very obvious in the posts in the last 2 pages of this thread.