The feeling of beeing Home ...

[AwesomeJr44]

Which is precisely why they now stand to lose me as a consistent player, because after how generic ARR felt they did more with the story than that, only to fall back into it with Endwalker.

I want something deeper and more well crafted than this.

Agreed. Being a 'superhero' anything, like the devs think their story is for whatever reason, isn't an excuse for bad writing. I said the same thing with Marvel's trash. You can have epic moments that look really cool where we fight a literal god AND have a well written story behind it. There's a reason why the scene with Nidhogg on the bridge is liked so much. It's epic, has good visuals, and had a well crafted story behind it. Endwalker has... uh... no not that one... not that one either... Zodiark? Kinda? Not really great, but at least a little good? Yeah, this expansion was basically ARR 2. I'm surprised Endsinger didn't start lecturing us on our 'right to rule' or asking us for whom do we fight. At LEAST ARR had the excuse of being somewhat rushed to fix 1.0.

[SturmChurro]

It's kind of a disconnect with me and a lot of the people I know from this forum, or what I read. People will outright quit over how the story is going, while I would prefer the story stays coherent and good, it isn't a make or break it for me. I do watch every cutscene and read every dialogue when I can, but it's sort of secondary for me. I am more concerned with rewards, content, customization, than I am the story. Bad take to many most definitely. I do have my opinions on the storyline, and agree with many, but the quality of the game going down overall is just more of a concern for me.

Additionally, I still haven't even done the storyline from the latest patch, the storyline after Endwalker. I haven't had Expert available in my roulette for months, nor have I done the most recent alliance raid - which I need to do since my weapon is garbage.

[Lunalepsy]

Am I the only one who has no feelings for the Story of this Game anymore?

Before Endwalker I was interessed in Garlemald, the Ascians, the Ancients, maybe even the Twelve. I have read every single Text of every Quest, did Side Quests, Beast Tribes not for the Rewards, just for the Story. Explored Maps, Dungeons, Raids. I had the feeling I was part of Eorzea, I felt like Home.

Then came Endwalker and suddely all the Story before got trashed or changed akwardly. After that damage was done, after Garlemald got destroyed completly offscreen. All the Ascians, the Ancients got killed in the Name of Hydaelyn ... there is no Foe left. All that is left is the 0815 Scions.

The lying Lalafell Tataru Taru

The Fake Dead Queen Catgirl and SE's Postergirl Y'shtola Rhul

The lying Elezen Urianger Augurelt, who likes to plott behind our back

The forever griefing Midlander Hyur Thancred Waters

The smartass little Elezen Boy Alphinaud Leveilleur, never missing a chance to clench his Fist and his sister Alisaie Leveilleur, who cries whenever she can over the WoL

The joke Elezen Azure Dragon Estinien Varlineau, distant, showing never emotions

The wannabe Lalafell Scion Krile Mayer Baldesion ... god I hate it already that she becomes a part in our live in the future

The forever over the WoL fawning, ear wiggeling Catboy Graha Tia, which we get forced on us. He is more worse as Zenos had ever been.

After Endwalker I lost the feeling of Home, that I am a part of this Story of Eorzea. I have stopped to do Side Quests and if I do them, then I skip all Cutscenenes, all Text. I don't care anymore for the Story of this Game.

The next Story will be just some shit Plot from the Past, which cannot be changed. It is like Watching a Train Wreck. I don't know how to get that old feeling back where I felt I belong to this Story. It is depressing and sad.
I know many loved Endwalker but i did not. G'raha Tia is now everywhere, fawning over us and we can't say that he should piss off and leave us alone. That ruins my Game even more. I would leave the Game but right now I have 9 Full Retainers, paid for nearly 80 Days, and nearly 80 Days paid Gametime. So what can I do?

I'm here to socialize and have fun.

[aveyond-dreams]

There was definitely a chance to do something more interesting with Zenos, including a potential situation for him to join the party and force the scions to work with him. Despite my general dislike of his character, this would’ve added an interesting dynamic to the party and may have even redeemed him to a limited degree if something of greater substance was actually done with him besides merely being the protagonist’s foil.

[Deveryn]

There was definitely a chance to do something more interesting with Zenos, including a potential situation for him to join the party and force the scions to work with him. Despite my general dislike of his character, this would’ve added an interesting dynamic to the party and may have even redeemed him to a limited degree if something of greater substance was actually done with him besides merely being the protagonist’s foil.

After being constantly interrupted and kept from what he wanted, Zenos -was- eventually forced to cooperate and neither side cared for it. It didn't need to go any further than it did or happen any earlier. No redemption was needed. Plenty of characters (good and bad) have found redemption.

[Aneshda]

I wonder who will be featured on the next poster in 7.0? We've already killed all the bad guys. Will it only be the Scions? Whoever it will be, we know he or she will die or is already dead.

[Lelila38]

Zenos in EW just felt so wasted. He was around, but the story would have gone the same, if he wasn't. We didn't need to ride on him to beat Endsinger.
It honestly felt to me, like they had plans for him, which ultimately didn't make the cut.

[Lustre]

I was so disappointed when Zenos didnt just straight up kill a scion using the WoL as a weapon. That wouldve been an amazing plot point but instead nothing happens lol. it feels like they had a really exciting plot in place, then 2/3rds through development decided to shed anything risque and make it all soft and safe instead

[Gemina]

I'm indifferent to the story. There are emotionally impactful elements to it for sure. It has highs and lows, but ultimately I have little overall investment into it. Fact of the matter is the amount of time spent questing, especially in regards to the MSQ is such a significantly small fraction in comparison to what fills out the rest of my daily activities. IOW, we spend a far greater amount of time just being adventurers than we do being the WoL, and it is the adventuring portion that has my commitment.

That's why I loved it so much when Zenos finally appealed to my adventuring side in order to finally get me to fight him, and why I enjoyed him so much as a character and villain. He made me want to get stronger far more than any ilv patch that has come about through FFXIV lifespan. I really wish the devs would of gave us the option to respond to him, "You can only beat me in a scripted fight." With Zenos responding, "We'll see, adventurer." That would have been so perfect.

Anywho, it is also cumbersome because in order to enjoy the MSQ at my own pace, I have to avoid any FFXIV related content on the internet so I don't catch a spoiler. So don't get me wrong, I do enjoy doing the MSQ and I wish it could capture me more. There is just no way that will ever happen though due to the game's own circumstances.

[XiRon]

There was definitely a chance to do something more interesting with Zenos, including a potential situation for him to join the party and force the scions to work with him. Despite my general dislike of his character, this would’ve added an interesting dynamic to the party and may have even redeemed him to a limited degree if something of greater substance was actually done with him besides merely being the protagonist’s foil.

Yes Im sure loads of players wouldve loved to have the guy who roofied you and violated your unconscious body in lv83 quest to be a party member, because that makes sense.
"Oh but redemption" no. It was bad enough we didnt get to kill the chick who poisoned us in hw, we dont need to let more wastes of life live. We already let Gaius and Fordola walk around happy as can be, Im sick of letting villains live.