Players are already lowering their bar for Downtrail

[Noumenon]

From the Youtube comments of Zepla's new video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ntyav7vnLog):

"I think the most important thing to remember is that we are starting over from square one and that we shouldn't expect the stakes or hype to be on the level of Shadowbringers or Endwalker. We are just starting out on a brand new adventure, which means they are going to be establish a lot of plot threads that aren't going to immediately resolve in this expansion, or even the next. this is a 10 year story arc, so it'll be important to approach it as the opening act to a new saga."

Do you hear yourselves?

We are already lowering our standards and expectations. The community is quite literally telling other people to lower their hype, to expect less and to expect an insubstantial expansion.

If this is not an indicator for the current state of the game, I don't know what is.

[Renalt]

I rather people lower their hype than to expand it.

[DrWho2010]

Nothing good can come from having blown out of proportion ultra high expectations.

Never expect anything and you will be pleasantly surprised when you do experience it.

[Jeeqbit]

Even Yoshi-P said it's not necessarily a new 10-year arc. He actually said how long the arc is will depend on if people like it or not. It could just be 1 or 2 expansions for this one for all we know.

[HyperiusUltima]

Do you hear yourselves?

If this is not an indicator for the current state of the game, I don't know what is.

You're reading into the context a bit heavily, my friend. That comment is mainly relating to the story in particular, when since ARR we've been going from each world-ending threat to the next fighting the Ascians for 10 years when in Endwalker it wraps itself up. Dawntrail is a new story - meaning, it has nothing tied to it regarding the Hydaelyn and Zodiark Saga.

They aren't saying to lower our standards or expectations - they're merely telling people to give Dawntrail a different take when it comes to criticism and views so we aren't stuck relating it as "there has to be some world-ending threat. Right? RiGhT?"

[Boblawblah]

"I think the most important thing to remember is that we are starting over from square one and that we shouldn't expect the stakes or hype to be on the level of Shadowbringers or Endwalker. We are just starting out on a brand new adventure, which means they are going to be establish a lot of plot threads that aren't going to immediately resolve in this expansion, or even the next. this is a 10 year story arc, so it'll be important to approach it as the opening act to a new saga."

That sounds completely reasonable actually. What in particular to you think is ridiculous about that? That says nothing about hype or lowering your expectations, they're saying to realize what kind of expansion it is.

[Musashidon]

we just ended a 10 year story arc people were heavily invested in so yea, its going to be impossible to beat it.

that doesn't mean it won't be good but we aren't attached to this new story we know nothing about unlike endwalker we have been walking together with for 10 years.

why would the emotions of the start of this arc reach the peak the last story had? that doesn't make much sense we are use to maximum stakes at this point and honestly i doubt to see the same level as we had now.

[Zanarkand-Ronso]

Lowered Expectations?
GOOD.
That way if Dawntrail just HAPPENS to be a Banger, then we can be happy and surprised.
Instead of having these expectations and Hopium / Copium, and then just be destroyed by disappointment.

Most of us should be level-headed enough on what to expect out of FFXIV. Im not saying anything about not wanting or asking / demanding more or Better, just that we should all be familiar with the Formula. It is what it is, more then likely its not changing. But be hopeful they will learn and do better then Endwalker.
In the mean time, we dont know how the game and its story will be until its released. At the Very least get more Information in future Fanfests leading up to 7.0

[Avatre]

Nothing good can come from having blown out of proportion ultra high expectations.

Never expect anything and you will be pleasantly surprised when you do experience it.

What if I expect there to be new areas to explore, new people to meet, and new dungeons to do?

[ronibosch]

"I think the most important thing to remember is that we are starting over from square one and that we shouldn't expect the stakes or hype to be on the level of Shadowbringers or Endwalker. We are just starting out on a brand new adventure, which means they are going to be establish a lot of plot threads that aren't going to immediately resolve in this expansion, or even the next. this is a 10 year story arc, so it'll be important to approach it as the opening act to a new saga."

That sounds completely reasonable actually. What in particular to you think is ridiculous about that? That says nothing about hype or lowering your expectations, they're saying to realize what kind of expansion it is.

Yeah, I don't see what the problem is.

It's probably the most reasonable and level-headed thing they can say in regards to the storyline for the next 10 years.

Personally, I'll reserve my judgement on Dawntrail for when it comes out and I play it. Until then, I'm keeping an open mind on what to expect.

I will be very sad if we don't get a llama/alpaca mount, though.