Questions about your reception to Dawntrail

[Arzalis]

Played since 1.0 launch (for a bit) and then ARR launch with a few breaks here and there.

I will buy it and play during early access to do stuff with friends, but my expectations couldn't be any lower.

The media tour didn't really change my opinion. SE is just doing the same things they've always done, so I was prepared to be whelmed.


Dawntrail looks pretty mid so far, imo.

As expected, the graphic update is nice, but (mostly) no one will care about it in 2-3 months. So far it seems like they've basically done nothing to fix actual issues with the game, just made it look prettier. They're still either ignoring issues or actively doubling down on them.

I hate it say it, but the game probably needs to do badly for a bit for SE to actually care or attempt to change stuff up. Every long-term MMO goes through this; it's incredibly predictable.

[Reinha]

• When did you start playing?
• Will you play DT at launch, and are you looking forward to it? Why or why not?
• Did the media tour sway your decision, and do you think there's any way you'll change your mind before DT actually comes out?

• I started playing in early 2015, around or after patch 2.5 release in ARR.
• Yes I will play during early access of DT. New content, races and jobs are always exciting and we are getting all three! I'm looking forward to playing VPR, changing to Hrothgal, the new story, leveling and the numerous QoL updates we are getting. I've been having fun preparing for the "holiday episode" by cleaning my house (decorating), finishing my work projects (relics), packing my suitcase (cleaning my inventory since I can't access retainers from another data center) and making travel arrangements (prepping my leveling methods to level 90).
• The media tour did not change my opinion about VPR and it also didn't change my opinion about other jobs so I know which job will be my main now. Tooltips are always the primary reason I watch media tour stuff because it lets me plan how I set up my hotbars.

[Valence]

When did you start playing?

Heavensward's release

Will you play DT at launch, and are you looking forward to it? Why or why not?

Yes, mostly looking forward to it for the world and lore. I have my worries about the story, but so far the story has rarely failed to deliver (I'd just hope the writing became less dry and parched like an old book at times, especially when it comes to characters).

For the gameplay? No, I'm legitimately disheartened/crushed that I'll have to deal with 3 more years of this asinine battle system we have had since shb shattered everything to smithereens. The only thing that keeps me from going crazy is crystalline conflict pvp.

Did the media tour sway your decision, and do you think there's any way you'll change your mind before DT actually comes out?

The media tour offered explanations for a lot of questions, but also confirmed what I've been dreading so... It is what it is.

[Sated]

1) Started in 1.0 but kept bouncing back and forth with other MMOs; FFXIV has been my daily game since the end of SB.
2) I've already taken PTO for early access and am very excited to see how the story develops on this relatively blank slate.
3) Very mixed on the media tour. On one hand, I'm very excited about the job changes. On the other hand, learning that everything I had been excited to see in the benchmark isn't something I'll be able to enjoy on my male characters really crushed my excitement in record speed. The artifact armor devastated my hype. I keep having to remind myself there's still MSQ to be excited for, even if I don't get to enjoy new job glamours.

To the topic though: This is the complaint box so I expect to find complains and discontent here, but in game and in person everyone I've spoken with seems excited to play DT.
The reception has been good so far, and despite knowing that I'm going to be disappointed every time I see PCT or SCH AF I still know there'll be stuff for me to enjoy.

It's still a cake, even if they're serving it without icing.

[Len_]

[*] When did you start playing?

1.0 beta

[*] Will you play DT at launch, and are you looking forward to it? Why or why not?

I won't. And I haven't been looking forward to it. A big reason I have stayed playing the game for this long is having an investment in the world and interest in the lore, characters and storyline. I feel all those aspects have been severely degraded with the choices made and direction taken in Endwalker. I'm not interested anymore, I don't really have any faith this new story is going to be something I'll find worthwhile. However I was still planning on playing at launch, just out of a kind of habit and to experience a new expansion with my long time friends who pretty much only resub for new expansion releases. But since seeing how my character looks in the new graphics, I don't see myself ever installing Dawntrail. I cant see how I can be expected to go through the MSQ playing a character I've had for 14 years whose face is now ugly to me. It was after the Benchmark release that I canceled my preorder.

[*] Did the media tour sway your decision, and do you think there's any way you'll change your mind before DT actually comes out?

There's nothing they'll show that will change my mind. I think we all know what to expect from their usual content formula so I can safely assume there won't be any kind of game changing factor forthcoming.

[knaveofcups]

- ShB, like maybe 5.3? Idr. I was a sprout for a long time. I did play a bit in late HW but college and personal stuff kept me from getting too invested
- I will be playing at launch but not early access; I’ll be on vacation then. Otherwise I would be. For better or worse I’m emotionally attached to the game at this point. I’ve tried to get into other MMOs, but my friends are here
- there were quite a few developments from the media tour and job-related PLL that left a bad taste in my mouth, like the BLM and SCH changes seem kind of bad (for different reasons; BLM looks cool but will feel worse to play in many situations, and seraphism looks stupid but will be cracked). Sadly I think the AST rework is only superficially interesting and mechanically very feeble, but tbh I was expecting worse. but I will probably be playing BRD, NIN or GNB and they all look fine. SGE’s changes are a small step in the right direction so will probably play that if I’m pushed into healing. There’s also stuff I’m super excited for, like trying out Pictomancer and Viper and exploring Tuliyollal. overall I’m more excited about DT than I was about EW at this point in time, even if some changes or lack thereof are problematic in my eyes

[Kisshu]

Played since ARR, December 2013.

I've never been so divided on whether to get an expansion or not than I am right now.

My sub ends July 5th, so I have till then to check out the non-expansion changes and the new PVP pass.

If the general consensus is that it's a good expansion, I might get it for my summer break. Else I don't really know if I'll keep playing much.

The game, to me, is getting more and more simple. Anything under extreme is really a breeze, especially compared to earlier expansions. And the combat is looking to be almost the same as in SHB (5 years ago), just with a couple new finishers for each job.

And it doesn't help that we might need to wait till 7.2 or 7.3 before we get any piece of "new" content that isn't in the standard patch schedule.

[Kathryn]

When did you start playing?

1.0

Will you play DT at launch, and are you looking forward to it? Why or why not?

Yeah ofc my husband pre ordered the deluxes as soon as he could.

Did the media tour sway your decision, and do you think there's any way you'll change your mind before DT actually comes out?

Not at all, I'm enjoying what im playing atm and as a ranged DPS main switching into SGE I've quite enjoyed levelling, but I also don't spend every waking hour in the game.

[Kuro_Matsu]

• When did you start playing?

Patch 2.4, not including my very short stint in 1.0 and the three times I attempted to get into ARR.

• Will you play DT at launch, and are you looking forward to it? Why or why not?

Already preordered and will probably start playing on the 29th since I work on launch day. And I can't say I'm overly excited like I was from HW to ShB. I think at this point I've played the game for so long, my attention span for it has waned. I'm a relatively casual player now, compared to when I mostly raided until SB. And most of my time is spent doing solo things, so my complaints about the game may be quite different from others.

• Did the media tour sway your decision, and do you think there's any way you'll change your mind before DT actually comes out?

The last Media Tour I actually paid attention to was for ShB, and even then it didn't sway me in one direction or the other. I take the opinions made with a grain of salt. I'm more of a hands-on sort of person. It's nice to see what others are doing, but I need to see it for myself and make my own opinions. The only video I paid attention to from start to finish was from Jesse Cox, since he focuses on the world and its story more than the combat.

For combat I tend to wait and play it for myself. Healers have been... a ride even for someone like me who barely does combat now. It's boring, but I love the aesthetics. But I also don't want it to be too complicated since I play with randoms, and it can be a roll of the dice with people I don't know. I'm really torn over it. I've pretty much used my BLM and RPR as much as I did AST this expac, and that's unusual for me.

My stance won't change before launch. I'll wait until I can get my fingers in the cake first.

[Avatre]

• When did you start playing?
• Will you play DT at launch, and are you looking forward to it? Why or why not?
• Did the media tour sway your decision, and do you think there's any way you'll change your mind before DT actually comes out?
  

Started around April 2015.

Yes, I will play it at early access and onward because new things to do and collect as well as new areas to explore.

Didn't pay attention to media tour, so everything that it showed won't affect my decisions either way.