The build up to the DT MSQ set up expectations that it didn't even bother to meet.

[NeroFlorence]

At least for the Rite of Ascension part of the MSQ.

In one of the FanFest and in other FanFests and LLs, it was advertised to us that during the competition, the Scions would have a friendly rivalry amongst themselves while helping their respective Claimants for the Throne. Not my words. Yoshi-P and the translator's words completely.

When we met up with Thancred and Urianger for the first time, Urianger boasted about how he's thrilled or excited to test himself against us finally after working with us for so long. We all exchanged some friendly trash talk on the dock. Thancred, later on, then said that if he really had to for Koana, he wouldn't hesitate to beat Alisaie if she ever gets in his way. And honestly? The Scion competition would've been PERFECT to fill the time between the long and dull parts that just made it all feel so slow and boring.

Now, everyone knows that the WoL can't be bested martially. But seeing that the Scions on the opposing team are literally a Master of Subterfuge/Former Secret Agent Thancred, Urianger, one of the brains of the Scions and the Sharlayan Weeb Koana, they 100% could've outsmarted us.

Up to this point, my expectations were "Alright we're gonna compete against two really capable people we know, love and respect after years of spending time with them as Allies. Yshtola, Estinien and Graha are in the Trailer too! I wonder which team they're on?"

And like... All of that thrown away after Gulool Ja Ja saying "Haha this isn't actually a competition! This is actually me grooming my kids to be leaders because MAN all of them are NOT ready." as a way to make us think he's this Wise leader as if the expositions didn't tell us that enough already?

So it was sold to us as this Competition between Heirs of a throne. The Scions alluding to having a friendly competition amongst themselves early on in the MSQ. Only for the game to tell us that no, the Heirs are all so blinded by their ideals and just too stupid to rule. The Scions ended up teaming up more than they actually competed against each other and Yshtola and Graha are nowhere to be found until the latter half of the MSQ while Estinien had his own spin off somewhere.

Now let's talk about Krile.

She's been with us for FOREVER. And she's really cool and super nice to us, acting almost like an aunt to the Scions. But she's had zero screentime to develop. But then in the build up to DT, I thought Krile fans were finally getting fed. She's got an entire backstory. She was chosen as the character to promote the new job in Dawntrail with Picto.

So going into DT my expectations were that she was about to get some character development like Alphinaud in HW or Thancred in ShB. But we got one really cool moment finding out that Krile wasn't actually from the Source then had to wait until a SECTION of the last zone to fully dive into the lore of her parents in which she got like an hour long spotlight out of a 30+ hour MSQ. Wow.

[Voidmage]

Just for your information but could you mark some things as spoilers in your post or at least in the title?

We are still in early access and I didn’ know that part with Krile yet.

And before anyone comes at me with „well stay away from the forum“ no. Others manage the spoiler tags while discussing the MSQ.

[SirShady]

At least for the Rite of Ascension part of the MSQ.

In one of the FanFest and in other FanFests and LLs, it was advertised to us that during the competition, the Scions would have a friendly rivalry amongst themselves while helping their respective Claimants for the Throne. Not my words. Yoshi-P and the translator's words completely.

Ummm didn't you see the part in the first dungeon where Thancred makes a big rock fall down, blocking the path? Man, that really got crazy! So cool to see new dynamics explored between the scions after so long!

So going into DT my expectations were that she was about to get some character development like Alphinaud in HW or Thancred in ShB. But we got one really cool moment finding out that Krile wasn't actually from the Source then had to wait until a SECTION of the last zone to fully dive into the lore of her parents in which she got like an hour long spotlight out of a 30+ hour MSQ. Wow.

All of her character development actually happened...

during that scene where she sat there not saying a word to her parents who she hasn't seen in 20 years. What were they going to talk about honestly? It's a good thing Graha stepped in to scarf down ice cream in front of them for some levity or they might have had to actually write some interesting and heartfelt dialogue between them. Yeah, all that character development happened right after that when the screen faded to black just before anything of substance was said.

Here I can fill it in for you!

Krile: Ice cream taste good.
Krile's Rents: Yeah we like ice cream but we like you more.
Kirle: Thanks, you too.
WoL: *smiles and nods*
Wuk Lamat: Family is important. *falls down and pause for laughtrack*

Good thing too, because they were running real low on budget after Wuk Lamat's 12th sea sickness/falling into hole/disliking boats/disliking heights/disliking alpacas/disliking lava scene! Well worth it, it really got the 5 year olds in the audience cackling!

[Shaedhen]

I have the exact same feeling as you.
I actually never cared much for Krile so far and was looking at DT to decide if I liked her or not, but it feels like I still don't know because I barely saw her.

Not only do we not compete with the other scions, we also barely collaborate with the ones that are on our side. There was so many opportunities to hang out with them while completing the numerous tasks we had to do in the first 3 zones and have some light and fun chat with them except... we never do because we got to babysit Wuk every single time.


I'd also like add something about the whole "low stakes" thing that was advertised too and that is used a lot by people to justify the slow start and so on.
The devs said it would be lower stakes, except it really isn't. The first part, yes. But by the end of the MSQ, the stakes are just as high as before with a world threatening enemy and all that. It simply follows the formula of 90% of jrpg out there.

[SirShady]

I have the exact same feeling as you.
I actually never cared much for Krile so far and was looking at DT to decide if I liked her or not, but it feels like I still don't know because I barely saw her.

Not only do we not compete with the other scions, we also barely collaborate with the ones that are on our side. There was so many opportunities to hang out with them while completing the numerous tasks we had to do in the first 3 zones and have some light and fun chat with them except... we never do because we got to babysit Wuk every single time.

This is honestly my biggest disappointment. I went into this knowing it was going to be low stakes and thought they would focus on good character writing and an interesting party dynamic to make up for the lack of world-ending threats. Not only that, but we were spending time with THREE characters who had never gotten proper screentime!

I came into this expansion absolutely ready to have a great time hanging out with our new crew! Krile would get to show off and gain some confidence! Erenville would slowly warm up to the adventure, learning to confide in us, and sharing his thoughts and struggles more openly! Wuk Lamat would probably be much more layered than she initially put on, maybe even have some more selfish reasons for bringing us along, but would be the loud but spirited leader of the group!

What I got was Krile being a cardboard cutout AGAIN, Erenville sitting around giving advice on how to not fall into holes, and Wuk Lamat falling into holes and being an incredibly flat and annoying character who hogs the spotlight 99% of the time. There was no group dynamic. There was no great adventure. There was menial tasks with Wuk Lamat, the insufferable shonen protag who learns about the meaning of friendship. I finished the MSQ last night and haven't felt so empty in a long time.