JP Official Forums are also criticizing the Dawntrail MSQ.

[Vahlnir]

It's a mini story to set up what is to come. Like the calm before the storm. What's wrong with that? You aren't the main hero and everything doesn't spin around the WoL?

If this is their attempt to set things up for what's to come, I am very, very concerned.

[Karkarov]

It's a mini story to set up what is to come. Like the calm before the storm. What's wrong with that? You aren't the main hero and everything doesn't spin around the WoL?

Lol did you even pay attention? You are not only not a hero, you are not even a participant. You never make a decision, you never express an opinion (except 1 scene, and even then your opinion is forced every option is the same thing), you never do anything meaningful to the plot, if you were written out of the story ..... the only scene that changes is now no one other than Estenien duels Gulool Ja Ja, everything else is identical. It isn't about "not being the main character" it is about "being a participating character on any level".

[KurenXIV]

Actually, I enjoyed that the WOL took the backseat in the story but they could have done more to empower the mentor role that they supposedly had for this. They could have integrated more of the struggles and tribulations he faced.

Well, it's the creative direction they went with so I am fine with it. The mini story to start the new expansion was a huge step up from ARR for me. I absolutely despised ARR.

A mini-story setting up what is to come? This is a multi hour long (incredibly boring, padded and predictable) main scenario story line.

What it should have been was us exploring a new continent, traveling to each area and learning about the people. Mini-stories would be self contained for each group of people and region. Then towards the end you set up what is to come to keep enticing us to play.

And also, I play a game to be the main hero, not take a back seat to an NPC. The medium of video games, especially role playing games, is to put you in the role of someone. In this case we're the Warrior of Light, the main hero of the entire game. If I want to enjoy a story where I'm not the hero, I'll watch a movie, or a TV show, or read a book . . . that's not why the majority of us play games. It's why it's so infuriating for many to see the game go in this direction.

[Kohashi]

A mini-story setting up what is to come? This is a multi hour long (incredibly boring, padded and predictable) main scenario story line.

What it should have been was us exploring a new continent, traveling to each area and learning about the people. Mini-stories would be self contained for each group of people and region. Then towards the end you set up what is to come to keep enticing us to play.

And also, I play a game to be the main hero, not take a back seat to an NPC. The medium of video games, especially role playing games, is to put you in the role of someone. In this case we're the Warrior of Light, the main hero of the entire game. If I want to enjoy a story where I'm not the hero, I'll watch a movie, or a TV show, or read a book . . . that's not why the majority of us play games. It's why it's so infuriating for many to see the game go in this direction.

You did learn about each region's culture, its people, and the activities they engage in. The side quests further elaborate on it and many have cutscenes. The vistas now give historical backgrounds, so I am not entirely sure what you actually mean.

I don't agree with the whole: "I have to be the main hero and the entire world to revolve around me stance", but you are entitled to your opinion, I guess.

The only 3 issues I had with the story were that it had a lot of missed opportunities, the plot was very predictable and Sphene was plain shit. I wished they moved away from " I love my people so I am gonna kill yours"

[Remilia_Nightfall]

I don't agree with the whole: "I have to be the main hero and the entire world to revolve around me stance", but you are entitled to your opinion, I guess

When the alternative is an entire expansion revolving around a furry Jar Jar Binks, anything would be better.

[Voidmage]

You did learn about each region's culture, its people, and the activities they engage in. The side quests further elaborate on it and many have cutscenes. The vistas now give historical backgrounds, so I am not entirely sure what you actually mean.

I don't agree with the whole: "I have to be the main hero and the entire world to revolve around me stance", but you are entitled to your opinion, I guess.

The only 3 issues I had with the story were that it had a lot of missed opportunities, the plot was very predictable and Sphene was plain shit. I wished they moved away from " I love my people so I am gonna kill yours"

Sorry to say this but what culture is there really?
The Pelupelu are just traders. That's the entire thing about them.
The not Vanuvanu are basically the same as in HW.
The Mamool Ja and Giants are interesting I give you that (the Giants are the first time we actually see the builders of ruins in the zone I think?) Also the info that they once looked different was interesting. The side quests are also good (better then the MSQ)

In my opinion the problem with the cultures was that there was not really anything to learn or for them to go anywere. They were all in peace allready. Sure there are small things like what candidate to like but even that was presented as all but those who like Wuk Lamat are in the wrong in one way or the other.

In comparrison:
The first was the first time we saw beast tribes and spoken races living together and used that on the source. Even then the Fair folk only joined when shit hit the fan at the end.
EW saw the first time all the races of Eorzea coming together after so much time.
DT that was already done and that was also why the train scene fell flat in my opinion.

On the main hero stuff.
If not making us the main character this time then they should at least went further in the mentor direction or let us adventuring and helping out Team Wuk Lamat from time to time.
The problem is less us not being in the centre but us being completely invisible and unneded in the story.

[KurenXIV]

You did learn about each region's culture, its people, and the activities they engage in. The side quests further elaborate on it and many have cutscenes. The vistas now give historical backgrounds, so I am not entirely sure what you actually mean.

What we learned was from tagging along with Wuk Lamat and getting exposition dumps.

That's not interesting or fun.

Being an outsider and being the one doing the traveling and having interesting 'in' points where we get involved with the local people and learn about them/help them with their issues is far more engaging and rewarding than what was given to us.

Going to one place, doing a simple task and/or having Wuk Lamat give a "I love peace! I love you!" speech and then being told about why people do something and coming to an understanding is, I suppose a way of learning about people but its so shallow it may as well not exist.

It's why the Wild West area actually starts decently because it does just that. I thought the bracelet quest line was a perfect example of what I expected going into this expansion. Lots of 'low stakes to us, high stakes for those we are helping' scenairos.

[Tethan]

You did learn about each region's culture, its people, and the activities they engage in.

Can we stop pretending like this is somehow special or unique to DT?

Every. Single. Expansion. Had this. And did it better.

HW? You learn about Ishgard, their faith, their politics, their social issues. You learn about the Dravanians, how they differ from other races, the truth behind the Dragonsong War. You learn about the Vath, the Vanu, even the moogles get their lore expanded.

SB? You learn about Ala Mhigo, about how the people are tired from war, about their views on Rhalgr, about the Ananta. You learn about the factions of the Far East, pirates, undersea cities, cutthroat merchants, ninja turtles. You meet the Xaela tribes of the Azim Steppe, how they all have different beliefs and cultural traditions.

ShB? Hello? Whole new world? I don't even know where to start. I could go on. DT did exactly nothing new, nothing better and set up nothing but give us a random McGuffin we could have acquired in all sorts of other ways. My god what a waste of time.

[ReynTime]

Can we stop pretending like this is somehow special or unique to DT?

Every. Single. Expansion. Had this. And did it better.

HW? You learn about Ishgard, their faith, their politics, their social issues. You learn about the Dravanians, how they differ from other races, the truth behind the Dragonsong War. You learn about the Vath, the Vanu, even the moogles get their lore expanded.

SB? You learn about Ala Mhigo, about how the people are tired from war, about their views on Rhalgr, about the Ananta. You learn about the factions of the Far East, pirates, undersea cities, cutthroat merchants, ninja turtles. You meet the Xaela tribes of the Azim Steppe, how they all have different beliefs and cultural traditions.

ShB? Hello? Whole new world? I don't even know where to start. I could go on. DT did exactly nothing new, nothing better and set up nothing but give us a random McGuffin we could have acquired in all sorts of other ways. My god what a waste of time.

Yeah the so called theme of Dawntrail has never been exclusive to the expansion. It's been part of XIV from the beginning. The MSQ was more than just a chosen champion saving the world, it was about getting different nations and races joining together as an alliance against coming threats.
Learning about each race, government, spiritualism, their problems, origins is part of world building 101. Dawntrail didn't invent that. It's funny how they want to sell Tural as this diverse nation when Eorzea already started off with at least 5 races co-existing, embracing even more different ones by the start of Endwalker. Did people forget Limsa Lominsa since 2.0 already accepted "beast tribes" walking in city grounds?

The whole "Tural is so much more diverse than Eorzea!!" is just another case of tell don't show from this terrible writing.

[Ruris]

It's a mini story to set up what is to come. Like the calm before the storm. What's wrong with that? You aren't the main hero and everything doesn't spin around the WoL?

Dawntrail will take average 50 hours play time to complete. It is a full game and will be reviewed as such.

Some people are taking whatever quote about "starting again" far too literally and using it as a make shift shield to deflect criticism of the MSQ. As FFXIV has just thrust a Saturday four hour afternoon maintenance on us, I am happy to annouce I have nothing better to do right now than call people out on this.