Positive Dawntrail Narrative Feedback Thread

[Dagny]

Disclaimer: I am aware that a lot of the reception for MSQ has been mixed to negative, and there is nothing wrong with that. The intent for this thread is to have a compilation of positive feedback so the dev team can have an idea of what 'worked' from English speaking players. Definitely kicking the hornet's nest a bit, but oh well.

What did you like about the story narrative in Dawntrail? Doesn't have to be MSQ, could be a side quest, FATE, dungeon storytelling design decision, etc!

For example, I really enjoyed the Botanist/Miner Wachumeqimeqi questline. It was interesting to see viera lore discussed so openly, especially between two male characters. The latter half of the questline felt like it was setting up some possible story threads as well for future content (MSQ or otherwise) that I think could be fascinating. I also thought the opening quest for the role quests was hilarious, the comedic timing on it personally hit for me!

I enjoyed the world building going on in Tural. The culture and history was very fleshed out, and refreshing for a fantasy setting, while also giving questions about the past. I enjoyed taking the slower pace of MSQ and learning about the world around us and how it differed so much from Eorzea. As someone that was raised around Texas oilfields, Shaaloani was fun to just run around in and giggle about while doing some vigilante type justice with Erenville.

Character wise--I wish Krile got a bit more focus in MSQ, but I think the groundwork laid out was really good. Her backstory ended up giving us a lot of questions on the full scale while giving some narrative satisfaction on a personal level. I'm hoping we can spend more time with her in MSQ patches, especially since it looks like it might be addressing Solution 9.

G'raha and Alisaie also had some strong writing moments this expac, G'raha on the gondola in the final zone and Alisaie telling Wuk Lamat to rest after the attack on Tuliyollal felt very in line with both of their characters but were also written in compelling ways I haven't seen in awhile. Whoever wrote these moments in MSQ did a very good job and really understands their characters, I feel like.

I also hope we see more of Bakool ja ja in the future! I was loving to hate him in the first half of the expac, but grew to love him by the end. While I don't think he's fully redeemed himself within the world of 14, I think he's on the right track, and I hope we do have some chances to go back to Mamook in MSQ to chat with him.

I guess a lot of what I liked about MSQ is the future potential and where it could go, but I did really enjoy just living in the moment for it. I know it didn't hit with everyone, but I really felt like my character was fulfilling Azem's legacy this expac.

What did you like? What got you excited narratively while playing Dawntrail?

[BakoolJaJa]

I think the idea of letting the writers know what worked isn't a bad one at all. And I say that as someone who is very unhappy with the story.

From my side - there were a few really good and satisfying moments where the WoL was portrayed as the absolute godslaying OP monster they actually are. Especially the kidnapping part had a few, with the bandit running away screaming what a devil we are, and later in the cave with the WoL just walking at Bakool Ja Ja like there was no threat whatsoever. Because there wasn't. The duel with Gulool was also similar I suppose. I'll gladly take more of such moments because they aren't us going up against ridiculously high stakes, they are us being acknowledged to have gone up against them in the past and triumphed.

Every moment with Estinien was a highlight as always. Since Endwalker he remains a character who manages to entertain just by appearing on screen for a second. Doesn't even have to say anything. Wanted more of him, but oh well.

I kind of liked the side quests, especially the side quest lines that start with a blue quest. If I am right and the Landsguard one is setting up the future tome gear, then that is also a bonus. It certainly left me wanting to try out the gear myself, since I put an effort into helping make it and all. But in general, those "learn more about people and help out" quests work better when in the context of a low stakes MSQ where you are in a new location, learning about the people. Frankly, in my opinion, the side quests did a better job than the MSQ did in that regard.

Also cornservant quest. And a proper reward at the end?! More of that please.

Oh yes, and Skynote Cenote as a dungeon has great environmental storytelling. I almost wish we went there earlier in the story when we just learned of the whole sibling situation. Seeing the urns in the water is heartbreaking. And then the shift of environment as you go deeper? Beautiful.

[Lousis]

I love the antics Bakool Ja Ja gets into. I wish he was the star for the 2nd half of DT instead of Wuk, mostly by how much he steals the show(Wuk's good nontheless, though Bakool had quite a performance������).

[Oizen]

I liked when Bakool Ja Ja bullied Wuk Lamat

[Lersayil]

I had... a lot of issues with the msq, but unlike many, I actually liked the first half of the story. As much as it was dragging its feet at places, took away too much time from the 2nd half (it needed a lot more to explore certain concepts and themes we cruised by), and relegated the Scions to babysitting duty, it was an ok journey. I didn't even hate Wuk Lamat that much. Could've used a bit more politics and character growth though and wee bit less power of friendship. Especially given how the story ended.

[aquarys]

1. I really, really enjoyed the world building and easy-going pace in the first part of the story.

2. The lore implications provided by some of the second half are brilliant (even if it is subtle and somewhat drowned out by Wuk Lamat)

[Mnemy]

The premises of the story are exciting and fun.

The Succession tournament IDEA is fun but they without tension or friction, it fell flat on its face. I was actually looking forward to a solo duty where I'm pit against Thancred, Uri, but uuh that didnt happen so. They told us it will divide the scions, it didnt so.

The search for the golden city IDEA sounds exciting but again, writing fell flat on its face. We found the gate, YEY then we left it. Dafuck?

The conundrum of the existence of the Endless IDEA sounds like it can be a very compelling and heartwrenching but again the execution fell flat because it ended up with alot of forced tear jerkers that are not deserved.

The IDEAS are fun but they didnt execute it very well. If it was written with more nuance I would be on my knees begging for more but its not so now I'm regrettingn spending my 40 dollans instead.

[Voidmage]

The sidequest narratives are probably one of the best we had till now and better then the MSQ.
For example, the first extreme dungeon (cactus-dungeon) gives an interesting piece of lore with the question, why cultures between shards and source can be so close (Keeper of Whispers).
The sidequests in living memory after the shutdown were also quite somber written.

Bagool JaJa was an interesting character. i didn't expect his reason and liked his story even though it was rushed.

Galool JaJa testing us was written good. It respected our strength without downplaying his own. In this regard I also think the solo dutie against his shade was written good.

I liked the initial stuff with Zoral Ja, his ambition and motivation and Krile's feeling about at first. Wish he had more of a reason then he did.

Otis had an interesting story and narrative but was sidelined too quick. I liked how he was written, a mix of stupid but also chivalric. Over the top but not too much.

I think in my opinion the biggest narrative strengths in DT were the parts when the game did not focus on the main cast but on normal NPC's like Otis, the Endless after the wipe and actually let us do adventuring like the aether current quests.
The giants and the role quests also did the mentoring thing quit good.

I like the overall story itself just fine even though it has plotholes. It was just executed wrong for me and had a wrong focus and we had not enough ourself.

[Xurtan]

The G'raha gondola scene was actually really well done, and I want more personal interactions with characters. Some of the side stuff with Erenville was also quite good. 1:1 moments are a treat!

[CidHeiral]

I enjoyed the story quite a bit overall, I just really did not care for Wuk Lamat and unfortunately she almost never leaves your side.