Alphinaud and Alisaie Dawntrail Thoughts (+ MSQ, Trust, Scions feedback)

[Erika23]

Alphinaud and Alisaie Dawntrail Thoughts (+ MSQ, Trust, Scions feedback) [Spoilers]

Intro
Hi everyone, I would like to share my thoughts and provide feedback on some aspects, particularly regarding Alphinaud and Alisaie in Dawntrail, as well as a few other points regarding the MSQ, Trust and all the Scions in general. Beware of MSQ spoilers! This turned out pretty long, as it literally poured out of me.

Please remember, these are just my personal opinions, and I'd love for us to keep the conversation positive, respectful, and kind. Thanks so much for your understanding!

Major threads that inspired me writing this:

• The Negative Impact of Poor Character Writing on the Quality of Dawntrail's MSQ
• What to do about the scions / potential msq spoilers
• Why are alisaie and alphinaud in Dawntrail?

*****

Alphinaud and Alisaie Dawntrail Thoughts
Honestly, I totally agree with what others have said in here about Alphinaud and Alisaie feeling pretty underused and lacking depth in this expansion (as well as all the other Scions). All the growth and development they’ve gone through from ARR to EW just didn’t get utilized at all.

If I had to set a goal for the twins in the next arc, I think it should focus on their Archon thesis and finally getting their Archon tattoos. That would be a perfect way to show how far they've come and what they’ve learned.

Alphinaud and Alisaie / Koana and Wuk Lamat: a missed opportunity
Wuk Lamat and Koana share some traits with Alisaie and Alphinaud—like Wuk Lamat being more impulsive and Koana being the rational one—and find themselves in a situation similar to Alphinaud and Alisaie at the start of ARR, with Alphinaud having studied theory but lacking firsthand experience and Alisaie being very insecure and driven by her emotions.

It would have been great to highlight the twins’ growth while forming real bonds with these new characters. Instead, it felt like the twins barely interacted with Dawntrail characters in a meaningful way and didn’t put their past experiences to use at all.

Wuk Lamat and Koana have similarities to Alphinaud and Alisaie, with Wuk being impulsive and Koana being rational. They find themselves in a situation reminiscent of the twins at the start of ARR—Alphinaud lacking firsthand experience and Alisaie driven by emotions. It would have been great to showcase the twins' growth while building real connections with these new characters. Instead, it felt like they had minimal meaningful interactions and didn’t draw on their past experiences at all.

Alisaie and Wuk Lamat
I really enjoyed that scene on the beach after the assault in Tuliyollal where Alisaie tried to console Wuk Lamat. Alisaie knows what it's like to be consumed by grief to the point of not being able to accept reality (like in the Binding Coil), so that scene was a great opportunity for her to help someone else snap out of it while also showcasing her kinder side and her growth.

However, I wish their relationship had been developed more leading up to that point. The problem was that there weren't enough shared moments between Alisaie and Wuk Lamat to build a meaningful bond beforehand, which made that scene feel a bit rushed and less impactful than it could have been. For the same reason, Wuk Lamat's request to be called "Lamaty'i," which Alisaie took very seriously, felt a bit out of nowhere.

It would have been way better if there had been a more balanced focus on different character interactions and shared experiences as the story progressed. Instead, the group was often reduced to just the Warrior of Light and Wuk Lamat, with other characters being sidelined in a way that felt a bit forced at times. There simply weren't enough moments to fully develop the relationships between Wuk Lamat and the rest of the group in my opinion.

Alphinaud and Koana
Alphinaud and Koana are both brilliant students with a scholarly attitude and an understanding of aethereology and magitek technology. However, what Koana lacks is experience—exactly what Alphinaud was missing when he first came to Eorzea. From the start of ARR, Alphinaud gained many experiences and was involved in advanced politics and diplomacy, deepening his natural passion for those fields by learning more and more.

It would have been great to see Alphinaud mentor Koana, sharing his experiences and knowledge. For instance, when they decided to make an alliance with Vrtra, it would have been awesome to see Alphinaud share his political insights with Koana, who probably doesn't have much experience in that area. This, in my opinion, was such a wasted opportunity.

It could have been a meaningful way to highlight Alphinaud's growth while imparting his expertise to Koana. However, the story never allowed for that kind of mentorship to develop, which is a shame given their similarities and Alphinaud's unique experiences to draw from.

Brother and sister
To further this, Alisaie/Alphinaud and Wuk Lamat/Koana are both siblings, which could have created a lot of common ground since they understand that bond.
For example, Alphinaud could have empathized with Koana when Wuk Lamat went missing. He could have shared what it’s like to worry about a younger sibling, which would have deepened their connection when they defended the city later on. Furthermore, reminded of his own sister, Alphinaud could have stepped in and stopped Wuk Lamat from acting recklessly on several occasions.
Alisaie could have talked with Wuk Lamat about what it feels like to have a scholarly brother, both the good and the bad, especially since Wuk Lamat often mentions feeling inferior because of it. This is definitely something Alisaie can relate to, but she has long realized that she and Alphinaud have their respective strengths and that she shouldn’t feel inferior for it—her qualities lie elsewhere. This would have helped Wuk Lamat reflect and added depth to her decision to share the throne with her brother as a Vow of Resolve and Vow of Reason.

Show that Alisaie has matured
It felt like the goal with Alisaie in this expansion was to show that she has matured and is now less likely to rush head-first into problems, at least not without thinking about the consequences (unlike what happened with Lakshmi for example, where she lets her emotions completely take over). However, it somehow felt like she was deviating from her character in Dawntrail, going too much in Alphinaud’s direction.

Pairing her with Wuk Lamat to show her newfound composure could have been a great idea. But there were two main problems:
• her character traits felt off, she seemed too meek and condescending in too many situations,
• and her sass and bluntness were very toned down.

Making Alisaie more like Alphinaud and discarding what makes her unique to make her appear more mature feels wrong. While Alphinaud is the child who wanted/had to grow up fast to meet the expectations he felt upon his shoulders, Alisaie has that forever child inside her that allows her to not accept that tempered individuals are incurable.
In my opinion, she just needs to learn how to direct her emotions more effectively, and she has already made a huge step from the start of ARR until now.

I personally think that the ideal character arc for Alisaie would be one where she carefully considers the implications of her actions and understands the potential consequences, even if she ultimately decides to trust her instincts and fight for a cause she truly believes in, regardless of whether others dismiss it as a lost battle. That’s Alisaie’s style to me - a character who weigh her options but ultimately stays true to her principles and inner voice, even in the face of adversity or skepticism from those around her.

Alisaie wariness (compared to Alphinaud’s)
One more thing was that Alisaie’s sense of wariness felt really off in Dawntrail.

Alphinaud has often been depicted as very trusting, always ready to help anyone who asks without questioning their motives, as seen with characters like Yugiri and the Doman refugees. While he has certainly become more cautious after the Crystal Brave incident, he remains quite forgiving when addressing someone who has done wrong but shows genuine remorse and guilt. For example, he not only forgives Kai-Shirr for stealing his goods but also ends up helping him.
This is part of his character, but also a lot because of his personal experience. I find endearing and painful that every time he acts like that, I know it’s because he’s constantly reminded of how we accepted him despite what he caused up until the bloody banquet and still feels guilty for it. So he’s prone to accept people who show guilt and repentance for their past actions.

Alisaie is the opposite of that, being very wary and untrusting around people at first meeting, both because that’s her character and because, I think, she has taken it upon herself to avoid Alphinaud’s attitude ends up being exploited by others as she understands her brother’s heart and recognizes his vulnerability in these situations.

However, in Dawntrail, Alisaie’s wariness wasn’t given enough attention or was dismissed too quickly in many occasions. For example, at the start of the Heritage Found, Alisaie is very suspicious (which is more in line with her character). She could have taken Wuk Lamat aside to express her concerns, but everything fizzled out as soon as we encountered the Oblivion members.
Another example is when Wuk Lamat went missing; she felt something was wrong but wasn't permitted to take charge of the situation or voice her concerns, likely out of fear of diverting attention from Koana at that moment.

This felt very wrong throughout Dawntrail, as the Scions (and the Warrior of Light) needed to be there to lend support but weren't allowed to interfere, letting the more inexperienced characters make wrong choices all the time. This seriously makes them feel useless and it left me and my WoL feeling helpless, which was quite frustrating at times.

Alisaie should be allowed to be protective of her brother more often
Alphinaud is always keeping a watchful eye on Alisaie. While he may technically be the older sibling and the more prudent of the two, it would be wonderful to see a few more moments where Alisaie comes to her brother's aid as well.
There are multiple instances where Alphinaud snags Alisaie out of danger, such as when he throws himself to save her from Lakshmi’s attack, comes to her aid during the Endwalker opening, or prevents her from falling off the boat at the start of Dawntrail. He even catches her after he nearly collapses from exhaustion while healing Ga Bu.

In contrast, there are very few moments on screen where Alisaie comes to Alphinaud’s aid. Yes, she sends a carriage after the bloody banquet (though this was never shown on screen), and she immediately goes searching for him in the Burn when he goes missing. However, Gaius brings him back, so there isn’t a true moment where she comes to his aid.
The only time I can recall the reverse happening is at the end of Shadowbringers, when we confront Hades in the Tempest. Alphinaud shields Alisaie with his body to protect her from Hades’ attack, and after the trial, Alisaie catches Alphinaud, preventing him from being pushed off the platform by falling crystals.

Don’t misunderstand me, I’m not suggesting that Alphinaud should act any less protectively around his twin, and I cherish every single moment of Alphinaud asking Alisaie "Are you all right?". I simply feel the reverse should be portrayed a bit more. After all, Alphinaud has demonstrated that he can be reckless as well.

It’s clear that Alphinaud is very apprehensive and overprotective of Alisaie, especially since she tends to jump into danger. However, it’s easy to overlook that Alisaie is just as concerned about her brother, even if she expresses it more subtly. For instance, when he goes to Garlemald alone, she constantly worries about his whereabouts and becomes deeply distressed and anxious when he goes missing.



Why send Alphinaud away?
It feels quite wrong for Alphinaud to be sent away for a reason that doesn't seem convincing, like during our visit to the Yok Huy village, just so Alisaie can shine. It felt like there’s this idea that if Alphinaud is around, he takes charge, and Alisaie can’t lead the action. But it doesn’t have to be that way!
(In a more general sense, I felt that in Dawntrail, many events happen just because they are instrumental to something, it doesn't feel like they are happening naturally—it feels forced.)

Alisaie has often been portrayed as having an inferiority complex toward her brother, who is celebrated as the prodigy despite her own impressive academic achievements. She often felt like she was living in his shadow, especially in areas like politics and diplomacy. However, this dynamic should have been thoroughly addressed, as Alisaie has long understood her own strengths. She has repeatedly proven that she can hold her own in negotiations (which is particularly evident during the negotiations with Varis) and various other situations.

From Alphinaud's perspective, after realizing he was wrong to dismiss Alisaie's opinions early in ARR, he wants nothing more than to be supportive to his sister and be there for Alisaie however she needs him. This is evident when he promptly assists her in finding a cure for Halric and then Ga Bu, fully backing her plans and ideas.

Unfortunately, the writing in Dawntrail doesn’t seem to take this into account. It feels as though Alphinaud was forcibly sent away to allow Alisaie to take the lead, which seemed pointless since the focus remained heavily on Wuk Lamat.

Twins exchanging roles in trust
Alisaie as a healer
Something I appreciate a lot from this expansion is that she can take on the healer role in the second dungeon and trial. Even though it’s easy to overlook with Alphinaud around, Alisaie is a very accomplished healer as well. She comes from the same family of healers as her brother, after all! She was the one who found cures for the Light disease on the First and for tempered individuals on the Source.
This is something that doesn’t get enough attention—she’s not just about fighting and limit breaks; she’s a dedicated healer as well. (Giving her a pet Angelo when she fights in Trust would be the cherry on top for me.)
A very wasted moment in my opinion was the scene were we go with Sphene to meet the mother with the son whose illness appear to be an imbalance of aether toward lighting. Alisaie would have had a lot to say, but she had been sent away yet again and it was just the WoL and Wuk Lamat.

Alphinaud taking offensive too
Alphinaud's growth has shown that he understands there are moments when he needs to take the offensive. He demonstrates this capability during his fights against the Imperials in the Burn and against Blasphemies in Garlemald during Endwalker. For this reason, I appreciate that he takes on a DPS role again in the first Dawntrail dungeon, similar to how he balanced healing and DPS in the Heavensward and Stormblood dungeons.

However, since Alphinaud has already played as an Arcanist in past expansions, it would have felt more natural for him to adopt the Summoner class as his DPS role. This choice would give real meaning to the growth he experienced through Heavensward and Stormblood—striving to create new variations of carbuncles, like his unique Obsidian inspired by Allagan chimeras and Moonstone, which is a more healing-oriented version. It would make much more sense in my opinion than giving him a DPS Sage class.

Anyway, I really appreciate that both Alphinaud and Alisaie were shown to have a growth in their twins respective opposite role and I hope we see more of that in future content!

*****

MSQ, Trust, Scions feedback
Characters lore details and interactions found outside of cutscenes
I’ve run all the dungeons with Trust while doing the MSQ, and honestly, the Trust lines felt pretty anonymous. A lot of the lines were just “Let’s advance” or “Great, we’ve defeated X.” There was nothing unique about them; any character could have said them. In Shadowbringers, I felt like there were more lines that offered bits of lore or backstory about a character, helping to strengthen the bonds between them (I particularly loved the lines in The Grand Cosmos and Matoya’s Relict for this reason).

Trust dialogue in dungeons could be utilized much more effectively to provide hints about character relationships and their pasts. This would enrich the storytelling by giving players deeper insights into the dynamics between characters, making their interactions feel more meaningful and connected.

To add to that, characters were too often not found in the environment like they used to be in past expansions. I personally always go searching for other characters around when we split up and usually find them in the locations they said they would go to. In Dawntrail, this felt much more diminished, and many times characters are not around even if they are in the same location as you, especially in the first three areas, though I felt like this improved in the later areas. One example that really stood out to me was at the alpaca ranch (Urqopacha), where characters said they'd help tend to the alpacas while Wuk Lamat, Mablu, and I went to exchange items. But when the cutscene finished, the others just disappeared from the ranch.

Explore relations between characters more
Putting Alisaie and Alphinaud alongside Wuk Lamat and Koana in the first half of Dawntrail could have been a fantastic opportunity to show their growth as they mentor and reflect on their past experiences while forming meaningful bonds with the new characters. Without those connections, everything from the story to character development suffers.

New characters aside, the interactions with old characters felt lacking too. Krile used to interact a lot with the twins, but her character felt toned down in Dawntrail. She used to be the one to embarrass Alphinaud or share funny stories about his time in the Studium with Alisaie. She’d even coax Estinien into working with the Scions alongside Tataru, but I felt like her sassiness has completely disappeared in Dawntrail.

I also think we could have used a bit more interaction between the twins and Erenville. There were a few sentences where Erenville showed the twins around (the unruly coeurls) and Alphinaud tried to learn how to set up a tent from him, but I would have appreciated a bit more of those moments.

I think Shadowbringers was so successful because of all the meaningful bonds each Scion forged, along with the connections Raha made with the Crystarium people. Even though it wasn’t always shown directly, it felt genuine and organic.

The Scions as core FFXIV characters
This might just be my personal preference, but I’m one of those people who really wants the story to focus on the Scions as a group, like it did in Shadowbringers. I absolutely love the Scions and the strong bond we have with them as the Warrior of Light. I think that both Shadowbringers and Endwalker did a very good job of cementing that bond. After journeying together for five expansions, I feel like I’ve developed a genuine connection with them. They’ve truly become like family to my WoL, and I believe that bond was earned. So, it’s tough for me to accept something like Wuk Lamat saying we’re family after just half an expansion.

I’m not saying there shouldn’t be new characters, of course, but I think they should be introduced in a more organic way, like how Raha and Ryne were. Those felt like natural additions that fit right in with the existing group’s relationships. In my opinion, Zero too had potential.

Also, I think there’s still so much development to explore within the Scions’ group. For example, the twins and Urianger barely interact after the Binding Coil and 3.4, and Alisaie and Y'shtola could definitely use more interactions. There’s also potential for Raha and Alphinaud, or Alisaie and Estinien, to bond more.

I’d love to see more bonding between the Scions and explore their lore more. Dividing them into smaller groups could work too, like in the Zero arc, where we could see a bit of Estinien and Y'shtola, for example. It’s totally different from Dawntrail, where, no matter how small the group, everyone just disappears at the end, leaving you with Wuk Lamat.
The fact that I didn’t connect strongly with the new characters, combined with the absence or inconsistency of the characters I did connect with, really contributed to my lack of engagement with the Dawntrail story.

*****

Conclusion
In conclusion, I would love for the story to shift back to focusing more on characters, in particular the Scions and their relationships, along with all the fun quirks and lore tidbits that could be found in optional and trust dialogue during Shadowbringers.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read through my lengthy post! I really appreciate you sticking with me till the end and giving my thoughts a chance. It means a lot.

[PorxiesRCute]

Great post.

I like the Scions too. I definitely don't agree with all the people insisting they need to be culled from the story. But if they're just going to be there, completely culled of the traits that actually make them interesting, what's the point?

Like, rewrite their dialogue a little bit? And Alphinaud and Alisaie in most of Dawntrail could have passed as Urianger and Thancred. Or G'raha and Y'shtola. They would have been bland and watered-down, but so were the twins. Hell, they could have been Coultenet and Hoary, and I would have actually preferred that for the novelty.

We could have brought G'raha, who actually wanted to go on an adventure with us ('oh but I have to watch over the Students of Baldesion' was a weak writing decision that was obviously just made to keep him from coming along) and we would have had a perfect Trust composition with only three companion NPCs, and more time for each of them to shine.

[Maxilor]

I'm still waiting for that growth spurt where overnight they both turn into giraffes.