I'm Frustrated with FFXIV's New Direction

[ZXN]

...First and foremost, I don't want to be relegated to a supporting character. The Warrior of Light should remain the narrative's main focus.

I wouldn't have minded being a side-character in Dawntrail: if it actually made sense to be one. We literally defeated the personification of despair yet in Dawntrail we're reduced to a Yes-Man Babysitter for a cat who doesn't do anything of value. I feel like this is ultimately because of our "strength" in-universe so they have to "wrangle us in", but constantly we're just standing there...doing absolutely nothing...in situations we would effortlessly solve because "If Wuk cannot do it, then NOBODY can!" They handled the "Main Character taking a step back for another" horrendously.

Additionally, I want to provide separate feedback regarding Tural and its portrayal in the latest expansion...The New World's attempt to showcase multiple cultures feels cluttered and disjointed; they overshadow one another rather than create a cohesive narrative...The focus seems to have shifted to superficial elements, like fictional food culture that lacks relevance to our experience as players. I recall reading in another interview that Latin America was chosen as an inspiration because the community wanted tacos. Is that seriously the justification for an entire expansion's theme? I'm left feeling confused and disappointed by this direction.

Outside of the Yok Huy, who are actually interesting with their culture being about creating tombstones for people before they die, carving their stories with the idea that people live on in the memories of others, all the others introduced are pretty...simple.

- Hanu Hanu are reduced to reeds and a festival
- Pelu Pelu are reduced to Mezcal, Alpacas, and trading
- Moblins are just Goblins who help make the shinnies instead of making robots
- Xb'raal is...more food
- Mamook is bananas and a centuries long eugenics problem...which is solved by giving them plantable food that is not bananas.
- Hhetsarro are just cowboys and Indians for the most part, and also "YEEHAW GUNS"

I know the cultures in 14 are definitely not suppose to be "perfect replicas", but it feels like they did the absolute bare minimum and went "Good enough". If they really only did Latin America now because "players really wanted more tacos" then I wouldn't be surprised if it's because of the "Big Fat Tacos" meme from Ruby Weapon...which feels just kind of insulting to really think about if it actually is the case since it means the Latin America area and all their cultures were ultimately reduced to what we got in Dawntrail all so the devs could push a taco meme.

Of course I am not Latin American, so I will leave any anger/complaints/praises to the actual Latin Americans who play this game as I am sure many have plenty to say about how they feel the Devs and writers handled their cultures with Dawntrail.