Zepla's Dawntrail MSQ Analysis

[Jeeqbit]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1bcp-rjOBo - this is relevant because the developers watch her videos and she spent months working on this

Going to be honest. I don't think this deeply about the story because I don't have a creative writing degree like her, so most of these things didn't really occur to me and honestly wouldn't in the future either.

But it's at least a constructive analysis of things rather than the vague statements made by most others.

(If you don't want to listen for an hour you can set it to 2x speed)

[Rehayem]

When my friend and I were going through the MSQ, there were a lot of things we pointed out to each other, and Zepla's video does specify those things (a prime example is the crops part with Hanuhanu and the boat festival), but yes, the main issue is and always will be Wuk Lamat in the story.

The only thing I didn't actually spot right away is how Wuk Lamat, during the moment becoming Daenservant and talking to people on the balcony, addresses the Yok Huy being from Kozama'uka, when they're actually from Urqopacha.

That's just straight embarassing how CBU3 team made this crucial mistake, just shows how rushed the story was.

[Mawlzy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1bcp-rjOBo

Going to be honest. I don't think this deeply about the story, so most of these things didn't really occur to me and honestly wouldn't in the future either.

But it's at least a constructive analysis of things rather than the vague statements made by everyone else.

(If you don't want to listen for an hour you can set it to 2x speed)

There's also an app than translates Louisiana-->Chicago that has the same effect.

[Eyrilona]

There have been quite a lot of good constructive critical reviews of the expansion before this one, but this one being by one of the more famous personalities does get it more attention.

[Yoshihara]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1bcp-rjOBo

Going to be honest. I don't think this deeply about the story, so most of these things didn't really occur to me and honestly wouldn't in the future either.

But I do; I have a keen interest in creative writing, and I only took interest in the hardcore raiding side of things because I was invested in the story and world building. Zepla went easy in her video, she misses other key factors that make the writing absolutely abysmal. I have been critical of all expansions including Shadowbringers and Endwalker, but am able to accept their flaws even with some wasted potential here and there, as well as the story itself having to follow the structure of an MMORPG that consistently builds upon itself. Dawntrail however has so many flaws here and there that it leaves me gobsmacked that unless I dismiss Yoshi-P's inability to ascertain what made players unable to connect with the story hard to believe unless I perceive it as "not having played through the MSQ himself", or "simply going through the motions of corporates speak as to not drive players away from returning for the patches".

Her video goes on for more than an hour and fails to cover even close to all the problems within Dawntrail's writing, and I could easily add another hour with the problems she didn't manage to cover, to the video.

[LilaIronman]

Her analysis is mostly about her rents being due

[Jeeqbit]

Wuk Lamat, during the moment becoming Daenservant and talking to people on the balcony, addresses the Yok Huy being from Kozama'uka, when they're actually from Urqopacha.

I did notice that; however I figured it was because we accessed the upper part of Urqopacha from Kozama'uka which blurs the lines a bit. It could have been an error though.

this one being by one of the more famous personalities does get it more attention.

It's particularly relevant because they watch Zepla's videos.

[Thaciscokidd]

She's voicing complaints about the story that others(NA/EU/JP/2ch/4ch/reddit/etc) have been consistent in saying. Her being a streamer doesn't make her opinions more valid than anyone else's, just louder.

[Mawlzy]

It's particularly relevant because they watch Zepla's videos.

Wouldn't polling the players be more effective? Streamers have to produce content that people watch and, equally important for the algorithm, comment on. When content is algorithm-driven. it need not provide helpful feedback to the devs.

[Yoshihara]

Wouldn't polling the players be more effective? Streamers have to produce content that people watch and, equally important for the algorithm, comment on. When content is algorithm-driven. it need not provide helpful feedback to the devs.

No, because even with polls with thousands of votes, you'd only get a vague answer and idea of what players found displeasing, whereas someone like Zepla creating an articulate review without beating around the bush too much or using unjust and harsh, irrelevant criticism due to the emotion in the moment, or simply just for views in bad faith, allows the devs to know exactly what went wrong if they truly were unable to discern for themselves if we agree with said review instead of dismissing as a "content creator's way of making money". If we disagree with Zepla, or any content creator on any point we can always put our own 2 cents in and have others agree with our disagreement.

I'm a lot more harsh in my belief in which I believe the writers shouldn't be hired for the role if they refuse to or are unable to figure out for themselves why the writing did not resonate with us.