Synodic Scribe's "The Steady Change in Writing..." Video

[Mimilu]

The Steady Change in Writing within Final Fantasy XIV

I know posting someone else's video is considered gauche on the forums but I think Synodic Scribe's latest video, The Steady Change in Writing within Final Fantasy XIV, really speaks of the issues people have with the game's writing from what were at the time minor things in ShB that turned into bigger issues in EW and DT.

For those who don't want to watch the video, here is a paraphrasing:
• Loose plot threads have always been a thing in XIV, with ARR setting so many up as future proofing for different kinds of stories (MSQ or side). Some of XIV's more well liked story beats use these plot threads to their advantage (the Ascian side of ShB's plot being an example, Ul'dah and Limsa's growth being another).

• HW (and later ShB) was so well received because of it's focus on one area and/or event (Ishgard and the Dragonsong War, the First and the Flood of Light), giving players the time to become attached to them and their people. This extends to their post expansion MSQs.

• SB's MSQ ping-ponging between Ala Mhigo and Doma weakened the story, making the story awkwardly paced and not allowing players to grow attached to them, their attention split between two areas.

• In ShB, characters like Emet and Ardbert were used wisely, with ShB's story feeling like it's focused on you the player, not them. Versus Wok Lamat, who takes over the story.

• However, because of how well received ShB was, some of its worst design and story habits are replicated:
- False advisement in the expansion trailers: ShB was the first expansion where the trailer didn't reflect anything of the actual plot. ShB's trailer emphasizes using the power of darkness to combat the light of the first, only for said power of darkness to never be an actual thing in the story. EW and DT's trailers double down on this.
- We're getting more and more content that references other media versus original content. Take for example the Nier raid, which feels more like both an advert for Nier to XIV players and a draw to Nier players to play XIV. The Vana'diel raid is inching into similar territory, feeling more like an advert for XI for XIV players. Also, EW's post expansion heavy IV referencing and DT's with IX.
This can be polarizing for those who want newer content to be more original rather then referential.
- Important and world molding concepts and events are forgotten by the wayside by the next expansion. Examples include SB's artificial Echo and the implication that the Echo could allow one to control Primals, everything happening in Ivalice and Bozha, and Dynamis. It makes the audience wonder why the writers bothered introduced said important things if they weren't going to expand upon them. Electrope is heading in this direction.

• EW also introduced many bad traits that would be follow into DT
- Rushed pacing.
- Character arcs are either rushed or no existent, Hermes, for example, has little to no fleshing out as a character, with us never really learning what inspired his actions or feelings. We only see the end result of it, which is bad for a character who is built up to being the biggest villain.
- World ending events not reflected outside of the expansions new zones.
- It copied ShB's end area and dungeon being a fabricated area full of simulated life forms from past societies.
- The post expansion MSQ having nothing to do with the base expansion's story. It never addresses how the world is going to go forward after the end of days or the introduction of Dynamis.
- Zero was a precursor to Wok Lamat. EW's post expansion MSQ focused heavily on Zero as the main character, with powers and knowledge only she has. With people praising Zero, Wok Lamat seems to have been created with her in mind, with the DT's plot being character driven around her and you being a observer who steps in only for the fighting.

• Synodic concludes that he feels the story should focus on the story of a set location (like HW and ShB), using past plot threads and side stories to its advantage and focus less on a specific character plots.

• Whether you like or dislike DT or any plot, you should always share your feedback on it. Let the developers know what you like (in a civilized manner, naturally).

°˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°

[Fawkes]

Important and world molding concepts and events are forgotten by the wayside by the next expansion. Examples include SB's artificial Echo and the implication that the Echo could allow one to control Primals, everything happening in Ivalice and Bozha, and Dynamis. It makes the audience wonder why the writers bothered introduced said important things if they weren't going to expand upon them. Electrope is heading in this direction.

Electrope is the entirety of the explanation for the FFXI raid. It has fulfilled its purpose as a literary device to hand-wave why something impossible can happen.

[Mimilu]

Electrope is the entirety of the explanation for the FFXI raid. It has fulfilled its purpose as a literary device to hand-wave why something impossible can happen.

And that's a huge flaw in the writing and worldbuilding.
Electrope can literally be molded into anything or anyone. This is a huge technological advance that will probably see little to no relevance to the world or story. ( ´-ω-` )

[MicahZerrshia]

And that's a huge flaw in the writing and worldbuilding.
Electrope can literally be molded into anything or anyone. This is a huge technological advance that will probably see little to no relevance to the world or story. ( ´-ω-` )

Dynamis and Electrope both are very very lazy plot devices and wouldn't even be well recieved in an writing 101 course and get you a C at best, with extensive notes. They could both even be used in lectures covering what not to do in story writing. Not to mention the constant rehasing of story elements. How all this made it into the game just completely boggles the mind.

As someone who majored in and wrote extensively about literary and critical theory, this video could have been hours long, I hope he does more.

[Khryseis_Astra]

• HW (and later ShB) was so well received because of it's focus on one area and/or event (Ishgard and the Dragonsong War, the First and the Flood of Light), giving players the time to become attached to them and their people. This extends to their post expansion MSQs.

DT, story-wise, probably won’t be my favorite expansion, even though there are parts of it I really like. But I do think we need another HW, specifically Meracydia. If we need to throw in another area, maybe hit the South Sea Isles on the way there to explore the Milalla connection to the “key,” if they don’t rush through that in the patches, and I hope they don’t. I’d really like another focused expansion, and all the Alexandrian stuff, while it was cool, left me longing for a more “dragons and high fantasy” feel.

ShB was my favorite expansion, and it was essentially a masterful pulling together of all the loose threads they left hanging around in earlier expansions, because iirc they said they didn’t plan out the exact plot that far in advance. And EW wrapped up that story arc in a satisfying way. So I give DT a lot of leeway in the fact that it’s setting up possibilities… I just have my own ideas of where I’d like things to go, as I’m sure lots of others do. lol

The other point about ShB, with its story focus on our characters still being balanced with Emet and Ardbert is a good one. I don’t need the story to be all about my character every second. But the balance was off in DT, to where a lot of the time we feel like a bystander with little agency.

[Tsiron]

Aloalo Island already covered the South Sea Isles, you get at least one optional dialogue choice towards the end of DT if you've cleared it. I could see Corvos sharing expansions with Meracydia, given both have a history with the Allagan Empire... which does undermine any chance of it being a "High Fantasy" story unfortunately, I think

[RoboticNomad]

Some good points, some slightly nitpicky or off.
For example, I think in the short term Dynamis doesn't change much. If I'm not mistaken I believe it's implied we've been passively using it the whole time since it's friendship is magic power. Any abstract uses or applications of it would take time and study. Even if immediately after EW Sharlayans started a whole section of study on it, it'll take some time to do anything practical with it. Now electrope is a whole different beast. I didn't pay attention to yawntrail or do the alliance raid yet but I've heard enough to know they aren't going to handle it well.
Also the trailers thing is a weird point, they cover major beats that look visually interesting but they almost all reference parts of the expansion. DT felt the most on point, you are on a boat, you fight two head man and everyone else has a much better vacation than you because you have to babysit an idiot. Hell it's probably the most accurate expansion trailer now I think about it.
Edit: Oh wait I just remembered DT trailer showed Krile for longer than she was in the actual expansion. You're right it's false advertisement.

[Jeeqbit]

Loose plot threads have always been a thing in XIV, with ARR setting so many up as future proofing for different kinds of stories (MSQ or side). Some of XIV's more well liked story beats use these plot threads to their advantage (the Ascian side of ShB's plot being an example, Ul'dah and Limsa's growth being another).

They said at some point, possibly Stormblood or earlier, that they did not like loose ends. From there, they evidently went on a mission to solve them all. The random plot thread of the Isle of Val was solved for example. And that led us to where we are now, where even the Twelve have been explained, leaving very little left, so they solve them almost as soon as they create them.

HW (and later ShB) was so well received because of it's focus on one area and/or event

I do think that Dawntrail returned to this since it's almost all in the New World.

SB's MSQ ping-ponging between Ala Mhigo and Doma weakened the story, making the story awkwardly paced and not allowing players to grow attached to them, their attention split between two areas.

Their explanation was that there was not enough story for just Ala Mhigo. That was all the story they had to tell for it and they needed more. It was kinda smart in the story though because they created a distraction elsewhere to create a war on two fronts that would split their forces aka divide-and-conquer.

It made sense why Zenos was in charge of both, because Gaius had just recently be overthrown and someone with experience ruling another territory needed to step in quick.

ShB was the first expansion where the trailer didn't reflect anything of the actual plot.

On the contrary, ShB's trailer was the first one to reflect the plot properly and have a story. HW recapped ARR's story and had loads of Hraesvelgrs attack Ishgard which doesn't really happen. At best we can say entering Ishgard cutscene happens and we visit the areas shown.

SB's it's fair to say we spar with Lyse, but then it just showcases a sidequest dungeon in Othard, a Samurai scene that does not happen in the story because we are not necessarily a Samurai, and a pan around Gosetsu and Yugiri that we can't know for sure even happens because we are not there yet (seems illogical to be way up there though).

ShB's tells a vague story of our fight against the sin eaters. We do actually fight that creature in Holminster Switch (which is in Lakeland) and fighting it does in fact reveal a night sky as depicted in the trailer, and we do cross gremlins in Lakeland. Thancred confirms the events of the trailer take place where he frees Minfilia. Y'shtola confirms the events in Rak'tika take place where she puts the fire out and saves them. And of course, Minfilia turns out to be Minfilia. Even our battle with Zenos at the start happens in the prior patch.

EW's trailer also happens. The start where we fight off a beast in Outer La Noscea actually takes place in Garlemald, but they didn't want to spoil Garlemald I guess, but the same sort of interactions happen there. Estinien does fight with Vtra. Y'shtola's encounter with the Sharlayans happens. The scene with Zenos watching over Garlemald on fire also happens. Emet-Selch's narration is explained. I think the most fake part is us fighting a final days beast on the moon.

DT's didn't really cover the plot, so as to keep us guessing, and instead just showed us the events after the story. But I suppose they needed to have a curiosity draw after finishing the previous arc.

ShB's trailer emphasizes using the power of darkness to combat the light of the first, only for said power of darkness to never be an actual thing in the story.

It kinda did make it seem like we would become a villain to save the world. I think it was partially because Yoshi-P changed his mind (according to a dev panel). He said "what if instead of a fight between light and dark, it's a fight to literally restore the night sky". I think he wanted this because players respond better to visual progression that they can see with their eyes, and the night sky is a visible progress. As a result of that change, Eden ceased to be one of the last bosses and was used as the raid boss instead.

You can see how the night sky thing doesn't make much sense and was a sudden change. A single person holding some light altering the entirety of the sky is a bit odd. Especially when the raid lore shows that Eden was used to create the flood of light anyway. I think the trailer just reflected this very confusion that was probably going on at the time of the teaser trailer production.

This can be polarizing for those who want newer content to be more original rather then referential.

In Endwalker they actually used "FFXIV Original" a lot to describe what they were doing, saying that the jobs were an "FFXIV Original" and that Myths of the Realm was an "FFXIV Original", so they are interested in doing original stuff some of the time.

Important and world molding concepts and events are forgotten by the wayside by the next expansion. Examples include SB's artificial Echo and the implication that the Echo could allow one to control Primals

It's not that we forgot, but rather we stopped fighting Primals by the time of Shadowbringers, leaving that job to Arenvald and others, who were not exactly smart enough to control a primal like Zenos did.

Dynamis. It makes the audience wonder why the writers bothered introduced said important things if they weren't going to expand upon them. Electrope is heading in this direction.

They kinda have continued to use Dynamis for things including Myths of the Realm and I recall it being brought up in Dawntrail too. Electrope is being used in the raids right now since it has many uses.

Hermes, for example, has little to no fleshing out as a character, with us never really learning what inspired his actions or feelings.

Uh? We do see exactly what inspired his feelings. He is a very caring person that cares for all life, even minions. An experiment is deemed "not good enough" and cast off to the aetherial sea by his fellow Ascians. Like many people do in real life, it made him question the meaning of life if they would just end life due to it not being good enough. He questioned... are we good enough ourselves? Why should we not be cast off to the aetherial sea as well? Despair and depression gripped him, so he sought an answer to his depression. The answer he found was every species in the universe concluded there was no point in their continuation and wiped themselves out. Which led to the "test". If we are meant to survive, we will surely find a way to avert the Final Days.

It's fully explained and it's crazy if they think otherwise.

World ending events not reflected outside of the expansions new zones.

I kinda agree with this because they can use phasing and they did it with the Towers that appeared in many old areas actually. But they can't do anything that would affect new players earlier in the story, obviously.

It copied ShB's end area and dungeon being a fabricated area full of simulated life forms from past societies.

If we wanted to go further we could say HW's final dungeon has synthesized creatures from past societies (Allagan experiments).

Synodic concludes that he feels the story should focus on the story of a set location (like HW and ShB), using past plot threads and side stories to its advantage and focus less on a specific character plots.

Hmm true it could do that. But the character plots that do exist should be good. As it stands, we have a bunch of scions that all nod their heads at eachother and agree on everything, and they need to put us with a bunch of bullies that don't get along in Meracydia and develop those characters.

[Red-thunder]

To be honest they might as well let an AI write the story at this point because seriously, the writing now is worse than AI slop.

[Catwho]

For me the weakest part of DT wasn't necessarily "too much Wuk Lamat" - that itself is a symptom of the deeper problem, which was less reliance on the ensemble cast.

We didn't get enough twin banter. We didn't get enough conversations between people other than ourselves and the lead NPCs. Part of this is because of Erenville's taciturn nature; he internalized his emotions to the point where he faded into the background too much.

My favorite bits of, say, Heavensward, were when Estinien and Ysayle were arguing with each other, and Alphinaud was doing his best to stop them from grabbing each other's throats. Or similarly in Shadowbringers, when Alisae gets pissed off at Alphinaud and lifts him up by his lapels.

The conflict doesn't always have to be a bigger bad! It can be the personalities of characters clashing. Sigurd hating Moogles. Gerolt griping about Rowena.

The closest we got to this was the bullying from Bakool Ja Ja.... but he traveled with us for all of one zone, and by then he'd already heel-face-turned and was an ally.