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

[Valence]

Stormblood has practically nothing to do with Hydaelyn and Zodiark though. Why would you even consider it part of the story? It's the "Boring middle part" that ultimately matters very little in the end.

Neither does HW then, unless you consider that there is an Ascian trying to pull the string behind Thordan, but then it's been the same behind garlemald for a way longer time. And that's the point, the WoL is constantly fighting events set in motion by ascians one way or another, whether it's an invading imperial legion (ARR), an endless war (HW), an invading foreign power (SB). It just happens that hydaelyn vs zodiark becomes more relevant in SHB and onward because that's where we finally start unraveling what's behind the veil instead of fighting threats sent at the world to generate a rejoining.

Trying to drive a wegde between interconnected events is pointless. That you found the middle part boring is one thing, but it doesn't change the fact that the middle part is no less important to the story than what happened before, it just continues raising the stakes and making the looming threats growing closer and closer until ShB happens, and this time the only reason you actually move the story forward into deeper revelations is Emet Selch amusingly enough, because without him it would have ended up being about twarting yet another ascian threat, just in a more "after the fact" fashion than most due to the state of the First when the WoL finally comes there. If anything, the Stormblood middle part is literally what drives the story toward Endwalker Garlemald, and set things in motion for the final days to trigger.

[Auro_Seldaris]

Neither does HW then, unless you consider that there is an Ascian trying to pull the string behind Thordan, but then it's been the same behind garlemald for a way longer time. And that's the point, the WoL is constantly fighting events set in motion by ascians one way or another, whether it's an invading imperial legion (ARR), an endless war (HW), an invading foreign power (SB). It just happens that hydaelyn vs zodiark becomes more relevant in SHB and onward because that's where we finally start unraveling what's behind the veil instead of fighting threats sent at the world to generate a rejoining.

Trying to drive a wegde between interconnected events is pointless. That you found the middle part boring is one thing, but it doesn't change the fact that the middle part is no less important to the story than what happened before, it just continues raising the stakes and making the looming threats growing closer and closer until ShB happens, and this time the only reason you actually move the story forward into deeper revelations is Emet Selch amusingly enough, because without him it would have ended up being about twarting yet another ascian threat, just in a more "after the fact" fashion than most due to the state of the First when the WoL finally comes there. If anything, the Stormblood middle part is literally what drives the story toward Endwalker Garlemald, and set things in motion for the final days to trigger.

My point in replying to that person was that they consider the first 3 expansions "The Hydaelyn and Zodiark Arc", when they only tangentially relate to the Ascians and their master aside from ARR, and leave out the two expansions which are explicitly about that plot. It's a baffling mentality.

I'm still on EW, but my issue is that the WoL only feels like the main character because he is us, the player. There’s maybe a meta element to it, but I just don’t find it satisfying.

Outside of the DRK quests, he has very little of what can be seen as agency. We rarely get a meaningful peek inside his head, and our dialogue options are almost always generic, lacking emotional depth or complexity. So yes, obviously he’s the MC, but he doesn’t feel like a true character in the same way that Yotsuyu or Emet do.

There used to be more of those little moments: Fordola's peek inside your head with the Resonanace and her questioning of how you can handle the emotional pain and the Echo, the choice of what to eat in Amh Araeng, how you can frame your final conflict with Zenos, and others in previous expansions. It's just that the writing has degraded severely and they don't even bother with trying to "get in the WoL's head" anymore. Partly because people have a shit fit when the portrayal doesn't line up with their headcanon 100%.

[GrizzlyTank]

Since the end of SHB the political drama in the story has been gone. Which was one of the major things adding suspense and weight to the world.

[Mikey_R]

I think one of the biggest issues with how the WoL is portrayed in DT is that we never really get to show off how strong we are, even at the story climax, our moment was taken away by someone who, most would perceive, as not being strong enough narrative wise to accomplish what she done. As many have said, it is the Wuk Lamat story and not our story. Even in terms of threat to people's plans, the WoL never really caught anyone's eye as someone to be taken seriously, which really downplays our importance.

We have to remember, we are on a far away continent, noone here really knows of us except maybe stories from merchants and traders coming from Eorzea. But, who is going to believe some of the fantastical stories about this mysterious person. I am playing through the story again for a second time and have just reached Earthenshire, however, a scene just before with Koana at Many Fires where he is taking to Urianger and Thancred shows he is taking stories with a pinch of salt. Namely he says 'if the WOL is half the person claimed from the stories, they are going to be a threat to my plans of ascending the throne'. Whilst that is slightly paraphrased, it gets the point across. Koana doesn't fully trust the stories and this is someone who spent time at Sharlayan and would likely hear more first hand accounts for the WoL's tales.

Shifting focus to Bakool Ja Ja and Zarool Ja, neither of them really see us as the main threat, their eyes are set upon Wuk Lamat. To us, the player, however, she has never really been shown to be a threat. Bakool Ja Ja swatted her away like she was nothing in Ok'hanu and Zarool Ja showed he was stronger than Bakool Ja Ja, so Wuk Lamat would be easy for him, especially after his power up. So why are they so fixated on her, especially when we are the strong ones. In my eyes, a couple of solo duties to show we are the threat to their plans and in some story beats about Wuk Lamat training, even with us giving her advice etc.

We should be the main threat and through our actions, we inspire people to get stronger, keep them going, no matter the odds. We were meant to be helping and mentoring Wuk Lamat after all, but it was never really shown, which is why some of the story beats fell flat when it came to Wuk Lamat's strength.

I could say more, but I don't want to just slap too much of my rambling here. The main thing to take away is that, in the pat, we felt like we mattered, in DT, it didn't feel like we mattered.

[Hallarem]

This guy saying 'in WoW you're a nobody and not the main character go play that' lmao. You realize that all the big ticket characters literally licked the player's boots ever since WotLK 2008 right?

How about stop talking about a game you obviously never played and only refer to as a means of perceived +coolness factor?

WoW went the route of "Commander, hero" etc but never really went the full stretch. You more felt like a third wheel to the actual heroes.
Doubt Jaina even knows your name after you basically restored her reputation and reunited her with her family.

You felt more like the "tool" some people say the WoL is being directed at issues. Though I dont know if they made you more of an actual person in Shadowlands and beyond cause I quit before.

Endwalker made me check out. I prefer a more grounded experience, politics, wars, person to person strife. End of the universe out of nowhere + time travel (WoD eugh) made me nauseous. Shadowbringers was the perfect amount of world saving and personable stuff. Hell the Scions ARGUED and were actual characters instead of plotbeacons