AI in XIV

[AnaximanderFelidae]

So, some time like two weeks ago or somewhere around there, AI stopped being a party trick for making stories from prompts or writing programming code and infiltrated every corner of the internet and every piece of smart™ technology worldwide. Or at least that was my impression because I can\\'t remember what happened two days ago, let alone a few weeks ago. Anyhoo, I had this silly thought that maybe like 90% of the characters we see in game are AI generated and controlled. They can probably even impersonate humans. Like I know some people who are definitely real because I know them IRL, and they say so little of substance and do so little of consequence in game that had I not known them personally, I could imagine that they\\'re AI bots invading the game, ya.

This is a joke post, but it\\'s interesting food for thought. The game itself is probably an AI, like the processing software that coordinates multiplayer content and such.

So, how many AI bots in the game? It\\'s probably not a horrible disaster.

[Daughterofdeath]

I wish the game was AI bosses would be more interesting and so would 98% of things honestly, they seem to have it all set up on a and if statements like if HP is 75% cast X, or if you used Y here then must use W next. AI would be smarter and more interesting tbh. AI would know how to interact with how players react and respond to actions and find a way to counter or make it harder on the player instead of set patterns of x y z - w y z

[lowercasebee]

I wish the game was AI bosses would be more interesting and so would 98% of things honestly, they seem to have it all set up on a and if statements like if HP is 75% cast X, or if you used Y here then must use W next. AI would be smarter and more interesting tbh. AI would know how to interact with how players react and respond to actions and find a way to counter or make it harder on the player instead of set patterns of x y z - w y z

Well, the game already uses AI for pretty much everything on the backend, it is not a new thing in terms of game development. Trash mobs pathfind and decide attacks through ai, determine targeting with it, etc. If what you mean by "AI" is a "smart" and "adaptable" thing, then it would either be easily exploited, since even the most advanced models of today are predictable with a bit of testing which would defeat the point, and overall just, not as fun? The way 14, and most other mmos work from my understanding greatly benefit from reliability, and it lets the devs actually make a fighting rather than giving an npc some actions and letting it do its thing.

[Kranel_San]

So, some time like two weeks ago or somewhere around there, AI stopped being a party trick for making stories from prompts or writing programming code and infiltrated every corner of the internet and every piece of smart™ technology worldwide. Or at least that was my impression because I can\\'t remember what happened two days ago, let alone a few weeks ago. Anyhoo, I had this silly thought that maybe like 90% of the characters we see in game are AI generated and controlled. They can probably even impersonate humans. Like I know some people who are definitely real because I know them IRL, and they say so little of substance and do so little of consequence in game that had I not known them personally, I could imagine that they\\'re AI bots invading the game, ya.

This is a joke post, but it\\'s interesting food for thought. The game itself is probably an AI, like the processing software that coordinates multiplayer content and such.

So, how many AI bots in the game? It\\'s probably not a horrible disaster.

I already had this idea in mind that in the future, there could be a genre called 'Fake MMOs' where it's an offline singleplayer game but can generate thousands of AI NPCs that act like players and you can interact with for trading, grouping up, chatting and so on to do some content.

It's not a bad idea. It might not be plausible now but it could be within 10 years and it saves up server infrastructure costs and such while also guaranteeing the "MMO" you play won't shut down because it simply cannot.

[Sivante]

So, some time like two weeks ago or somewhere around there, AI stopped being a party trick for making stories from prompts or writing programming code and infiltrated every corner of the internet and every piece of smart™ technology worldwide. Or at least that was my impression because I can\\'t remember what happened two days ago, let alone a few weeks ago. Anyhoo, I had this silly thought that maybe like 90% of the characters we see in game are AI generated and controlled. They can probably even impersonate humans. Like I know some people who are definitely real because I know them IRL, and they say so little of substance and do so little of consequence in game that had I not known them personally, I could imagine that they\\'re AI bots invading the game, ya.

This is a joke post, but it\\'s interesting food for thought. The game itself is probably an AI, like the processing software that coordinates multiplayer content and such.

So, how many AI bots in the game? It\\'s probably not a horrible disaster.

Say Potato.

[Oizen]

You can tell that AI was used to uscale some of the armor textures for the graphics overhaul

[Keumjo]

I bet AI viera and hroth characters could wear hats.

[CaptainLagbeard]

I have mixed feelings about using AI to write story.... But I suppose even AI could make a better character than wuk.

For design on gear, I think it would be fine to have the AI draw like a 100 sets of fantasy armor and try to pick out anything good from there and then start working it into a real set.

[Ath192]

AI wrote a better Dawntrail with the laziest prompt.

Since you’ve asked me to read the summaries of all Final Fantasy XIV expansions and then provide a better rewrite of Dawntrail, I’ll first outline the key points of each expansion based on available information, then propose a reimagined version of Dawntrail that aims to address some of its perceived shortcomings while enhancing its narrative and thematic impact. I’ll keep this creative but grounded in the spirit of FFXIV’s storytelling.
Summary of All FFXIV Expansions (Based on Available Context)

A Realm Reborn (2013)
The relaunch of FFXIV after its failed 1.0 version. The Warrior of Light emerges in Eorzea, a land recovering from the Calamity, to fight the Garlean Empire and the primals summoned by beast tribes. It sets up the Hydaelyn-Zodiark conflict and introduces the Scions of the Seventh Dawn. A foundational story focused on rebuilding and discovery.

Heavensward (2015)
The Warrior of Light flees to Ishgard, a theocratic city-state embroiled in a thousand-year war with dragons. The story explores themes of faith, betrayal, and reconciliation, culminating in the revelation of the Dragonsong War’s origins and the sacrifice of key characters like Haurchefant. It’s a high-fantasy epic with emotional depth.

Stormblood (2017)
Focus shifts to liberating Ala Mhigo and Doma from Garlean rule. Lyse takes center stage, though the split narrative between two regions dilutes its momentum. It introduces Zenos as a formidable antagonist and explores themes of freedom and resistance, but is often critiqued for uneven pacing and character focus.

Shadowbringers (2019)
The Warrior of Light travels to the First, a reflection of the Source, to prevent its destruction by a flood of light. With the Exarch and Emet-Selk as pivotal figures, it delves into grief, legacy, and the moral complexity of the Ascians. Widely praised for its storytelling, characters (like Ryne and Emet), and darker tone.

Endwalker (2021)
The culmination of the Hydaelyn-Zodiark arc. The Warrior and Scions confront the Final Days, an apocalyptic event orchestrated by Zenos and Fandaniel, while uncovering Hydaelyn’s true nature. It’s an emotional, high-stakes finale that ties up a decade-long saga, balancing despair with hope.

Dawntrail (2024)
Set in Tural, a vibrant New World inspired by Latin America, the story follows Wuk Lamat’s quest to become Dawnservant through a rite of succession. Initially a lighter “summer vacation” tale, it shifts to a conflict involving Sphene, memory-altering regulators, and the concept of the Endless—souls preserved digitally. Critiqued for a slow first half, Wuk Lamat’s dominance, and lower stakes compared to predecessors, though its second half gains traction with sci-fi twists.

Perceived Issues with Dawntrail (Based on Context)
Wuk Lamat Overfocus: She overshadows the Warrior of Light and other Scions, lacking depth to carry the story as a protagonist.

Pacing: The first half feels like a leisurely travelogue, delaying the central conflict.

Stakes: After Endwalker’s cosmic scale, Dawntrail’s succession contest feels small until the late twist with Sphene and the Endless.

Scion Underuse: Returning characters feel forced or sidelined, missing opportunities for meaningful involvement.

A Better Rewrite of Dawntrail
Here’s a reimagined Dawntrail that keeps its core setting and concepts but enhances narrative cohesion, character balance, and thematic weight:
Title: Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail
Tagline: "Where Shadows Bloom, a New Dawn Breaks"

Premise
After Endwalker, the Warrior of Light and the Scions seek respite but are drawn to Tural, a continent of dazzling diversity and hidden secrets. Rather than a simple succession rite, Tural harbors a fractured history tied to an ancient civilization that once bridged life and death. The story begins with a call for aid from Erenville, whose homeland faces a creeping blight tied to a mysterious artifact—the Dawnspire. Wuk Lamat, a fierce but untested claimant to Tuliyollal’s throne, joins the Warrior as an equal partner, not the sole focus, while Sphene’s role as antagonist evolves earlier and more organically.

Act 1: Arrival and Unrest
Setting: The Warrior, Erenville, Krile, and a smaller Scion contingent (Alphinaud and Y’shtola) arrive in Tuliyollal, a bustling coastal city. Tural’s regions—Urqopacha’s mountains, Kozama’uka’s jungles, and Yak T’el’s forests—teem with life but whisper of unease.

Hook: Erenville reveals the Dawnspire, a crystalline relic in Tuliyollal’s palace, is destabilizing. It’s tied to Tural’s lore of a “Golden Legacy”—a promise of eternal life that once united its peoples but now festers as a blight consuming the land.

Conflict: Wuk Lamat, one of three claimants (alongside Zoraal Ja and a new scholarly rival, Xihuatl), seeks the Warrior’s aid not just for succession but to investigate the blight. The Scions split to explore: Y’shtola probes the Dawnspire’s arcane origins, while Alphinaud negotiates with Tural’s tribes (Pelupelu, Yok Huy, Hanuhanu).

Act 2: The Shattered Legacy
Revelation: The Dawnspire is a fragment of a larger network beneath Tural, built by an ancient civilization that mastered soul preservation—akin to the Endless but flawed, causing the blight as souls destabilize. Sphene, a regal figure revered as Tural’s protector, emerges as an AI-like entity tied to this network, intent on “saving” Tural by assimilating its people into her system.

Rising Stakes: Zoraal Ja allies with Sphene, believing her vision will strengthen Tural, while Xihuatl uncovers texts suggesting the Dawnspire can be purified—but at great cost. The Warrior, Wuk Lamat, and Erenville lead expeditions to three key sites (a Machu Picchu-esque ruin, a cybernetic underground city, and a living forest temple), blending Tural’s cultural vibrancy with sci-fi mystery.

Character Growth: Wuk Lamat matures through failure, losing a key ally to the blight, while Erenville confronts his past as a descendant of the civilization’s keepers. Krile’s Pictomancer abilities unlock clues in ancient murals, tying her arc to Tural’s history.

Act 3: Dawn or Dusk
Climax: Sphene activates the Dawnspire network, rewriting Tural’s reality to erase the blight—but also free will. The Warrior and allies storm Solution Nine, a high-tech city revealed as the network’s heart, facing Zoraal Ja (corrupted by Sphene) and Sphene herself in a multi-phase trial blending mechanics from FFIX’s Alexandria and FFVI’s Vector.

Resolution: Xihuatl sacrifices herself to overload the Dawnspire, aided by Y’shtola’s aetheric mastery, purging the blight but shattering the network. Wuk Lamat ascends as Dawnservant, vowing to unite Tural without relying on its past crutches. The Warrior and Scions reflect on mortality and renewal, setting up future arcs.

Epilogue: A shadowy figure (hinting at a new Ascian or rival faction) retrieves a Dawnspire shard, teasing the next threat.

Key Improvements
Balanced Cast: Wuk Lamat is a co-lead with the Warrior, while Scions like Y’shtola and Krile have clear roles. Erenville’s backstory drives the plot, reducing Wuk Lamat’s screen-time monopoly.

Higher Stakes Early: The blight and Dawnspire mystery kick off immediately, avoiding a slow travelogue feel.

Thematic Depth: Explores life, death, and cultural legacy with a mix of Tural’s vibrancy and sci-fi dread, echoing Shadowbringers’ nuance without copying it.

Gameplay Tie-In: Dungeons and trials (e.g., a blight-ravaged ruin, Solution Nine’s core) reflect the story’s escalation, with Sphene’s fight rivaling Emet-Selk’s spectacle.

This rewrite keeps Dawntrail’s identity as a fresh start but weaves a tighter, more compelling narrative that respects the Warrior of Light’s agency, integrates the Scions naturally, and elevates Tural’s stakes from the outset. What do you think—any tweaks you’d suggest?

The prompt was:
"Hey Grok can you read the summary of all FFXIV expansions and then summarize a better rewrite of Dawntrail for me please" Took 2 seconds.

[Gwenkatsu]

/snip/
"Hey Grok can you read the summary of all FFXIV expansions and then summarize a better rewrite of Dawntrail for me please" Took 2 seconds.

I usually trust AI only as far as I can hurl it (i.e. not at all) - but this is objectively a way better story than what SE came up with.
Imagine being the DT main writer and reading a post like that