It's Been Fun

[SkankyRoe]

If Natsuko Ishikawa isn't personally writing 8.0 I'm already prepared for it to be garbage. She seems to be the only person at this company who can write a decent story anymore. No idea why they didn't have her write 7.0 when she was entirely the reason ShB and EW (aside from the patch cycle) were considered successful. My hope is she asked for a break for one expansion to write the next few all at once or something, but admittedly I am just huffing some PREMIUM copium there.

Ishikawa personally writing 8.0 won't safeguard it from being "garbage". If anything it'd make it more likely to be "garbage" when you consider she personally oversaw and approved DT's writing as good enough to release. Don't forget that Smile was her idea as well.

[Basteala]

Ishikawa personally writing 8.0 won't safeguard it from being "garbage". If anything it'd make it more likely to be "garbage" when you consider she personally oversaw and approved DT's writing as good enough to release. Don't forget that Smile was her idea as well.

Eh. I don't hold Smile against her. It's a song. Not a narrative (even if the music sets the tone for the narrative). Bad taste in music doesn't a bad writer make.

[Garruss]

Having been playing off and on since about 2019-2020 it is time for me to finally say goodnight to FFXIV.

It's been fun.

I have many cherished memories playing the game with friends, experiencing the story (minus Dawntrail) and the wild and silly antics that came with it all. It's been more good then bad. The fun was there in the story, the theory crafting, the in-jokes with friends, the ultimates and role playing. The fun, I'm afraid, is no longer there.

My frustrations begin and end with Dawntrail. While I'm not happy to have suffered through what I consider to be one of the worst stories I have experienced, it did bring about a lot of positive changes to my life, including the most important person to enter my life, by sheer Fate.

(I do not mean this ironically, I met my boyfriend, my partner, my light in the dark during the Yanxia Foxlady Fate out of sheer happenstance. Quite literally, Fate brought us together.)

I have new games, new friends and new life experiences awaiting me. While FFXIV was there for me when I need it, it is no longer a place I can happily call home. While I love what good has come out of the game, I simply...cannot continue to subscribe at this time.

The story and world building and lore is shattered for me in a way that breaks my confidence in the writing team and the trajectory the game's path is currently on. The lack of engaging content and activities, such as high end, mid-core and casual fall far too short of my expectations and enjoyment. I've done every type of content in this game and there is nothing left for me to engage with outside of glamour, social gatherings and housing (the latter of which I will simply let expire).

So here's raising a glass to what was an important part of my life, to the good and the bad and, to a hopefully bright future for the 8.0 expansion. If it's any good, I might be back, if not, so long and thanks for the fish.

Good luck in your future games out there, I've had that happen in many MMO's in the past, namely WoW and SWTOR. You just know when it's time to move on.

[Eastwall]

I am glad you leave with a good memory. Good luck to your future endeavor. Back then, l uninstalled warcraft with rage,lol

[0blivion]

We know why Ishikawa didn't write DT tho. She got a promotion and she wanted to give other writers a shot at writing MSQ. To everyone's dismay.

[Selsix]

We know why Ishikawa didn't write DT tho. She got a promotion and she wanted to give other writers a shot at writing MSQ. To everyone's dismay.

If that's the case, this was a massive failure on SE's part. I'm happy she got a promotion (she deserves it) but they should at this point offer her an even bigger raise to take her old position back. The fact that they'd promote their only good writer out of the writing position without first knowing they for sure have a new golden goose is insanely reckless. To my knowledge, the DT guys previously worked on the Sorrow of Werlyt which wasn't much of a good test considering players never even really talked about it from a story quality standpoint. It was "fine" at best imo and DT was an absolute disaster for the game and company. I'll honestly be surprised if those guys even still have jobs come next expansion.

[Valence]

If that's the case, this was a massive failure on SE's part. I'm happy she got a promotion (she deserves it) but they should at this point offer her an even bigger raise to take her old position back. The fact that they'd promote their only good writer out of the writing position without first knowing they for sure have a new golden goose is insanely reckless. To my knowledge, the DT guys previously worked on the Sorrow of Werlyt which wasn't much of a good test considering players never even really talked about it from a story quality standpoint. It was "fine" at best imo and DT was an absolute disaster for the game and company. I'll honestly be surprised if those guys even still have jobs come next expansion.

I consider Sorrow of Werlyt to be the epitome of sidequests in XIV and it hit me a lot harder than anything the msq actually threw at me. I've only heard but praise for Werlyt and seen people constantly ask for more like this.

If the same people worked on DT, then it's not a problem of writers - bur perhaps management/direction. You can't seriously compare Werlyt's tone and writing with DT can you? They're literally at the opposite of the spectrum.

[SkankyRoe]

If the same people worked on DT, then it's not a problem of writers - bur perhaps management/direction.

You know that has me thinking about Ishikawa's overseeing position now. We know that Smile is the sickly sweet Disney number that everyone hates because Ishikawa directed Soken to make it that way. I wonder then, if various disliked aspects of DT's writing could be the result of her similarly directing the writers? Don't get me wrong I'm not saying she's a bad writer herself, just that she may be more responsible for DT's "bad writing" that people want to admit. Personally tho I think it's just an issue of YMMV, the writing being good or bad is entirely subjective. I personally like Smile and enjoyed the shounen anime adventure that was the 7.0 msq.

[0blivion]

Oh, don't get me wrong, I fully agree. In fact, it's my pet peeve that people keep insisting on rewarding competence with promotions that make them just straight up do a different job. Ishikawa did supposedly supervise the story, but... I have my doubts lol. But yeah, double Ishikawa's salary to bribe her into returning to her old position, lol. The sentiment about passing on the torch to the new writers was something Ishikawa herself expressed at 2023 fanfest btw.

[hydralus]

Sometimes authors, even the best, put out crap. It happens.