Random Thoughts.....What Are You Thinking?

As a preface, I like what they did as a section of a story. The fact that they grew some balls and made some, quite frankly, grisly death sequences and impactful moments was a great change of pace from most of the rest of the story so far. That being said...

I've played a lot of MMOs. A lot of them. Never before have I felt so lost and left behind as I do now. I'm not talking about the tragic events that transpired during the story, that's all fine, I'm talking about as a player of a game, to receive 0 resolution or other such ending to the game. It's literally just all open ends, not only the ones we've had since the very beginning but also a slew of brand new ones.

There is no feeling of it being an end of an era, or a waypoint in the story. There's not really much of a "okay, that was a good end to a long saga". It just sets up for Heavensward and continuing the current events through a paid expansion pack. What other game has ever done that?

Let's use XI as an example. Each expansion pack had its own unique microcosm; it was built around itself and had a unique, rich story with the characters reacting and changing based on that individual story. Sometimes there were nods or interwoven threads of other stories/expansions, but they were not normally integral or required you to play the other stories/expansions to understand/interpret/incorporate them. XIV is going in an entirely different way; there won't be individual stories and scenarios, but an overarching premise that carries through from base game to the expansion(s).

Why does it bother me you ask? I just see it as a slimy business practice. Instead of allowing the customer, or player, a valid end to a long scenario, you instead punch the throttle up to full and open up all the loose ends right in the final cutscenes just so that you can sell them an expansion pack and continue that... possibly, and probably, just to do it again at the end of that. I don't like it.

Technically, didn't they do the same thing with FFXI and Rise of the Zilart, which was FFXI's first expansion? While it may not have been to the extremes as FFXIV appears to be doing and english players didn't get to experience it because the expansion was released with our release, the JP had to kill the shadowlord and experience a taste of of Ark Angels/Zilart lore with nothing to continue it until they received the expansion.

Was it as long of a scenario? No, certainly not, but otherwise this is the same situation just on a bigger scale due to all the *** ups that happened with FFXIV.

All I'm saying is, give it time. This isn't new for SE or the FF series and we have no idea how they plan to release expansions past Heavensward.

As a preface, I like what they did as a section of a story. The fact that they grew some balls and made some, quite frankly, grisly death sequences and impactful moments was a great change of pace from most of the rest of the story so far. That being said...

I've played a lot of MMOs. A lot of them. Never before have I felt so lost and left behind as I do now. I'm not talking about the tragic events that transpired during the story, that's all fine, I'm talking about as a player of a game, to receive 0 resolution or other such ending to the game. It's literally just all open ends, not only the ones we've had since the very beginning but also a slew of brand new ones.

There is no feeling of it being an end of an era, or a waypoint in the story. There's not really much of a "okay, that was a good end to a long saga". It just sets up for Heavensward and continuing the current events through a paid expansion pack. What other game has ever done that?

Let's use XI as an example. Each expansion pack had its own unique microcosm; it was built around itself and had a unique, rich story with the characters reacting and changing based on that individual story. Sometimes there were nods or interwoven threads of other stories/expansions, but they were not normally integral or required you to play the other stories/expansions to understand/interpret/incorporate them. XIV is going in an entirely different way; there won't be individual stories and scenarios, but an overarching premise that carries through from base game to the expansion(s).

Why does it bother me you ask? I just see it as a slimy business practice. Instead of allowing the customer, or player, a valid end to a long scenario, you instead punch the throttle up to full and open up all the loose ends right in the final cutscenes just so that you can sell them an expansion pack and continue that... possibly, and probably, just to do it again at the end of that. I don't like it.

I kinda get the feeling Nanamo is dead but they are going to pull some Kam'lanaut ***like in FFXI "Oh, no the Archduke is away." when you killed him yourself.

Also, apparently a Crystal Brave states that if you are seen, you'll be "arrested like the others" I don't know where you last see the Scions as I have yet to see the scene myself, just being spoiled, but it's possible the monetarists had the Scions found and arrested with these 'others.'

I expect Moendryda to pull a Lion and reappear one day; she didn't leave a corpse, which is shown to happen just before she died. Urianger is probably trying to find information to find her.

Nanamo is dead, even after the cutscene npcs acknowledge it. You aren't arrested on sight for two reasons:
1) Faulty NPCs apparently are too stupid to notice you're the same person they're currently talking about, though they do know the event happened and they do know it was apparently caused by an adventurer who is currently being searched for.
2) An actual Blades member says they won't turn you in because they don't trust the rumors, but that he's still under orders not to let you into X-zone.

Other Scions are each given interesting "death scenes" but obviously they're very vague and it's more than likely they're just captured.

I have a strong feeling Moen is straight dead, there will be no revivals and if there is I'll be sorely disappointed. Though, Urianger was seen talking to one of the Ascians as well. It's possible he will be toyed with using the chance to see his beloved again. I guess I'd be relatively okay with this... but only because Urianger is apparently my spirit animal.

The real thing that disappointed me the most is everything surrounding Tataru is getting kinda... hazy for me and I'm not liking her atm.

I am actually glad however that Alphinaud was knocked down a few pegs because lately he'd been getting really cocky and annoying and one of the lines from the recent cutscenes pissed me off to no end.

I liked Moen, I liked the character but she should stay dead. She had a good death; she came to understand Louisoix in her final moments and gave her life to further his cause.

For the first time... I'm scared to progress.