The King Is Half-Asleep - Dawntrail reactions, day one

[@Kpiozero]

I was playing with my friend and sharing our reactions with each other, and I think that was the best decision I made about this expansion's story. Sharing ideas, wrong or right, with friends is so much fun!

[@EinDose]

I rarely have this because I run on a different schedule to all my FFXIV friends, and typically finish these things much faster, so this is sort of an attempt to capture that energy for people!

[@jude4195]

“I know this player base taste in men” LMAAAAAOOOOOO Man this is still DT Biggest twist

[@EinDose]

@@jude4195 yeah, I don't think ANYONE predicted that. Granted, I'm still not sure how earnest that is, and Koana's right up there otherwise.

[@gothicshark]

@@EinDose I want to talk about it, as I understand why, but... that way be spoilers. Only hint Larry Blaisdell.

[@thegneech]

IIRC Synodic Scribe called it on the auspices connection, but as soon as he said it I was like "Oh, yeah, that tracks." XD Also, literally every time I first loaded into any zone, it was a foggy night. -.-

[@brendant.4493]

I have been patiently waiting for a Cleretic-Dawntrail video. Solid gold.

[@gothicshark]

love this, can't wait for you to get to the (spoiler) point and then (spoiler ...spoiler ... spoiler) bunny dance.

[@NoOne-gg5mc]

13:48 Oh, I knew that pain too. Both times when I visited Urqopacha during the MSQ, it was either during nighttime or when obscured by fog, so I couldn't fully appreciate the vistas.

[@EinDose]

@@NoOne-gg5mc it happens so often to me that I actually celebrated when a later zone had permanent bad weather, so I wouldn't constantly begrudge my recordings in it.

[@Graficcha]

I'd already forgotten just how little of an impression Koana leaves at first, ahahahaha. One of the few clear examples of a character who got to develop and become more interesting and likable as the story developed, until his arc pretty much ended for now. Ugh, top tier material, man. Koana's awesome.

[@EinDose]

Early on Koana feels like a character coasting on trope recognizability more than characterization and charisma; they basically spend this first sequence laying down 'we're doing a Seto Kaiba this expansion' rather than actually giving him personality. Which is to a degree intentional, but that doesn't excuse the fault.

[@sennaka]

I just put a flag in the end of DT, so i am *very* interested in your take when you come to the end - just gonna let you cook, here!

[@rfactor1502]

Finally watching this series, despite having finished the story a bit ago... and i feel seen by that alchemist bit. My WoL does things by way of being a magitek engineer, and there are times where it's commical watching the character struggle in a cutscene that really should be easy. Then there's points like Out Of The Cold where my first instinctve reaction as the character was the correct choice (find a magitek reaper and get it running). So its fun to see another perspective on the story, while giggling about some of my own takes on it.

[@EinDose]

Sometimes they can't reference your character's job or history because it'd break the current story, like how it'll never mention that you're a healer if someone important is dying. But sometimes they just forget for no good reason.

[@Proxificent]

Vaguely related at best, but what are those glasses that Ein is wearing? I don't know if I've ever seen them before

[@EinDose]

Those are the level 80 ALC set's glasses! Same set her coat is from.

[@CH-dr1ds]

Commented elsewhere on other points, but I have one for something you pointed out as a strength - the contest having seven clearly defined stops and how the path for the first half of the MSQ is so quickly established. I wonder if some of the negative reaction to the first half of DT is actually tied to that, as counterintuitive as it sounds. We know where we're going and what (roughly) to expect. I'm wondering if having that path actually bored some people, instead of the meandering mystery.

[@EinDose]

@@CH-dr1ds I could see it. You can imagine Shadowbringers going all manner of places before they just go 'it's a Zelda game now', but Dawntrail is so obviously what it is.

[@CH-dr1ds]

@@EinDose especially since the derailing plot twist isn’t until after the contest. It’s one of many factors I think for the (incomprehensible to me) portion of fans saying the first half of DT is weaker than the back. I have uncharitable theories on why some fans like the section w/ Spaghetti Western, S9, and Alexandria more. But even though I found that plot predictable, the characters didn’t know where to go next.

[@bendonatier]

19:16 Yeah no I caught it as well, the Pellu Pellu section is just DS9's in the cards.

[@EinDose]

It is, with a little bit of Treachery, Faith and the Great River. I actually really like that while the Pelupelu are ABSURDLY mercantile, they actually value the fairness of a trade, which makes it feel a lot nicer.

[@bendonatier]

I spent most of DT upset about where they do and don't recognize quest progress. Shaaloani was the big one, but it would have been nice here for alchemist as well.

[@EinDose]

It's rare that it honestly matters that much to me, but this one pushed my buttons because they say SO SPECIFICALLY that they'd need an alchemist.

[@bendonatier]

@@EinDose given that you don't get an alchemist mention, but you do get a culinarian, that crafter story line must sting even harder(even if it's not just cooking.)

[@TheJohnnylupine]

Firstly, If anyone saw my initial comment please disregard it, obviously you are not implying that Gulool jaja ranked his kids based on how much he liked them or their ability to succeed him. I commented before engaging brain. Secondly. If you are reading the comments Cleretic I would like to ask your opinion on what we learn about solution 9/alexandria and all the lightning because I respect your ability to digest lore and I've got some ideas about what's going on there.

[@EinDose]

@@TheJohnnylupine Solution Nine comes in day six, but if I follow what you're asking, those thoughts come in day seven. But in brief: I think it's an outstanding shard that wasn't rejoined, and alternatives never really occurred to me and sound a bit nonsense to me.

[@TheJohnnylupine]

​​@@EinDoseI'll wait until then, then!