lastdayer101: I feel like the reason you can't connect with the discrepancies of people with regulators vs. people without them is because you're thinking in terms of the present. The fact that a shadow organization has had 400 years of unfettered control is key to understanding why obvious questions haven't been addressed by the people. Regulators are normalized in the way that microwave ovens or refridgerators are normalized. The vast majority of people simply use them without a second thought. Those who do question and reject it often find themselves as outliers, living in the outskirts or among close-knit groups such as families. Those who would attempt to change the status quo are likely "dealt with".

We have to remember that Oblivion was a known quantity by Sphene, and were allowed to exist. Krile's parents believed the only way for their child to be safe was to send her to another dimension. Preservation is a scary, scary entity.

Lyn685: I didn't really like 7.0 and 7.1., but 7.2 actually really did it for me.

I've agreed with Zepla on Dawntrail before, but I feel like when it comes to Alexandria, she projects her own morals and values a lot, while forgetting that the entire point of the (current) plot is that there's a hackerman who has been pulling the strings for the past 400 years, grooming these people into labrats that are afraid even of their own shadows.

austinjh: Love Zepla, but I think she just needs to step away from FFXIV altogether, at least on a long year or two break. It's getting to the point of just being insanely nitpicky that she just looks bitter and jaded. It honestly feels like the things she used to praise and love about FFXIV, are now things that she hates/despises. Even down to hating the live letters and the quirky way they do things. Reminds me of the WoW fans who do nothing but complain about the game constantly, and it's never a good look. Criticism is good, but when it gets to this point, I think it's just time to move on.

GatheredMyst: Zepla.... love your content, but if I can say as much, I think there's something of a double standard at play here. Candidly, I could nod and agree with every point that you make about the 7.2 story-- about how it skirts over certain things in its story a shallow manner...

... if it weren't for the fact that that same critique or lens isn't, or wasn't, being applied at the game that you've fallen back in love with.

Let me be clear: The War Within was a good story, but it wasn't particularly deep. Its narrative wasn't really trying to say anything. What makes it stand out are the exact same strengths that are carried in 7.2: Great character work, good pacing, and finally... an eye for player feedback on delivering something that can actually carry us forward through the remainder of the saga.

7.2 is coming off the heels of some of the worst storytelling in the game's history. It is trying to button up an arc that was started in Dawntrail when it maybe should have had the entire expansion to itself. That means they have exactly two patches to finish this up. That's not a lot of time. While The War Within, by default, isn't really trying to add a lot of depth to its plot, 7.2 doesn't really have the time to do so, so a few of the moral quandaries are going to get skirted over. Does that stink? Sure, but that's the hand we've been dealt. The best we can hope for is that they stick the landing in other ways.

But that's my point: You can't, in good faith, make the argument that "I wanted more depth" in this game that you've seemingly fallen out of love with while, at the same time, turning a blind eye to the fact that the game you've fallen back

dividedbyzero4: the incessant mocking of how ridiculous it is for people to not recognize hooded sphene felt like it's nitpick for the sake of nitpicking. No one complained that long at how the warrior of light (or the scions from ARR who had ties with students of baldesion of which he was a member) didnt recognize who the crystal exarch was (especially after 5.3 when crystal tower was made mandatory). You need them to darken large portion of her face like exarch's hood did or something?

babarrett1: Zepla I fully understand your issues with the MSQ’s world design and coherence. However the issues you’re fixating on are not solvable in a patch series. Those problems are foundational world lore problems and scenario set up problems rooted in the base expansion that you mentioned in your story critique. Patches can’t fix that, the story has made substantial improvements in the patch plotlines and characterization but the big stuff is gonna have to wait for 8.0. I think it’d be best if you tried to fixate on them less until 8.0, if 8.0 still has the same problems then by all means drill down on them but until then, I’d try to be a little more patient.

AnbuNinjaXIII: I feel like people are missing the point of the critique of the regulators. Saying “well it’s just like this because it’s their culture” is not a real explanation. Why

ReveredDead: This patch made me feel like we were back on track. I loved it. I hope we keep the real Sphene around. We actually got character development with her and now I want her around more.

ReyReyzzz: ngl I just skipped to the end to hear her overall opinion. i knew she wouldn't like it but i do think overall 7.2 is better than 7.0 and .1 in terms of pacing and the amount of voice acting.

fusein231: shes not even giving it a fair shot. she projects her own moral on fictional characters. doesnt think about authors intent and just nitpicks. the story is clearly not for her and I think this content only feeds into other haters that cant move on with ffxiv

kyoai: I really hope Sphene joins the scions/becomes a permanent adventure companion like Graha, she has become my favorite character in the game. She's cute, competent, I like her background story (the Alexandria dungeon always makes me teary-eyed) and her passion for her people, I also like her voice actors performance. Also, she might be a valuable companion when it comes to helping with her knowledge about shards, lightning aether, technology and Electrope, especially when accessing AI Sphenes memories via the tiara (helping Y'shtola with her interdimensional travel research, perhaps?). Also, while running around with her normal outfit, during battle she might use the tiara Electrope to change into her queen dress as a battle mage outfit.

mlt3496: The nitpicking she does reminds me of when I have to watch a show or movie I dislike. It’s not that she doesn’t have valid criticism but nitpicking stuff like “how do they not recognize her in the hood” is just silly. Stuff she wouldn’t have picked on before in previous expansions because the plot or themes were more her speed.

I think if I watched anything the way she plays through the MSQ, I would be so miserable because everything would be so full of holes or have little issues that drag it down. To be clear I’m not defending the MSQ, I just don’t agree with how she is approaching it.

webtoehobbit9227: Oof, gurl I think you need to take the advice of your audience in the comments here and reevaluate your relationship with FFXIV. It's not doing it for you anymore, we get it, you've been pounding the point into the ground for months now. A lot of us actually really liked the story in this patch. I am genuinely excited for 7.3's story to see where it goes. It may be time for you to walk away, it seems like nothing will please you with this game anymore.

serphv6531: I thought the “Beatrix” fight, while cool its the worst 4th Trial in the game narratively. Aside from FF9 fan service, she has no impact in the story whatsoever, they try to make it like its a big deal that they reconstructed her from her memories, but she is a character we’ve never heard about not even in a flash back or anything. Now maybe if Otis was the trial that woulda had way more impact.

justinotherpeterson: My personal opinion that this patch was a major improvement over 7.0 and .1. I agreed mostly with what you had to say in your video you posted a few months ago too. I want to say this, you are very entitled to how you feel about this patch story, however i felt like i was watching an episode of CinemaSins. Seemed like a lot of nitpicking for nitpicking sake. all of the examples of the moral implications of the regulators seemed like you just wanted to hate. Did you expect a whole explanation of every example on how the soul shortages work or how can people commit suicide with regulators in this game? I think that was just nitpicking for the sake of it. Its very much ok to take a break from XIV if you need to. Come back next expansion or not, do whatever makes you happy. It doesnt seem like XIV is doing it for you anymore which is perfectly fine! I never thought id quit League of Legends or WoW and then suddenly i did. Obviously your career and been centered around this game which is an 180 experience from what i have. We all like you for you, not the game you play!

ND-yr8bg: Analysing each line of the story to scrutinise it or try to convince yourself you agree with it is never going to let you enjoy the story. You’re viewing this story from a lense you’ve never applied to other story’s, like tww or other ffxiv msqs and it’s setting yourself up for disappointment. Maybe just experience the story first, then go over it with a critical lense afterwards. idk man

Zasurein: People never complained that nobody recognized Graha because of his hood

cherryindil8869: It was annoying how chat tried tell that WOL didn't had hourglass with them there xD and literally last scene confirmed that we keep obviously key still in our care.

amsaa91: >boring main msq

>but good ass combat content

>fun raids

>post game msq saved by best girl

Dawntrail never beating the Stormblood 2.0 allegations

jordansellars4872: Jesus Christ these comments…yall it’s ok if she doesn’t share the same opinion as you when it comes to this story. I promise she, you, and 14 will be fine. Hit your inhalers and relax. sheesh.

YvaanAvesna: Theory: Calyx is going to turn the populace on the WoL.

The reason the person in the Outskirts dusted is because Calyx siphoned every ounce of aether from the corpse, until it dusted, to use for sustaining Endless. He then attacked the people of Solution 9 to restoke the fear of the death they all have.

His next move is likely going to be to tell everyone “The WoL has, in his possession, the key needed to allow all of you to become Endless but won’t give it up.” And everyone is gonna turn on us.

JL-GHK: Yeah the opinion about the concealed identity thing feels like a nitpick out of spite.

OuchXXI: Don't you just love how piggy magic is the cure all to everything? Evil mastermind shota uses fomo... it's super effective.

ChannelRaznoff: Imagine thinking someone in the main cast is going to die post Heavensward......

No, the team has been caught in the same loop since Stormblood. Bait main cast deaths constantly while killing nameless civilians for cheap shock value. We have one shocking death since Heavensward, and it's only because of the way it was shown in the beginning of Shadowbringers. I can't wait for us to get the final dungeon that is the memories of Calyx right before the final trial where we fight him like the last 4-5 antagonist we've had.......

kylestewart2829: The glazers are here to defend the bad story

Gortash: Please just stop with FFXIV until 8.0, you keep repeating the same stuff again and again. Maybe then you will find new topics to talk about

LobsterFusion: When I played this and Sphene was on her tour, I was under the impression everyone recognized her. But they saw the hoody and were respecting her wish for anonymity.

Apr 07 2025

Buy FFXIV GIL