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[ ffxiv patch 5.3 reaction post ] SPOILERS
It’s been a couple of days and I think I have my head wrapped around everything.
Or at least mostly.
Natsuko Ishikawa, thank you. Thank you for this wonderful, beautiful story from start to finish. The ending to 5.0 blew me away last year and now 5.3 has reduced me to crying so much I was certain I was going to dehydrate while my heart nearly burst from joy over the ending. As far as stories go, Shadowbringers has easily topped it as the best of the expansions for me.
Soken did not need to go that hard on the trial music but he sure as hell did and I love it.
The Heroes’ Guantlet dungeon was an absolute blast and is quite possibly my favorite dungeon of this expansion, knocking Amaurot to second place. The NPC interactions with your team as you travel from Eulmore to the Crystarium filled me with so much hype. (Isn’t it so nice to stand in the frog aoe and NOT be turned into a frog?). Especially at the last leg of the dungeon, between the second and final boss when the role quest NPCs join up with your group. Also, shout out to Giott for using the monk LB3 to one shot the Spectral Paladin. Actual best girl. Side note: please let us have Necromancer job okay bye.
The Seat of Sacrifice is also tied with The Dying Gasp for favorite trial of the expansion because it was so full of story and character elements, it was almost overwhelming. Easily my favorite aspect of it was the limit break bar mechanic that Elidibus was using. Not to mention the summoning of spectrals of the different jobs to cast specific abilities. Starting off with True Living Dead on the entire party? Sure did scare the heck out of me. It was just so much fun recognizing all of the attacks that were tied to specific jobs. And the best element? It looks to be that if a DPS uses LB3 when Elidibus is above 10% he uses True Hollow Ground and if that isn't the biggest "fuck you, git gud" then I don't know what is.
Thank you for all of the delicious lore that was deposited onto us. We have a name. We know our seat on the convocation. We have always been an adventurer. The stones with the constellations and the dialogue bits from each of the convocation members were so good. We were fed so well this patch when it came to story and I could not be happier. I only hope we'll continue to learn about our past with future patches.
Now, ever since 5.0 originally ended, one of my biggest fears was that they would bring Emet-Selch back and essentially ruin his story that had come to a solid close. I say this as massive fan of the character: he doesn’t need to come back for a redemption arc. His character story had come to an end and it was perfect. Leave him to chill in the life stream. Now, having said that? I am over the moon how he is still involved in the story without having to bring him back completely. Now I’m still kind of foggy on the details because I was doing MSQ on one hour of sleep, but if I understood it correctly, it was him leaving the fruit gummies— I mean, the constellation stones of the convocation for your character to find. Not to mention that it seemed to be implied that he was the one to have created the stone for Azem (you). And then his assistance during the trial with Elidibus was just brilliant. I was yelling like a complete idiot (again, one hour of sleep) and losing my mind over seeing him again. You were someone important to him, whether it was romantic or platonic (for me, yes i ship Emet/WoL so you can bet i'll be wanting to rp Triss x Emet), that is up to the player to decide, and it makes his character even more compelling and complicated. This was the BEST possible way to have him resurface and be involved in the story at it's conclusion.
Elidibus made for an amazing character and I felt for him. He is up there with Emet-Selch for being a complicated character. The man was so concerned about the convocation that he pulled himself out of Zodiark to try and help them, but then everything went to shit. Seeing him so small and clinging to the stones hurt to see. His work had consumed him and he was too late to save his brethren. I'll need to re-watch some scenes again but god, this expansion made me care about the Ascians and it was done with a compelling story. I will say though, the instance he had us go through that was essentially a walk down memory lane, I was yelling so much because fuck. Fuck fuck fuuuuuck. My everything.
Special shout out to Hythlodaeus for just being the actual best. This gremlin is so good as not just having been good friends with Emet-Selch but also with you in the past. He was helping you to understand in his own way like an best friend would. I am going to miss seeing talking to him now that the story is over, unless they give us reason to come back later to which I say: PLEASE DO.
Lyna. Lyna, Lyna, Lyna. Just hearing the Exarch talk about the time he spent raising her and thanking her for believing in him, I was tearing up so much. Lyna needed to hear this. But this was also the last she would ever see of him. She had to say goodbye without saying in so many words to the parental figure in her life. And even after this, knowing this was the last time she would ever see him alive,she chose to continue keeping her faith in him and the choices he was making. If there was any character I wish we could have brought with us to the Source (other than Ryne that is), it was her.
The one scene I have seen that has emotionally ruined multiple players I have seen reaction clips of consistently is the one that delivers the biggest gut punch in the feels: Seto and Ardbert. Pretty sure I could feel my heart breaking when hearing the pain in Seto's voice as he apologized to Ardbert. Seto was the other character who I felt needed closure before the end of the main story and by god did it deliver. A boy and his friend amaro. Partners in crime forever. AND THAT FOREHEAD TOUCH. BABIES.
The Scions goodbyes were all heart felt and solid. Out of them all though, the one that stood out the most to me was Alphinaud saying goodbye to the Chais. This boy has come such a long way since ARR and this moment was a defining example of it. Hearing him explain himself, drawing comparison back to when he catastrophically fucked up with Crystal Braves, and then admiring the Chais for finding their footing so much faster than he was wonderful story telling. But what got me sobbing was Dulia's response. Just watching Alphinaud struggle not to cry, instead smiling to hold them back, just slay me now. Dulia is his mother for now and forever, don't at me. Also, Thancred giving Ryne his gunblade before leaving? I hope we get to see her learn how to use it and make her dad even more proud than he already is of her.
Now for a small mention: the look on Krile’s face when she realizes where your character is going? Love. Absolutely love that small, subtle expression. If there is one thing that I hope comes out of this ending it’s that we get more of Krile and G’raha’s relationship because their friendship is the one I want the most to be explored now that he is a scion.
And speaking of the cat: everyone I spoke with prior to the patch basically said the same as me and honestly. I am so glad that the story went this route. THIS was what I had wanted for Ysayle way back in Heavensward and admittedly, I am bitter about that. But there's been enough heartache from the story that I was relieved to see that G'raha has come back to us, now with the memories and soul combined with that of the Exarch's. This was the best possible outcome for his character and for that, I am thankful.
I have to end this reflection on one final note, the mention that matters the absolute most after everything has been said and done:
Alisae is a mood. ™
Or at least mostly.
Natsuko Ishikawa, thank you. Thank you for this wonderful, beautiful story from start to finish. The ending to 5.0 blew me away last year and now 5.3 has reduced me to crying so much I was certain I was going to dehydrate while my heart nearly burst from joy over the ending. As far as stories go, Shadowbringers has easily topped it as the best of the expansions for me.
Soken did not need to go that hard on the trial music but he sure as hell did and I love it.
The Heroes’ Guantlet dungeon was an absolute blast and is quite possibly my favorite dungeon of this expansion, knocking Amaurot to second place. The NPC interactions with your team as you travel from Eulmore to the Crystarium filled me with so much hype. (Isn’t it so nice to stand in the frog aoe and NOT be turned into a frog?). Especially at the last leg of the dungeon, between the second and final boss when the role quest NPCs join up with your group. Also, shout out to Giott for using the monk LB3 to one shot the Spectral Paladin. Actual best girl. Side note: please let us have Necromancer job okay bye.
The Seat of Sacrifice is also tied with The Dying Gasp for favorite trial of the expansion because it was so full of story and character elements, it was almost overwhelming. Easily my favorite aspect of it was the limit break bar mechanic that Elidibus was using. Not to mention the summoning of spectrals of the different jobs to cast specific abilities. Starting off with True Living Dead on the entire party? Sure did scare the heck out of me. It was just so much fun recognizing all of the attacks that were tied to specific jobs. And the best element? It looks to be that if a DPS uses LB3 when Elidibus is above 10% he uses True Hollow Ground and if that isn't the biggest "fuck you, git gud" then I don't know what is.
Thank you for all of the delicious lore that was deposited onto us. We have a name. We know our seat on the convocation. We have always been an adventurer. The stones with the constellations and the dialogue bits from each of the convocation members were so good. We were fed so well this patch when it came to story and I could not be happier. I only hope we'll continue to learn about our past with future patches.
Now, ever since 5.0 originally ended, one of my biggest fears was that they would bring Emet-Selch back and essentially ruin his story that had come to a solid close. I say this as massive fan of the character: he doesn’t need to come back for a redemption arc. His character story had come to an end and it was perfect. Leave him to chill in the life stream. Now, having said that? I am over the moon how he is still involved in the story without having to bring him back completely. Now I’m still kind of foggy on the details because I was doing MSQ on one hour of sleep, but if I understood it correctly, it was him leaving the fruit gummies— I mean, the constellation stones of the convocation for your character to find. Not to mention that it seemed to be implied that he was the one to have created the stone for Azem (you). And then his assistance during the trial with Elidibus was just brilliant. I was yelling like a complete idiot (again, one hour of sleep) and losing my mind over seeing him again. You were someone important to him, whether it was romantic or platonic (for me, yes i ship Emet/WoL so you can bet i'll be wanting to rp Triss x Emet), that is up to the player to decide, and it makes his character even more compelling and complicated. This was the BEST possible way to have him resurface and be involved in the story at it's conclusion.
Elidibus made for an amazing character and I felt for him. He is up there with Emet-Selch for being a complicated character. The man was so concerned about the convocation that he pulled himself out of Zodiark to try and help them, but then everything went to shit. Seeing him so small and clinging to the stones hurt to see. His work had consumed him and he was too late to save his brethren. I'll need to re-watch some scenes again but god, this expansion made me care about the Ascians and it was done with a compelling story. I will say though, the instance he had us go through that was essentially a walk down memory lane, I was yelling so much because fuck. Fuck fuck fuuuuuck. My everything.
Special shout out to Hythlodaeus for just being the actual best. This gremlin is so good as not just having been good friends with Emet-Selch but also with you in the past. He was helping you to understand in his own way like an best friend would. I am going to miss seeing talking to him now that the story is over, unless they give us reason to come back later to which I say: PLEASE DO.
Lyna. Lyna, Lyna, Lyna. Just hearing the Exarch talk about the time he spent raising her and thanking her for believing in him, I was tearing up so much. Lyna needed to hear this. But this was also the last she would ever see of him. She had to say goodbye without saying in so many words to the parental figure in her life. And even after this, knowing this was the last time she would ever see him alive,she chose to continue keeping her faith in him and the choices he was making. If there was any character I wish we could have brought with us to the Source (other than Ryne that is), it was her.
The one scene I have seen that has emotionally ruined multiple players I have seen reaction clips of consistently is the one that delivers the biggest gut punch in the feels: Seto and Ardbert. Pretty sure I could feel my heart breaking when hearing the pain in Seto's voice as he apologized to Ardbert. Seto was the other character who I felt needed closure before the end of the main story and by god did it deliver. A boy and his friend amaro. Partners in crime forever. AND THAT FOREHEAD TOUCH. BABIES.
The Scions goodbyes were all heart felt and solid. Out of them all though, the one that stood out the most to me was Alphinaud saying goodbye to the Chais. This boy has come such a long way since ARR and this moment was a defining example of it. Hearing him explain himself, drawing comparison back to when he catastrophically fucked up with Crystal Braves, and then admiring the Chais for finding their footing so much faster than he was wonderful story telling. But what got me sobbing was Dulia's response. Just watching Alphinaud struggle not to cry, instead smiling to hold them back, just slay me now. Dulia is his mother for now and forever, don't at me. Also, Thancred giving Ryne his gunblade before leaving? I hope we get to see her learn how to use it and make her dad even more proud than he already is of her.
Now for a small mention: the look on Krile’s face when she realizes where your character is going? Love. Absolutely love that small, subtle expression. If there is one thing that I hope comes out of this ending it’s that we get more of Krile and G’raha’s relationship because their friendship is the one I want the most to be explored now that he is a scion.
And speaking of the cat: everyone I spoke with prior to the patch basically said the same as me and honestly. I am so glad that the story went this route. THIS was what I had wanted for Ysayle way back in Heavensward and admittedly, I am bitter about that. But there's been enough heartache from the story that I was relieved to see that G'raha has come back to us, now with the memories and soul combined with that of the Exarch's. This was the best possible outcome for his character and for that, I am thankful.
I have to end this reflection on one final note, the mention that matters the absolute most after everything has been said and done:
Alisae is a mood. ™