#{ but to me Stormblood is a rougher expansion and it could been so much better and I really want that betterment for it }

[voidsentprinces]

Having gotten through the Rite of Succession arc of Dawntrail. I feel like, Stormblood really did itself a disservice by dividing it between Ala Mhigo and Doma. We could of gotten an expansion this strong for Lyse to grow into being a leader of the Revolution had they maintained focus and stuck with the regions of Ala Mhigo. How Garlemald's reign effects each region and understanding the history. By giving us an "Oh shit, you're not suppose to be able to free Ala Mhigo yet" 12% through and then sending us trouncing around Kugane, the Ruby Sea, Doma, and the Azim Steppe for 65% of the story. Before sending us back to Ala Mhigo and padding the ever loving shit out of the last 23% of the story. Really makes me angry, that Lyse didn't get the shot she could of had that Wuk is for Dawntrail.

It was not done right, in my eyes. And the improvement from Shadowbringers and Endwalkers narrative learning has shown me what they could of done with Stormblood. Which feels as rough around the edges as A Realm Reborn. And every time they bring back a character from Stormblood. They don't seem to really know what to do with them or they're caught in the condensced roughness of a Post-Patch where no one really gets to shine. Not even an Arc villain like Elidibus who mostly accomplishes everything off screen. (Though I imagine thats because of COVID so another example is Golbez just kind of being a nothing burger)

She should of gotten it similarly, Conrad or Meffrid should been allowed to slowly bring her to the larger regions of Ala Mhigo in its entirety. Learn of its people and beast tribes living in the realm and how they reflect on their relationship with the Mad King's reign, the uprising that followed, and how they have functioned for the last 20 years under Gaius's rule and how the recent arrival of Zenos and the increased presence of Fordola and her Skulls have oppressed them further.

But, Void, that would mean Doma would of had to wait for another expansion.

I hear you, but you know how Yoshi P is big about the sky as influence for a story? Well Stormblood was suppose to be colored by the afternoon and you know what comes between Stormblood's afternoon and Shadowbringer's night? Dusk. Doma could of been fully explored and realized with the addition of either larger Othard or Dalmasca as a point where we throw off Varis and fight him properly with Zenos defeated at the end of Stormblood. We could of still had Bozja which would continue our march to free regions from Garlean rule. This would of still allowed them to save Hingashi for later expansions as they seem to want to. And Dusk is the time between the nights coming and the days loss. The House of the Fierce operating in shadows now free to wander in the remaining light left by the freeing of Ala Mhigo previously, without Zenos to cause issues. We could of fought Varis, Asahi, Yotsuyu, and Elidibus through this expansion.

Just as the war machine starts boiling to ahead with Ghimlyt Dark we carry onto Shadowbringers and Endwalker in a similar fashion. Just as the world begins to ready to fully face off against the Garlean Capital. A new world is endangered by the revival of Emperor Solus who is, of course, Emet-Selch starting machinations in the First. We carry on as we do and of course, we never get to march on Garlemald because Zenos eventually reclaims his body, kills Varis, banishes Elidibus who we defeat on the First and Garlemald collapses in on itself.

It would of also of granted the Twins a wider area to bounce off of and with when they eventually bring what they've learned from Dawntrail back to the remnants of Garlemald and let them proceed wherever they're going with that.

But, hey, hindsight is 20/20 as they say. I just wish Lyse had gotten a better chance as Wuk Lamat and Erenville are getting cause...boy...Stormblood is ROUGH and Dawntrail is showing how far its grown to pull a similar arc with a similar character. Though I will admit that Dawntrail has the benefit of letting us explore each character in an era of long peace and not one of oppression and strife. So what do I know, eh?