[2022] The Zamorakian Civil War story has been disappointing

Originally posted by yuei2

When I first heard of the civil war story, I truly expected it to be an entirely new story-arch that would span multiple quests.

I think maybe going in your expectations were not really...considering the reality of things? When it was announced we knew from the start it was only a 6 month story, and that of the 6 months the first update would be an epilogue to the EGW narrative in ED4/Aftermath and that it would be the month after that which starts the new storyline proper.

So it's really a 5 month story and with that in mind you were never getting more than 3 quests at its best case scenario, and even 3 quests would be a new quest almost every month which wasn't happening with how much more time consuming quests are to create. We're talking like a 3-4 month turn around now so 2 quests were pretty much all we were getting, the civil war narrative wrapper miniquests were essentially just a bonus.

We'd go on adventures for/with the Zamorakians 'and' the demons. We'd get to experience more of the stories, and figure out how this war affects the participants.

Coulda been cool, again was never happening in the outlined time frame there just isn't enough time and the god stuff has been dragged out long enough as it is that it be a mistake to draw out what is ultimately an inconsequential battle.

Like that's the thing here, imagine we spend like a whole year or more on this and the end is "it doesn't matter because Moia took out both competitors and claimed her position of power". That's not a twist that make people happy, drawing it out would be a waste of our time. It was a war K'ril had no chance to win long term, but it had to happen because no way his character would have done anything else. So instead the war is a backdrop to how Moia rises up creating a situation where she would get to enslave a key demon that would give her the leverage she needs to usurp. While also creating environment so insufferable it finally make her snap.

So they were upfront the war isn't the key thing, Moia is. The first quest of the new storyline is called "Daughter of Chaos" highlighting her importance. It's opening cutscene pretty much says "a civil war is going on, but it doesn't matter because that's good for us as it means nothing we need to deal with is happening until it's over. However Moia is the actual dangerous wild card, not the war and their leaders, go meet with her and see if she can be reasoned with".

Like basically you were focusing on the backdrop rather than what the game was saying was the actual plot.

As for how it would affect people the answer is it really wouldn't, as the quest highlighted. The zamorakians are trying to keep the civil war contained and away so they don't draw attention to their enemies, Moia only got on the radar because she murdered some innocent guards near the border. No one in lumbridge is going to care what's going on in the wilderness it's miles and miles and miles away. Maybe there could be hypothetical border towns affect, but since they don't exist in-game there is no good way to do it. Adrasteia's most powerful comment about the war being over was "pitty I'd hope their squabbling would last long enough to not impede my party" which sums up how much the war was a non-factor.

Originally posted by BoltonCavalry

I appreciate you taking the time to have your say!

As you say, it seems that something was lost in translation when it came to setting out what this intermediary plot is supposed to be.

I like the idea you have of the Infernal Puzzlebox actually being a part of the story, rather than just something that has bonuses magically put on it as you complete content. The Enriched Shadow Ring, for example, changed as it got more unlocks, whether it be by crafting it through archaeology or enriching it with energy from Erebus. Here, perhaps, completing the requirements for a tier unlocks a new face of the box and, by extension, the relevant tier perk. Then, the “completed” puzzle box has something of relevance to the quest finale (I’m not sure what that would be).