FFXIV has always struggled with quest/MSQ design, but Dawntrail is on another level. There are HOURS of non-stop cutscenes and dialogues with zero gameplay in between. Talk to NPC > cutscene plays > NPC > cutscene... And when they finally throw at you something to do, you need to carry boxes, pick up things from the ground or talk to even more people. This is just embarrassing.
At least in case of previous expansions you were interested in the story, the characters were more interesting, dialogues better - it was bearable. DT is so full of useless filler that it could have been easily cut in half with no impact on the story. They drag things so much you are just begging for it to end because you already got the point after reading the first line of dialogue. But no, there will be 30 more saying the same thing over and over again, because they treat you like a clueless child who needs every single thing to be explained in 10 different ways.
And don't let me start about all the "funny scenes" and "jokes" that only make you cringe (because apparently adults are not the target audience of Dawntrail).
Seriously, each time I right click an NPC, I am scared it will play a cutscene.

I am aware FFXIV has more to offer than the Main Scenario Quests - for instance trials and dungeons seem to be very well done in DT, even better than in previous expansions - but MSQ is still an essential, mandatory part of the game, which is supposed to make you care about the world, the characters, the bosses you fight. If it fails to do that, other parts of the game suffer as well.

FFXIV has always struggled with quest/MSQ design, but Dawntrail is on another level. There are HOURS of non-stop cutscenes and dialogues with zero gameplay in between. Talk to NPC > cutscene plays > NPC > cutscene... And when they finally throw at you something to do, you need to carry boxes, pick up things from the ground or talk to even more people. This is just embarrassing. At least in case of previous expansions you were interested in the story, the characters were more interesting, dialogues better - it was bearable. DT is so full of useless filler that it could have been easily cut in half with no impact on the story. They drag things so much you are just begging for it to end because you already got the point after reading the first line of dialogue. But no, there will be 30 more saying the same thing over and over again, because they treat you like a clueless child who needs every single thing to be explained in 10 different ways. And don't let me start about all the "funny scenes" and "jokes" that only make you cringe (because apparently adults are not the target audience of Dawntrail). Seriously, each time I right click an NPC, I am scared it will play a cutscene. I am aware FFXIV has more to offer than the Main Scenario Quests - for instance trials and dungeons seem to be very well done in DT, even better than in previous expansions - but MSQ is still an essential, mandatory part of the game, which is supposed to make you care about the world, the characters, the bosses you fight. If it fails to do that, other parts of the game suffer as well.