I suppose I should grant you all a proper introduction.

I am Altani Khatayin, of the Khatayin Tribe of the Xaela of the Azim Steppe.
I grew up hunting goats in the mountains. Several years ago I was struck with a wanderlust I could not explain, and I left the Steppe to seek adventure. (Do not worry, I told my family and friends that I was leaving.) Each year, during the time of year when my people come down from the mountains to enjoy the fruits of the hunt, I go back to my homeland to be with them.

My wanderings brought me to Kugane, where I stayed a while, and from there I sailed to Eorzea. I sought there the Lancer's Guild in Gridania. There, I studied the ways of the lance. With time and dedication, I like to think I became one of the most accomplished dragoons of our time.

Some have called me "stubborn" and "bullheaded". Some have said "fearsome" and "awe-inspiring". They are not wrong. I do not give down in a fight unless there is none of me left to fight with.

I do not have a reputation for being a people person. I hope to get better at that.

she's a normal height

The Dragon's Dogma 2 drama has been unyielding - whether it's outrage over misconceptions about its monetization strategy, anger at its "lazy developers only including one save file," or the Dragonsplague being a "game breaking mechanic" by players half-paying attention to tutorial prompts, every single thing I have heard about the game from The Discourse has been negative. Heated. Aghast that such a product would have the audacity to exist.

And yet playing the game I find it's more or less exactly what I expected - a poorly optimized but otherwise sprawling title that merges both Japanese and Western traditions of CRPGs with an engagingly deep combat system, lots of actual expressive space, a ton of work on its Pawn NPC system, and a lot of friction that pushes back against players in the best possible way. It's not without its flaws and frustrations (good lord, the framerate hit in Vernwroth. And if I have to hear about how my entire adventuring party is women one more time I'm gonna lose it). But, broadly speaking, I'm having a wonderful time with it. It's surprised and delighted me several times over the few hours I've explored its world.

Which is weird, right? The discourse is nothing but how much this game sucks, but it's all pretty thoroughly disconnected from whether the game is any good or not.

i am worried that i have done a lot of injustices to myself the last month or so in the name of being as fair as i can to others