Actually usually about three of the missions linked together and the others were like sidequests, standard in an MMO. You can say though that 80% of stories in anything are basic these days. It's the first in what's a planned series, and just like with Halo the story will get more depth as the series expands. Maybe you had too high of expectations and are blinded by that. The story is there, contrary to what so many try to claim, and the cards are a nice way of giving those that care a way to immerse themselves in the universe without pissing off those that don't care. I hope for book to expand the series for those of us that care enough to actually read things and know that the future series will only build. I also personally like earning the cards as you aren't just handed knowledge but play to get it. But that might just be me. I love reading the cards, which sometimes tell stories that can only be told in text and be able to read them on my phone while not sitting at me Xbox but I'm itching to play the game. I can support wanting a way to access them in game but personally I'd hate it. I love reading a card while waiting to be matched up for a Roc strike or waiting for all six of a raid group to join. They're also nice and short unlike codex entries from Dragon Age which are just so much text and too much time out of the action. If I had an app to read those on id be happy as a claim.