Raise your item level to 119 by completing a tutorial quest!

[Selindrile]

Back in the days of 75 the difference between 75 gear and amazing 75 gear was 1-3 stat difference, ability modifier and/or a aftermath effect. But even still the difference was there but not to the extreme effect they are now. When you have i119 gear with a difference of 10-20 or even higher on stats that is a whole new level of gear.

Uh.... a lot more than 1-3 stat points different, very often, Ridill, Joyeuse, Hagun, Kraken Club, Maneater, Juggernaut, Relics, Mythics, etc etc etc, I've got gripes about some of the changes, and felt like iLevel could've been implemented better, but some weapons dwarfing others and specific ones being stand out obvious best is really nothing new, in fact I feel like people do have MORE options for endgame weapons and armor than they used to, rather than one clear winner always, I've got my gripes (don't even get me started on random augments), but, I feel like there are at least a few exceptional options on almost any given peice for the most part, rather than one "must-have" like the old days.

[OmnysValefor]

Uh.... a lot more than 1-3 stat points different, very often, Ridill, Joyeuse, Hagun, Kraken Club, Maneater, Juggernaut, Relics, Mythics, etc etc etc, I've got gripes about some of the changes, and felt like iLevel could've been implemented better, but some weapons dwarfing others and specific ones being stand out obvious best is really nothing new, in fact I feel like people do have MORE options for endgame weapons and armor than they used to, rather than one clear winner always, I've got my gripes (don't even get me started on random augments), but, I feel like there are at least a few exceptional options on almost any given peice for the most part, rather than one "must-have" like the old days.

A strong point.

There was AH-buyable level 75 gear that was terrible, there were the old abjurations, there was Sky drops (Byakko's Haidate), there was Relic, Relic +1, Sea gear (Homam <3, torques, ws torques).

There was Aht Urgan gear, ZNM gear, and so many other things.

Most of that stuff had the same number on it, "75", but 75 was representing our level, just as 119 represents a level. The problem of course is a Delve II'd 119 player isn't remotely comparable to someone in full 119 from Escha Ru'Aun.

So as stated earlier in the thread, and other threads, a lot of people see their average ilvl is 119 and think they're ready for the hardest content in the game. Higher gear really needs a higher ilvl so as not to confuse people.

All the gear saying 119 on it leaves the reponsibility on other players to tell each other the truth. It sucks.

[Olor]

Back in the days of 75 the difference between 75 gear and amazing 75 gear was 1-3 stat difference, ability modifier and/or a aftermath effect. But even still the difference was there but not to the extreme effect they are now. When you have i119 gear with a difference of 10-20 or even higher on stats that is a whole new level of gear.

Yes, this is the problem and it means the content is too stratified so if you fall behind there is almost no way to catch up.

[Catmato]

Unless they make certain JAs, like Composure, not accessible via subjob, like NIN JAs, I don't see that working.

That sounds remarkably like 2010 all over again.

You are right about having to redo all the item level gear.

[Pixela]

If you are in Escha Ruan and kill a mob you can cap XP at around 6.3k per kill with a 119 weapon/armor, if you have a weapon/armor that has no ilevel you get around 2.2k Not sure what it is for a 117 weapon but it's still a horrible disability that should not exist, the people who need more xp are not the ones decked out.

[OmnysValefor]

I have now started living as a level 99 player again, waved goodbye to all ilvl gear, equipped with level 65-99 equipment only.

[...]

While ilvl was intended for SoA and later high level areas, the fact that you can use ilvl in old areas too, meant that people did that.

And the result for me at least, was that battling previously fierce NMs became like bullying a really weak baby mob, it actually feels like bullying the poor frightened NM. I don't want NMs to be frightened of me, I want them to be angry and filled with potential to kill me. I don't want 90% of Vana to be full of NMs and mobs that I am basically bullying, I'm not a bully by nature, and I like a fair fight!

The old game does feel like paper. Even adoulin stuff like Delve and Delve II fee like paper in "119" gear, but you can hardly expect people to carry their old gearsets around either.

[Stompa]

The old game does feel like paper. Even adoulin stuff like Delve and Delve II fee like paper in "119" gear, but you can hardly expect people to carry their old gearsets around either.

No, my own choice to /toss my ilvl gear and go retro 99.0 is my own personal choice, only.

I do not ask SE to change anything, nor do I ask any other players to understand my reasons, or to follow my slightly wobbly footprints in the sand.

Why I am still posting here, and talking about this, is because I know a lot of players who did quit FFXI in 2013~ because they felt ilvl killed a lot of the old areas, and made all jobs a bit too OP. And so I am just here to say, I didn't quit FFXI, I am having a lot of fun playing 99.0 retro game. I'm rocking Meebles gear, MMM gear, VW gear, NNI gear, Magians - all my favourite gears!

If you are one of those people who felt that ilvl was a bit too Hammer Time, you can still find a balance and enjoy the old game areas and old content. You don't have to quit, lol. There's a lot of old areas NMs that are fun to solo on 99.0. and a lot of content that is fun and exciting without ilvl.

I also know people who went retro 75, and locked a new character at 75, using Merits as a lock. They play all the old 75 era stuff. That's cool and all, but I chose to go retro 99.0 because I like the versatility that 99 brings, and the areas it opens up for solo/lowman. I just felt that 119 was too much, and it made me feel like I was a bad person when I kill Lilith Ascendant in 3 seconds. She takes 25~ minutes in 99.0 gear, and she dishes out the punishment too lol.

[CrAZYVIC]

I think square enix its killing the progression of the gear badly.

As returned player one month ago i had a "Way" to Follow and i was enjoying this path until ambuscade.

Returning player objectives

1.- Get ILV117 Sparks gear
2.- Get Reforged AF +1, RELIC +1 and Empy +1 then play Best Slow Item with this 3 sets
3.- Get Oboro weapon
4.- Play Skirmish and Escha.

They introduced ambuscade oh wait.... Ares set +1 made obsolete 95% of the gear in the game, for DRG,DRK,WAR and PLD. This gear Have Acu/Attack and damage taken reduction on, Ares set +1 its a bit Behind of Perfect augment gear in the game.

I hope this ILV119 Sparks ver 2 set its at level of AF+1 and Nothing more.

[Pixela]

We just went from "FFXI will get no more content at all" to " content will continue, with a smaller dev team" and you want them to do something as massive an undertaking as increasing the level cap or something?

How about we leave the system as it is and not do any of that?