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

[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.