Recently returned but having trouble getting into post 99 content, please advise ...

[Olor]

Help your RL friend get up to level 99, you'll have a way easier time duoing stuff than soloing it, just gotta find the right set up with trusts that work for you both - but trust DPS sucks so having a RL player to help you with DPS is going to be really key to getting anything done. Try to get your friend up ASAP - power level them in escha zitah if you can and they are willing - and then do some escha NMs during the trust 50% +MP +HP campaign as that will increase your chances. Even if your friend has awful gear it's going to be better than a trust DPS.

You both should check out if there are any unity NMs that drop half decent accessories and stuff for your characters - there is a good accuracy back that isn't too hard to get for example. Also ambuscade has job specific capes that can be augmented with whatever you need, so it's worth doing even if that month's gear set isn't something you need ASAP.

Also be sure to do alluvion skirmish there is really good stuff there and the upcoming campaign will make it pretty easy to get pick ups because the stones are worth quite a bit still. Worth using your copper vouchers to get obsidian fragments or w/e and buying the pops and offering free pops while doing the book. I've found it not too hard to find people to join up if you pay for the pop set. If you're on book your gear doesn't matter. My advice is if things start to look even a tiny bit bad KEY - better to stop a run too soon and still get stuff then to lose everything. In my experience that will ruin a run the fastest... hopefully you have a lot of vouchers cause running book on [A] skirmish will eat your fragments up real quick, but it's a great way to get some good gear drops - especially since most people who will join your run will probably have the base gear and be looking for stones. Though Taeon (which you need) tends to be the most popular (because it's the best of the sets).

Really though if you can work with a friend you're going to have a way easier time. Unfortunately pick ups are the least friendly for returning folks that I've ever seen them - and LSes don't tend to invest in members really. So, you're best bet is to try to find other folks in the same situation and work together to advance. Good luck!