why would they change it, every stage has been a victory lap.
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Depressing but expected.
Even the first step of Bozja had a solo instance and a pseudo-trial attached to it. Even if we're only comparing first steps of relics, this is a new low.
First steps of ARR: Multiple steps were released in the patch, even in the first step we got two trials
First steps of HW: 3 steps were released in the first patch. They reused old content (FATEs, dungeons, hunts, GC seals, crafting, tomes) but it was a significantly longer grind and it also had far more variety.
First step of SB: Anemos, which is an entire exploratory zone.
First step of ShB: A solo instance, a trial, and even an EX trial
First step of EW: 1500 tomes...
If you boil down the old system (grinding old content) it's pretty much the same system we have now. Let's dispense with all pretenses here, both systems were in effect tomestone grinds. The difference here is that instead of forcing you to do 60 Garuda HMs or A1s, you can farm ANY content that gives tomes, giving you the freedom to farm your relic in any method. Again, old content for previous relics were technically things that would be relative to that expansion that dropped basic tomes. Like in HW, you had to do HW content to get Light, so you would spam content for it. Here, you are still farming EW duties except instead of another currency called "light", its just a general currency called tomes. it's literally an improvement. Same grind, just now a common currency and freedom to do any relevant content instead of being forced into spamming 60 Zodiarks or 60 Hydaelyns.
I think one thing most players overlook with the new system:
Old relic grinds are considered 'content' in later expansions, what will the Manderville relics be, when everyone has them finished before 7.0 because they are an absolute joke?
What is Endwalker leaving behind in terms of 'replayable content' that people will do in later years?