Feedback Regarding the Relic Upgrade Quest

[Moirear]

The book stage at least allows you to progress; at your own pace.

Actually, the Trials of the Braves are almost as bad, because they require you to complete 3 specific FATEs each (so 27 in total) that are buried beneath other FATEs in the areas, meaning you have to grind more FATEs after the Atma grind, and have to be lucky to be in time for them to pop AND get gold AND succeed in them, furthermore made tricky if they're in areas like Coerthas or Mor Dhona where people aren't FATE-grinding for Atma and you basically have to solo them, not on a job of your choosing but with the one you're upgrading the relic for.

Funny, that.

[Ryuko]

The way I see it, the Zodiac (Relic upgrade) quest is serving two distinct purposes for SE.

First: it is forcing a 'cap' on how fast we can progress -- similar to the Hamlet grind in 1.0. It will take players who don't have forever and a day to spend in the game several weeks to even get to the atma stage, and that's before the books.

Second: it is putting life into all of the zones, conveniently at the same time as PS4 launch. Not only are you required to grind in ALMOST every zone for your atma, but you are also required to return to these areas when you are at the book stage. You'll need to wait for a specific FATE, so you'll help clear the other FATEs to get YOUR specific one. Newer players will have an easier time leveling, and the servers will look and feel active -- just like how they were when the game ORIGINALLY launched. And, finally, dungeons: one dungeon is 'hard' while the other two are low level. Once again, SE offers a reward for helping out newer players.

If I had to guess, I think the atma/upgrade phase of this quest will be adjusted within a few months, to make way for the next 'stage' of the upgrade that hasn't been released yet. I think the most likely way they will adjust this is by drastically increasing the droprate of atma (which is rumored to be anywhere between 2.5 to 5% at the moment).

I'm currently on book two, and I'm already feeling a little bit exhausted... but eh, this is meant to be lengthy and I probably will slowly upgrade at my own pace after I finish my first three mainstat books.

[ArcFinix]

Literally every single person complaining about atmas falls into at least one of 3 categories. 1) Grinding needs a set goal no matter how high it is (which I'm sure if the system was that way they'd complain about that too). 2) This is the be all, end all weapon and I want it. 3) I don't have the time for this, or the group for Levi/Coil. I will address each of these.

1) Top down action RPGs like Diablo and Path of Exile, by this argument, should be the least popular games ever and not sell at all. Top tier loot is based entirely on RNG, and that's all the game has. No other progression options. But these are some of the most popular RPGs today.

2) Allagan will always be slightly better or equal to Relic. Invest your time into coil (btw, c2 turns 1 and 2 can be done in i90, fyi) and get that. Might take the same amount of time to get an i115 weapon as it does fate grinding, and its better. Which leads to......

1) those are action RPG, u are smashing and killing with a few buttons and maybe avoid some aoes... of course with lots of loots with a chance of best gear or better gear.. this is fate farming that.. u do nothing but spam 1 button and spam another 1 button maybe..

2) some ppl are collector or just wanna have a personal achievement.. yes allagan is better so what? levi weapon is better so what? they just want to get everything for show? don't need to teach ppl how they want to progress..

3) i don't have time to play a grind game that is unfair.. but i have time to enjoy a mmo.. time is not yours to decide..

[Dox]

THIS IS MADNESS!

...this is SPARTA! aah I mean this is FFXI! oops this is FFXIV ARR,

I changed my mind...

this is indeed: MADNESS!

[Eardstapa]

Quite a few Animus pictures are popping up now. Lucky people, I tell ya heh.

[SublimeIbanez]

This is the crux of the problem right here. Finishing the Atma grind isn't an accomplishment because it's 100% luck, your effort is not rewarded proportionally. The feeling you get when you finish it isn't accomplishment, it's relief that you're finally finished and don't have to do this thankless, endless grinding anymore. The Animus upgrades, however, your effort is rewarded proportionally, so it is an accomplishment to finish. The goal is clear-cut and you are guaranteed to make progress every time you set out to do so.

I don't get a rush of accomplishment when I see an Atma drop. It's pure relief that I can check off another zone from the list.

THIS! I've been grinding for about 56 hours in total now with 8/12 to show for it. All this while a ton of people from my FC already have their Atma and are a book or two into the next phase. Where does this make sense? Why do games constantly try to reintroduce hashed versions of the skinner box effect?

[ROOTFayth]

lol @ 100% luck, drops being randomized is the only way someone who is not good at games will get to feel somewhat special for getting his loots, otherwise they'd have to make the content very hard and people would still be whining

whine away

[darkstarpoet1]

THIS! I've been grinding for about 56 hours in total now with 8/12 to show for it. All this while a ton of people from my FC already have their Atma and are a book or two into the next phase. Where does this make sense? Why do games constantly try to reintroduce hashed versions of the skinner box effect?

took me over 100 hours to get mine, but i'm glad it's something to work towards and am enjoying the quest.

[Vahlnir]

THIS! I've been grinding for about 56 hours in total now with 8/12 to show for it. All this while a ton of people from my FC already have their Atma and are a book or two into the next phase. Where does this make sense? Why do games constantly try to reintroduce hashed versions of the skinner box effect?

I think their intention was to give us a casual grind. However, some have taken it up in a hardcore way. That is the only problem I see, personally. I've been grinding it regularly but not till I want to bash my head against the wall. If it gets boring or tedious I go do other things or log off and take a break.

[SublimeIbanez]

I think their intention was to give us a casual grind. However, some have taken it up in a hardcore way. That is the only problem I see, personally. I've been grinding it regularly but not till I want to bash my head against the wall. If it gets boring or tedious I go do other things or log off and take a break.

As do I, which is why I'm only at 56 hours instead of what it possibly could be. I'm not here to complain about the grind, but rather the RNG element being a lazy implementation. The quest in itself is rather lazy, but it gives me something to do, all that needs to be changed is how the atmas drop, instead of rng there should be a set progression.