Not sure where to start gearing.

[Legionius]

I started as a 50 Blm trying to gear up in mixed af/70hq crafted pieces. While I didn't have many issues doing with dungeons at all, I had a lot of issues with people bashing my gear/hp even in content I had already downed. I got tired of it and went back to leveling my War in hopes that higher geared people would shift away from entry content.

My issue is now that I've hit 50 again, I'm sitting at Ilvl 54/5800hp with the daily low level roulette being the only thing I can complete without having to deal with people bashing a new 50. I tried random story mode twice as a new tank and people weren't even willing to see how it went before the complaints started. I have no idea what else I can do to speed up gearing and unfortunately guides, DF list and so on are very vague when it comes to tanking ilvl and when to start doing which dungeons.

Is there somewhere I can start where people wont get upset as often about me not having coil gear? Where would you start the process?

[Sessurea]

Crystal tower maybe. The ilvl 80 equips from there are good enough for most content, and you get a nice amount of myth tomes to buy ilvl 90 gear while you're at it. You could just keep all the tomes until u have maybe 3 pieces of CT gear, then buy the remaining body parts with the Myth tomes. Don't be tempted to buy jewellery with the myth tomes before you have the left side of your equip window all at least ilvl 80-90.

I think its a better idea to gear the BLM, as being an ilvl 55 tank partied with i90+ party members could be tricky? I don't know anything about tanking but that's my assumption. It's very little problem to do a dungeon with a fresh 50 dps, but its a lot harder with a fresh 50 tank accompanying party members with high dps. . However, you could also go CT on your tank and not take tanking roles with high responsibility. Another option would be to roll on tank equips in CT while on the BLM.

[Legionius]

Makes sense. Just sounds really slow with blm queue times and the flack thrown at a new dps. Blm does seem a lot easier to play and hide in the back of the pack though. I'll probably end up bouncing between the two once I figure out which dungeons War can handle.

Did just get Main Story roulette done so I can replace a grey belt. I made the jewelry mistake with my first two blm pieces because I apparently can't do simple math. Aside from belt, ill be sticking to main pieces this time around.

[JonBigwood]

Hi, the best places for fresh level 50 would be Low Level and Story Roulette, people shouldn't complain about your gear there, people who have not yet completed the story line can't be expected to be overgeared. Try to get the best gear you can afford. HQ wolf accesories are not expensive and are ilvl 55 and have good main stats.

The weapon is very important, I suppose you have at least ilvl 55 Grand Company or Darklight weapon. If not, I would become a Second Lieutenant and do Aurum Vale, it's not that hard and it's best to be second lieutenant in case in the future more ranks appear. Take a look if there are affordable HQ ilvl 55 gear if you need it.

When you have access, CT is a good place, it has good drops and gives many tomes. Don't become main tank for the dragon and go to a tower on Behemoth until you are confident. In CT you may be lucky or it may be chaos, depending on the group and the ability to communicate and coordinate.

WP, once you know the place, is also a good place to get gear (farm tomes, not drops). CT may take 1 hour, WP maybe 30 min in a non quick group. I have met many fresh 50 tanks or other jobs there, usually no big problems (before patch 2.2). Now there are other better ways to get myth tomes, people farm soldiery tomes first too, it may be that you don't meet that many overgeared people there and it is not as easy as it used to be. The incentive to farm myth tomes probably will make overgeared people do the roulettes too, so it may not be so different.

[Versiroth]

Honestly, just spam Crystal Tower. There are plenty of other tanks to MT, so your duties will be pretty easy. Also, on top of potentially gaining ilvl 80 tank gear, you'll be able to buy Myth gear every 4 or 5 runs thanks to the place dropping 100 myth per clear.

[ItaruKarin]

I'm going to hit my first lvl 50 on PLD this evening, and I'm honestly quite scared of what appear to be the general behaviour in endgame. I've never been max lvl on a mmo, and I've never had any problem during all the leveling phase, everyone was generally nice. But if what I can read on the forum is representative of the lvl 50 mentality... What's even the point?

I'm probably going to play anyway, just to check, but... Yeah, if I'm going to get bashed on my stuff every instance like OP apparently is, I don't even see the point in playing ._.

[Legionius]

I'm going to hit my first lvl 50 on PLD this evening, and I'm honestly quite scared of what appear to be the general behaviour in endgame

It's only about half the time at most and it's always about gear. It's generally not all 3 people, though that has happened. Since it's about gear it is possible, though frustrating, to get past. I don't want to crush anyone else's fun. You just have to be prepared for the dick move out of left field every now and then. You may never even have it happen if you have good luck with gear early on.

I manged to get into Crystal Tower this morning on my War after 40 minutes. It was fun as hell and very laid back. Oddly of the 24 people there only I was new(damn you mapping achievement.) The other tank in my group of the alliance was very helpful. Most people are either silent or complaining but, there occasionally are people who go out of their way to help and it makes it much more bearable.

Anyway for every two negative people and four silent people there is that one nice person who makes up for a lot of it without even knowing how much a little kind help is needed.

I've been though this in every MMO I've ever played to some degree but, this one has a structure that helps create a hostile environment for new players. People want speed runs because of the not hidden at all grind, listed Ilvl requirements are completely unreliable and the gap from new 50 to holding your own with geared players can seem very big at times.

I need to find a FC that isn't dead or dying. Most of the lively ones don't need to recruit so it's hard to figure out which ones are worth some time. That would probably cut it down significantly.

[CodeCass]

I've never been max lvl on a mmo, and I've never had any problem during all the leveling phase, everyone was generally nice. But if what I can read on the forum is representative of the lvl 50 mentality... What's even the point?

I'm probably going to play anyway, just to check, but... Yeah, if I'm going to get bashed on my stuff every instance like OP apparently is, I don't even see the point in playing ._.

I just hit capped myself the other night for the first time ever as well in an mmo and am having the same worry as you. Hope things folks on the Adamantoise server aren't as harsh.

[JonBigwood]

I forgot something: I think it is best to begin the relic quest soon, so that when you do Ifrit and Garuda HM you already fulfil the quest and don't have to repeat them later. If you happen to obtain the Garuda weapon, fine.

Do the quest without rush while you gear up, so that when you reach Titan HM you'll be nicely geared.

I wouldn't obsess farming Garuda, for Titan HM a tank with ilvl55 weapon with good gear is enough. King Mogle gives an ilvl 75 weapon, so you may do it while trying Titan for a change, in case Titan takes long.

Once you do Titan you'll have the relic.

[JonBigwood]

I just hit capped myself the other night for the first time ever as well in an mmo and am having the same worry as you. Hope things folks on the Adamantoise server aren't as harsh.

Most people are nice, I wouldn't worry too much. You find the same problems in easy places than in difficult ones.
Occasionally some rude player will appear, it's best to not give it much importance if you can. Also, listen to what people say, because you can learn from it, if many people say the same things, probably there's something you can improve. There are helpful people who give good tips. Other people don't make that effort (maybe because not everybody receives the unasked for tips with good attitude, on the other hand.)

Tanks need thicker skin because their mistakes are very visible and they are many times blamed when it's not their fault or not only their fault.