They should shed some light on...

[Phe]

─ゾディアックウェポンストーリーは、今後どのような発展を遂げていくのでしょうか？　『蒼天のイシュガルド』での扱いは？
吉田　これまでのゾディアックウェポンストーリーを通じてプレイヤーの皆さんはとても苦労されているので、「いままでのことは忘れてください」みたいなことはしないつもりです。『蒼天のイシュガルド』 がスタートするとキャラクターレベルの上限が引き上げられるため、冒険者自身の成長が期待できますし、新しいコンテンツを通じてまた別のアイテムの獲得を 目指していただくことになります。 “ゾディアックウェポンストーリー”か、その続編なのか、武器を成長させていく遊びは、パッチ3.1から再開する予定です。
──そのとき、ゾディアックウェポンのオーナーに対する配慮は盛り込まれるのでしょうか？
吉田　はい、もちろんです。

Yup, 2.51 will be last form of current Relic quest, 3.0 will start with a new weapon on LV60.

[kyuven]

It states 3.1 will continue to. Continue with misleading people because you're too lazy to translate it. It says it there that yes, 2.51 will give ultimate form, and it also says th at it will continue in 3.1.

Not exactly. It says they're adding a new way to progress ("grow") the relic quest along with the level cap, starting with 3.1.
2.51 isn't mentioned in Alberal's quote.
Yoshida is also asked if those who did the old relic(s) will be taken into consideration, of which he says:
"Yes, of course."
In short, there will be a new way to progress the relic, but those who did the old one will get a kind of bonus (whether being able to skip steps or whatever, he doesn't go into detail) while those just coming into it won't necessarily have to go through the whole thing to get the new one.

[MageBlack]

I wonder. Will people who pick up the game starting with Heavensward expansion have to go through ALL the Main story up to the end of 2.5 (part 2) or will they be able to skip it all and go strait to Heavensward at 50? Reason I'm asking is I've seen people mention in these threads "tedious and time consuming" "Players want to catch up and be on an even playing field quickly".

Honestly the Relic Weapon is a side item/quest. You don't need to do it so I dont see why they wont continue it in 3.X. What I can see however, is maybe a relaxing of some of the requirements for particular steps. Even higher Atma/Alexandria drops, one book per stat, fewer light requirements, etc. I think the steps will remain and be required to move forward but these steps do more than just give you a groovy weapon, they also continue to make older content playable for newer players.

Just my two gil.

[SendohJin]

And that would be the ultimate way to piss everyone off that spent hundreds of hours grinding only to have someone walk in and do an easy quest to get the same weapon. Most people would up and quit with relics then and there since they'd know they'll get a handout one at the next expansion...

possibly yes, but can they really sell an expansion where a major part of it is inaccessible. how long can they keep stretching this quest that has a smaller and smaller pool of players taking part in it as it gets longer.

the Alexander raid will not need Final Coil clear to access, the expansion gives a new jump on point. something similar can happen to the weapon quest.

[Turin]

There is a lot of speculation going around and it's hurting badly peoples' desire to continue the relic quest (especially those on the early stages of the weapon).

Nearly everyone in my FC is working on their multiple relics at this point since the nexus and animus stages were made to be less time consuming. I've seen increased interest, not the other way around.

[Ehayte]

This is what I think is going to happen, you all owe me 1,000,000 gil if you go back to this thread when HW comes out and its correct:

- i135 will be the Relic (in its current state) final iLVL
- In 3.0/3.1, Gerolt and/or Jazlahn (or whatever his name is) will move to Ishgard in some capacity, discovering a NEW set of draconian weapons or something, also of legend.
- If you have not done Relic from 2.0-2.5, they don't trust you, and you aren't even close to competent enough to complete the tasks needed for the Draconian relics. So, you must complete a quest that would involve a small portion of each step. You have to get 4 atma, 20 alex-melded sphere scroll, 800 light on a Zodiac Adaptor, do 3 books, and give them 2,000,000 gil. While they will make it clear you didn't suffer NEARLY as much as your predecessors, time is of the essence.
- If you have completed your 2.X relic, you skip the pre-quest.

The 2.X relicers get to keep their current relic while questing for the new one (glamour, etc) but it would add no advantage to the 3.X relic after it has been completed.

[Gallus]

This is what I think is going to happen, you all owe me 1,000,000 gil if you go back to this thread when HW comes out and its correct:

- i135 will be the Relic (in its current state) final iLVL
- In 3.0/3.1, Gerolt and/or Jazlahn (or whatever his name is) will move to Ishgard in some capacity, discovering a NEW set of draconian weapons or something, also of legend.
- If you have not done Relic from 2.0-2.5, they don't trust you, and you aren't even close to competent enough to complete the tasks needed for the Draconian relics. So, you must complete a quest that would involve a small portion of each step. You have to get 4 atma, 20 alex-melded sphere scroll, 800 light on a Zodiac Adaptor, do 3 books, and give them 2,000,000 gil. While they will make it clear you didn't suffer NEARLY as much as your predecessors, time is of the essence.
- If you have completed your 2.X relic, you skip the pre-quest.
-

I see this happening lol.

[Ultimatecalibur]

There are loads of new zones being added with a new main scenario to lead us through them. Our first job to 60 will likely be entirely leveled through main scenario quests much like our first job to 50. Do you really see a new player spending their time between 50 and 60 doing old content that won't offer them much xp or useful loot when the main scenario quest series will hold their hand through all of it?

We do not know what will be added. A good portion of the new non-flight required areas added as level 1 to 50 content (the 50+ areas may be locked off by flight gates) to make leveling the 3 new classes more interesting rather than just repeating what we are already doing. All of the current level 50 quests will likely have XP added. That XP is not going to be available to those whom have already completed those quests. Working on a Relic may actually make leveling faster.

[Kiara1]

I just hope it will be possible to transfer our melded stats to next relic. I bought 15 det IV and failed 10 of them IN A ROW. If they don't matter in next relic I am done with relic, I can just get the one next expansion instead, or the one after that, or the one after that.

[Shadex]

Most of my FC has classified the Relic Weapons as being like owning a vintage car. It sits in the garage and you go out and tinker with it from time to time, maybe do some work on it. But in general you are in zero rush because it is nothing more than a statement piece, costs 100x more to repair and will never be as good as your current car at a fraction of the price. All it will end up being is something pretty to take out on weekends, show off to a couple of friends, and put back in the garage for you to wonder why in the hell you bothered in the first place.