Quote Originally Posted by Reynhart View Post
What does it even mean ? "Relevant" compared to what ?

This game has automatic level sync in instances, so you can always play with a friend higher than you, cross-server Duty Finder and Trial Roulette to always find someone who does the duty you want...your progression can never be blocked. Why do you want to "catch-up" when all it does is making you burn the content faster than ancient players did ?

As for the optionnal content, like Coil, Crystal Tower or EX Primals, if you don't do them when they're new, you're basically screwed as long that they're not in any repeatable quests or Roulettes.
That's a fair question! I think relevance is trying not to be a burden or being unable to participate when your gear is outdated or below required ilevel. For the relic for example, if I had to have taken a hiatus due to work, I'd at least be able to catch up to participate in the current stage when it's out instead of always being x days behind. I've been lucky to have been able to always do the relic when it was new but I'd have hesitated to embark on it otherwise. It was like attunement in WoW. I missed the rounds due to work (for about 5 weeks), and found I had to go through all the hoops to even catch up. FFXIV is much more accessible. Same with gearing alts. I just barely gear my main within the patch season with my play time.

On the point, "burn the content faster than ancient players did", I don't see a problem for others to come up to speed with my relic faster than when I did and I've always managed to do it fresh. They doing it faster doesn't invalidate what I did nor I don't see why it should bother me. In fact, it'd be more fun if more folks are able to catch up and do the current relic stuff. I'm not bothered by those who just do it during catch up and stop there waiting for the next. It certainly doesn't take anything away from me.

On coil and old content, I think the 'fluff' as some people call it, allows it old content to still be run so it's not so bad. At least on my server. I apologise I might not fully experience what is the case on other servers and can only speak for my own experience.