DPS obsession in farm groups

[LineageRazor]

On the subject of Zurvan, I should point out, you know, what Zurvan is ACTUALLY for: getting a high-level weapon. Not everyone who farms Zurvan are farming A12S as well - they want to down him for a chance at a weapon, and could care less about birds.

But if they're farming for the weapon, it likely means that they have, at most, a ilvl 255 weapon (if they farmed Sophia) or, if they're newer to endgame, they may only have a Lore weapon upgraded (240) or not (230). Additionally, such newer folks are likely NOT rocking a full set of ilvl 270 Alexander Savage gear - they'll have a mixture of Lore and Scripture gear, some pieces upgraded, others not. They may be awesome at their job, but get a couple of these folks even into a 5-DPS party and you may not skip Soar. While the ilvl 250 entry requirement DOES ensure at least some good pieces of gear, it's certainly possible to have the bulk of higher ilvl gear be armor and accessories, while the weapon is much lower.

In the Novice Network, I frequently hear folks talking about gear progression, and talking about how folks new to endgame should gear up with tomestones, grab their weapon from Zurvan, then go on to other endgame stuff. By the sound of it, these folks are in for a rude surprise when they join a farm party to get their weapon and get the boot because their DPS is low.

Zurvan was added to the game to provide high level weapons to players that don't have them. The birds are a bonus, there to encourage players with better weapons to continue to do the fight and thereby get other folks their weapons. It's fine (even if absolutely not what SE was hoping for) to explicitly build a party that excludes weapon-seekers - but if you just label your group "Farm Party" don't assume you'll be skipping Soar, even if you have five DPS.

[Watachy]

On the subject of Zurvan, I should point out, you know, what Zurvan is ACTUALLY for: getting a high-level weapon. Not everyone who farms Zurvan are farming A12S as well - they want to down him for a chance at a weapon, and could care less about birds.

Why would you ever farm a primal for a weapon when the most broken weapon is casual-friendly ? (talking about the relic)

[AlphaSonic]

Why would you ever farm a primal for a weapon when the most broken weapon is casual-friendly ? (talking about the relic)

Because some people, including me, aren't willing to do more than 1 relic xD.

[aesteval]

Why would you ever farm a primal for a weapon when the most broken weapon is casual-friendly ? (talking about the relic)

The time sink grind behind the relic makes it very much not casual.

[LineageRazor]

Why would you ever farm a primal for a weapon when the most broken weapon is casual-friendly ? (talking about the relic)

Anyone who thinks that relic weapons are for casual players has no idea what they're talking about. While the content required is casual enough, the quantity required of that content puts it WELL outside the capabilities of a casual player.

If you think a player new to endgame - even a player who is NOT casual - can obtain a relic weapon in less time than they can acquire a Zurvan weapon, you are dreaming. Well, again, assuming that the player isn't constantly booted from every farm party because his gear isn't high enough to put out the DPS they want.

[raela]

but if you just label your group "Farm Party" don't assume you'll be skipping Soar, even if you have five DPS.

For clarification, the 5 DPS party I was in had NIN (~70 percentile, i270 weapon), me on DRG (~55 percentile, i260), 2 other DRGs (i260 and i270), and a BLM (i260 I believe). Yes, I agree that soar skipping is not a given due to 5 DPS.. But to see demon claw for losing healer DPS with decently geared players is sad. :v