Quote Originally Posted by Shibi View Post
Being that HW and Ishgard looks like it is now gated behind this raid (is that correct because we did get a red MSQ marker with "you must do crystal tower"), does that also count for an average level 50 player in level 90 gear?

I don't mind following along it, I fear my friend, who I introduced to MMOs with this game, and who is barely aware of a rotation, might be overwhelmed.

At this point, I'd just like to get into Ishgard.
It's required for the last set of quests in the 2.55 MSQ right before reaching Ishgard. At this point you've been at least level 50 for a long time and you have access to much higher ilevel than 90. Even if you're still only level 50, Augmented Ironworks is easily obtained using tomestones as soon as you complete the 2.0 story and is purchased from the merchant in Mor Dhona or near main city aetherytes. It is a complete set of i130 gear that will carry you through most of HW and more than meets the ilevel sync for all 3 of the crystal tower raids. Even if you don't have this gear for whatever reason, it will still be easy. The raid itself was nerfed as all raids are several patches after their release, and there will be multiple people of higher ilevel in there via roulette anyway.

It will take you around 90 minutes including all the fetch quests to complete the entire raid series assuming you're not doing in off-peak hours when queue times might be a little slower.