7.3 is insufficient (Relic,Deep Dungeon and Cosmic Exploration has to carry 4 Months)

[Nadda]

Yeah, I agree.

Not only for the reasons mentioned above but because they took up literally 1/3rd or so of the Live Letter answering feedback about current content. They mentioned housing only in passing and I'm sure there's content they simply didn't have time to touch on. Take a breath and give them a little grace until the next Live Letter. THEN you can go off if you really need to.

Maybe you're right as I said this is my gut reaction.

I'm hoping this isn't all.
And like I've never really been able to hold onto a house nor do I really care. I don't have an obligation to stay logged in. Nor do I want to be logged in constantly.

I liked 7.2 because it gave me "Enough" for each month. Where like ya know the fourth month of a patch can be breathing room for people who started late.
I feel like each patch needs three pillars of content which you can engage with that can take up like 2-3 weeks... Not even the full month unless you're really 100% it.
I think that makes a patch feel satisfying. Maybe if the Relic Grind is attached to the Deep Dungeon in some way like "Fey'ry Dust" or something then it'll be alright.

I'm just tired of the first month being literally nothing. That works for patches with Savage in it because the hardcores can at least be doing that while casuals tentatively do the normals at their own pace, some overlap of players in unreals and exs.

Granted I've not 100% OC yet or done the raid (Which I might save for 7.3 since it'll have a lot of community fixes to make it more accessible - but even then once I clear - I'll only probably do it a few more times)

[Jeeqbit]

An Unreal which let's be honest does anybody really get excited for Unreals? They are just upscaled old EX's they don't do anything differently.

Yes, absolutely. Most people who play now, were not around when they were current (we are talking about 6-8 years ago here). Also, they are produced in response to the interest in Minimum Item Level content. So, if you don't care for it, then it's not meant for you anyways.

An Alliance Raid. Which isn't really engaging content, it's a FF11 Theme Park ride.

Would you rather the disaster that has been Forked Tower? Or Chaotic? And if you do, then it's not aimed at you, but rather at casual players that don't want raid responsibility of that scale, where their actions alone can wipe the entire raid.

Hopefully they can bring it back to Weeping City or Ivalice difficulty though. They have said that is their goal, but since they don't do "place AoEs" or other forms of responsibility anymore in them, I don't know if it'll succeed. Rather a great example is web placement in Weeping City. It's an obvious mechanic, but if everyone gets it wrong, they're getting sucked in and wiping.

A New Treasure Hunt Dungeon, which is all well and good except you're gonna be traversing the hollow husk of Living Memory every time you're doing treasure hunts with friends.

From experience, you can do map parties regularly long-term with friends, and many people do. While farming for whatever you want, it is mostly a social experience, because easy content leaves room for chatter.

Deep Dungeon, with some sort of 4 Man boss at the end. Who's gonna be doing a Deep Dungeon everyday outside the people who are already really incredible at it?

They may not do it every day. The game is like a pick-and-mix. "Today I'll do a deep dungeon". "Tomorrow I'll do maps". "Day after I'll do roulettes". Etc.

You didn't mention the Extreme trial, but that is part of it as well. The latest one kept me busy for a few weeks helping others clear and getting the mount.

Why can't I have a Criterion dungeon for 750 gear alternatives? Why isn't that in here? WHY isn't a Variant/Criterion maybe a part of what a Relic Grind... COULD Actually be?

The issue is really that they made Criterion a bit too rough. It's good but it's a "prog" content. If it involves the relic, it can be fun, put you on your toes, take you to the edge, maybe even wipe a few times. But not be something you need to wipe to all day/week as you progress through several bosses, because that effectively makes it a high-end content reward and relics have never actually been that.

I am hoping beyond hope that them not mentioning an ultimate was just a fluke.

They did mention Ultimate. It's in development but will not be in 7.3. So may need to wait for 7.4.

[ServerCollaps]

6.3 had

story
24
1 dungeon
1 ex trial
sophia trial
1 ult
1 deep dungeon
1 cc arena
1 island updates
treasure dungeon
anden, loporit, mowen tools, relics, hildi

It actually appears that we are getting less content with 7.3 than usual :/

atleast we are getting chat bubbles, I guess

On the other hand, it gives enough time to clear forked tower 100 times and do other stuff thats time consuming (farm old ults, get 5.5m pts on the moon, 1k pot fates and whatnot)

[Sekundessounet]

6.3 had

story
24
1 dungeon
1 ex trial
sophia trial
1 ult
1 deep dungeon
1 cc arena
1 island updates
treasure dungeon
anden, loporit, mowen tools, relics, hildi

It actually appears that we are getting less content with 7.3 than usual :/

atleast we are getting chat bubbles, I guess

On the other hand, it gives enough time to clear forked tower 100 times and do other stuff thats time consuming (farm old ults, get 5.5m pts on the moon, 1k pot fates and whatnot)

By your list, we're getting the same amount of content : island updates replaced by Cosmic Exploration update, and I don't see them not putting custom deliveries too.

[ServerCollaps]

By your list, we're getting the same amount of content : island updates replaced by Cosmic Exploration update, and I don't see them not putting custom deliveries too.

we dont get an ult, which is a kinda big thing

[Jeeqbit]

6.3 had

story _/
24 _/
1 dungeon _/
1 ex trial _/
sophia trial _/
1 ult X
1 deep dungeon _/
1 cc arena _/
1 island updates _/
treasure dungeon _/
anden ?
loporit _/
mowen tools _/
relics _/
hildi _/

It actually appears that we are getting less content with 7.3 than usual :/

I put a green tick next to all the things we are getting in 7.3 (replace island update with cosmic update, loporit with yok huy, mowen with cosmic, sophia with seiryu). Virtually just Ultimate that we aren't getting. Plus, they added the hard version of the last deep dungeon boss, which is extra.

[Nadda]

...

I don't think your first point is really relevant. It's not that I don't care for Unreals—it's that they're a novelty. Their lack of substance is the issue, not their existence.

Also, I want to address the “not meant for you” logic you used for both Unreals and Alliance Raids. That mindset can really shut down discourse. Casual content is made for everyone.

When I said the Alliance Raid feels like a theme park ride, I meant it as a compliment. Who doesn’t like a rollercoaster? But the problem isn’t whether it’s fun—it’s how long that content stays engaging. Maybe you run it to boost tomestone gear faster, maybe not. Either way, it doesn’t have long-term legs.

Same with Unreals and EX trials—they're solid week 1-2 content. Mount farming? Sure. Helping FC mates? Great. But these aren't the backbone of a four-month patch.

On the flip side, crafters and gatherers are eating well this cycle. Cosmic Exploration and the Beast Tribe will carry a lot of people for a while, and I’ll absolutely be engaging with that.

What I’m saying is—we need one more strong piece of combat content to round this patch out. That’s why I suggested either Beastmaster or a Variant/Criterion dungeon.

And again, I like treasure maps. I do them weekly. I’m excited for the new dungeon. But as you said, it's low-stakes social fun—not something that carries a patch.

Deep Dungeon, though, is tricky. Casual players will dip their toes in. The top 1% will sprint to floor 100 and tackle the big boss. Everyone else? Probably bounces somewhere in the middle. And in FFXIV, most people don’t push through that middle unless they have a social link ready to go. If they hit friction, they disengage.

So when I ask “Who’s DOING it—Doing it?” I’m not being snarky. I’m asking, who’s really going to live in this content week after week?

You brought up Chaotic and Criterion being too tough—and you’re absolutely right. But that’s exactly why I suggested making things like ilvl 750 gear available through Criterion, not locked behind it.

I'm all for Variant dungeons alternatively being something where, if you did it enough times, you could get good gear, the same way it would just take longer.
The idea is to give people something to do if they want it. Ultimately, you don't need the best gear in the game for anything... but it's nice to work towards something if you feel like it.
And Variant dungeons by their very nature add a sense of variety, maybe you discover all 12 paths then choose to do ones at random every other time. All while working towards getting something that can either get you newer gear or upgrade the relic weapon.

That seems fun.

7.2 was well paced in how the content was staggered out.
That felt like a living patch. Something to do week by week.

For a patch to truly land, I think you need three pillars:

• An exciting opener (MSQ/Trial/Dungeon/alliance raid/unreal)
  
• Something for crafters/casuals (Cosmic/Beast Tribe)
  
• And real, accessible battle content that isn't just high-end prog or a one-and-done

Right now, 7.3 has the first two. But if Deep Dungeon is the third? I just don’t think it has the broad appeal to hold that spot.

Maybe there’s still something unannounced, or maybe the Relic will surprise us. I hope so. But gut reaction. This patch feels like it’s missing one more key piece. Add Variant/Criterion or Beastmaster, and we’re golden.

[Sekundessounet]

we dont get an ult, which is a kinda big thing

True, probably 7.5 for that

[Nadda]

True, probably 7.5 for that

The Second Ult is supposed to be 7.5 so that there's still something for the hardcore players to prog at the end.

There was an exception to that because of the pandemic etc etc which changed the release schedule.

The patch needs like ONE more thing.

Hell I'd even accept Shaaloni Hold'em as content in the gold saucer we haven't gotten a new game in there for some time. But practically speaking, I think V/C dungeon or Beast Master would be good chewable bones for a month portion of this patch. Deep Dungeon can't be the only thing.

[Sekundessounet]

The Second Ult is supposed to be 7.5 so that there's still something for the hardcore players to prog at the end.

There was an exception to that because of the pandemic etc etc which changed the release schedule.

The patch needs like ONE more thing.

Hell I'd even accept Shaaloni Hold'em as content in the gold saucer we haven't gotten a new game in there for some time. But practically speaking, I think V/C dungeon or Beast Master would be good chewable bones for a month portion of this patch. Deep Dungeon can't be the only thing.

We'll see in part 2 if they talk about more content, I'd very much like a new V/C. Even if Variants lack replayability, doing them and finding all 12 endings on your own is a great time.