Why This Relic is Better Than Endwalker (And Most Expansions)

[Voidmage]

Just let me repeat the grind if I want.
Tomestones are fine but give me an option.

The relics themselves are great in looks and the whole thing is an obvious step up from EW. Those were a borderline insult imo.
I also like that we have more than one way to get to our goal though it needs adjustment so one thing isn't completely inferior to others.
All in all, yes, the DT relics are definitely better than EW and even Stb given that gave no options outside Eureka.
But imo they are inferior to Shb which managed a good middle ground in having the first step grindy and the following ones easier without making them free.
I also think their lore is really bad this time tbh.


Here is what i think the relics need to be really good (outside the obvious optional steps to Tomestones):

1. Make steps more unique.
That was where ARR actually truly shined even though the execution was suboptimal. Books gave something unique and the special boss fights like the Chimera also were great. Use that as a form of options, make it so you can use Tomestones for a repeat but also can just buy for example books for less Tomestones than a relic costs and fill that up with less grind than the first step.

2. Give them a proper story.
ARR had great background story behind the relics, HW drew us in with Anima and Shb had the backstory of the Queens fighters. Go more into that. Tbh that's the point where I think DT is realy low regarding the relics.
We aren't building a relic weapon this time, we are building Gerold's tools. It simply feels unpersonal and I think a game like FFxiv should strife to use it's world and lore.

3. Ties with 2 but... please retire Gerold.
I like that guy but I feel like forcing him into every relic is damaging the story around them more than it helps. We have Shards, we have specialists everywhere and so on. Use that.
Why not use the Scions for example for different weapons? You build a relic with Y'sthola by going after ancient tomes or with Estinien to defeat powerful enemies.

4. Stop listening to people who don't even like that type of content.
Relics are a grind, it's fine to have a grind. Stop changing them just so more people interact with them.
If someone truly wants a relic then they will do it.

5. If a relic is tied to special content like OC then give them special attributes for use there so they aren't useless as soon as a new patch drops.