How far can a casual go?

[Vladislav]

I casual player , my wife is even more than casual XD , but all we left from content that not done it's T5

[Simaril]

I play pretty casually and do a lot of pugging and right now I'm up to Twintania and Ifrit Extreme. It all depends on how you use your available time, although I do try to set aside at least one night a week to raid with my FC, although it doesn't always happen.

I'm not sure what's preventing a casual player from joining a FC or using voice chat. There are plenty of FCs out there that play casually and it's sometimes nice to be able to ask familiar people to play with. Voice chat is just a quick download and you're set to go. You don't even need to talk, just being able to listen can improve performance greatly and it allows people to relay information faster when they can't afford to type during battle.

I only reached 50 recently, and havent done a lv 50 instance yet (will do CM quest soon!). I have ilv 70 weapon, body, legs, feet, and waist. If some of my market listings sell, I can pretty easily make the ilv 70 accessories. I don't think my grear will be a limiting factor for a while

-Nothing is preventing me from having a FC, but I currently don't have a FC that's terribly active, and my regular availability is only later in the week, when some of the more regular/serious players and FCs I've met are typically already "done" for the week.
-I'm on PS3, so voice chat isn't terribly convenient - I got away from PC gaming partially because I like playing games as they came in the box.

[ZoroRoro]

.....**For the sake of this question I'm defining a casual as a player without a FC or regular group, without ventrillo, just using DF**

This game is very well designed for the casual community, however you want to define it.

Based on the OP definition, content with 'relatively high' success (i.e. at least 1/4 - 1/3 odds) using DF PUG would be CT, up to Garuda, or possibly even Ultima HM (depending on time of day server, etc). Titan HM is doable in DF, and even more so since 2.1 but the odds are more along 1/20 or even worse. Garuda EM is also doable in DF with roughly the same likelihood as Titan HM; Titan and Ifrit EM - I have no experience in any format, but this just looks horrible using DF alone.

Party finder PUG dramatically increases the likelihood of Titan HM success. Also with PF, you can do T1-T2 easily, and T4 is feasible too.

I would say this is applicable even if you include other elements commonly associated with 'casual' - i.e. lack of a 'high end' gaming system, limited time commitment, absence of preternatural finger dexterity, less aggressive mindset, etc.etc.