Returning Player Overwhelmed

[OnyxStrife]

So I've been sort of on and off with this game. I started the first day of early release and then quit a few months later because the horrible dungeon exp and dull fate grinding was a huge turn off.

I came back in January (I think) and played through about a month after the Leviathan patch. I quit because I was burnt out from atma grinds and bored of leveling sub classes (couldn't even bare to get a second class past 30).

Now I'm (trying to be) back and feeling a little overwhelmed with the myriad of content I've missed. Not only that, but wandering around the game it's like 75% of players have at least 6 level 50 jobs.

I only have a level 50 (Dragoon) and my ilvl is 93. Think I'd be better off just making a new character or am I making it seem harder than it really is to catch myself up with everything? Maybe I'm just not fit for the game with how I find it absolutely boring to level sub classes?

This isn't much of a question is it?

[Rhona]

I wondered the same thing coming back.. fresh start on a new char maybe.. but consider all the progress already attained on your present char and ask yourself if you want to redo all of that? That's what made me stop and think about it. I have actually chosen a different class this time, but on the same char. This game is great for that. So my lvl 32 archer class is on hold and my lvl 19 conjurer is the class I'm playing and enjoying. AND I got her up 3 levels today in a few short hours of sheer fun.

Guess I'm saying choose the class you want to play and play it on that char. Totally fresh experience. Unless you want to go through the whole beginning quest lines again of course.

[Eltaire]

If you're happy to pace your level gains, instead of grinding, you do get a lot of experience for completing the Low Level Duty Roulette once per day. You can usually go up 1-2 levels depending on the dungeon, and whether it's a complete clear. I've gotten THM from around 26 to 37 doing this.

[Camalott]

I could write a book in response to your question. I left just before 2.1 came out. I came back ten weeks ago. Everything you are worried about, I was worried about too.

I ended up starting a new character. Thing is, you haven't missed as much as you think you might have missed. I didn't miss nearly as much as I thought I missed.

I earnestly regret starting a new character. I could have picked back up where I left off easily. Sure, I didn't want to nosedive right into endgame content right out of the gate. Give me a week or two and I would have been back up to full speed.

I feel it is my duty to warn you: DRG aren't the most liked lot right now. They have a branding issue brought about by two things:

1) Idiots seem to like playing DRG. Not all DRG are idiots, but it does seem that most idiots are DRG. It gives the good DRG a bad name. I think it's because DRG are shiny and so cool looking that attracts them.
2) DRG have low M.DEF. A lot of endgame content is heavy on the incoming magic damage. Makes DRG a soft target. It has created a stereotype that DRG spends most of its time eating dirt.

I hope that 2.5/3.0 fixes these issues for them.

[Asheilin]

...
I ended up starting a new character. Thing is, you haven't missed as much as you think you might have missed. I didn't miss nearly as much as I thought I missed.

I earnestly regret starting a new character. I could have picked back up where I left off easily. Sure, I didn't want to nosedive right into endgame content right out of the gate. Give me a week or two and I would have been back up to full speed.

...
I hope that 2.5/3.0 fixes these issues for them.

@ above, dragoon changes are coming Dec 9th. as stated by the latest live letter.

@OP
As with the above poster, I was in your place myself. I came back around 2.35 from before 2.1. My main, was a 39 SCH. I deleted her; struggles with classes, and then eventually chose to level it again (as smn) but after 50, I returned to SCH. I spend more time leveling up other jobs then working on the 50 Questlines. I regret deleting my character when I came back. Currently, I have smn/sch at 50, Ninja at 41; cnj at 34, thm at 30 (and that was a grind for me!) Arc at 26, LNC at 27, PGL/MDR/GLD at 15; Miner at 36, GSM at 40. I see people with FULL 50s and feel left behind. However, just remember; its a game. Go at your pace, have fun. try out other classes, work on the dungeons at 50, dailies, etc; you'll find your niche and then most of the worries wont feel so overwhelming.
The only reason I'd say start fresh is to do quests again for story or to leave your server as most people dont want to pay the 18$ for a world transfer.

[Camalott]

@ above, dragoon changes are coming Dec 9th. as stated by the latest live letter.

Didn't even notice the live letter was published. Thumbing through it now. Glad to see DRG is getting the attention it deserves.

[Sadana]

I came back in January (I think) and played through about a month after the Leviathan patch. I quit because I was burnt out from atma grinds and bored of leveling sub classes (couldn't even bare to get a second class past 30).

I only have a level 50 (Dragoon) and my ilvl is 93. Think I'd be better off just making a new character or am I making it seem harder than it really is to catch myself up with everything? Maybe I'm just not fit for the game with how I find it absolutely boring to level sub classes?

This isn't much of a question is it?

I'm just going to respond to your issue with leveling. No, don't make a new character unless you really enjoy going through the quests' stories and want to refamiliarize yourself with them. But, I do want to add... this game is all about cross class skills. :/ Many, if not all, jobs pull a useful level 34 skill from another class. I expect more higher level skills from other classes to be necessary once the expansion hits. Leveling sub classes is very important in this game. Battle classes, craft classes, cross class skills are vital. If you can get through the levels to get what you need to play and THEN just focus on end game or whatever you like doing, you're good. If, however, you literally can't stand leveling to the point that you WON'T... then this game may not be for you. ; ;

[Meshico]

@OP - If you start a new character, do not delete the old one.

If you start a new character, make sure you are able to transfer armor/weapons from your old one to the new one.

If you start a new character and always take the money option, you will end up with roughly 350k by the end of the 2.0 storyline (If you make no purchases, and take only the dungeon gear).

Just some fyi from recent experience of my own

-Tari