This patch dropped the ball hard

[Lexxuk]

Not only the same system since 2.0 but the same system almost all mmo's use.
Top level gear = grinding top level content

No, most MMO's use the "okay, in your ring slot you can have Object Of Deserving Passion, or Object of Undesired Pain, or Object Of Rampaging Rabbits, or, Object Of Cheese, each of them are good but build your character in a different way which will let you customise your character to your own preferred playstyle, the first one you get from killing SUPERBOSS ALPHA X115, the second is crafted, the third is a dungeon drop from RAWR dungeon and the final one you can trade in tokens for."

XIV? Here, you can have this, or this, but the way you get them is the same. Oh, and don't even bother looking at crafted stuff, it's useless.

[Asierid]

Snip

Horizontal and Vertical progression are two different things, you know.

[SevenHeavens]

it's the same game what did people expect geez

[MilesSaintboroguh]

You know, it feels like the more someone says a person/game series sucks, the more successful it becomes?

[Jetstream_Fox]

I'm of the opinion this has less to do with the gear and more to do with the content. Old content isn't bad, but it gets tiresome running it. Higher level gear may be equated with accessibility, and if the only way to freshen up older content is to play a different role, it is a ball crusher to do hard caps.

Better system: Let players buy access to gear with esoteric instead of specific pieces with it. You still have to save up 900 for a weapon, but after buying the first one, the rest are purchasable with law. Same could be done with other items.

Exactly I could care less about the gear and raising my item level, I for one don't live by that and know it doesn't make you a good player. I want a better more refined way of obtaining the gear not through means of lockouts and restrictions.

[Ultimatecalibur]

Honestly it's a bit fast. Alex -> upgraded by esoterics -> upgraded by savage alex, would have made more sense imho

It is that way.

The first reliable clears of A1 are going to happen in roughly 3 weeks from groups full geared in Prototype armor and accessories and armed with Antiquated weapons. From there they will upgrade weekly to Antiquated gear and if lucky maybe a Gordian piece or two.

[Cuervo78]

I guarantee you all content besides coil is doable in i170 gear. If you don't do the hardest content, there is 100% no reason to have gear above i170 BESIDES GLAMOUR, and said gear will be easier to get once the big raid race is over and 3.1 drops. Stop complaining, or suck it up and get the gear. All it does for non raiders is cover up for lack of ability anyway.

Nope, you can do coil quite easy in i170

[Tuathaa]

No, most MMO's use the "okay, in your ring slot

Still in order to get those items you had to grind top tier content.
Actually this system is better because you are guaranteed a reward and it's not solely reliant on rng.

[Jetstream_Fox]

I guarantee you all content besides coil is doable in i170 gear. If you don't do the hardest content, there is 100% no reason to have gear above i170 BESIDES GLAMOUR, and said gear will be easier to get once the big raid race is over and 3.1 drops. Stop complaining, or suck it up and get the gear. All it does for non raiders is cover up for lack of ability anyway.

I've raided enough in this game to know it's a complete joke. I mean the entire formula is, stand here, kill this, move there, kill that, win. The only reason I said "hardest content in the game" was because this content requires the optimal item level, which still doesn't equate to skill. Either way, nonraid gear shouldn't have it's upgrade locked behind these raids. It completely ruins the purpose or having two sets of gear for people.

[karateorangutang]

I guess I just won't be happy til SE puts the gear into my inventory after the patch.

/sarcasm