Quote Originally Posted by Catwho View Post
It wasn't that Abyssea ruined the game, per se - it was that they obsoleted 8+ years worth of gear in the course of a single patch. The level 78 pink THF gear was better than upgraded THF relic gear. No matter what method SE had introduced with their level cap raise to 80, anything would have pissed people off if similar gear was added.
Not just the gear, but the content that went with it. Prior to Abyssea and the level 80 cap, FFXI had a "horizontal" gear progression system for endgame at level 75. A mage would have gear that was the best for regaining MP, the best for landing debuffs, the best for hitting high numbers with damage spells, etc. A melee DD would have gear that was the best for generating TP, the best for landing different types of weapon skills, etc. That system kept them participating in all previously introduced content, not just repeating the most recent thing over and over again.

With the 75 cap, here is a list of things any player could log in to do each week:
- Dynamis
- Limbus
- Force-popped "Sky" Ru'Aun/Ru'Avitau NMs
- HNM camping (both Zilart and Aht Urghan areas)
- Force-popped "Sea" Al'Taieu NMs
- Nyzul Isle
- Non-NI Assault
- Salvage
- Einherjar
- Force-popped "ZNMs" in Aht Urghan areas

Here's a list of things to do after the 80 cap:
- Abyssea