Quote Originally Posted by Ibi View Post
Although this is generally true, there were definitely instances of gear being introduced that could obsolete a lot of older stuff even when the level cap wasn't increasing. In particular, events like Limbus and Salvage added new sets that you would completely replace older items (but due to FFXI's ability to change equipment in combat though, it's rare that you'd ever replace all your gear for a particular slot with any upgrade).
Gear swaps are something i'd happily never see again, 3 -4 gear sets per ability was horrendous.

However Even when a piece of gear did completely replace another piece of gear, in most cases it was individual items and not entire sets that were replaced. I think that makes a big difference.

If you spent months or even a year gearing up your character and then got a new pair of pants that completely replaced your current pants it wasn't so bad as the rest of the gear you spent so much time building up was still valuable. so the new pair of pants is an improvement to your whole build and not a complete replacement.

The issue with vertical progression as it is in xiv currently is you spend months building up your gear, only for your whole build to be made obsolete a month later. it basically makes the entire time you spent building up your gear feel worthless and wasted. and this is why people are getting peeved at the endless treadmill.

Gear needs to be valuable, lasting and genuinely worth getting.