Returning Player with some Questions

[OnyxStrife]

This is the 2nd time that I've left this game and returned. The 1st time I returned, I created a brand new character and powered myself through the story / to level cap. I got my ilvl to a respectable point at the time of the game, and then the Heavensward expansion hit shortly after.

This is why I had no problems catching up the first time. I returned right before the expansion when everything was effectively reset and anyone who was at lvl cap was basically at the same level. I proceeded to grind my ass off and kept myself at the highest possible ilvl throughout the entirety of the time I played before leaving. I ended up quitting because the gear grind was becoming insanely stale.

I've been gone since the end of September 2015. When I logged back in for the first time yesterday, I was at ilvl 194. I really only logged in to see if my old guildies (who were really good friends) still played. I found them all in the usual spot, and had a lot of fun just hanging around with them all, not doing anything but chatting.

I realized how much I loved just being in the game world. The aesthetic of it is just so appealing. Even though I find another MMO i started playing to fit me as a player better, it doesn't have the visual appeal that this game has. I run this game at 144fps with 144hz so it's smooth as butter and the gear looks incredible. The game world itself is also so gorgeous.

I told myself I was gunna give playing another go, but only because playing with my guild mates was so much fun. I inspected their gear to find them wearing i220 and i230 gear, and heard that the new atma weapons were out. They told me getting the first piece is easy, but the next piece(s) are a huge grind and that really turned me off.

I only want to play this game to play with my old friends who seem to be far ahead of me (about 7 months of playtime ahead). How long does it take to catch up in gear from ilvl 194 to them (probably between i220-i230) if I play solely ONE class?

TL;DR I'm returning to the game with an ilvl of about 194. How long would it take me to get between i220-i230 if I played only one class (PLD)?

[Jamillion]

5-7 weeks if you plan it properly and cap every week.

[EveK]

There are an immense number of variables. Personally, I would not fret over exactly what my item level is and just enjoy playing the game, letting the equipment upgrades ensue. That said, you could instantly reach the desired item level largely by just purchasing Item Level 220 crafted gear from the market board (if you have the gil, of course). I bought a few such pieces solely for the purpose of increasing the average item level of a newer friend that plays less so that she could instantly meet the requirements of the next dungeon to progress the main quest (effectively skipping a lot of other dungeon runs to collect intermediate equipment and tomestones to buy better equipment).

And also keep in mind that the relic weapon quest is NOT a quick or efficient way to upgrade your equipment. Do it if you enjoy it, of course, but never feel obligated to do ANY content you don't enjoy.

[Edvardelis]

iLvl 200 gear is the new baseline. You get this by farming Tomes of Esoterics. There's a cap on how many you can hold, but not on how many you can earn. First thing you should get is a weapon.

Void Ark, a 24 man raid, drops iLevel 200 gear.

Each time you clear Void Ark you get an item that lets you trade in an iLvl 200 piece for an iLvl 210 piece. The first upgrade you should do is your weapon.

iLvl 220 comes from drops in the new Alexander:Midas raid. Depending on what you want it can take 1, 2 or as many as 4 drops to get the equipment you're looking for.
You can win only one drop per run, but you can run as many times as you want.

Finally, clearing the last Alexander:Midas gives you a drop (Midan Gear) for the weapon. You're limited to 1 a week, and it takes 7 to get the weapon. This is iLvl 230.

iLvl 230 comes from Tomes of Lore. You can earn 450 a week.

As for the time required, it really depends on how often you can stomach running Alexander:Midas and how lucky you are with getting the drop you need.