Variance in player skill is hurting FFXIV's itemization design.

[Granyala]

Also, while we've seen SE have their moments with dungeon narratives, I think their dungeon narratives pale in comparison to their raid efforts. Coil, Crystal Tower, the Mhach series so far, and even Alexander all tell better stories and have larger experiences than just a dungeon. You just can't achieve the same scope with dungeon content -- even if it is sequential like the NM/HM dungeons.

Of course you could.

After all the storytelling is 99% cutscene and 1% what happens during the raid encounter
Seriously, I found the trash bosses in Coil rather anticlimactic. "Here ya go raider, fight a random plant that is attacking you... because it can. DEFEND YOURSELF! /Klingon"

SE simply doesn't choose to do so. Why is anyone's guess, though I do think they wan to reserve the "epicness of story moments" for raids.

Look at relic, it's grindy and is nothing special. FFXI relic was grindy too but had some special effect to it. At least make relic unqiue and not some grind that barely gives any purpose.

I thought the purpose of the relic is a unique weapon model (some stages with nice particleFX) and stats being able to be chosen at your leisure.

[Seraphix2407]

I thought the purpose of the relic is a unique weapon model (some stages with nice particleFX) and stats being able to be chosen at your leisure.

Doing 800 alex runs or have some luck on maps (which many couldnt afford to spend on alot) or grind law and eso for that minimal upgrade. Yes you can change the stats in the current relic quest, however, all that for minimal upgrade. Relic is supose to be powerful, unique (yes it can be unique looking some of them are copy paste from other weapons) but powerful? Not really. They need to make gear more appealing, like making raid gear with stat bonuses (like grand company gear) could be a starter. If you don't raid well, fair enough. I think raid gear should be best. I think more ways to obtain gear and with different setups would be good too. Right now FF14 feels more like a dress up simulator, even tho I don't spend hours on glamour,I pick something I like and that's it.

[Granyala]

I think raid gear should be best.

Last time I checked, it is. Item level is king because secondary stats are pathetically weak in FF.

Now, if you want to argue that "equip higher item level and be done with gearing" is boring, we could have a discussion, because I would agree on that premise. Stat wise, the gear in this game is extremely boring. Stats beyond item level might as well not exist, because secondaries are too weak to have an impact (even if I meld only SS I don't feel any difference in casting speed) and with only 2 sets we don't have much choice in terms of "stacking fav stat" anyway.

If you only QQ because you want raiding gear to have an even bigger gap so you can feel better about yourself, compared to the non raiding peasants -> WoW is that way.

[Seraphix2407]

Now, if you want to argue that "equip higher item level and be done with gearing" is boring, we could have a discussion, because I would agree on that premise. Stat wise, the gear in this game is extremely boring. Stats beyond item level might as well not exist, because secondaries are too weak to have an impact (even if I meld only SS I don't feel any difference in casting speed) and with only 2 sets we don't have much choice in terms of "stacking fav stat" anyway..

You pretty much summed up how I feel, so no worries! The gap doesn't really need to be much higher than tomestone gear, what I mean is add something cool to the raid gear atleast.
Oh yeah tomestone capping do suck as well. If they gonna do that for the next expension, you and I know very well people gonna be tired of the same shit. Same thing different wrapping yeah?

This is why I made my initial post, to be honest. I'm just trying to puzzle out what people want - cooler gear with a variety of situational use, or a way for raiders to set themselves apart from everyone else in a manner that casuals cannot touch? To me, this game's selling point is that I don't have to spend boatloads of time grinding to stay relevant. If they suddenly changed that, I'd just go back to playing Blade and Soul, which operates under a similar philosophy but at least has characters with actual butts in it.

I get your point, raid alone is fun but the reward is not that great. It really isn't. So if raid gear does get better (not only ilvl up) but also form for bonus stats would be cool to have. So if you don't raid or can't raid you will get that gear eventually (if it appeals to you as glamour for alts), they always have nerf patches of that content. However by then the gear is kinda shit because of new ilvl again. Give raiders some cool stuff, because last time I checked, the forum was hoarding and going crazy about how chinese/japanese/korean people have exlusive items. It's not like it's a game breaker for casuals either no? Why would you need great gear for only doing dungeons?

[Venur]

I get your point, raid alone is fun but the reward is not that great. It really isn't. So if raid gear does get better (not only ilvl up) but also form for bonus stats would be cool to have. It's not like it's a game breaker for casuals either no? Why would you need great gear for only doing dungeons?

Why raider would need to have funier items then none raider ? Dungeon ilvl is lower because you don't need bether stats gear if your not raiding.

But it doesn't make sense to claim that raider need cooler stuff because they raid. They just need bether stats to achieve a harder goal.

[Seraphix2407]

Why raider would need to have funier items then none raider ? Dungeon ilvl is lower because you don't need bether stats gear if your not raiding.

But it doesn't make sense to claim that raider need cooler stuff because they raid. They just need bether stats to achieve a harder goal.

Give me 3 good reasons why people who don't raid should have raid stat bonus gear? If you raid you have earned it. I could go on all night about why they shouldn't have it without giving effort, but before anyone ask me or want them to give them reasons, I'd like to have you give me 3 reasons.

[Noxifer]

Give me 3 good reasons why people who don't raid should have raid stat bonus gear? If you raid you have earned it. I could go on all night about why they shouldn't have it without giving effort, but before anyone ask me or want them to give them reasons, I'd like to have you give me 3 reasons.

I don't think that's what he said. I think what he meant was "why should interesting bonuses be limited to raid gear". As in, if they decide to add some sort of bonuses outside of stats and sub stats, like "cure 1 potency +50" or whatever, that kind of system should be available on both raid gear and non-raid gear. Sure, have the types of bonuses be more effective on raid gear if you want, but the system of it shouldn't be locked to raid gear.

[Venur]

Give me 3 good reasons why people who don't raid should have raid stat bonus gear? If you raid you have earned it. I could go on all night about why they shouldn't have it without giving effort, but before anyone ask me or want them to give them reasons, I'd like to have you give me 3 reasons.

Re-read my post. I clearly said that raider need bether stats. My claim is that "funier"items shouldn't get restricted to raider.