Some feedback as a multiple returning player.

[Mycow8me]

I've quit this game 3 times out of boredom/annoyance/catch up pace/stance on content. This isn't a special snowflake thread but I apologize if it comes off that way.

Just my general thoughts:
-Ilvl gaps are too big.
-Not enough gear sets to meet current ilvl requirements for current content at some points, like now for example with the new content unless you have been playing and kept up with the scripture tomes.
-The 10 ilvl gear upgrades do not help, they make the gaps worse.
-I mostly blame vertical progression but its a great way to keep people subbed right?
-Dungeon gear is irrelevant unless your lvling up.
-Current content Tomes are always capped, so the day you join back up you have 450 tomes till reset to get to catchup with and thats it.

Some solutions I've thought of:
-The cap for tomes should raise weekly so people cannot rush into new gear but at the same time cannot be gated later on.
Example: Week1=450 Tomes Week2=550 tomes Week3=650 tomes
OR
A total allowable tomes count that accrues until they are obtained similar to abyssea time crystals in ffxi.
Example Week1=450, you obtained 300 tomes durring that week. Week2=450+remaining total from last week which is 600 Tomes. If you quit for a month you would have 450x4 weeks of tomes you can obtain when you come back.

-Lower Ilvl gaps. Why are they so high anyway? People will always seek the gear that is better, even if its 5 ilvls. We saw this with zeta weapons. Only a rare occurrence of bad secondary stats would cause someone not to want the gear but people get gear just for glamour anyways.

- Don't quit. Yea I know, I shouldn't quit so I just won't fall behind but I'm not the only one quiting and returning, surely there can be some kind of middle ground for players like me who take breaks? SE has been considering a jump potion for crying out loud. Stop worrying about people who haven't even bought the game yet, can we worry about people who quit and come back or take breaks too?

I dunno I feel like I'm gonna get flamed for this thread but I'm just tired of it. Its a good thing stormblood is coming to break the monotony cause I could have seen myself quiting for good last time or the next time without it.

Got a lot more I want to say but I'd definitely be putting my foot in my mouth about how I feel towards how strenuous of a vertical progression this game is.

[Ama_Hamada]

The ilevel gaps are bridged by making a second tome not capped, for exmaple you could get 230 gear for a while and 250 crafted, so with a combination of this, meeting any ilevel requirement is easy.
This is even more true right now, because of the fast queues currently for PvP and that gear is 235, ALL SLOTS, and that can get you in anything. (Dun Scaith the weekly 260 drop is 235)

I agree with having a carry over with.. the higher level tome (currently scripture) though.

The reason for the high level gaps have to do with the hardest runs to do, and they have drastically higher gear needed, so you get scripts and whatever to help meeting to go to it, then get good gear from that to continue on.

[Mycow8me]

I forgot about craftables. Its true they are viable. My problem is my crafters fall behind for the same reason albeit a little slower. I can't justify spending large amounts of gil on gear that will become obsolete later on. I'm not rich either at any given time but the gear is alot less gated anyway assuming you want to spend all hours of the day obtaining gil instead of tomes or whatever you actually "want" to do playing the game.

[Ama_Hamada]

I forgot about craftables. Its true they are viable. My problem is my crafters fall behind for the same reason albeit a little slower. I can't justify spending large amounts of gil on gear that will become obsolete later on. I'm not rich either at any given time but the gear is alot less gated anyway assuming you want to spend all hours of the day obtaining gil instead of tomes or whatever you actually "want" to do playing the game.

I really do not understand when people talk like this. How is spending time to make money any different then spending time doing the same dungeon 10 times a day to get some drop or tomes? One needs to ask themselves do I spend less time making 400k to buy a 250 gear piece or or doing x yz for 230,235, 240,260 gear? (depending what you are referring to) What is most fun for you to do? How do you value your time? I strongly believe people miss the cliché saying of time is money and what it really means. There is also 220 gear that you do not need anything special to make. What is "gating" you anyway?

But for some reason sometimes people insult you for using crafted gear but I guess that was from a defensive person unable to come up with any other insult when my friend pointed out this ninja could of used LB3 some point before she used the range LB. (we wiped with it at 1%, if he would used melee lb when she had, it would been dead) Really shocked he called it market board gear when her name was on them.