Endgame Content, Competitive Atmosphere

[Kiara]

In order to keep all of the current content relevant to the current level cap no content should overshadow another type of content of the same caliber. Instead, they should be made to compliment each other. There are a number of ways to do this, all of which could be done simultaneously.

First, each form of content should contain rewards exclusive to that content alone. These should not be plentiful, a few unique pieces is enough. Certain forms of content may be more beneficial to certain classes instead of offering BiS rewards for all classes. However, the majority of the rewards should have an alternative form of content where they can be acquired if one is not able to participate in one type of content regularly for whatever reason.

Second, each class/job should be open to various gear builds. Some PLDs may prefer enmity and defense sets over Defense and HP sets, while some MRDs/WARs might favor a critical rate/damage+ set over an ATT+ set. Each set should be as equal as possible to each other in overall effectiveness and should be the sole decision of a person's playstyle. It should be balanced so that a player can choose to go for only one type of build and be effective in all circumstances compared to players using a different build. I understand that balancing this can be difficult, but it's not impossible.

Third, different content should be made to compliment each other by offering rewards that enhance the rewards from another type of content. An example of this could be seen in FFXI's AF quests and Limbus's AF-1 items. Doing this can drastically lessen the actual amount of gear available from all of the content as a whole, but still keep all of the content worthwhile.

Overall, their goal should be to allow any type of player to get very good rewards by doing only the content they enjoy. But, if a player wishes to have the best of the best for 1 specific class, they would need to do multiple forms of content to obtain it all. And lastly, if someone wishes to get the best possible rewards for all classes, they would have to do all forms of content.

In the end, all forms of content made for a specific level cap should remain worthwhile until that level cap changes. If new content is added before the cap is raised, it is important that it does not completely overshadow another form of content designed for the same level cap. If anything, it should compliment it.

Great thread, and well said Meowy and Chinook.

I'm hoping that the content / items we're seeing from 1.18 - 1.20 so far are aberrations (in terms of gear being quickly outdated or replacing "best in slot" so fast).

Hopefully in the long run, we'll have it so, as you say, 1 HNM or Boss or Dungeon could offer 1 *part* of something that would go to complete the "best in slot" for 1 class / job.

Or that drops a super rare Materia. Or, that offers the best in an Alternate Build for that Class (like a Tanking Marauder Gear Set vs. a Max Damage Marauder Gear Set, etc.).

Looking back on Dzemael Darkhold, it's crazy to think about *how many* Items and Weapons it dropped, all in just *1* Dungeon. It was clearly a temporary measure to make sure all Classes got something useful / helpful. But going forward, hopefully Yoshida-san and team realize they can actually pace themselves and not have every new Dungeon drop something for every Class that "overwrites" and invalidates the previous "Best Item per Slot" from the previous patch.

That would be horrible.

I'm hoping for Long Term Goals and Complementary Gear Sets as well.