"Eureka", but why?

[Nezerius]

If you're going to compare content, you should really take into consideration the stage the content is at. Of course everyone unsyncs ARR content for ARR relics now, because they can. But when it was current, much like Eureka is now current, it compelled players to continue running ARR content, dungeons, FATEs, etc. Even though the relic quest line was level 50, it still pushed players into content that would benefit lower level players by filling queues, making FATEs seem active, seeing leves being completed, etc. When HW was active... actually, dunno about that, cuz I haven't gotten there, so can't say much on it. But presumably the same. Pushed players to continue running HW content.

When talking current content, most players still farmed light through Garuda HM, so at least that didn't help lower level players much (though I agree on the FATEs/book dungeons part).
HW was similar, in that most groups farmed light in A1S. It was also different, in the sense that it eventually encouraged players to just spam Aetherochemical Research Facility for tomestones, since the majority of the relic steps involved spending a lot of those.

Eureka goes in a different direction. Players don't need to continue running SB content for the relics. Which could potentially lead to two outcomes. Either, due to instanced content, it dies like Diadem and future players will be all but locked out of SB relic progress. Or, even if it does maintain some activity, it continues to hold players in content, rather than having them help fill SB queues as the game progresses onwards.

That said, still worth trying something new, rather than repeating the same relic formula.

We'll have to wait and see what becomes of Anemos, Pathos, and the future zones, with how they intend to ease up on them, similar to how the previous relics were made easier to obtain, after some time.

Reminder that grinding mobs is more efficient then running with the fate train for exp.

It also takes more effort to keep a good mob grind party going, for a very low difference in exp gain.

[Maximilian_Staufen]

I love Eureka. I love how dangerous traversing alone is. I love how much people socialize and help each other. I love the way quests don't hold your hand. I love how powerful the progression feels. And I especially love how fast you get great gear once you get near level 20, I'm level 17 and I can max out a fresh gearpiece in one to two hours. This has to be the fastest way to get a new class equipped, it's basically free 350 ilvl gear.

[Maero]

The old Relic was very tedious and overly boring so they needed to change it up some.
Not stating it will not be as tedious but thus far it has been much easier.

[LineageRazor]

I love Eureka. I love how dangerous traversing alone is. I love how much people socialize and help each other. I love the way quests don't hold your hand. I love how powerful the progression feels. And I especially love how fast you get great gear once you get near level 20, I'm level 17 and I can max out a fresh gearpiece in one to two hours. This has to be the fastest way to get a new class equipped, it's basically free 350 ilvl gear.

There's plenty that's good about Eureka. It's a beautiful zone, and finally, FINALLY we have an area that's legitimately dangerous. The sense of satisfaction when you make your way solo to a dangerous quest location is exhilarating.

Nevertheless, criticisms that folks have about Eureka are well-grounded. For example, I love the design and mechanics of the FATE NMs - but the fact that elemental strength is not scaled down means that for all but the top few NMs, those mechanics are totally meaningless since a horde can brute-force kill any of them before those mechanics matter. Take, for example, Numbers - over the course of the fight, he summons several Void rifts. Presumably, players are supposed to kill those before they unleash horrors that slaughter everyone - but none of them come even CLOSE to finishing before the boss is dead.

SE clearly planned for players to get the bulk of their Protean crystals by farming regular mobs (most likely, as a side benefit for earning exp), but Proteans flow in at such a pitiful trickle that this is simply not viable. Anemos crystals were supposed to be the "special" ones that you had rare opportunities to acquire. That wound up totally reversed; crystals and exp flow like water by killing NMs. Grind parties would need a HUGE boost in both crystal drop rate and exp for them to come close to touching the efficiency of NM trains, even for very low-level characters. And because of this, lowbies feel obligated to join the NM trains where, for the most part, there's very little they can do except to try not to die as much as they can.

I think most agree that Eureka has its good points, but it also has some pretty significant flaws.

Elemental leveling doesn’t matter for healing spells. Your healing spells will be the same at level 1 as they are at level 20.

You can’t save a level 4 from an NM like Poly, but your healing spells are not affected by them being level 4, or by you being level 4.

Pretty sure what she means is, "You can't even heal your party members, unless they are close in elemental level to the boss" because they don't take damage when they are hit, they die instead. Which is pretty much true.

[Remedi]

SE clearly planned for players to get the bulk of their Protean crystals by farming regular mobs (most likely, as a side benefit for earning exp), but Proteans flow in at such a pitiful trickle that this is simply not viable. Anemos crystals were supposed to be the "special" ones that you had rare opportunities to acquire.

I disagree with this notion, if they intended anemos crystals to be that rare there wouldn't have been an option to shard them into protean at all. To me the very fact that they added the option means that they expected you to have an overabundance of them.

Frankly speaking I expect pagos crystals (uf they'll be a thing) to be able to be sharded into protean crystals still, which frankly will be problematic for several reasons but as said this is just my impression nothing concrete

[Avatre]

Frankly speaking I expect pagos crystals (uf they'll be a thing) to be able to be sharded into protean crystals still, which frankly will be problematic for several reasons but as said this is just my impression nothing concrete

I disagree with that. The Pagos ones will likely be turned into Anemos. Probably like the way Tomestones work, the crystals will follow the same pattern most likely.

[Remedi]

I disagree with that. The Pagos ones will likely be turned into Anemos. Probably like the way Tomestones work, the crystals will follow the same pattern most likely.

You mean as in turning pagos crystals into anemos and then into protean? Could also be idd, nevertheless if they go with either way anemos doesn't seem to fare well in the future

[Anarnee]

There are better systems in place pushing people into old content.

Even with a new DPS characters I was leveling recently, I've not had long waits for 2.0 or 3.0 content. No more that 20min queues tops. Fates can be soloed and honestly not many level with them anymore.

Also a lot of the community was tired of fates and old content. So SE made a change.

I enjoy Eureka. Whether it be grinding with a party or on the train. It's a unique experience for FFXIV, and I'll take it.

[Avatre]

You mean as in turning pagos crystals into anemos and then into protean? Could also be idd, nevertheless if they go with either way anemos doesn't seem to fare well in the future

Another option is to remove the usage of Protean, having to convert them into Anemos and having anything that cost Protean before now costing Anemos. Would be more work imo, but still a possible solution.

[Maero]

Well to be fair Eureka is fate grinding for the most part, lol
Nothing ground breaking different.
While i did not hate it overly so, having 3 Relic weapons + almost 3 sets of Armour i have not felt like going back