Lack of End Game Content

[Avraym]

First, if you have to take short breaks, there is plenty of time in between raid tiers that you can catch up comfortably with the cap in place. Second, if you have to take longer breaks, there are catch up mechanics in place and the way vertical progression works it does not really matter if you miss out on a particular gear. Third, if you have people that you can rely on (statics, guilds, friends, etc.), then you can always go back to do old contents you missed out on, even doing it on appropriate gear if you want. Fourth, even if you don't, there is a chance you can still use PF to do old content or just queue for it depending on the type of content it is.

Actually I disagree with this sentiment.

I often take breaks in between patch cycles and don't have the flexability of joining a static due to random working hours.

This means I am subject to the party finder upon my return.

Unfortunately I found often the case when returning to Stormblood for example, the item level's party finder requirement were so high that you couldn't actually join savage this late into the game without already having some savage gear.

That only left me with duty finder, but not many people would queue for incomplete duty this late into a patch cycle.

[linay]

Actually I disagree with this sentiment.

I often take breaks in between patch cycles and don't have the flexability of joining a static due to random working hours.

This means I am subject to the party finder upon my return.

Unfortunately I found often the case when returning, the item level's party finder requirement were so high that you couldn't actually join savage this late into the game without already having some savage gear.

That's when you make your own PF with your own requirement. I don't think that invalidates what I said. In fact, I even said you might have to use PF.

And my initial point remains that daily/weekly cap was never meant to address people with irregular schedule or people who choose to take breaks from the game. So it's understandable if they might be inconvenienced by it. There are still ways to get by, but it will always be the case that you will have an easier time playing if you play regularly.

[ForteNightshade]

Actually I disagree with this sentiment.

I often take breaks in between patch cycles and don't have the flexability of joining a static due to random working hours.

This means I am subject to the party finder upon my return.

Unfortunately I found often the case when returning to Stormblood for example, the item level's party finder requirement were so high that you couldn't actually join savage this late into the game without already having some savage gear.

That only left me with duty finder, but not many people would queue for incomplete duty this late into a patch cycle.

I pugged Sigma and Alpha from time to time last tier and never had an issue joining parties despite my tanks only having tome or Ivalice gear. Hell, I took my BRD in full i380 crafted. Perhaps Elemental is different, though I think you're just making excuses since Aether is supposedly the "toxic, elitist" DC.

[Avraym]

I pugged Sigma and Alpha from time to time last tier and never had an issue joining parties despite my tanks only having tome or Ivalice gear. Hell, I took my BRD in full i380 crafted. Perhaps Elemental is different, though I think you're just making excuses since Aether is supposedly the "toxic, elitist" DC.

I'm not making excuses, just speaking to my experience.

It doesn't help being an Australian on a Japanese server.

[linay]

It doesn't help being an Australian on a Japanese server.

They really should add data centers in that region of the world.

[Avraym]

They really should add data centers in that region of the world.

I know. They advertise the game quite heavily here...

I've seen Shadowbringers and Stormblood advertised on buses, bustops, billboards etc.

Yet it seems a little.. misleading, given how we didn't get our own server and had to pay in Euros for the subscription for a very long time (A currency which does not favour the Australian dollar.)

I wonder how many people would purchase the game if there was a ping desclaimer.

FFXIV developers thoughts on the matter are - we want to, but the Australian government has our hands tied or something.

They're not very specific with the details unfortunately.

[CorbinDallas]

I'm not making excuses, just speaking to my experience.

It doesn't help being an Australian on a Japanese server.

You're literally making excuses.

[Avraym]

You're literally making excuses.

Australians are a minority group, split between US servers and JP servers.

The majority on those servers are still Japanese players with JP only mentality.

Finding a group under party finder with these conditions when returning mid patch in Stormblood, was extremely difficult.

Excuses can be valid.