What is Midcore? Why does it matter?

[DiaDeem]

Midcore is ex and early savage

Midcore is Bozja and Eureka. Midcore is going into a Critical Engagement and encountering interesting mechanics that don't need a guide or for you to set aside 30 mins to an hour with a group to get a clear, but that don't put you to sleep either like MSQ Dungeons. Midcore is Baldesion Arsenal, CLL, DR and Dalriada, where content is challenging and requires coordination, but doesn't require the same level of commitment as EX or SVG.

EX is the entry level of Hardcore. From there you can Unreal, SVG and Ultimate. I know you Raiders think EX is Midcore, but just because you find it easy, doesn't mean it's the kind of content the actual midcore audience wants. A lot of us were in Eureka and then Bozja throughout SB and ShB, and you'll be surprised to learn that many of us don't care about Savage or even EX sometimes, just the same you'll NEVER get an MSQ Player to do Eureka or Bozja. That's Midcore.

Criterion was supposed to be midcore, instead you go from dead easy Variant to "now you need a group and do prog Criterion" so we ended up with two modes of hardcore content on top of the casual version. There's no middle ground and that's the problem.

[ChrysOCE]

Midcore is Bozja and Eureka. Midcore is going into a Critical Engagement and encountering interesting mechanics that don't need a guide or for you to set aside 30 mins to an hour with a group to get a clear, but that don't put you to sleep either like MSQ Dungeons. Midcore is Baldesion Arsenal, CLL, DR and Dalriada, where content is challenging and requires coordination, but doesn't require the same level of commitment as EX or SVG.

EX is the entry level of Hardcore. From there you can Unreal, SVG and Ultimate. I know you Raiders think EX is Midcore, but just because you find it easy, doesn't mean it's the kind of content the actual midcore audience wants. A lot of us were in Eureka and then Bozja throughout SB and ShB, and you'll be surprised to learn that many of us don't care about Savage or even EX sometimes, just the same you'll NEVER get an MSQ Player to do Eureka or Bozja. That's Midcore.

Criterion was supposed to be midcore, instead you go from dead easy Variant to "now you need a group and do prog Criterion" so we ended up with two variants of hardcore content on top of the casual version. There's no middle ground and that's the problem.

Hard agree. I felt like Eureka and Bozja were good stepping stones to going into harder content. Ex is mixed but definitely is starter Hardcore. I don't believe Endsinger, Barbi and Rubi EX are in any way midcore content. Sure, easier now with the ever present ilvl creep, but not when it was current.
Criterion should have been 1-4, like Variant but just more challenging, without the mountainous gulf that it is now. You set foot in Criteria, after doing Variant, and it's just way too much.

[Raikai]

Hard agree. I felt like Eureka and Bozja were good stepping stones to going into harder content. Ex is mixed but definitely is starter Hardcore. I don't believe Endsinger, Barbi and Rubi EX are in any way midcore content. Sure, easier now with the ever present ilvl creep, but not when it was current.
Criterion should have been 1-4, like Variant but just more challenging, without the mountainous gulf that it is now. You set foot in Criteria, after doing Variant, and it's just way too much.

I'm not holding my breath for adjustments in Aloalo Isle, because all 3 EW V&C are probably 'bundled-together' as a project, but I genuinely hope they will use those as workshop to make V&C more approachable in Dawntrail, both in this intermediate difficulty truly contemplating midcore players, but also in the reward structure.

To me, a best case scenario is 3 V&Cs implemented at the x.x1 odd patches and having their own gear collection. Odd patches basically just have EX and maybe an Ultimate for harder content, and the latter is defnitely not everyone's cup of tea, so it would be nice to have something to sink our teeth in during those.