Occult Crescent is great but the relic grind is the worst of both worlds.

[Kaurhz]

I'm sorry but, how are fates something that isn't already in the gameplay loop?

Sorry what I mean is that generally when your relic step is just straight tomestone, then this is something you will naturally accrue whilst doing roulettes, hunts or a number of other things to cap your weekly currency, so it isn't really changing anything for the vast majority of players that are already capping their currency anyway.

Comparatively speaking, once people have exhausted getting the Free Market achievements or the boss specific rewards then they aren't really likely to go back and do shared FATEs unless they are farming for that specific mount which is only really a handful of people.

This is why I mentioned about it transforming how people play, when it's tomestones you aren't really being asked to do something you're not already doing. I wasn't saying that FATEs are not part of the core gameplay loop, just that generally they require people to go out of their way from their usual daily routine of capping tomes.

[AmiableApkallu]

I do wish there was a middle ground because I can see and understand why some people don't like the RNG, but also don't like the tomestone farming from Endwalker (or here for that matter).

The current Dawntrail relic weapon step is a literal godsend to people who prefer tomestone farming. They get 20 weapons to tomestone farm for, which is more than the 19 that Endwalker offered.

Meanwhile, anyone else who doesn't prefer tomestone farming gets a measly one weapon catered to their tastes, at best (maybe they don't like tomestones and they also don't like FATEs...).

So, yes, a "middle ground" would be great, but I suspect the tomestone farmers wouldn't like it.

[OranicudDeynarius]

Old school MMOs are old school for a reason and died for that reason, it's 2025 gran'pa go back to sleep while people play games to have fun and relax, if i wanted to play dice i would play some shity korean mmo.

Been playing mmo for more than 20 years, and thats why i don't want rotten food in my plate.

Quick tell me a successful "modern" MMO besides WoW Retail and FFXIV that's still active and not on death's door. I'll wait.

[Arwing]

I thought the Timeworn Artifacts grind in Shadowbringers was rough, but this new relic grind has me stuck at step one. Honestly, it makes Timeworns look easy by comparison. I've done hundreds of FATEs across various DT zones with my FC, and I have absolutely no demi-materias to show for all that sweat and effort. I just can't deal with this painfully low drop rate. Everyone else have several by now, and I haven’t been lucky enough to get even one.


If Square Enix wants to turn a forever subber, someone who’s faithfully put up with everything they’ve thrown at me, into a hater, this grind is the way to do it. I’ve even defended Dawntrail because I think it’s a solid enough expansion, better than many give it credit for. I’d rank it somewhere around ARR or Stormblood from my point of view. But damn... This relic grind is the only thing that’s ever made me seriously consider quitting.

[Arwing]

[MicahZerrshia]

I've done hundreds of FATEs across various DT zones with my FC, and I have absolutely no demi-materias to show for all that sweat and effort. I just can't deal with this painfully low drop rate. Everyone else have several by now, and I haven’t been lucky enough to get even one.

Sorry, but I have to ask just to make sure bases are covered but...you did start the quest with Gerolt, which is seperate from the OC questline, right?

[Arwing]

Sure did. '^^ I've had the quest ever since I started grinding. It even tells you that you can grind in the six DT areas and something should drop sometime. But nope. Nadda.

[Infindox]

I think they purposely made it so that you *want* to go into Occult Crescent to get the atmas. I did most of my grinding in there but then went and tried to get the one type in the one area (where moblins and the birds live, don't want to butcher the spelling lol). After several hours I didn't see a single one. Go back into OC, get one within the hour.
They made it so you don't have to go in, but it feels like they punish those types.

[Arwing]

You could be right. I was hoping I’d be able to level my last job, AST, to 100 through FATEs outside OC while working on the relic too, knowing it would take a bit more time going that route, but it feels kind of merciless to go three days without a single drop. ������ It honestly looks like they’re punishing us for trying to level our jobs OR go for relics. After all, if we have less to do, there’s less reason to stay subbed (except I’m a forever subber! I never let it drop because I love the game that much! ������ Very much reconsidering my years of loyalty...).


Bojza was much kinder since it combined goals in a way that actually worked—well, except for those awful Timeworn Artifacts! ������

[Arwing]

I followed your suggestion and I finally got some atmas. I think you ARE right! Maybe I'll get some more atmas doing fates tomorrow. When I finally went into the OC and ground the fates and critical engagements, I snagged 6! Not instantly, though. It took many many more hours of grinding (which is the conclusion of day three). So I guess I can now only say that it was 2 days and a half of grinding before getting any atmas. I'm not sure if that's better. '^^ I reached level 13 in there, got a fair amount of treasure, deleveled a few times, the Oracle job and my first piece of artifact armor! So I guess if it get stuck switch back and forth between the two. *thinking*