AF gear - handed to you for dinging 45/50

[Shiyo]

Why is there absolutely no effort or work in obtaining the class defining AF armor? At level45, you basically just have to talk to NPC's, loot bags on the floor, or open random chests in a zone that's of no danger to you. There is no effort involved, it's extremely easy.
The level50 quests are slightly harder, having an actual boss fight, but still incredibly easy.

Why doesn't AF require dungeons? Or party bosses? Why is basically "free" full blue armor upon dinging 45 and 50?

I think AF armor should be an accomplishment, and some actual work involved, would make it more fun. Maybe make the gear a bit more powerful since it would require effort.

Sure AF+1 exists, and actually requires effort and dungeons, but I don't think your class defining armor should be so easily obtained. When every single person is running around in full AF the second they ding 45 and 50, it makes it feel a LOT less special and more generic.

[reality_check]

Maybe it's rewarding you for spending the 80ish hours required to get that level?

[Jennestia]

Maybe it's rewarding you for spending the 80ish hours required to get that level?

It doesn't take that long unless you're counting log in attempts. They literally hand it to you, even compared to 1.0 it was part of the trial as you leveled up - But they are going the route where things are handed to you (typical of "standard" MMOs of today) so no one should really be surprised.

They at least have you raid for the upgrade to them though.

[Ptolemy]

It doesn't take that long unless you're counting log in attempts. They literally hand it to you, even compared to 1.0 it was part of the trial as you leveled up - But they are going the route where things are handed to you (typical of "standard" MMOs of today) so no one should really be surprised.

They at least have you raid for the upgrade to them though.

typical of "tier progression" games

[MorbidAngel]

Maybe because it's considered to be entry level end game gear?, if it's even that anymore. There were people in my FC complaining about how easy the relic weapon quest is now as well.

[Aerokus]

Since they're going with the gear treadmill approach, it doesn't matter where or when you get gear, everything will get replaced as soon as a new tier is there.

Maybe they're shooting for the "my first endgame set" appeal-factor? I know I've felt that in other games: looking back fondly on that first endgame set I got that wasn't really that great (or hard to get) in the scheme of things but remembering how cool I felt when I got it.

[AzumaKun]

Maybe it's rewarding you for spending the 80ish hours required to get that level?

Give me a break. in FF 11, you had to get to the level, THEN you had to do the (in some cases incredibly difficult or irritating) quests.

[Whitemage82]

Well apparently they think differently.

This gear will be replaced immediately upon doing any of the coming end game additional content.

[Majidah]

Well apparently they think differently.

This gear will be replaced immediately upon doing any of the coming end game additional content.

Actually I got better hat and pants than my AF at AV, BUT I don't disagree with the OP.

[Synfrag]

Because it is crap gear. It is only for you to feel like you are finally a full fledged (insert job). Just cause its blue doesn't make it good.