So a month ago I reactivated after a 1 1/2 year break which started in November 2011. I left my main Soulrunner with nearly every job leveled to what was then the cap of 95, having most Af3+1, and 2 full sets of Af3 +2 for thf and blu, my equipment for once was decent that I could sufficiently turn heads on my Thief main. After I came back I find almost everyone I see on Valefor is wearing a stylized blade, or staff, new equipment or just all around nice things, there are constant shouts for VWNM's I've never heard of and even the one time I have joined up for Ig Alima I spent most of the fights on my belly dead in the sand. I want very much to get back into this game but when I ask what has changed what do I need to do everyone only gives vague answers or says nothing at all. My linkshell though friendly and supportive is equally vague and i'm finding myself in the rut of having to grind old content to feel as if i'm doing anything while people around me outclass me at every turn. If I ask how do to something I don't know I get silence or off the cuff answers and any resource on this game I find in search gives no actual information.
Now i'm running out of old content I've nearly finished getting all my jobs to 99, i'm literally 7 jobs from maxing everything, then I have maybe 12 pieces of Af3+1 to finish, and a scattering of Af2. I figured by this point I'd have a decent grasp on what to do and would be mixing in new content Instead I find myself behind barriers to do Adoulin I have to do Voidwatch, and Legion, then Nyzul and Salvage 2 or some ****, then there's this new thing in adoulin, and every time I pick a direction I'm stymied by lack of interest and needing large groups which aren't there anymore. I really don't want to go back to World of Dailycraft really but with no detailed information, no progression path, no support i'm completely lost and frustrated. Help me out, we have 2 hrs of downtime today for maitenance somebody please step in and show me which way to go.