Capital Games TeamSeems like Relic Delta was started is exactly around the time MSF launched their overpower system. Claim otherwise all you want. Now relic delta is nearly ready right around the time overpower is being reconsidered and seen as the foundational failure of design that everyone on the player side knew it would be. Even if you came up with the idea independently of MSF, at least take a long look at what overpower has done to their community, how poorly it is received, and how it failed to achieve those desired goals.
The whole point of limited R9 investment is due to limited access to upgrade material for minimal gains. Even with R10 and Relic Delta, the limited access to resource are still going to force players to make the optimal investments. That is ALWAYS going to be the case. You're not going to get people to invest in R10 CUP without a better motivating factor. R10 and Relic Delta are not it.
You poorly designed the relic progression strength, and now course correct with another foundationally lazy and flawed design. Relic Delta strongly destroys the ability to punch up and strategize. I was demotivated to participate in GAC due to datacron differential. The prospect of having to face relic delta on top disgusts me. Fundamentally, if Relic tiers were more beneficial, it addresses the issues you've presented. Design kits and abilities that scale and/or provide unique features based on Relic level. Design content that provides better rewards for having R9/R10 teams. Image if personal raid rewards gave relic material for using R9 teams. The generic currency rewards are not sufficient to encourage further R9 investment when you can max the personal track with a few R9 teams, especially when the content can be undermanned with 2/3 man teams. That is a design flaw.
Doing nothing or just R10 are both better solutions, as there is still plenty of horizontal progression for the vast majority of players to engage and invest in. Relic Delta is such a lazy cash grab to try and get whales to spend more on relic material, at the utter cost of the enjoyment. Its obvious and it feels bad and is getting such a huge negative response because it is BAD! Design something better and maybe I'll start spending on the game again. Implement relic delta and I'm probably going to play far less, if at all.
