It's funny you say that, Shale. Those were actually the only story missions to give me any trouble when I started up. The spider robot really is a ridiculous power spike compared to the other available dungeons available at the time, even including the event ones. That said, that'll probably be the last difficult thing you face before you start challenging the event EX/+/+/+ fights, so (once you get past that) you're past the only real barrier to entry the game has early on.
Black Power results, no materia spent so this is a more accurate idea of what I'm farming on dailies:
60-66 normal orbs split kinda evenly between Power and Black
3 Greater Power
3 Greater Black
1 Major Black
I don't have enough for Meteo anymore after getting R3 Blizzaja this weekend, but I'm well on my way back. Still not even sure if I should get that or Flare, though... my MO is going to be hoard orbs until I try to beat a Divine Fight, then hone whatever I need to for that particular fight, so I guess it really comes down to whichever one I need first. Ideally I get meteo, since Ultima fills the same niche as Flare, uses different non-exchangable materials, and is by default at least 2x stronger (since it hits twice), but with the new 6* skill dropping that has the exact same upgrade reqs it may be wiser to see what SSBs/buffs I have before I make Ultima.
On the other hand, assuming I master EVERY Divine fight from here on out, and assuming every divine fight has an even rotation between Black/Fire/Non crystals, R1 Ultima's still not even a thing that can exist until March. So maybe I should get both 5*s. Assuming this kinda drop rate, I can probably get both R2 Flare/R2Meteo by... late December? Taking into account quest rewards, anyway. I could also probably get one R3 of either on that same time scale though... decisions to be decided.
In other decisions to be decided news, Fran, Cloud, and FuckingBrat are on their way from 50 to 65. I have exactly 1 blank MC2. Character wise, Fran is easily the best choice for upgrading since she fills a niche none of my other L80 characters fill, but Cloud/FB's RM3s are good enough to make that decision not clear cut. Similarly, FuckingBrat can at least fill the same holes Fran does at L80 AND give me the starting SB charge RM, but Cloud would actually be a character who can pull his weight aside from debuffing, especially since I don't have an Sentinel Grimiore SB. Currently thinking Cloud's MC3 > L80 Fran > FuckingBrat MC3 assuming no relic draws change this order, but at the same time I'd hate to waste my blank MC2 on Cloud just to see his unique MC2 reissued shortly thereafter (Which, let's face it, is a distinct possibility considering how much DeNA staff seems to fucking love Cloud).
EDIT:
Also, is anyone leveling the core mages that have already broke the 50 cap? Is it worth leveling black white red and summoner?
Black Mage? Yes.
White Mage? Probably.
Summoner? Depends on your summon skillset.
Red Mage? Fuck no.
What are your summons honed to? If you have R2 of a 4* Summon then your order of priority should be Black, Summon, White.
If you have only R1 of a 4* summon, then: Black, White, Summoner.
If you only have 3* summons, don't bother with Summoner.
Black should be your first CORE class to level regardless. It's RM2 is amazing regardless of situation.
Summoner is most likely your second priority for
organRM harvesting, unless you really don't have any worthwhile summons. For me it has been mostly a farming skillset with some niche use as MT against +++/Divine fights, but that still put it above WM for me.
WM's RM2 is useful and you should get it to 50 regardless of your summoner usability. It's less absolutely necessary as Black (esp. since R1 Diaga is 4 charges instead of 2) but is worthwhile regardless.
Red Mage's record materia is complete shit and will be one of the last RMs I get.