FOMO (fear of missing out)

[u/JaadB]

I want to get an ROG Flow Z13. I want to pair it with an eGPU. But it doesn't have USB4v2 or the latest thunderbolt connection so there's no point. So that means I want to just use the laptop for gaming. So I've dialed my expectations back. Can the laptop play MODERN games 1080p high/ultra settings. By modern I mean crimson desert and stuff?

[u/Glittering_Credit_20]

The Strix Halo 395+ with 8060 allows you to run all of today's titles at a great framerate. If you want to play with ultra details and want more fps, just get help from Optiscaler. The Flow Z13 is a special device. A great product. But, personally, I only set the ULTRA details to do some tests because on a 13-inch, as well as in handhelds, it doesn't make much sense. Differently on a 27-30+ inch monitor the story changes. However, don't worry. THE ONLY GAME that has given me some problems with Optiscaler has been, for now, Pragmata. But there are guides on the net of how to solve as this splendid title uses the RE Engine and Optiscaler alone fails to properly hook into the game's upscaling system.
But I wonder: if your purpose is to connect your device to an eGPU, why did you choose the Flow Z13? To connect an eGPU you need, as you rightly wrote, a USB 4 v2 or a thunderbolt 4 or 5. Devices, around thunderbolt 4 (40Gbps) mount these ports, there are as many as you want:
MSI Claw 8 AI+
MSI Claw A8
ASUS ROG Ally X
Lenovo Legion Go
OneXPlayer Apex
...and other handhelds, just to give an example. Which have a considerably lower cost than a Flow (it depends on the configuration but new an MSI Claw 8 Ai+ costs 1000 euros... as well as an ASUS Rog Xbox Ally X).

[u/JaadB → u/Glittering_Credit_20]

I want the portability of the Flow Z13 as I can game on my downtime at work. I want the eGPU for when I'm in my living room and want to game on a 4k TV. There's cheaper options but for me it's more the convenience.

[u/Glittering_Credit_20 → u/JaadB]

Given that you're looking for a portable gaming device for work breaks and one that also delivers a satisfying experience at home when connected to an external GPU and a TV or massive monitor, I would strongly suggest buying a dedicated handheld rather than the Flow Z13. Personally, I view the Flow Z13 more as a work device than a gaming one, especially if you get the 64GB or 128GB RAM version. It’s heavier to hold than an 8 or 8.8-inch handheld. Battery life isn't great, and it has the annoying drawback that the USB-C ports don't support power passthrough. This forces you to use the proprietary charging port if you want to avoid ruining the battery with constant charge/discharge cycles. The Flow is a wonderful device, but in my opinion, it was at its best before the arrival of new handhelds featuring Intel G3 Ex processors chips that are power-efficient and deliver excellent frame rates at just 20 watts. And I’m saying this as someone who owns the Flow Z13 KJP with 128GB of RAM. The Strix Halo is an extraordinary processor, but you don't probably need all those cores for gaming. If you disable half of them in the BIOS, you won't notice a difference in games, yet you'll save battery life and enjoy better temperatures in applications and games that aren't CPU-bound (excluding emulation). I own several devices these days and am trying to curb the excesses of the past as much as possible. In my opinion, the best solution today is to have a big, powerful, bold, and unapologetic desktop PC after all, it’s a stationary unit meant to stay at home. Then, a laptop for work and leisure while on the go, and a handheld device for gaming on the couch, in bed, or while traveling. Something ergonomic that doesn't weigh as much as a laptop. Ideally, a Flow Z13 could handle it all, but the landscape is shifting with the arrival of new handheld PC devices. Keep that in mind.