Item Levels

[Sarick]

Why not increase the level cap?
To be extremely frank, increasing the level cap was never an option.

So then what were our options?

Below are the two plans:

Expand equipment variation laterally
This would be preserving the original style of the game up until now.
Keeping relics, mythics, and empyreans at the top, add gear that can be used depending on the situation without creating higher tiers of equipment. No changes to the level 99 cap.

Boost equipment variation vertically
This is the current plan.
Add equipment that surpasses relics, mythics, and empyrean. Player level cap of 99 remains unchanged, but growth takes place via equipment.

This is where the game went down hill. Over train wrecked the game. It was even stated in the bolded text that the game was changed to suit the new system. There is no longer a sense of positive progression just more Gear gear gear gear to fill the mog house. Stuff that each update will get outdated. Players who used to level up for power made did so for skill.

Like I said you guys COULD'VE extended on the merit system and this would've allow us to develop without GEAR progression. It wouldn't have created this MESS we have now. I put a line through what ruined the game to make a point. The developers chose the wrong direction IMHO and it made the game much less enjoyable. It restricted everyone to getting new gear and split the player base to the point where you need to kiss serious arse to participate if you're not up to snuff.

The MERIT system with the right quest and categories would suffice. A simple +1 percent +2% +3% +4% stat boost and other categories would've made it possible for across the board growth. THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE. There could be meny other catgories and growth. You could even have your difficulty growth without gear using a system like this. Quest and NMs would allow the players to upgrade categories.

These fights could randomly drop upgrade items for RME and other upgrades. However when players who've never defeated the boss are in party at that stage the bonuses are BOOSTED.

To put it frankly, the developers didn't explore all options be it by mistake r the lack of creativity. Needless to say it has damaged the reputation and left a stale taste in some players. This has caused them to leave or think about leaving. It's like food when people say this. I want something that'll stick to my bones. They're saying they want something filling. The item upgrade system lacks insight you get a piece upgrade it then throw it out each stage. In general this creates a dilemma that all work is for naught.

Most people aren't motivated to see their work thrown away. Look at the game "Quest for Glory" you could transfer your character stats and all to each new expansion. The only difference was that when you got to the next one you was weaker when the baseline stats where raised. This same system could've been utilized in the merit quest system. You would've had players addicted to this type of upgrading.

To end this NM's and quest that would be used to unlock the scaling system instead of ITEM levels. All in all I think SE made a poor choice with the item progression. No matter how apologist swing it there where other alternatives that would've kept the addictive game play we're used to without completely breaking the game and spitting the player base.

We've also calculated the necessary parameters you will need to combat these monsters and decided the stats for Adoulin equipment, which is why we've established item levels to make them references for equipment strength.
The meaning behind content levels and items levels
Basically, we would like you to use content levels and items levels as a reference when challenging content.

Though it's a reference, we understand there are aspects that can be covered by certain strategies and ways of playing as well as equipment that is used/collected for their special stats and properties, so this is NOT something that is saying "you definitely cannot do this content without this item level."

You relay this to the developers let them THINK about using the merit system as a scaling alternative instead of item based scaling. You'll not only save the players frustration but save them valuable mog house space. It's also recreate an addictive game that doesn't force the expansion (other then the quest and boss fights) while obsoleting older content.

This can be fixed now if item progression stops HERE without much backlash. People can still upgrade their RME's and DELVE gear but their growth would be tied to their character. Not forcing them to wear gear they don't want or throwing stuff away. All the item level system did was decrease the value of gear we owned by making the game force fodder gear.