Moderating Rate of Exp Gain

[Alekzandar]

When I first started playing back in April 2004, the thrill of accomplishing missions and quests at their level caps meant our LS had to be on top of their game. We had to know when to use an ability, when to use an item, when to engage and when to back away. I remember doing the Mammet fight when there was a level cap to it. Hard as heck and something to brag about when you beat it, the first attempt, with your linkshell. Now, people just walk in and one-shot the 3 mobs. Done. Not exactly the right of passage it used to be. It makes the victory hollow and shallow. I feel it’s worth re-instating the former level caps as an option to any team that wishes to utilize it, having the challenge in place for those that want the challenge. These fights were created to be serious milestones in the game that players would talk about long after they won or lost. Let’s provide that experience to the current group of players, if they so choose to accept it. Let them earn their titles.

[mdjohns23]

I’m a n00b. But, I’m totally cool with it because I am lucky enough to be part of Project VALOR. The way Brenin has it setup, we can play the game casually and are never online just sitting around waiting for things to happen. I can work it into my schedule and whenever I’m scheduled for a session, I look forward to it because I’ll be with a cool group of friends, and Bren has a way of making typical game activities both challenging and teambuilding. *whispers*—he had us drink poison during an exp session!

I was with him and my teammates on that mission in the tower and I can’t explain the letdown once we reached the top. What’s worse, everyone outside the LS would tell us that we had to wait until level 99 for team challenges. We’re still just level 30 and lower v.v. Does that mean that everything before level 99 is just meant to be rocketed through by any means necessary? I don't believe so.


What I don’t understand is how the developers do such a great job of giving you so many options to play the game (you can choco, hp teleport, or run to a destination), but when it comes to the actual storyline and missions, we’re at the mercy of the rate we gain experience points. For those that wish to take advantage of it, I think optional level caps can make us better all-around players.

[Youby]

Watched the video and it also had me deep in nostalgia. I remember starting out and winning some of those tough fights with the same group (sometimes different group) of friends. I remember feeling like we could take down anything if everyone did their jobs right. Unfortunately for Tristian and the like, the reality is that style of play isn’t nearly as popular as it used to be. We have a different type of player nowadays. It’s not a bad thing, really. Just different.

I think the video that was posted exhibits it perfectly. If you notice at the end of the fight, the record for that fight was 1 min and 17 seconds. I’m taking a wild guess here and assuming that was not done with 2 players that were at level 19 and lower >_>. On the other hand, there was Semita’s group which defeated the dragon at level 19 and lower, but it took 7 mins and 17 seconds (the actual fight looked like it lasted a little over 2.5 mins). Maybe the record holders were short on time and needed that mission completed to get to another step in the game. Regardless, I would wager that Semita’s group probably got more out of that fight because of the effort and teamwork it took to win. I could be wrong, but that would be my bet after watching the video.

Given that they are only asking for an OPTIONAL level cap, I would totally support the OP’s suggestions and am glad to know that there are players like this group still out there Cheers.

[darkstahr]

The idea of options in xp gain is nothing new to FFXI. Even in Aht Urghan, one can trade imperial standing points (earned during Besieged) for imperial currency. This would be a great way to enable players to trade experience points for other items. Only after lvl 75 can the Merit point system be used. It would make sense to offer lower level players some sort of option as well. Besides, it’s hard to cap skills with rapid xp gain, so having this trade-off would be better for that too.

[Byrth]

CFH reduces xp gained to zero. Just CFH every other monster if you want to keep the xp/kill down.

[Shadax]

I got really mad when I learned they were lifting the level cap on CoP content. Like Alek says above, beating CoP was a right of passage in a lot of ways. And then going back and sharing your expertise to get the win for other people was even more rewarding than winning it yourself. I really do miss that sense of camaraderie that came with these challenges, but alas, the game has moved on, I suppose.

Of course, if you'd have told me nine years ago that I'd be longing for the old level-capped CoP missions, I'd have laughed in your face. (Damn you, Snoll Tzar!)

[Demonjustin]

Allowing you to set an optional cap to content like that would be nice. Going back to the days of it being forced would be a disaster, just as leaving it as it was would've been. Saying it was a right of passage isn't wrong, but to think it could remain the way it was forever would be. Eventually too many players had beaten it, the amount looking to beat it had went down, and it was no longer content that could reasonably be completed due to lack of people to do it. An optional route is the best due to it allowing those who want it to have it while also letting those who don't to progress without it being necessary, that way no true unsurpassable roadblocks present themselves in the wake of a shrinking player base and lack of people needing to still complete the content.

[Lex222]

I had heard that the level caps were removed in Promy, so I went in to try it. The level caps ARE removed, but the lvl cap symbol still shows up on the status bar. Because of that, you CAN’T level sync on those fights. It’s like the level cap was removed, but not all of the pieces that go with it. Square should put the option back in. Seems like the programming is still mostly there anyway.

[Lithera]

If you go and look at the cap symbol though it should read different than when it was an actual cap. At least that is what I remember, but that was a few years back

[Marada]

For Missions like that they should just put a similar code that they have for Assaults. You get to choose whether you go in at a certain level, 75 or uncapped for assaults so why not do it for all the other missions?