Rank cap increase every 1-2 years discussion thread

[Wolfie]

And then gobble you up in a big tasty stew?

Yeah, so... WATCH OUT!

Upping the level cap generally goes hand in hand with making everything that came before it obsolete. Who likes having all their time and effort wasted? Besides like 13 million people playing WoW.

But is that effort really wasted if people had fun doing it? I mean, it's not like I can take items and money with me when I leave a game.

[_C-a-e-r-i-t-h_]

But is that effort really wasted if people had fun doing it? I mean, it's not like I can take items and money with me when I leave a game.

That's a very good question. Some of the things that separate an MMORPG from, say, Unreal Tournament, are a sense of persistence, progress, and the central motif of developing a player character. In Unreal Tournament, you have your fun and that's that, and the next time you log in there's nothing held over from the last time you logged in. Would you play an MMORPG that reset your character every time you logged out? Would you play if all of your progress was lost every day? What if only some of your progress was lost? What if it was just every week, or every six months, or every time a new expansion comes out?

/devilsadvocate

[Wolfie]

That's a very good question. Some of the things that separate an MMORPG from, say, Unreal Tournament, are a sense of persistence, progress, and the central motif of developing a player character. In Unreal Tournament, you have your fun and that's that, and the next time you log in there's nothing held over from the last time you logged in. Would you play an MMORPG that reset your character every time you logged out? Would you play if all of your progress was lost every day? What if only some of your progress was lost? What if it was just every week, or every six months, or every time a new expansion comes out?

/devilsadvocate

But is resetting my character if I'm going UP in levels and I'm getting BETTER gear? Is that regression or progression?

[_C-a-e-r-i-t-h_]

But is resetting my character if I'm going UP in levels and I'm getting BETTER gear? Is that regression or progression?

It's progress in terms of numbers, but it's repetition in every other sense. Let's say it takes 1 million exp to go from 1 to 50, and 1 million exp to go from 50 to 60. 1 million exp in grinding coblyns or leves or whatever, followed by another 1 million exp in grinding coblyns or leves or whatever. When it comes to gear, when you start at level 1 you're wearing weathered armor that, frankly, anything you find is better than it. When there's a new expansion, when you start at level 50 you're wearing epic ultra-rare armor you worked really hard for that, frankly, anything you find in the new expansion is better than it.

Is that progress?

In FFXI terms, let's look at Kirin's Osode. All stats+10 and is pretty much the icon of endgame gear. It was the most-coveted piece of gear in the first (Zilart) expansion. What if the second expansion came out and with it there was an NPC who sold Weathered Tunic +100, all stats+20, for 1 gil? What will the player response be?

[Wolfie]

It's progress in terms of numbers, but it's repetition in every other sense. Let's say it takes 1 million exp to go from 1 to 50, and 1 million exp to go from 50 to 60. 1 million exp in grinding coblyns or leves or whatever, followed by another 1 million exp in grinding coblyns or leves or whatever. When it comes to gear, when you start at level 1 you're wearing weathered armor that, frankly, anything you find is better than it. When there's a new expansion, when you start at level 50 you're wearing epic ultra-rare armor you worked really hard for that, frankly, anything you find in the new expansion is better than it.

Is that progress?

I think it is. Yes, you've got the best in slot gear from this area with monsters that are lower level. Then your character goes to an area that's more dangerous and has better rewards. It's linear character progression.

In FFXI terms, let's look at Kirin's Osode. All stats+10 and is pretty much the icon of endgame gear. It was the most-coveted piece of gear in the first (Zilart) expansion. What if the second expansion came out and with it there was an NPC who sold Weathered Tunic +100, all stats+20, for 1 gil? What will the player response be?

Some will be irked, of course. People get emotionally attached to their items/characters. But what would the player response be if that Weathered Tunic +100 didn't exist and they already had a Kirin's Osode? If they already have the best in game, and future expansions won't give any better, what do they have to look forward to?

[_C-a-e-r-i-t-h_]

I think it is. Yes, you've got the best in slot gear from this area with monsters that are lower level. Then your character goes to an area that's more dangerous and has better rewards. It's linear character progression.

Some will be irked, of course. People get emotionally attached to their items/characters. But what would the player response be if that Weathered Tunic +100 didn't exist and they already had a Kirin's Osode? If they already have the best in game, and future expansions won't give any better, what do they have to look forward to?

You're right. And it's unfortunate that grinding is the end all be all of MMORPGs these days.