When will SE realize this endless vertical progression is going nowhere?

[Risvertasashi]

What is horizontal progression? This term is thrown around all the time like a cure all, with no details on what it would include.

There's an alternative to horizontal too. Simply, add more content and focus on the content design.

Problem is, modern MMOs have trouble thinking outside of "raid" and with how raid design has been conceptualized, there's not really much that can be done except trying to find a yet undone twist to mechanics or combine them in some way.

[Cold_Raven]

I like vertical progression.

*dodges eggs*

[Urthdigger]

There's an alternative to horizontal too. Simply, add more content and focus on the content design.

Problem is, modern MMOs have trouble thinking outside of "raid" and with how raid design has been conceptualized, there's not really much that can be done except trying to find a yet undone twist to mechanics or combine them in some way.

So, add new content, but don't add any gear better than the old stuff? Wow, players will just be lining up to run that

[Risvertasashi]

So, add new content, but don't add any gear better than the old stuff? Wow, players will just be lining up to run that

And thus we circle back to my first post.

When will players tire of vertical progression?

[Zojha]

When will players tire of vertical progression?

At this point, you should rather ask:"When will players tire of progression?"

Horizontal progression runs into the same issue. An item(or skill/talent) is either better, worse or equal. If it's not better, no point in getting it and thus no point in running the respective content. It doesn't matter "why" it is better, whether it's better stats, a better active, passive, whether it's better for a certain dungeon, boss, skill, class or whatever other purpose you can think of. Progression is a one way street and players do not pursue regression, so people will not pursue items that are equal or worse for their intended purpose.

So the real complaint is: Gear does not have enough purposes. It's only there to make you stronger/better as a whole, rather than making you better at something specific.