The Problem for New Players

[Bartel]

So I know there are a lot of people on both sides of the argument. Some like more challenge and the longer battles. Others, like myself, realize that this patch was a major nerf to newer players. I'd just like to make a few points as to why I feel this way and what I think needs to be done to fix it.

First off, the main problem for new players is the fact that they will not have useful abilities to help them make battles easier. This wasn't so much of an issue pre-patch because players had enough hp to be able to solo effectively at low levels and get those abilities. However, since the changes soloing at low levels is insanely inefficient. Even a level 1 mob at level 1 will take a player down to yellow or orange HP, requiring a full rest between almost every battle. If you try and take on a mob even 1 level ABOVE you, you'll die without healing abilities.

Another issue is that gear is so much more important right now. Wait, what? That's a bad thing? No, it's not bad that gear is more important. What is bad is that players now have to try and keep gear within 5 levels of their character, and also need to make sure that the gear is suited for their class. This means keeping lots of gear sets, and spending tons of money on low level gear. For a new player, they don't have the money to spend. Heck, I couldn't even afford to CHANGE gear until I was level 15+. And when I did upgrade, I broke the bank ugrading for 1 single class. An easy solution for this is to make more vendor sold gear for moderate prices. Perhaps its not the BEST gear for your level, but it's affordable and will get you through until you have more money to spend on the uber crafted gear.

The last issue is just the overall time it takes now to gain levels at lower ranks solo. As a level 8 lnc, I spent 2 hours doing 2 r1 leves and 4 r10 leves last night. These 6 leves got me a TOTAL of just under 1 full level... in 2 hours. Even soloing mobs takes considerably longer. Mobs 4-5 levels under me were yielding only 60ish xp per kill and were still taking 30s to kill each. I could chain a couple of them, but after that I'd have to rest. The pace of soloing is just so awful right now at lower levels.

So what are the solutions? Well, the most obvious one is to just say screw it and only level by partying. The problem again is, for newer players they might not have made any friends in game yet, or might not WANT to only party up. I personally enjoy partying, but I also enjoy soloing and I should be able to do both at least moderately effectively.

Personally, what I think needs to happen is just an increase in XP rewards at lower levels. Basically, just double the XP rewarded from each mob. Increase the completion bonuses on low ranked leves (getting 80xp for a completion bonus on an r1 leve and >200 on an r10 is just not cutting it).

If it were up to me, I would also rework the HP amounts per level. It seems pretty unfair that a level 1 character has only 100 hp to work with. In weathered gear, fighting a level 1 mob, 6-7 hits and I'm dead. That just doesn't cut it. I'd say starting HP should be around 200, it should jump to about 350 by level 10, and about 600 by level 20. If they want to keep it so that we are only fighting mobs roughly our level, fine. But at least make it so that every single mob doesn't take us to the brink of death.

In conclusion, SE really needs to balance combat among all levels. As it stands, new players are going to have a nearly impossible time trying to level and those who already have classes at higher levels will have such an overwhelming advantage on a new player that it's very frustrating.

[Betelgeuzah]

Even a level 1 mob at level 1 will take a player down to yellow or orange HP, requiring a full rest between almost every battle.

Which game are you playing? I just leveld my LNC to 10 from scratch in a matter of 2 hours. 4 mobs to level 1, no resting in between, got to chain #3. Plus I did a few quests as well. Now leveling LTW or w/e.

Haven't had any problems so far. Perhaps there's a bit too few quests so I had to resort to grinding but nothing game-breaking really. The only problem I've come across is that the economy hasn't really started yet, so there's no equip to buy. So that has pretty much stalled my progress, and no people around. That can't be helped tho.

It feels really stellar thus far. Dunno what you're smoking.

[Murugan]

Sometimes it is helpful before "realizing something yourself" to do some research and find out if everyone is having the same problem you seem to be having.

The answer in this situation is no, they are not.

[Xenosan]

Agree with OP.

Level 1 and 7 gear from the vendor I'd like to see (like ffxi bronze&leather sets). For reasonable prices.. level 10 bronze labrys sells from vendor in LL for like 43k.

Not a lot of money, but when you're starting out 43k can't be made until three or four chapters into main story line.

Also taking into account no more physical level to make starting that new class easier.

I'm not too worried because SE's history shows whenever they port their MMO (like FFXI to PS2, XBox, etc) they always add features to accommodate new players.

When ps2 release came they added the new adventurer flag (that question mark thing) and xbox release they added the books of valor or w/e they were.

I'm confident they'll do something to address new players (or in my own case, people rerolling), maybe even lower the level in which certain abilities (like cure and provoke) are acquired. They already have the grind camps for 15s. Go go Valkurm Dunes 2.0!

[SodaPop]

Opening your post by basically saying "there are two sides to argue here, this is one, and mine is right" is a good way to make it clear early on that you're arguing from an opinion rather than from observed facts.

[Bartel]

Which game are you playing? I just leveld my LNC to 10 from scratch in a matter of 2 hours. 4 mobs to level 1, no resting in between, got to chain #3. Plus I did a few quests as well. Now leveling LTW or w/e.

Haven't had any problems so far. Perhaps there's a bit too few quests so I had to resort to grinding but nothing game-breaking really. The only problem I've come across is that the economy hasn't really started yet, so there's no equip to buy. So that has pretty much stalled my progress, and no people around. That can't be helped tho.

It feels really stellar thus far. Dunno what you're smoking.

Sure you did. At least if you're going to lie about it, make it believable. I literally just did this last night on a new character to see how it went and it took me an incredibly long time to even get to level 4. I think you are full of crap.

[Bartel]

Opening your post by basically saying "there are two sides to argue here, this is one, and mine is right" is a good way to make it clear early on that you're arguing from an opinion rather than from observed facts.

Right, because the fact that I gave SPECIFIC examples of what I saw at each turn must be just my opinion.

[SodaPop]

Sure you did. At least if you're going to lie about it, make it believable. I literally just did this last night on a new character to see how it went and it took me an incredibly long time to even get to level 4. I think you are full of crap.

I can't figure it out != it's impossible and everyone else is lying bawwwww

[Bartel]

Lol, enjoy the game in a month when there are absolutely no new players coming in because the low level mechanics are ridiculous. ^^

[SuzakuCMX]

I've been playing for 3 hours and I barely made it from R14 to R15 on my PUG xD

But oh well, considering the level cap is 50 right now that's not entirely bad, and I hear XP is insane at higher levels because of XP Chains and Links.