Is it actually possible for them to keep adding content without raising the level cap

[Dreamer]

Not necessarily. Horizontal progression is MUCH more interesting than vertical progression. We already have ZERO character customization - increasing the level cap without adding some form of horizontal progression would only make this worse.

Not to mention the never-ending cycle of obsoleting your previous gear is REALLY annoying. Quite frankly, I've done that non-sense now in several other games. I'm barely tolerating the silly gear treadmill they currently have us on. If they exacerbate that by releasing a level-cap raising expansion less than a year after launch, that will be the end of my sub, period.

[Charas]

As much as I agree with you.... I still really hope to see new part of the story being revealed... more maps... more dungeons... new Primals... and more skills (with choice) and this within 1 year. I don't know if this could really happen without a level cap raise. But ye... Horizontal Progression and stat diversity is the way to go... every other game producers but SE seems to got it right ;x

[BlackShroudMercs]

If they keep going with item levels, and stack content based on item level, add quests that are accessible based on item level etc. it could get pretty interesting.

How do you guys think they'll handle it?

This is how DCUO does it, almost all 2/4/8 man content has an item level requirement.

This keeps a MMO from raising its lvl cap, it is wise considering IMO, raising a lvl cap in an MMO is one of the last things you want to do.

I don't entirely disagree with the methods used. Players without the required gear are kept from dungeons they shouldn't be in, that's a good thing.
On DC, your overall item level is refereed to as CR, so normally shouts for a role would have a required CR number attached, you'll see that here soon.

As for the whole item lvl vs lvl cap and how they affect content well, that's debatable for sure.

[Andrien]

If they take to long to raise the cap after a long period of time, lets say years. I predict a lot of people is going to rage when all their year old precious gear becomes obsolete. I think SE shouldn't wait to long and they shouldn't do it to soon.

[Charas]

Old games had it right... The initial level cap took about 5-7 months to achieve (not 1 week), Then you would need another 2 - 3 months of hardcore farming to get your desired gears... during this time, after u get level cap you spend about 6 mounths (3 mounths with you maxed gears) to farm big world bosses, pvp, and exp your guild and this nearly always in open pvp maps to create competition betweend guilds. (no maxed FC in 3 days). By the time you achieved that without a sigle time having to feel like you have nothing to do... 1 year passed and your body was ready for a level cap raise! (your old equipment wasn't useless then... as you would need it to level and farm new equipment)
Ohhhhhh old mmos, i miss you.

[Garnatian]

Increasing level cap is a good thing. Why people are against it, I have no idea.

[Eightbit]

Levels are arbitrary. Nothing but time delays to essentially create filler content. Level grinding (like in a lot of old mmos) was nothing but cheap fill for a development team. A dungeon/raid/new area etc. take a lot more time and effort to create than a grind mechanic. Back on track, there is no reason why anything has to be gained from leveling up. Want new gear? Add more ilvls, make it possible for all to fluidly progress to that tier though. Want new skills? Have them unlocked through quests or rewards (game already does this anyways). The only real advantage of a level increase is it gives that feeling of a massive update to players, but that is more a thing on just how MMO players have been conditioned to always be looking for that next level.

Good examples of progressions without a level cap raise are found in GW (horizontal progression), GW2 (horizontal with some vertical), and Tera (vertical).

[Xatsh]

Increasing level cap is a good thing. Why people are against it, I have no idea.

It negates content and removes peoples work.

Would you rather have 16-20 different things that are worth doing at endgame or 2 things that are worth doing after 2-3yrs in a mmo. It is the difference of being able to play 70hrs a week and not get bored and be able to do all valid content every week in 8-10hrs. It allows a game to be truly endless and give everyone no matter your playstyle enough content to continue subs for an indefinite time.

Level increases have almost no positive attached to them besides removing the currently players hardwork to remove the gap between new players and old... which to me is a horrible way of doing it.

Game should not be at 50 for long...but next few level cap increases they should just raise it and leave it there for the remainder of the games existence.

[Garnatian]

It negates content and removes peoples work.

Would you rather have 16-20 different things that are worth doing at endgame or 2 things that are worth doing after 2-3yrs in a mmo. It is the difference of being able to play 70hrs a week and not get bored and be able to do all valid content every week in 8-10hrs. It allows a game to be truly endless and give everyone no matter your playstyle enough content to continue subs for an indefinite time.

Level increases have almost no positive attached to them besides removing the currently players hardwork to remove the gap between new players and old... which to me is a horrible way of doing it.

Game should not be at 50 for long...but next few level cap increases they should just raise it and leave it there for the remainder of the games existence.

Negates content? What? That doesn't make any sense. Gear itself will negate content, not the levels.

All it does it provide a progression "reset" which allows new players and casuals to feasibly catch up with end-game players so the cycle begins anew.

[Cobayn]

I want a Lalafell throwing contest...