Benefits Of Increasing Level Cap?

[EmiliM]

ilvl is just a number, technically it doesn't matter what that number is. But the larger the ilvl range gets, the harder it will be to balance it with physical levels when those are eventually raised (which would be necessary to balance the introduction of new skills and/or classes).

At the current rate of expansion, I would guess that we'd end up with ilvl100-110 gear before the level cap is raised. To maintain balance, all existing end-game contents up to that point would be synced to lv50, while newer end-game contents would start at lv51-55 (assuming that's the new cap), and all newer progression gear starting from ilvl110 (or whatever) would require lv51+ to wear.

Going any higher in ilvl with lv50 gear and you risk making the older lv50 contents faceroll easy (some already are) and slap people with a huge difficulty jump when going from lv50 content to lv51+ stuff.

[Marveth]

I just hope they don't make the new gear super easy to acquire so that all the old content become obsolete. An mmo should add content and progression options, rather than removing a big chunk of content so you are just switching the grind to something else.

I like what ffxi did that it gave you a trial each time you wanted to increase the level cap. That way you had to balance getting gear and learning your class until you can master the trial and unlock your newfound potentials.
Trials should be something tailored to your class. For example tanks maybe have to stay alive for x minutes, healers need to keep x amount of innocents alive by healing them in an effective manner etc.

[Awrini]

Increasing the level cap will in no way make current endhame content easier. At least from what I'd expect. My reasoning for this is the current level syncing system that is in place. Once they raise the cap the current content will automatically sync you down to 50.

[KamikazeMan]

Benefits:

- Having to level up and feeling you can become stronger. As an ilvl 90 Black Mage with really good dps, I sometimes dislike playing as BLM. I use the same two rotations over and over and there is no room for growth. I'll be relieved when they raise the level cap. It will give me something new to do with my BLM and allow me to become stronger. Higher ilvl gear does that, too, but leveling up means I get new gear AND more stats from leveling up.

- More difficult content. As of now, the content being released can be done by anybody with a decent ilvl. If they increase the level cap, they have to add content to go along with it. So when they raise the cap and release content for that cap, it's going to offer that "omg i have to level to do this content" feeling...which I like. I sucks when new content is out and I can beat it within an hour because I'm too overpowered. And for this, I HOPE it takes a really long time to hit level cap when they increase the cap.

- New skills/traits! They may offer a different way to play with your favorite job.

- Yoshida said he will increase the level cap when he adds a new class. So if he sticks by those words, then we'll have a new class to play with as well.

- Potentially new job quests. I enjoyed doing job quests and it doesn't seem like we'll get new ones till they raise the level cap. I'm curious to see what will be added if they decide on adding more.