So.. ruining leves with no content to replace it?

[Holland]

I personally think they're taking the right direction, but only if they're giving us some other party-driven content instead. I think people are afraid that they will have nothing to do now, more so than they're worried about getting less SP.

I believe they have done the right thing too. In the meantime the party content is fully implemented I will just either do the rank 30 dungeon, quest hubs (If we go with the producers letter from Yoshida at the beginning of may), what ever other quests they have introduced and/or do leves as usual (Because Leves are still there for groups).

People seem to think the leve reform is only for solo players, but two things are getting fixed here. The solo/casual player reward and healthy partying with leves, encouraging now to finish the leve instead of the previous fail method. Nothing has been taken away.

[indira]

think they did this cuz they dont want to add a real party search & most people probably solo most of the time.

[BruceyBruceyBangBang]

The problem is not the guildleve change, but what is the planned main focus in party rank progression. If we're going to sit around and make ridiculous statements that we're glad people with more time progress faster (really, why?) we could be raising better questions in abundance to get a word from devs.

They are changing leves. That's great. Give us your new direction then. It's starting to look like they don't have one and that is what is ultimately pissing people off.

[GabbaGabba]

The problem is not the guildleve change, but what is the planned main focus in party rank progression. If we're going to sit around and make ridiculous statements that we're glad people with more time progress faster (really, why?) we could be raising better questions in abundance to get a word from devs.

They are changing leves. That's great. Give us your new direction then. It's starting to look like they don't have one and that is what is ultimately pissing people off.

they have a direction which is aimed towards party play but people don't want to go that direction and complain.

do quest hubs/subquests for exp
grind world mobs in a party (if you have never tried, dont say that it doesn't work)
do dungeons (it takes an hr to do leves so if u complete a dungeon and gain 20k exp then its pretty much the same thing)

im glad they are nerfing leves which were exploited and wasn't used as intended

[BruceyBruceyBangBang]

they have a direction which is aimed towards party play but people don't want to go that direction and complain.

do quest hubs/subquests for exp
grind world mobs in a party (if you have never tried, dont say that it doesn't work)
do dungeons (it takes an hr to do leves so if u complete a dungeon and gain 20k exp then its pretty much the same thing)

im glad they are nerfing leves which were exploited and wasn't used as intended

They never stated a clear direction. They look to be just taking a shot in the dark. There have been no mention of quest hubs since letter 9. It's still up in the air if it's even going to make it in 1.18. Unless an update preview for it comes next week I wouldn't really expect it.

Grinding on mobs is something I have done and it is viable. Surplus is an annoyance when it comes to field grinding though and I'd like to know when surplus will actually be removed.

Gaining SP during a dungeon is something that is stated as an option through the devs. I wouldn't count on it being wildly popular in a progression sense though. More so for the gear and item rewards. Also, what are you doing to make 20k an hr. during leves? I make 80k SP in an hour of a leve run. That example doesn't equate. Of course, this is basically the reason why they have been dumbed down and rightfully so, but we come back to this. What is the main focus in rank progression going to be now?

They cannot say, that all options are equal. They won't be and that is near impossible to develop progression systems and line them all up that way. There is always going to be a main system of progression with options. I suppose the players will just have to figure out what that will be since no one really cares to fill us in on it.

[AtlasThomas]

There is absolutely NO WAY that once leves are made for solo play that there will be enough dungeons or beast tribes available for months to make up for it. Party play will be shit after we beat the dungeons in a week, then put them on farm.. and beast tribes don't sound like it will be out anytime soon. I'm very dissapointed in the focus on solo play, cause the hardcore players who have been here since day one (like me) would like for some mature end game content. Instead its just getting easier and easier, ruining our game.

[Verecund]

This thread title is misleading, in that it implies that guildleves were not already a half-baked flustercuck on arrival.

[zaviermhigo]

Only a player over rank 35 can grasp how terrible this is. There's a huge exp/sp sink to get to rank 50. You don't feel this "hump" till around 35. It around there you get a rank everyday with a good grind/leve sesh (mean you link leves with at least 4 people using all good leves and failing sometimes). Soloing isn't fun to me, but neither was this grind past the 30s. SO either way they've kinda effed up on the fun department here. If you guys like soloing thats effing cool, but I haven't noticed very many people with higher level ranks in staunch defense of this new system. And i would love leves to not be the main focus of the game, they suck, they really do. If you like leves, and you've made it 50 and you liked the whole failing leves thing and all that, I think you're crazy. But thats just me. For some people this is their first mmo and their expectations are low, I get that. They can't just tell me "solo to 50 then group up with people" or "solo to 25 then group up to do dungeons and behest, and then rank up to 45 by yourself and do dungeons again with people", every mmo now a days does that, less mmos do "party gameplay" making the original concept of leves original. They could come out and say "oh we have party based plans", which they did say, but it sounded like its coming out 1.20 which is slated for September, they don't understand we have real lives now, I have college to attend in september, so i'll just chill and wait for party based play in mmo...that's just not right.

[Holyomen]

If I'm understanding the OP correctly he's asking if they plan on changing leves from the focus of the game why not hold off and do it once you have something else in place first?
And that I agree with.

But I have the feeling that SE has been tracking the leveling progress and it may be that players are able to rank up faster than what they would like, so overall they may want to change to game to slow it down some.
Although I enjoy being able to level quickly I would understand if that's what SE wants to do. Just be quick about getting rid of surplus and we'll call it even.

[Skeloton]

Just to back up what Tirion said, heres what i posted in another thread "worrying" about a similar topic:

The reduction in bonuses from Linking and the Addition of finish bonuses will still make leve-partying a viable option until they add a load of content. The finishing bonuses with leves are better when you do it hard and fast (mind the pun).

So solo you can do say a R20 leve solo at 1 star in 20mins and you get 1500sp bonus at the end, but you try in a party that could do it at 4stars in 10mins and the bonus is much better and everyone in the party gets it.

Not actually sure about if everyone gets the same amount or if helping nets you just a little less than the "host" unless you link).