what is level from lore perspective?

[rina_inverse]

then how do we translate the progression between original (2.0) to heavensward (3.0)?
things we know
* all new job will only availaible in the expansion area
* all new job will start at level 30
* level and ilevel will be generally higher than 2.0

things we assume
* ishgardian folks are stronger than eorzean (reason)
* there will be no local ishgardian equivalent to eorzean adventurer
* if there's any equivalent to eorzean adventurer in ishgard, will they start their adventure at higher level than us (eorzean)?

[Bhearil]

Thats more like an example of story and gameplay segregation. Ishgardians MAYBE are more trained that an average Eorzean due to the dravanian menace, but if we take gameplay level reasons a small platoon of Ishgardians alone could have eaten alive the Black Wolf Legion. Hell with 10 extra levels the aditional equip and the damage mitigation for being overleveled would make the HoL looks like a pussy

[Balipu]

Well Ishgardian knights have been proven to be pretty useless so far, so I don't think they are that much stronger. But we are traveling into Dravania where the dragons challenge us in new ways while uncovering long lost sharlayan lore. All of these could lead to an increase in power. Add the fact that Machinists use the latest cutting edge technology.

[Niwashi]

The lore concept behind levels (in any RPG) is simply a measure of how skilled your character is. That's why the points earned to gain levels are called Experience. But for gameplay purposes, the extent to which your capabilities change with level is grossly exaggerated. A more realistic depiction of skill levels would have to either use only a very few levels across the entire span of the game, or else make the distinction between one level and the next so negligibly small it isn't even noticeable. Neither of those works well for gameplay in such a progression-oriented genre.

So lore-wise, I'd regard a level 50 character or mob as somewhat stronger or more skilled than a level 10 one, but not nearly to the extent that gameplay makes them. The fact that a level 30 character can easily wipe out swarms of level 20 mobs, but is helpless against a level 40 one is a game mechanic (whereas the lore version would be having just a slight advantage or disadvantage in strength).

[Vanifae]

Level is a game play mechanic for balance reasons to and determine the proper challenge for a player or group of players. Even if the monsters are stronger in a new zone or expansion, it does denote the level of danger but overall level is simply a mechanic for players and designers to know how strong and capable their characters are.

Lore wise our heroes are very capable people no matter the level, though often the scope is tied to the level of the threat where at low levels we are dealing with issues that affect just a single city-state to more global concerns at level 50+, if anything the biggest tie between level and lore is the scope of our actions and their impact on the world.

Level 1 we are nobodies, level 10-15 we are recognized local adventurers of skill, by 30 we are local heroes of Eorzea, by 50 we are renowned champions that have a great deal of influence and I expect by 60 we will be big damn heroes hose very presence will influence grand events just like the end of 2.55. But ultimately level is just a gameplay mechanic.

[Niwashi]

Lore wise our heroes are very capable people no matter the level, though often the scope is tied to the level of the threat...

While I agree that the scope of what we're facing is a great deal of it, there is some progression in character skill involved as well.

Remember those first level 1 class quests, where it's a matter of things like: "So you were able to discern one end of the spear from the other. Good." or "Well, you've passed the first test─gripping your knife by the handle and not the pointy end." At level 1, we really are considered to be brand new at this, having just picked up a weapon or tool for the first time and not learned how to use it yet.

We're initially chosen by Hydaelyn for our promise and potential, not (yet) for our skill. We start with an adventurous spirit and an aptitude for learning martial skills (as well as other skills if we decide to go down the DoL/DoH route), but we don't start out already having much skill. That comes with time and Experience. (Experience that's neatly measured in points for gameplay purposes, but is important lore-wise as well for explaining how we go from neophytes to skilled warriors.)

[Vanifae]

Well yes there is growth, but again it's all just a player-game mechanic really and the quests show us progressing much faster than the norm. Also level is kind of meaningless when it comes to lore be cause we fight level 50 bandits and level 10 bandits and it isn't implied those level 50 bandits are kings of the bandit world just an equal or apt challenge for our character.

But yes growth is implied in an MMO.

[Jonnycbad]

I remember someone calculating back in the day how much HP real humans would have, and it's something like 12HP. But these were in D&D terms where getting punched dealt 0HP damage usually but instead dealt injury or subdual damage (think of Stamina Gauge from metal gear, how you can win boss fights by KO'ing them instead of killing them. I think it was something like a gunshot to the head would deal like 70 HP. Ou and 95% of humans would be, at best, level 2 commoners. The values/stats sere related to other significant animals/organisms i.e. Elephants had like 800 HP

[Gamer3427]

I remember someone calculating back in the day how much HP real humans would have, and it's something like 12HP. But these were in D&D terms where getting punched dealt 0HP damage usually but instead dealt injury or subdual damage (think of Stamina Gauge from metal gear, how you can win boss fights by KO'ing them instead of killing them. I think it was something like a gunshot to the head would deal like 70 HP. Ou and 95% of humans would be, at best, level 2 commoners. The values/stats sere related to other significant animals/organisms i.e. Elephants had like 800 HP

Interesting, though as there are cases of humans getting shot to the head and surviving, how would you gauge that in terms of damage? Would it simply be a luck role that negated the majority of the damage from it, or would it be that said human had higher HP? Or a combination of the two?

EDIT: I would like to note that I'm not a D&D player, so my knowledge of mechanics within it is very rudimentary at best......

[WyrahFhurrst]

Interesting, though as there are cases of humans getting shot to the head and surviving, how would you gauge that in terms of damage? Would it simply be a luck role that negated the majority of the damage from it, or would it be that said human had higher HP? Or a combination of the two?

EDIT: I would like to note that I'm not a D&D player, so my knowledge of mechanics within it is very rudimentary at best......

Probably a very elaborate targeting system, where damage from one angle or another causes different damage because it fails to cause the same injury as another angle. But something that complicated would really be less fun to play than a regular game of D&D, simply because its intricacies would take too long to make playing viable.