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.

[viion]

Which game are you playing? I just leveld my LNC to 10 from scratch in a matter of 2 hours

Ouch that was painful to read, prepatch would take 1hr max by just killing things, 45 mins if you just chored easy things or 15 mins on leves XD. Ah well least I dont need to do it, sucks for new players though.

[Betelgeuzah]

Ouch that was painful to read, prepatch would take 1hr max by just killing things, 45 mins if you just chored easy things or 15 mins on leves XD. Ah well least I dont need to do it, sucks for new players though.

The first mission alone took me that long (which is included in that time).

The cash came in handy.

Honestly speaking, the lvl1 leves only slowed me down. I should have saved them for crafting.

[viion]

The first mission alone took me that long (which is included in that time).

The cash came in handy.

Honestly speaking, the lvl1 leves only slowed me down. I should have saved them for crafting.

You added in the first mission or you just talking about the start where you fight something?

I am also including that, and I've made my fair share of lv 13 chars, search "Virtue" on besaid lol, each one took about 30 mins from Creation > 13 with leves. Though I could understand wanting to maybe save leves for crafting, but you get better money from dow and most people would do them. I dont know if they got nerfed now, this was back before 1.18 haha so could be all different now and you get nothing from leves, im talkin about when the tutorial leve would hit you lv 4 instantly, next lv 7, next 10!

[Betelgeuzah]

You added in the first mission or you just talking about the start where you fight something?

The one where you got go goldsmith, mining, gladiators guild, escort etc.

im talkin about when the tutorial leve would hit you lv 4 instantly, next lv 7, next 10!

Nah. That was too fast really. I liked the speed at which I was progressing. The downsides were no chains, no links, pure grinding so it wasn't too exciting. Got some mats and made myself some sheepskin cestis however!

[Bartel]

At higher levels, yes. The mechanics definitely change as you level up.

I'd save them for later, lvl10 or 20 perhaps.

That doesn't really seem to make a lot of sense though. Wouldn't you want the solo leves to be at low levels so that people can actually learn how they work, learn their jobs a bit, and understand the mechanics of group battles and what not? Still seems like a system that isn't working properly if you ask me.

[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!

[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.