Power-leveling is absolutely BROKEN

[Sorel]

There are two finite resources we are talking about here.

1. Players
2. Camps

For every PL-party there is at least 2 players less that is available for grind-parties. And for every PL-party there is 1 less camp that is available for grind-parties. Unfortunately it's a zero-sum game. The existence PL-parties hinders grind-parties. The more prevalent PL-parties are, the more they hinder grind-parties.

Now this logic also holds true for soloing. So by my logic, soloing also hinders grind-parties, no?? Yes ... but to a much smaller extent. It only takes one player out of the potential grind-party pool, instead of two. Multiply that difference to a server scale and it's dramatic. Also, to DarkstarPoet's point, the XP earned by playing solo is arithmetically comparable (half, double, triple, etc) with grind-party XP. Meanwhile PL-party XP is exponentially larger (10x, 100x, etc) than grind-party XP. That exaggerated XP growth only encourages more PL-parties, and diminishes the ability of grind-parties to form even further.

Some can argue that PL-parties are just a "playstyle", and that players should be able to do it because it doesn't hurt anything ... but I wouldn't make that argument.

[Krausus]

There are two finite resources we are talking about here.

1. Players
2. Camps

For every PL-party there is at least 2 players less that is available for grind-parties. And for every PL-party there is 1 less camp that is available for grind-parties. Unfortunately it's a zero-sum game. The existence PL-parties hinders grind-parties. The more prevalent PL-parties are, the more they hinder grind-parties.

Now this logic also holds true for soloing. So by my logic, soloing also hinders grind-parties, no?? Yes ... but to a much smaller extent. It only takes one player out of the potential grind-party pool, instead of two. Multiply that difference to a server scale and it's dramatic. Also, to DarkstarPoet's point, the XP earned by playing solo is arithmetically comparable (half, double, triple, etc) with grind-party XP. Meanwhile PL-party XP is exponentially larger (10x, 100x, etc) than grind-party XP. That exaggerated XP growth only encourages more PL-parties, and diminishes the ability of grind-parties to form even further.

Some can argue that PL-parties are just a "playstyle", and that players should be able to do it because it doesn't hurt anything ... but I wouldn't make that argument.

I think you might find that most of the people getting PLed are doing it in LS or with certain LS friends that probably wouldn't join pug grind parties anyways.

regardless you are still trying to force others to play your way or with you which will never happen. People with your type of mentality usually dont get along with others.

PS: I very rarely if ever come across others wanting a spot chosen for PLing that weren't there to also PL. Most grind camps are not used in PLing.

[Sorel]

I think you might find that most of the people getting PLed are doing it in LS or with certain LS friends that probably wouldn't join pug grind parties anyways.

regardless you are still trying to force others to play your way or with you which will never happen. People with your type of mentality usually dont get along with others.

PS: I very rarely if ever come across others wanting a spot chosen for PLing that weren't there to also PL. Most grind camps are not used in PLing.

Your first point is quite valid. Players who want to play specifically with other players should not be hindered, especially if they are LS-mates. My only contention with that is that they should not get 10 to 20 times more XP than a standard Full Party. I humbly submit that a Level Syncing system would serve them just as well without throwing the entire community out of balance.

Your second point may also be true as well (though not valid). Every community ... every society, has to have a set of rules in order to not implode. Some are written, some are unwritten. Some are lightly enforced, some are heavily enforced.

But (you may say) this is just a game. Well, games have rules too. How much they are enforced completely depends on who you are playing with, and how much they tolerate the bending and breaking of the game rules.

For example ... when playing chess with someone, I let them use the "castling" move even if they may have already moved their King piece, though that is against the rules, strictly speaking. However, I do not allow players to play naked, no matter how much they claim it is their chess playstyle. It is simply an unwritten rule. Am I forcing them to play my way (i.e. fully clothed)?? Probably. But just because I am forcing them doesn't mean that they're right and I am wrong. They have to have a valid reason ... Free-wheeling whimsy isn't enough.

So far, from reading ALL the posts in this thread, you sir are the only one to come close to providing a valid reason why PL-partying should be allowed (i.e. playing with LS-mates). Getting 20 times more XP is not a valid reason, in and of itself.

[Krausus]

So far, from reading ALL the posts in this thread, you sir are the only one to come close to providing a valid reason why PL-partying should be allowed (i.e. playing with LS-mates). Getting 20 times more XP is not a valid reason, in and of itself.

yeah but I think that is a separate debate and has more to do with XP balance than anything else. Unfortunately there is so much hyperbole in this thread a new one would need to be started with a disclaimer of prove your claims.