It's time to redesign Level Sync

[Berethos]

Other games do this and it works beautifully. As the current state of it becomes more and more sour over time, I say just pick up the damn vase and smash it on the ground to see what's inside. Adjustments can be made as needed while the players cavort in the pile of pieces.

Yeah, brilliant idea.

Break it and piss players off so the few that can't handle either doing their lower level abilities or just not queuing for leveling roulette when higher level can be satisfied with a system they think will work but will have to be nerfed the higher level player so heavily that it lands on the other side of fun and is miserable again.

I see that plan going just swimmingly.

Also, I'm curious as to which MMOs have nailed this? Besides WoW, of course, which I've already detailed on how what it does is different than level sync and why using it as a direct comparison is a mistake.

[Felis]

I think it's been established in this thread by a few people that if this idea were established, it would need to come with some kind of skill potency nerf that scales with the level discrepancy to balance it out.

It have to get so strong nerfed down that there would be no reason to use the overleveled skills at all. Everything that a non-synched player of same class don't have (+/- 2 levels) will be unfair to the other player if it keep to be even a little bit stronger than what the other player have.

[Aramina]

Also, I'm curious as to which MMOs have nailed this? Besides WoW, of course, which I've already detailed on how what it does is different than level sync and why using it as a direct comparison is a mistake.

I wouldn't even say WoW nailed it. Anyone who thinks someone at level for Timewalking does the same damage/healing/etc as someone synced down from 110 is out of their damn mind.

On topic: While on a selfish level it would be great to have all my skills, I don't want to do that at the expense of newer players getting to experience the dungeon (mostly) as intended. I have the option to either not queue for levelling roulette or leaving the dungeon if I get one that is too low level for my liking.

[BigRed5392]

Mmmm.

Elder Scrolls Online syncs every dungeon, every zone, everything. And they have the champion system which is a merit like system and it does fine. If it weren't for the champion system, you wouldn't even know who is Level 15 and who is level capped.

It can make forming groups easier and more enjoyable.

But the cost is that no matter how strong you get, the content is stronger than you. Hamster on a wheel. I like tangible progression. It's not like roulette is the only means of progression, especially when Eureka, new relics, and other stuff comes.

note they did this to make the game more intune to Elder scrolls. The biggest complaint was it felt like a TES with multiplayer tacted on. now it feels like a Multiplayer TES game. More so with morrowind.

[Clawbriar]

I'm still pretty sure even if my damage was synced down to Sastasha level, Kaiten + Midare Setsugekka would horrify a poor newbie tank trying to hold hate.

[Feidam]

Don't see the issue though?

Level 20 Dungeon as an example.

Level 20 Lancer, new to the game.
Level 70 Dragoon, veteran of the game

Same Party.

the level 70's stats and abilities are heavily reduced to ensure the 20 and 70 both do similar damage output.

Scenario: The level 20 Lancer, new to the game, can look at the 70 in his party and look forward to what his armor/abilities will look like once he hits max level, which gives new players motivation to level up. This also means the level 70 isn't bored out of his mind spamming 2 abilities.

It also heavily punishes a new tank. New tanks already struggle with enmity and sync'd 70 dps. The level sync is fine the way it is. Even with sync'd down stats can you imagine the amount damage the dps would do with their full kit? The dungeons at the lower levels are not designed for a full kit.

[Vexander]

I feel like a few concerns with level sync have been addressed by upgrading and downgrading abilities through Talents. Like the BLM Lightning spells, or the RDM Jolt spell. Yeah its still not as exciting and fun as using your full rotation and all your abilities, but still.

[Aylis]

The issue though lies with the people who are actually leveling up and don't have their entire toolkit. That's probably a reason why abilities are removed in level-sync.

Pretty much this. This kinda system works great in games like GW2, however in GW2 players have a max of 8 abilities which are all unlocked fairly quickly and long before the player even reaches the first dungeon. It wouldn't really work in this kinda game. Even with weakened abilities I can only imagine how difficult it would be for a tank just starting out with only two or three abilities and maybe one combo to use against DPS with their full tool kits and all combos at the ready and how much flak the new tank will get for losing agro. Not to mention healers just starting out and having maybe two heal spells and agro all over the place with unlocked dps dieing.

[Galgarion]

So your answer to them pulling aggro because they used all of their abilities available...

Is to not use all of their abilities available.

Which would really just put them back where we are now, but they'd have to do voluntarily.

What do you think that's going to solve, pray tell?

Brutal, right? Having to make intelligent decisions regarding when to hold back and when to cut loose. Sounds almost like...gaming.. Then again, 70% of legal adults can't even follow a speed limit sign when driving, so maybe they are better off having else make their decisions for them.

[Gun-Cat]

I actually don't mind low level stuff. Its chill and I get some time to discuss important things with my FC or LS, like why Y'shtola is best girl and why people who have a different oppinion are plain wrong.