Another PTSworldisimplodingthread, with a twist

Dreyloch

Just wondering if anyone out there is on my wavelength on this theory I have.

So for the last few weeks looking over the PTS, playing on it and watching all the cry/videos/pre-mature suffering. I had a thought about why the game needs to change. But what ZOS is trying to do it is where it all goes wonky. I think a majority of us feel this way.

I think it's agreed that the CP system is where most of the issues are happening. It looks great on paper, but in practice "with no player level increases" what we get are new and exciting gear combos that can only be used and become OP with the current CP system.This includes infinite sustain and increasing DPS. If ESO was like any other multitude of past MMO's we would have players and content gaining new level caps every so often. This would offset the power creep some people are talking about out there. Then the current CP system wouldn't be as much of a run-away power train.

It's not a crime to have players coming in that might be a bit behind.There are many ways to catch them up. If the game is that great content wise, then they will still love playing their way thru to catch up.What I don't understand (and thinking about it as I write this now) is how the game is supposed to stay fresh? Sure you put out new encounters, but instead of making those encounters harder with increased levels of NPC DPS and HP's...all we get is new gear choices? Instead of re-working the the CP system to perhaps separate CP's into PvP and PvE choices that we need to make. What ZoS is doing is hitting everything including the CP system. Where just the CP system redone would have sufficed, or...raising the level caps. If right now ZoS turned back the sustain changes, and added 10 levels to the cap...without raising the CP cap this time around. Does anyone think that would stave off some of the power creep?

LiquidPony

I would have no problem if ZOS increased the level/gear cap ... as long as, while doing so, they cleaned up the obnoxious RNG gear grind.

Trait rebalance, token system, removal of useless traits from end-game gear, etc. I don't really care how they do it but as long as I don't have to run Maelstrom 300 more times to get 1 or 2 useful items I'm OK with an increased gear cap.

However, given the structure of the game (everything is scaled), I have no idea how they'd actually go about implementing a cap increase.

jakeedmundson

LiquidPony wrote: »

I would have no problem if ZOS increased the level/gear cap ... as long as, while doing so, they cleaned up the obnoxious RNG gear grind.

Trait rebalance, token system, removal of useless traits from end-game gear, etc. I don't really care how they do it but as long as I don't have to run Maelstrom 300 more times to get 1 or 2 useful items I'm OK with an increased gear cap.

However, given the structure of the game (everything is scaled), I have no idea how they'd actually go about implementing a cap increase.

Yup... they haven't increased character level and/or gear cap level because of this. I've spent 2 years now gearing up 5 characters (that still aren't fully geared yet)
That includes vet group trials, dungeons, vma, overland farming, etc.... if i had to start over with the current system, i'd just drop the game completely.
Once one character gets maxed out... i move on to another toon OR do score/leadboard runs of trials OR hunt for some achievements/titles OR play some unplayed or less played content on a character.
There is plenty of stuff to do once you're fully geared... so the game for me, is NOT grinding for gear forever.

Arenguros

Dreyloch wrote: »

If right now ZoS turned back the sustain changes, and added 10 levels to the cap...without raising the CP cap this time around. Does anyone think that would stave off some of the power creep?

As all the content is scaled to some level, this would not change a thing.
Unless "raising the level" has some kind of balancing factor to it, then why not do that w/o raising the max level?

The only thing raising the level cap would do is a big slap in the face of a lot of players, probably turning them away from Eso.
The way the gear system in Eso works is you not only need to drop an item - you need to drop it with the correct trait. And you only have a significant power boost if you can aquire a full set.
So it takes a lot longer to get the gear you want than in other games.

In all honesty:
MMOs do not need to constantly "stay fresh", they do not permanently have to incentivize being played.
If you run out of content, you are free to go. Play something else for a few months, then come back and enjoy the new content/dlcs or revisit the old content and learn new ways to beat them. Maybe with a different character or a changed meta.
Both players and developers need to learn this.

Mettaricana

LiquidPony wrote: »

I would have no problem if ZOS increased the level/gear cap ... as long as, while doing so, they cleaned up the obnoxious RNG gear grind.

Trait rebalance, token system, removal of useless traits from end-game gear, etc. I don't really care how they do it but as long as I don't have to run Maelstrom 300 more times to get 1 or 2 useful items I'm OK with an increased gear cap.

However, given the structure of the game (everything is scaled), I have no idea how they'd actually go about implementing a cap increase.

Yes yes yes remove idiotic traits from weapons 160cp or higher lock stamina sets to stamina weapons no more spriggan destro staves. No more prosperous crap no more trainning hell roll prosperous and trainning into one trait and give us back old school nirn

NightbladeMechanics

Raising the level cap makes gear obsolete. That's a bad idea in a game with this much rng grinding for gear.

Raising the CP cap results in power creep. ZOS continued to raise the cap in the name of character progression, and we see where that got us...

MartinDeShade

What they should have done was what GW2 did. Made the character lower level in lower level areas, but get appropriate level loot. Then they would have avenue for power creep that all other MMORPG do, raise max level so people would need the new gear for the new area. Obviously they would need to trim the traits down to 3, but it would have been a more enjoyable approach. Plus you don't have to nerf things because you are constantly redefining the end game. IE there were sets a bit too powerful at 70, but that is alright since we are now making level 80 sets and we can tweak things again,