I do not understand how people think restricting skills and levels will prevent power leveling. It will just mean that these players will max out their character within the new system all the quicker and move on to the next character, maxing it in perhaps a different manner. So instead of having one character maxed out in all skills and stats they will have five maxed out, maybe differently or maybe the same, depending on how much variety they like.
People who like nothing more than skill/stat advancement will advance regardless of the end result. It may even serve to encourage them as their goal will be that much easier to accomplish.
In the end there is nothing that can end powerleveling. However there are ways to make it seem more like a simple use of game mechanics and closer to rp. I want the limitations to better rp ingame, feeling that the more the rp the less the power leveling. I think of powerleveling as someone who spends hours trying to rank the highest in every skill ingame. However thats not good for rp ingame. I'm not saying that you have to rp however limitations only increases rp chances while limiting the chances for people god-modding simply because game mechanics backs up their uber character. I also think limitations would better help ps's economy problems and make things a little more sensible. I know someone probably needs an example so I'll give one of a conversation (made up) of how the game is without limits.
Blacksmith: Hello sir, you look like a strong warrior, would you like to buy one of these swords I made? They are very high quality.
Uber character: Why should I buy one of your swords? Not only am I a master swordsman but I'm a master sword maker.
Miner: Your going to need some ore aren't you? How about you buy some of mine? I just mined it myself.
Uber character: I'm a master miner too. I don't need your ore when I can mine my own.
Herbalist: A warrior like you must need potions, perhaps I can make some for you?
Uber character: Please, I can make my own potions. Its so simple.
And so on and so on....In the end Uber character can master every aspect of the game. Firstly is it truely realistic for someone to be able to learn and master every trade? I mean people should always be able to master something but not everything. My idea was that instead of mastering everything you could have a max of like three things you could rank to max. Of course then everyone wants to be able to learn other things. Well it would still be possible but you couldn't master them. So for example lets say uber character instead was just a warrior-mage-miner. He could still make weapons but he would only be able to make low quality swords, if good enough maybe even shiny swords. However he wouldn't have the skill (nor would he ever) to make high quality swords or the uber blades. Maybe he can make potions but he wouldn't be able to make greater potions of healing, etc.
Secondly this system helps everyone make money without having to try and learn every trade. Since uber warrior can't make an uber sword he will need to buy one. Since uber blacksmith can make an uber sword, just not wield it because he isn't strong enough, he will need to sell his sword. Uber warrior meets uber blacksmith and everyone is happy. You could replace that same example with many different "jobs" we are/will be able to preform. Uber warrior will be able to make money selling skins, claws, etc off of the many monsters only he can take down. In the end people will make money and still get what they need to play through other players instead of feeling the need to level every skill and rely on only themselves.
Lastly this would much better rp. Who wants to rp with uber character who can do anything? I much rather rp with uber warrior who still relys on other characters to help him because he can't do it all. Its very unreaslic when someone powerlevels every stat and then because game mechanics supports it they rp the same thing. However I wouldn't mind if game mechanics supported it as long as its immpossible to level every stat. I much prefer the idea of seeing uber warriors walk around instead of uber characters. Plus this will at least make others more tempted to not always be uber warrior or uber mage because they won't be able to do every single thing to its max.
Yes in the end people will make alternate characters to level, uber warrior will just make an uber blacksmith alt to give him uber swords, etc etc. However while I know there are people who will just make an endless sea of alts I also doubt that many will be tempted to do so. In the end someone's going to think, "Why bother making 6 characters for this game when there is that other MMORPG that I can make just one character, powerlevel, and have all my stats without the work of switching?" Yes not everyone's going to think that but either way this plan can only really help the game, its not hurting it because the problems with it are only things that can happen regardless.
