Why should levelling be difficult?

[zanzibar]

Has anyone answered this question?  Because it doesn't seem like people enjoy levelling.  It gets in the way of roleplaying, and it discourages roleplayers from getting involved with the game.  So why place so much emphasis on it?

Maybe it's a stupid question, but it doesn't seem like one that anyone has answered... or really asked.  Unless I've already asked it somewhere else, but I don't recall if I have.

[Sheneer Shenele]

you could well say the same thing about getting trias, that gets in the way too

[zanzibar]

So you're saying that levelling should be difficult because it's the only way to prevent it from happening too quickly.

[Sheneer Shenele]

yes, pretty much

[Kaerli]

Training is slow and expensive IRL too (just look at how much college costs).  However, PPs force many chars (Arnigus or Cila, for example) to go OOC in order to train; such is quite annoying and often prevents them from training much, if at all.  Hence, PPs have to go.

[Cilay_mecur]

I think training is way to expensive and time consuming, and discourages people from even entering on going RP's. How many times have we had a discussion about starting a RP with people saying "After i train XYZ".  I think there is to much focus on how the economy is and what level people are at instead of focus on helping RP's

[Roderyck Slywolfe]

I believe the best way to advance in an area is the way an old DOS game, Eye of the Beholder, handled it. You did it, so you got better at it...period.

Using this method, no matter what you wanted to do, you would advance by doing just that. Instead, players are forced to go kill to be able to train in mining, metallurgy, crafting, etc.

As far as stats, whatever activity you partake in would determine which stats advance. Use crystal way, gain charisma...fight a MOB, gain in STR, AGI, and END...run long distance, gain END, etc. The more focused an activity is on a stat, the quicker it would improve.

If this could be implemented, it would create a completely RP environment.

 

[Ver]

I believe the best way to advance in an area is the way an old DOS game, Eye of the Beholder, handled it. You did it, so you got better at it...period.

Using this method, no matter what you wanted to do, you would advance by doing just that. Instead, players are forced to go kill to be able to train in mining, metallurgy, crafting, etc.

As far as stats, whatever activity you partake in would determine which stats advance. Use crystal way, gain charisma...fight a MOB, gain in STR, AGI, and END...run long distance, gain END, etc. The more focused an activity is on a stat, the quicker it would improve.

If this could be implemented, it would create a completely RP environment.

I like this idea. It's already implemented partially in the magic system, and I would like to see it spread to other areas.

[Zan]

I've observed this same thing on other 'private' game servers like those of WoW or Lineage and when I compared the community of the servers which had hugely increased experience rates with those with normal experience rates ... well lets just say I definitely don't want to attract that type of crowd.

Personally I'd sooner make leveling almost impossible/insignificant. Create minimal differences between leveled and unleveled players and the emphasis on leveling will disappear. Instead redirect focus on teamwork, equipment and strategy ... just like in real life.

[Duraza]

I've observed this same thing on other 'private' game servers like those of WoW or Lineage and when I compared the community of the servers which had hugely increased experience rates with those with normal experience rates ... well lets just say I definitely don't want to attract that type of crowd.

That is a huge problem. Make leveling too easy and the type who think they can "beat" the game (powerlevelers) will show up in greater amounts. When its easier they'll leave quicker because they finish faster but because its so much easier they may end up coming in greater ammounts.

[hitancrias]

Leveling is not difficult, it's just time consuming. People don't like leveling is because it's boring, not because it's slow.

My conclusion: leveling shouldn't be difficult, it should be slow but fun at the same time. (this is a matter of removing repetitive elements)
It should be slow to get a realistic distribution of expertize and because most players (not just power levelers) highly value a possibility to see their characters progress. (If leveling was fast, most people would be "maxed out", so no distribution of expertize level and no progression anymore)

Also, I agree with Roderyck Slywolfe:
RP activities (except chatting) should be covered by game mechanics as much as possible, so the difference between RPing and power leveling should gradually decline.
Differences between maximum and average skill levels should be realistic. (for example: a 'hero' can be five times as strong, fast or good, as an average skilled person, but not hundred times.)

[zanzibar]

That is a huge problem. Make leveling too easy and the type who think they can "beat" the game (powerlevelers) will show up in greater amounts. When its easier they'll leave quicker because they finish faster but because its so much easier they may end up coming in greater ammounts.

That's an interesting way of looking at it.  I'm not sure it's true though.  The allure of maxing out is to be special and better than everyone else.  If being maxed out suddenly isn't a big deal, then I think it will have a positive effect.

[bilbous]

I'm not sure that is the only reason people max out. I like to do it in any game that has progression because I equate it with reaching completion and having a chance to relax, nothing more needs doing. While there are levels left it feels like challenges left unmet, at least until the next addition.

[Miaua]

Another thing to consider is make leveling not so important... Just my thought to ponder about.
Similar to what  hitancrias said.

[Sheneer Shenele]

I believe the best way to advance in an area is the way an old DOS game, Eye of the Beholder, handled it. You did it, so you got better at it...period.

Using this method, no matter what you wanted to do, you would advance by doing just that. Instead, players are forced to go kill to be able to train in mining, metallurgy, crafting, etc.

As far as stats, whatever activity you partake in would determine which stats advance. Use crystal way, gain charisma...fight a MOB, gain in STR, AGI, and END...run long distance, gain END, etc. The more focused an activity is on a stat, the quicker it would improve.

If this could be implemented, it would create a completely RP environment.

 

one problem with this, you cant mine unless you have trained it slightly