How Do You Feel about Sundren's Leveling Pace?

[Lotus]

Per the subject, we're looking for feedback on the pace at which new PCs level on Sundren.

We think that players are missing a lot of the server's content due to the rapid pace at which characters can level on Sundren. That's a shame, given how pretty our server is.

We're also concerned that PCs are hitting epic levels without epic backgrounds; mechanically powerful PCs don't have the opportunity for enriching events that illustrate the PC's growth from novice adventurer to renowned Sundarian personality when the leveling treadmill is so quickly completed.

Finally, we think that PCs would remain mechanically interesting longer, independent of RP, if the rate of advancement were curbed.

So, how do you feel about Sundren's leveling pace? Please choose a poll option, and comments are welcome.

[Elusa]

I think it's fine, with the exception of epic levels. I feel that entry into epic levels should require DM approval, because as you said, there are epic level characters that aren't epic, whether by plot or background. There are also characters that are epic, but don't have epic levels because they spent more time RPing.

On the flip side, I can see the argument for leveling being too fast. Leveling should be part of RP, and right now it's not. Rather, leveling is something done so you can act badass when you do RP.

I have a few suggestions: First, bump up the RP exp. 30 exp ticks are a joke when you can go out and kill 3 mobs instead. Second, decrease the bonus exp for defeating mobs that have a higher level than you. The reason I say this is because power-builds, who are often (but not always) RP minimalists, can breeze through levels because their builds are just that broken. Or else they exploit some loophole in the mechanics.

[Lotus]

I think it's fine, with the exception of epic levels. I feel that entry into epic levels should require DM approval

That's how we used to do it, but unfortunately, our DM coverage waxes and wanes, and we seldom have the staff necessary to cover all of the timezones. For that reason, the daily quests were implemented to give PCs a means to progress into the epics without DM intervention. I would describe the dailies as "works in progress" in regards to difficulty, structure, and reward.

[Elusa]

Originally Posted by Lotus

That's how we used to do it, but unfortunately, our DM coverage waxes and wanes, and we seldom have the staff necessary to cover all of the timezones.

Yeah, I was around during that time. There were also problems with non-factioned characters getting shafted and multi-hour events that gave a paltry amount of exp. What I meant was a one-time approval, after which dailies would give exp beyond level 20.

[Lotus]

Yeah, but there again, the whole timezone thing. It's just not worth alienating our non-left-side-of-the-Atlantic players.

[Jhickey]

I have to go with just right. I really don't see an issue in it because it is at it is up to the player how they are going to play their PC. I have seen both side of the coin, it took me over 2 years to level Datton to 20. While it took me less than a year to level up one of my alts to 20. I didn't mind either pace as they were two differing situations. One was my main and I took great pride in how he was developing and what I want out of him, and my alts are often there to give me a reason to just get on and enjoy the game, play with friends who are attempting to level their PCs. Use them to see and experience different zones that I don't see that often.

At the end of the day it is up to the player, what is fun for him/her, and how they are going to enjoy the game. If someone wants to power build and steam through to epic levels, so be it. If they want to build their PC through RP, so be it. If for some reason you don't enjoy playing that style, don't. It is that simple.

[gamestarmike]

I would say leveling past 10 is at a good pace, im enjoying it all again as I relevel Tyranus back to 20. Going through all of Argyle again was a lot of fun and I even explored the giant tower on top of the hill, that place was cool! I'd only recommend someone look over the inside buildings in the village and I think that place would be 100%!


3-9 should get looked over though, maybe increasing the exp to match the higher level grind, that way people stay around the lower levels longer and if the staff had the time to supplement that longer grind with more lower level rp content then im sure it get around to where staff would like the pace and fine tune it as time goes.

[Fuzziebunny]

It took me about 6 months to get Chime to 20. I did tons of RP, though it was not the world changing sort of RP with events and all that. Mostly it was just character to character stuff. It was more the sort of thing that establishes personality and makes her known to the various other characters.

I do agree that there is a rather odd imbalance at the epic levels at times. My thoughts are less on changing the leveling though. I would rather see the established characters get rewarded for making a reputation. I don't know if there is a good way to do that or not.

[thaelis]

It really all depends on what class you are and what timezone. As a Swashbuckler/EK it took less than 3 months to hit twenty, and that was in a poor timezone where I was alone on the server much of the time. My other characters were markedly more torturous to level (Ranger and Wizard), but still reached twenty in well under 6 months.

Epic levels, I have no idea. Personally I only got 1/20th the way to level 21 since the inception of the Epic quest, but again I think that's a timezone issue.

I voted "Too fast" because I've seen people hit 20 in <2 weeks, but from what I'm reading here perhaps they were just anomalies...

[Lotus]

Three people who know what they're doing could hit 20 inside of a week very easily.