I feel like you coulda lead with this. In general this conversation should've maybe started from "hey, see this thread? even the grindiest mofos in the realm are sayin its a bit much. Maybe there's something there?" I had not seen that post!
People who have a single bone of power greed or completionist nature won't even look at this game after seeing the mountain that some climb and honestly I'd wager most turn away from but maybe I'm just not grind-natured enough and shouldn't be projecting.
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I like the ideas in that post, though I still think having all completionists (or 2 of them) to get "started" on a fast track seems backloaded and doesn't really help new players, though it does bring the carrot closer. I know it's repeating what I said before but I maintain the position that racial points should be on 1st racial life and racial completionist should be gained upon gaining 1 of all non-iconic races. Or, just consolidate them to one racial. +1 skill point past life gains seem silly. Combining such or similar change with an emphasis on making easier progression in general tied to VIP more appealing seems like a good way forward.
Either way, I certainly hope the devs take some of it into consideration, though seeing as how that conversation went on for months with quite considerable popularity, visibility and outreach and didn't receive as much as a peep from devs in that thread, I'm now less optimistic. Though I can also see why the devs wouldn't want to go into an open conversation about that topic, especially on the forums.
I didn't vote for that idea because it only benefits veterans with mature toons. It doesn't even help veteran alts, except when they are in a very advanced phase, and by then the help is no longer so necessary. What usually exasperates people is seeing the alts so weak at the beginning, and that would be solved by starting with a few PLs, not adding them at the end.
Years ago I proposed something that would try to make it more egalitarian. My idea was for SSG to make more free basic content permanently (either all of the coupon, or part of it), to be able to put the XP progression in heroics equally for new and veterans. No more xp differences between first, second and third life. I would prefer to put the second life progression for everyone (I think the current curve is too big for third life), but if SSG wants to leave the third life progression or put a new progression between the two, ok.
Then create an npc effectively similar to "the guide" from lammania. A toon that has three PLs of a class can go talk to it, and it stores that class in memory for that server. Then the alts on that server can talk to the npc, and get one (and only one) PL of that class.
With this you get to share 1/3 of the PL of your toons. You don't need to have just one super character. If you play a lot of alts or if you have concentrated all your PLs in one, you will receive the same benefit. A new player can benefit from this, since it is easier to get 3 PL than to have two completionists as Dom says (that seems very elitist to me, and very focused on playing a single character).
By sharing only a third of lives, all characters have a lot of grinding ahead of them (so you can't really say that we wouldn't have anything to do). But both newbies and veterans alike find easier to play multiple characters. And for those looking to have a parked alt on the cap for end game, a third of past lives already provides a very decent base.
My idea was to do this for free, because I honestly think that this whole PL thing has gotten out of hand for SSG. Reincarnation is a good idea, but it has been abused. But if SSG feels the need to make it paid, let them put it as a VIP perk. Certainly this is a better benefit than opening quests in elite, which does nothing for veterans.
To help new ones I would do:
-Coupon as permanent, or at least 75% of it.
-No more elite opening blocked after VIP.
-Basic shared bank given with the premium account. Come on, SSG, all games nowadays give this. And the new ones will want to buy tomes, more banks, xpack, iconics, jeweler’s toolkits... don't be greedy.
-The greater amount of xp needed to reach 20 in the first life would be compensated by the fact of having more content available and the fact that they could invest their first points in an xp tome (or in xpacks!) instead of in the basic shared bank.
-Newbies start with 32 points. Starting with 28 when all the veterans are 36 and with PLs is very punitive.
-Convert the Expeditious Retreat spell by 30%, as it is in pnp, and with it the item clickies.
-Bring back the menace and shadowfell xpacs. Those were useful because they gave 2000 or 1000 points, some iconic ones and xp tomes. It is a tempting investment for a new player. SSG gains money, new ones get useful things win-win.
-Create new starter packs, with useful things for newbies, at reasonable prices. The idea is not that people don't pay, but that the entrance to the game is reasonable! The initial paywall is now stupidly high. Old xpacks to reduced prices or included in VIP (menace, shadowfell, RL, Sharn at least – the 99 offer will not last for long). Some starter packs might sell a small number of PLs, or come with bta Otto’s. Because an account can only purchase a pack once, it could not be abused, so it doesn't matter if a veteran buys it for his weak alt or a new one for his first character. Giving a little push when there are so many past lives to do is not a bad thing. This is not necessary for someone just starting out, but it is adequate to keep them in the game when they see the power difference they have with veterans. Do not underestimate the suggestive power of seeing tangible progress in a short time.
-Improve first time server rewards. For example, 1000 now gives 32 build points, but given this they would have it as a base, adding something more useful for a new one. Even if it's a coupon to buy something at a discount. Or include access to old xpacks, etc. here. Since it is only achieved once, it cannot be abused.
More or less these have been my ideas, suggested in many posts in recent years. Without a doubt you could think of better things, or they would have to be refined, etc. But something is needed that not only helps veterans with an almost mature toon (because come on, if you have epic and heroic completionist you don't need so much help!), but a broader audience: new ones & people with new alts too. And the truth is that giving a free life every three days as Dom says seems... excessive.
Vecna is pretty cool, despite the forum bashing.
