Alternate Advancement for Endgame Players

[Stermlin]

First off, I know that this idea isn't original. But it's still something I would love to see implemented in DDO.

My request is to add a form of Alternate Advancement for high level players. This would be something that would be accessible after completing a quest (similar to the Dragonmark quest but maybe more involved). After you complete the quest it allows you to access a menu where you can assign a percentage of your XP (anywhere from 0% to 100%) to go into your AA. So, if you have 50% of your XP allotted and you earn 10,000 XP from completing a quest, 5,000 goes towards your next level and 5,000 goes into your AA. Then, for every X amount of XP you earn towards your AA(say every 50,000 or whatever) you gain an AA point. There would be no limit to the amount of points you could earn and the XP amount for the next point would always be static (unlike the XP increases to get to the next level). Once you earn a point or points you can spend them on various character boosts (similar to going to the Trainer to spend Action Points). For example, maybe 6 AA points could buy you a one point permanent stat boost that stacks with Tomes. Or maybe 2 or 3 AA points could buy you a skill point. There are a dozen things I can think of right off the top of my head that could be included as possible boosts. Anything from base speed to DR to HP increases and everything in between.

I'm a fan of this idea because it's not hard to get to the max level and once you do get there there isn't much to aim for other than farming/grinding for whatever gear your toon still needs or TRing. With an AA system implemented, a level 20 character could allot 100% of his XP into it and would still actually care about getting XP from quests, and then, breakables would, once again, become important. :)

[ConnorMacLoad]

First off, I know that this idea isn't original. But it's still something I would love to see implemented in DDO.

My request is to add a form of Alternate Advancement for high level players. This would be something that would be accessible after completing a quest (similar to the Dragonmark quest but maybe more involved). After you complete the quest it allows you to access a menu where you can assign a percentage of your XP (anywhere from 0% to 100%) to go into your AA. So, if you have 50% of your XP allotted and you earn 10,000 XP from completing a quest, 5,000 goes towards your next level and 5,000 goes into your AA. Then, for every X amount of XP you earn towards your AA(say every 50,000 or whatever) you gain an AA point. There would be no limit to the amount of points you could earn and the XP amount for the next point would always be static (unlike the XP increases to get to the next level). Once you earn a point or points you can spend them on various character boosts (similar to going to the Trainer to spend Action Points). For example, maybe 6 AA points could buy you a one point permanent stat boost that stacks with Tomes. Or maybe 2 or 3 AA points could buy you a skill point. There are a dozen things I can think of right off the top of my head that could be included as possible boosts. Anything from base speed to DR to HP increases and everything in between.

I'm a fan of this idea because it's not hard to get to the max level and once you do get there there isn't much to aim for other than farming/grinding for whatever gear your toon still needs or TRing. With an AA system implemented, a level 20 character could allot 100% of his XP into it and would still actually care about getting XP from quests, and then, breakables would, once again, become important. :)

One thing that stood out to me as being a flaw. Is there really that much XP left at level 20? I mean, you are going to be running 0xp runs a lot I would think. (have not capped, so no clue) essentially, how much dead xp is there at level 20 in DDO?

I also just realized another problem (at least I think) currently there is WAY TO MUCH mid level stuff. this just allows people to bank all the mid level xp..... I think that kinda defeats the purpose of the game. Maybe not though, but you should be gaing xp towards your level from the stuff you do, and not farming xp for some later use.

[Stermlin]

One thing that stood out to me as being a flaw. Is there really that much XP left at level 20? I mean, you are going to be running 0xp runs a lot I would think. (have not capped, so no clue) essentially, how much dead xp is there at level 20 in DDO?


This is something I thought about as being a problem, but I don't see it as being a big one. Just the other day I ran Coal Chamber on my 20/Fighter. All I wanted was the Stone for a Greensteel item I'm making and I got 16,000 XP that just went down the drain. There's plenty of XP to be had for even a level 20 toon, maybe not from the raids as many level 20 toons will be capped on them, but from flagging for them or essence runs or whatever.

[Cylinwolf]

This is something I thought about as being a problem, but I don't see it as being a big one. Just the other day I ran Coal Chamber on my 20/Fighter. All I wanted was the Stone for a Greensteel item I'm making and I got 16,000 XP that just went down the drain. There's plenty of XP to be had for even a level 20 toon, maybe not from the raids as many level 20 toons will be capped on them, but from flagging for them or essence runs or whatever.

However there's ridiculously less for a true reincarnated character.

The problem with an AA system in DDO is that most people don't realize that there's already one in place: Favor.

Because XP is so limited in this game compared to other MMOs (in fact, it's the only one I know of where there's a definitive, finite amount of XP a character can see) building an AA system around that isn't a great idea, such as the implementation in Everquest. However, Everquest 2's system comes a lot closer. You gain alternate advancement levels not by gaining XP, but by doing quests, exploring the world, and killing rare named monsters for the first time: Alternate Advancement.

What do we have in DDO similar to that? We have quest difficulties. By doing harder quest difficulties you progressively work towards unlocking new benefits for your character or, in some cases, your account.

I'm not arguing whether or not favor is a good implementation of an AA system, I'm just saying that's what it is.

[spyyder976]

I am still hoping they will one day release epic levels 21-40. With reincarnation and 20 more levels to max, that could get interesting.

[Symar-FangofLloth]

I'm not arguing whether or not favor is a good implementation of an AA system, I'm just saying that's what it is.

Favor doesn't count until Turbine decides to implement rewards for 400 Coin Lord and 250 Twelve.
'Cause right now it seems that free TP is the new Favor rewards. And free TP is by no means an acceptable alternative advancement system.

[moops]

Both my capped TRS Could still get xp in many quests and raids. . .I did not farm much to level, and only ran most quests 2 times. But even the people who level by farming certain quests, would still have the xp from the quests that they usually skip.

Everytime I do an Epic quest as well, there is xp I am not getting--so I think that the xp is out there, its whether people will want to do certain quests more than one time.

[Cylinwolf]

Favor doesn't count until Turbine decides to implement rewards for 400 Coin Lord and 250 Twelve.
'Cause right now it seems that free TP is the new Favor rewards. And free TP is by no means an acceptable alternative advancement system.

Missing two of the listed rewards doesn't make it "not count" as our alternate advancement system.

I said in the line you quoted that I'm not arguing that it's a good system, that everything's right with it, and that it doesn't deserve a complete overhaul to match up to the current situation of the game compared to when it was implemented way back in the first few mods. I'm just stating what it is.

[Stermlin]

Well it is true, due to the way DDO awards XP, that the AA system I laid out isn't optimal. But I would still really like to see something very similar implemented. Favor rewards just doesn't cut it for me or for a lot of players. Personally, I HATE grinding for favor. It bores me to death. I've gathered enough favor to unlock 32 point builds and haven't bothered with it since.

Until something like an AA system is introduced, myself and a lot of players are going to continue to dread hitting level 20.