Level Cap Increase Postponed

[Gniewomir]

So it's not like you decided to postpone it cause you wanted to reconsider players feedback, do additional research etc.and the only reason why you did postponed it is cause you didnt made it in time and systems could be too broken at the release cause of rush? Ty for information.

[kamimitsu]

For over a year now we've been planning for and working towards a level cap increase to coincide with the release of the Feywild expansion. We believe this is a necessity for the future health of the game and have been very careful to make sure it is done in the best way possible.

We built in a lengthy lead up time to allow us to iterate both internally and with the Player's Council; however, what wasn't accounted for was the possibility of a global crisis. As a result, we have come to the conclusion that, while we could push through and finish implementing the level cap increase and all of the changes related to it (such as a highly rumored Epic Destiny revamp to make sure they fit in the new builds ecosystem) by the end of the year, we don't want to rush forward with such widespread important changes without time to iterate and make sure we get it right.

In summary, both the Level Cap Increase and the Epic Destiny Revamp are no longer planned to be released in conjunction with the Feywild Expansion. Instead, these features are tentatively planned to be completed in 2021 (Subject to change). We understand if some are disappointed, we are as well, but we hope you understand the need to get changes of this type right and not rush them out the door.

First, thanks for the communication. There was a time long ago when the limited contact was frustrating, but that seems to be less an issue recently. I still wish there were more communication (particularly about my beloved stealth playstyle) but again, thanks for being more visible and making the thought processes more transparent.

As to the announcement, that's a good thing. We are very quick to complain when things roll out with bugs, poorly thought out systems, and bad designs, and I would argue we have some right to do so. So, I would MUCH rather you (collectively) took your time, ironed out any kinks, and presented us with your best effort (one full of detail, balance, and fantastic design, with which we couldn't help but be amazed). Good luck!

[TitusOvid]

Yes, thank you for an official post and the explanation.
Thank you for your focus on quality and not time and quantity. I hope that is an accurate assumption.

Cheers,
Titus.

[Captain_Wizbang]

Increasing the level cap really needs proper planning, so whatever SSG needs to do, is fine by me.

By delaying the raise, does that mean we'll see MOAR related content, items and possible a few tweaks to certain classes/trees? (Asking for a friend)

[Aelonwy]

Take your time to get it right. Take ALL the time you need. I'm in no hurry for a level cap increase.

[Volumptuous]

When we came to the decision that we needed to push out the level cap increase is the moment that we went to brainstorming big cool systems that could replace it to make feywild feel good. Thus, the Augment revamp that Cordovan has mentioned. There will be some new exciting and unique augments present to be found in the Feywild as well as some changes to the underlying system of augments as a whole.

That is the primary "big systems feature" that you are referring to. Combine that with the new quests, new race, new iconic race, new universal tree and it should be a similarly scoped expansion to Sharn and Ravenloft. Honestly, when the level cap increase was a part of it it was... much larger in total feature scope than our past two expansions. Now it should be roughly in line with them.

Even though we all know that Cordovan doesn't wear pants on his live stream (lol) I am so thankful that you all are taking the time to do this right. Having been with you all through beta and having quit for a year when you released arti then nerfed it right away, I am so thankful that you are all taking this seriously and I look forward to it even more than before. Hope you all are staying safe and healthy, and thank you for working so hard on this for us all. This "game" has gotten me through 2 rounds of chemo, and this is where my family is, you all included.

[Silverleafeon]

Looks slyly at NDA ...

Basic summary : It's cool.

+1 Thanks

[chipotle47]

When we came to the decision that we needed to push out the level cap increase is the moment that we went to brainstorming big cool systems that could replace it to make feywild feel good. Thus, the Augment revamp that Cordovan has mentioned. There will be some new exciting and unique augments present to be found in the Feywild as well as some changes to the underlying system of augments as a whole.

That is the primary "big systems feature" that you are referring to. Combine that with the new quests, new race, new iconic race, new universal tree and it should be a similarly scoped expansion to Sharn and Ravenloft. Honestly, when the level cap increase was a part of it it was... much larger in total feature scope than our past two expansions. Now it should be roughly in line with them.

This is the greatest news I have read all year. So happy to hear this. Please don't feel the need to raise the level cap, ever. Just spend that time and energy on putting out great new quests, expansions and reducing lag. Revamps are a great way of shaking things up too, without destroying the end game ecosystem like a level cap raise would do. Looking forward to enjoying the game for another year.

[SlordaxSigma]

I do hope that "Postponed" = "Never" in this situation. Content is better then cap' raise.

[Sebastrd]

Hopefully there is a chance it won't ever happen. For now, we celebrate!

I'm only disappointed inasmuch as it's merely delayed and not cancelled. The chatter recently seems to suggest a level cap raise is deeply unpopular. I think it would be good to expound a little on exactly why you came to the conclusion it was necessary for the health of the game. I'm open to hearing a reasoned and supported argument to change my mind, but I think we need a little more than just "we said so", essentially.

This is the greatest news I have read all year. So happy to hear this. Please don't feel the need to raise the level cap, ever.

I do hope that "Postponed" = "Never" in this situation. Content is better then cap' raise.

I was not at all thrilled to hear the initial announcement about the level cap increase, either. But consider this:

Without it, content will continue to pile up on itself at level 30. We're about to have three full expansions of content all at the same max character level; and the only meaningful progression will come from new loot. That's bonkers and, frankly, unsustainable. I have no stomach for running more and more "Legendary" content at level 30 just for marginal gains from new loot that slowly obsoletes old loot of the same minimum level.

[Iyllelia]

I was not at all thrilled when to hear the initial announcement about the level cap increase, either. But consider this:

Without it, content will continue to pile up on itself at level 30. We're about to have three full expansions of content all at the same max character level; and the only meaningful progression will come from new loot. That's bonkers and, frankly, unsustainable. I have no stomach for running more and more "Legendary" content at level 30 just for marginal gains from new loot that slowly obsoletes old loot of the same minimum level.

+1

MORE level 29 gear?

Can you all please come up with another strategy here? Than asking us pay for an expansion and then a year later making the gear from that expansion obsolete?

[Yamani]

+1

MORE level 29 gear?

Can you all please come up with another strategy here? Than asking us pay for an expansion and then a year later making the gear from that expansion obsolete?

Since the level cap increase is postponed the gear is in a fun spot:
1) The gear is overwhelming for current gear, underwhelming for new content levels and quickly falls from the baseline of new content.
2) The gear is still the baseline for new content and probably ml 30. But completely OP for current content but not new content.
3) Gear is underwhelming(Sideways progression!), and does not meet whats needed for new more difficult content.

[Hakushi]

Thank you for the information.

With the Level Cap Increase and Epic Destinies Revamp out of the Feywild Expansion, the new big thing inculded in it now is the Augment Revamp. This is a good thing, but is it enough? Maybe, but something else that would be very nice to add to it would be a Cosmetic Revamp that would see the introduction of a Wardrobe but it's probably too late for something like that, sadly.

[noinfo]

For over a year now we've been planning for and working towards a level cap increase to coincide with the release of the Feywild expansion. We believe this is a necessity for the future health of the game and have been very careful to make sure it is done in the best way possible.

We built in a lengthy lead up time to allow us to iterate both internally and with the Player's Council; however, what wasn't accounted for was the possibility of a global crisis. As a result, we have come to the conclusion that, while we could push through and finish implementing the level cap increase and all of the changes related to it (such as a highly rumored Epic Destiny revamp to make sure they fit in the new builds ecosystem) by the end of the year, we don't want to rush forward with such widespread important changes without time to iterate and make sure we get it right.

In summary, both the Level Cap Increase and the Epic Destiny Revamp are no longer planned to be released in conjunction with the Feywild Expansion. Instead, these features are tentatively planned to be completed in 2021 (Subject to change). We understand if some are disappointed, we are as well, but we hope you understand the need to get changes of this type right and not rush them out the door.

What would be really if for faywilde is make all stat bonuses all stats available particulary now with char to damage and hit limiting stats via ed is very outdated and limiting for no reason.

[devashta]

In summary, both the Level Cap Increase and the Epic Destiny Revamp are no longer planned to be released in conjunction with the Feywild Expansion. Instead, these features are tentatively planned to be completed in 2021 (Subject to change). We understand if some are disappointed, we are as well, but we hope you understand the need to get changes of this type right and not rush them out the door.

We are NOT at all disappointed - trash the level cap increase idea right now. Population is so much spread out already (among levels and servers). Population has gone down since you expired the free coupon code without a backup model - you didn't think through how to keep the new players nor how to bring in new players. I do not know the data - but what did you do with the data on how players who came in during the wave 1 covid spent - I guess nothing. We are back to status quo where a new player installs ddo, opens the character screen and all he sees are "Buy now", and then enters the game and sees "red lock" on content all over the map. We are tired of giving you so many ideas to increase and keep new players as you never do anything.
The augment changes and the xpac are good, but seriously you need to do so many things to maintain the health of this game. Cheers.

[Yamani]

We are NOT at all disappointed - trash the level cap increase idea right now. Population is so much spread out already (among levels and servers). Population has gone down since you expired the free coupon code without a backup model - you didn't think through how to keep the new players nor how to bring in new players. I do not know the data - but what did you do with the data on how players who came in during the wave 1 covid spent - I guess nothing. We are back to status quo where a new player installs ddo, opens the character screen and all he sees are "Buy now", and then enters the game and sees "red lock" on content all over the map. We are tired of giving you so many ideas to increase and keep new players as you never do anything.
The augment changes and the xpac are good, but seriously you need to do so many things to maintain the health of this game. Cheers.

Sometimes you guys makes me wonder, if you ever think that there might be another reason as to why people don't group with you. Instead of the lack of the player base.

[KoobTheProud]

Take your time to get it right. Take ALL the time you need. I'm in no hurry for a level cap increase.

Most of the vets who have been with DDO since F2P are in the same position we are in.

I'm hoping that this is a face-saving way out of a level cap increase. I know that management has said that they believe a level cap increase is necessary to keep the game going. If that is the case it likely means that they have run out of ideas for compelling content and instead are going to reset the grind every few years.

For most players that is the equivalent of maintenance mode, however it is dolled up for the player base.

People don't pay for maintenance mode. In fact a leading topic of conversation among vets for quite some time now has been how to play the game as economically as possible. That's because for many of us the game already appears to be in maintenance mode, with grind dominating the discussions as a cheap alternative production to actually good content.

Adding **** like the Inquisitive to speed the grind up doesn't make play more compelling it just makes the wheel spin faster. This however is what DDO has devolved too: making play go by as fast as possible because the alternative of creating great content is too hard to do.

The Ravenloft release, which was genuinely good game play coupled with an inspiring graphics upgrade, feels like it happened an eternity ago. Since then we have had more pre-broken stuff released on a regular basis. The meta has shifted to a format (reaper) that very few people really like but most feel compelled to play anyway because instead of being challenging content it just added all sorts of perks and of course sped up the grind.

[Captain_Wizbang]

Since the level cap increase is postponed the gear is in a fun spot:
1) The gear is overwhelming for current gear, underwhelming for new content levels and quickly falls from the baseline of new content.
2) The gear is still the baseline for new content and probably ml 30. But completely OP for current content but not new content.
3) Gear is underwhelming(Sideways progression!), and does not meet whats needed for new more difficult content.

This made me laugh bro. Spot on really, +1 when available

[Iriale]

I was not at all thrilled to hear the initial announcement about the level cap increase, either. But consider this:

Without it, content will continue to pile up on itself at level 30. We're about to have three full expansions of content all at the same max character level; and the only meaningful progression will come from new loot. That's bonkers and, frankly, unsustainable. I have no stomach for running more and more "Legendary" content at level 30 just for marginal gains from new loot that slowly obsoletes old loot of the same minimum level.

It is good that the content is stacked in the cap. It is good that there is a lot of content for the end game. How do you think a higher level with fewer quests, fewer raids, fewer things to do will be better? If you do not have a stomach for a varied content, you will have less for a very reduced content. increasing the level will not solve the problem, it will only make it worse.

[Kinerd]

Hopefully there is a chance it won't ever happen. For now, we celebrate!

well put