What’s the goal here?

[Frezar14]

So much information to take in. But my question is what’s the goal here besides balancing everything out getting ready for level cap being raised?

If I’m currently able to complete r1-2 at level or better on most quests in epics is that what I should expect after all this goes into affect?

[Stravix]

So much information to take in. But my question is what’s the goal here besides balancing everything out getting ready for level cap being raised?

If I’m currently able to complete r1-2 at level or better on most quests in epics is that what I should expect after all this goes into affect?

U50 is effectively a smoothing of the leveling experience, making it such that there isn't such a large spike in power at 29.

Anything you could do before, you are likely to be able to still do.



U51 is a slightly different case, as it is designed to alleviate the power spike, but at lvl 20, while also redesigning the ED system. Overall, that one will have a larger impact on your character, but I doubt (if done right) it would have a significant impact on your relative power level (relative to the content, that is.).

[SheIsMiiiiiiinnnne]

So much information to take in. But my question is what’s the goal here besides balancing everything out getting ready for level cap being raised?

If I’m currently able to complete r1-2 at level or better on most quests in epics is that what I should expect after all this goes into affect?

The goal is to make you spend more money. They are applying a pseudo nerf to characters somewhat balanced by a nerf to quests, so hopefully you should be able to keep on doing quests at same level, but this will depend on your past lives, tomes and playstyle. Epic destiny power is being homogenised with room for expansion at the top. Essentially the aim is to overall decrease player power and content at high level, so there is more room for a level gap increase to expand into. At the same time they are trying to reduce options and simplify everything to make it easier to maintain. The soul and fun of DDO sacrificed on the altar of maybe make more money.

[Karthunk]

The goal is to make you spend more money. They are applying a pseudo nerf to characters somewhat balanced by a nerf to quests, so hopefully you should be able to keep on doing quests at same level, but this will depend on your past lives, tomes and playstyle. Epic destiny power is being homogenised with room for expansion at the top. Essentially the aim is to overall decrease player power and content at high level, so there is more room for a level gap increase to expand into. At the same time they are trying to reduce options and simplify everything to make it easier to maintain. The soul and fun of DDO sacrificed on the altar of maybe make more money.

Don't listen to jaded people posting on alt accounts. Check out the long dev post explaining what their end goals are.

[Hawkwier]

Don't listen to jaded people posting on alt accounts. Check out the long dev post explaining what their end goals are.

He's essentially correct though. The driver for these changes is in large part the prep for the extending level cap, which is essentially being driven by increasing SSGs capacity to raise revenue.

I don't see anything wrong with that - the game after all requires to generate revenue to keep it viable. SSG are essentially in the business of selling us fun. If this leads to more fun for folks that they they are happy to pay for, then SSG are entirely vindicated.

That's far from a given though.

[Aelonwy]

He's essentially correct though. The driver for these changes is in large part the prep for the extending level cap, which is essentially being driven by increasing SSGs capacity to raise revenue.

I don't see anything wrong with that - the game after all requires to generate revenue to keep it viable. SSG are essentially in the business of selling us fun. If this leads to more fun for folks that they they are happy to pay for, then SSG are entirely vindicated.

That's far from a given though.

This^. ALL of this^. These changes aren't about balancing the game for balance's sake. These changes are about making it easier for them to expand at the cap and have more room to sell advantages and power beyond level 30. The power-creep had already gotten to ludicrous levels so they're reigning it in. Lynn claims power in the future will stick to their pre-designed formulae but... I can't help but be cynical about it. Fool me once, shame on you, Fool me twice, shame on me. A previous Executive Producer promised 30 would be the permanent cap in his Producer's letter but people (other players) have said I wasn't smart enough to realize it was a platitude, telling people like me what I wanted to hear, so please excuse me if I'm reluctant to trust DDO again. I mean if you can't trust what's said in the Producer's Letter, what else is there? Other players said they could have just changed their minds... well what's to stop them from changing their minds about keeping the loot balanced? What's to stop them from deciding whenever they feel like it to start pushing the power-creep for $$ again? They sold us powerful advantageous gear in each expansion and had zero compunction or remorse about taking that back after they made their profit. So please, don't anyone be surprised, when it happens again.

I can hope for the best but my trust in this game has all but fizzled out.

[Karthunk]

He's essentially correct though. The driver for these changes is in large part the prep for the extending level cap, which is essentially being driven by increasing SSGs capacity to raise revenue.

I don't see anything wrong with that - the game after all requires to generate revenue to keep it viable. SSG are essentially in the business of selling us fun. If this leads to more fun for folks that they they are happy to pay for, then SSG are entirely vindicated.

That's far from a given though.

If they were just interested in making money they would have increased the level cap and left everything like it currently is. That would have been the most cost effective way to add an expansion involving a lvl cap increase.

[TFerguson]

The goal is to squeeze whatever money they can out of an ever dwindling player base.

[Bacon_Burger]

my trust in this game has all but fizzled out.

That statement pretty much sums up the mind set of the majority of players I know.

[Merrillman]

That statement pretty much sums up the mind set of the majority of players I know.

Yup — and once you lose that? Game over. I have already curtailed what I would normally have spent. I’m using up all purchased consumables now and not replacing anything that costs real $$ until I absolutely KNOW my elemental caster isn’t destroyed and unplayable. I don’t believe at all this will be balanced against monster loss evenly.

No chance in hell that’s happening “proportionally,” and if it is, who will believe it after they take back what we PAID FOR? Publish exact numbers. That’s all I can say would assuage my concern. I truly have lost my willingness to spend a single dollar. We buy expansions for content that has BETTER loot, not worse. Not scaled. That’s how you don’t die as often. It’s a video game and there is no actual role play involved. You need it to survive. Period. I don’t have the time or willingness to re grind it all. Hope they listen to us.

[Enderoc]

My guess is they need a new legendary so they are pushing everything back into epic levels to seem more pronounced when its released.
I am going to be straight up... all the named items from when I left is all sentient food now. Random gear got overhauled, heroic and early epic named gear is like...squeaky toys now. I am looking at the epic sliver flame bow like...this should be ML 12. I put it in the altar of epic rituals...all it did was take my shards and left me the same bow. I keep shaking it thinking something will come out of it thinking...if the damage was better this is probably the only item a ghostbane augment would do good in, nope...eventually it is going to be sentient food once I let it go.
It accepts sentience though...not sure why

[Arctigis]

A CC'ed rando item with two good augments slots (which are pretty common and available on the plat.
auction according to the devs) will potentially be better than named items. Instead of spending shards
on re-rolls you can instead get price gouged on double augment random loot. Yay.