There have been a lot of heated debates about this issue, so I thought I'd try to explain a few things.
Let me first start off by saying there is one explicit level cap, and it's currently intentionally set at 30. We raise the explicit level cap by 5 with each new campaign we release. The most recently released campaign is The Lost Expedition.
It's perfectly reasonable to limit the amount of XP you get when facing mobs of a lower level -- most RPG games do this. If you're level 30, you won't get XP for fighting a level 1 mob, or a level 10 mob, or a level 20 mob. So, with that said, we chose 3 as the level difference limit. You don't get XP for mobs more than 3 levels below you (in fact, if 1 level below, you get 75%, 2 levels below, 50%, and 3 levels below, 25%). Now the game certainly doesn't say anywhere that you don't get XP for mobs more than 3 levels below you, but that will be addressed soon. The next client update introduces con colors next to the mob's health bar, so you'll be able to tell immediately if the mob you're about to fight is an easy kill or death on sight.
It's perfectly reasonable for campaigns to have mobs that are a specific level range. This is clearly stated in the campaign description. Forest Haven is for levels 1-10, Dark Forest is for levels 10-15, Balefort Castle is for levels 15-20, Fathom Crypts is for levels 20-25, and Lost Expedition is for levels 25-30. Since you don't get XP for mobs more than 3 levels below you, if you only play in Forest Haven, you're only going to get up to level 10 mobs. Once you hit level 13, you're no longer facing a mob that can give you XP.
Admittedly, the only concrete thing the game allows you to do right now is PvE (well, that and socialize in town). This is intentional. These games are by no means cheap to make, we felt that in order for the game to succeed, the first thing that had to be fun was the core combat mechanic, so our release centered on that. What you spent most of your time doing had to be fun, Fun, FUN. If the game allowed us to [barely] break even, we could afford to expand it. If it didn't, well, you wouldn't be here reading this post. Our next client update (detailed here) introduces so much more to the game. Our technology roadmap (detailed here) gives a high-level overview of you what we're committed to delivering.
As far as limiting access to campaigns if you're not of a certain level, we won't be doing this. We want you to play. So, should you only buy The Lost Expedition? That choice is yours, depends on what you like to do. But understand that when we add features to the game, they will more than likely only be available in specific areas of the world. For example (not set in stone):
- Bank/Stash/Mailbox - Forest Haven
- Quests - In all campaign townes
- Vendors - In all campaign townes
- Player Housing - Balefort Castle
- PvP - Fathom Crypts
- Pet Shop - Dark Forest
- Lost Expedition - Explicit level cap
- Others - future campaigns
We made it free so everyone could try it. We are a small, passionate group of game developers who have spent our hearts and minds creating a game unlike any other on the iPhone/iPad/iPod touch. Not everyone is going to like it, and we have recently gotten over that fact.
As always, we WELCOME your constructive feedback, criticism, and support.
-ALS
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