There had to be one of these eventually. But I don't want to dismiss the work STS has done for PL either, so let's first appreciate the fact that we got a new cap, and PvP is (I think) better, at least at 76.
Okay, so I have pretty mixed feelings for this update. Neither was I expecting, nor did I want a new cap. I feel like all the glory of a new expansion is just for name's sake (Wow, a new level; what a good update!). That's all there is to it. Honestly, it's just leveling up again.
What other incentive is there to level up to 85 other than having a level advantage in PvP and getting gear with better stats. Here are some things I'm quite annoyed about.
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1> About the new Items (or not so new after all).
Back when PL never got any updates, people considered it amazing to get anything. This happened with the 77 cap. 300K XP to keep players engaged, reuse of Crystal items, and then another long run without updates. STS could have literally made the 77.5 cap after 77 and it would have been considered a blessing. But things are quite different now.
When STS decided to start a series of updates for PL, they should have known that reusing items over and over again won't help improve the game. Think from the perspective of a new player. It's all good till 76, and then there's a severe lack of quality thereafter. He's probably wondering what happened to the game. And now it's happened again, for the billionth time.
Also what is quite pissing off is that people spent their money to buy new items, and the items are of no use after a week. And I'm not only talking about DEREX, INTEX and STRAX. What about the speed sets? Absolutely useless after winter.
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2> About the new cap
I'd have to call this a new cap, and just that. It's not nearly an expansion, just a new cap. Once again, temporary engagement. Giving people a good enough reason to spend hundreds of dollars to enjoy the tedious process of leveling up, but not really giving any quality. And it's special this time, because you don't get any items till you're 85! Awesome, right?
Initially, some reusing and recoloring (okay, a lot) was done to pique people's interest in the game. These were usually event updates like winter and Halloween. But remaking the game won't work forever. And it's extremely disappointing that the same thing has happened with a cap. To me, a cap is supposed to be a big update; a new stage.
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3> Stuff in general.
I feel that the lack of quality content and updates in PL is making a worse impact on the game. I don't play AL, but I'm pretty sure that STS wouldn't dare recolor a single item and release it as even a new seasonal event, let alone a cap. That's because AL players actually have expectations, unlike some PL players. I feel that STS is using PL as a powerhouse and releasing whatever they can as frequently as they can for large amounts of platinum. And unless STS really doesn't know how to make a good update, which I refuse to believe, they know this as well.
I also feel bad that I have to say all this, but when a player feels like that, it's better to just leave it, because no amount of updates would convince that player to spend on the game. Rather, I would have made a long term update, that players can dabble with for a while, like stakes in PvP (just throwing it out there ;p).
PL has probably reached the point of no return. 8 levels worth of bad updates (77-85). If it's not worth leveling up a whole 8 levels of the game, it's not worth playing it at all.
Criticism Incoming
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