Hi STS,
I played PL from close to the beginning and SL from the beginning. I quit playing PL after the sewers update.
Here is my suggestion to help you keep new players interested (playing up to max level) and old players returning.
1) Lower the damage slightly of all non champion/boss mobs in lower levels. (Current Max is 71, so levels 1-65 would deal less damage). I'm trying to level, not grind out end game gear. I don't want to approach a mob of 3 and get reamed because i'm an enchantress and not a bear. I take 2 hits from a ranged mob and i'm dead, (lag + gcd = fail) If you look at any other MMO on the market the lower levels are not meant to be super challenging, but a learning experience for your class and just exploration and enjoyment of the game. Sorry i don't enjoy dying in 2 hits and i'm even a wand/bracer enchantress.
2) Lower the XP needed to level for lower level mobs. (Current Max is 71, so levels 1-65 would require less xp). I need 1800+ xp to go fro 55-56. without any potions that is about 15-18 dungeons that i have to do and when i can't even get a group to finish a dungeon that makes leveling pretty ridiculous. I saw a post that it takes 39,769 xp from 1-60. Or a mere 400 complete dungeon runs assuming an average 100 mobs. This doesn't include the 60-65 levels. don't touch the highes level content, so people will still will be wanting and willing to grind and buy elixirs
3) More programming intensive change - Make all NPCs have more/less HP depending on the number of people in the dungeon. So for soloing, you can kill a mob solo as fast as you can now when you have 5 people in the group in the current game. Essentially. Take the following equation to calculation mob health (Current or Base mob health / 5 * # of People in the dungeon)
I understand you want to make money on elixirs for leveling. But for people on the go or for people that quit playing full scale computer MMOs for something lighter, this is quite the grind and that grind is not simple at lower levels. I'd be curious to see what the average damage per normal NPC is vs. Effective Health (HP/Armor) of players graphed together from 1-71. I think it think the 2 lines come together at earlier levels vs the damage being a linear line up and the effective health being belled or a gradual curve up.
I would love to play again, but it just isn't fun for me know i have to grind for hours on mobs that can roflstomp my body in a couple hits. I have a <1 year old daughter and don't have time for this or enjoy it as is. I hope AL has a better progression to it like other leading MMOs.
Thanks for reading
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