Bring leveling up enjoyment back!
I am writing this thread with suggestion about the empty maps for new players. We can all agree that the challenge and fun from leveling became boring throughout the years and there is no longer enjoyment to run solo maps like a bot, oneshotting everything in your way because pve on low levels became really easy. To fix all of this, i have 3 suggestions which are connected between each other. First of all - be able to have normal equipments converted into vanities or be able to upgrade old weapon's stats or gear with collectable materials. Where would you get the materials? 2.- Timewalking maps. Speak with a NPC in towns to get teleported to "older maps", removing your gear and replacing it with basic one for the map you've chosen. These "timewalking players" should be able to play with new-comers together.
3.-Parties should be disabled and completely random players to join in same map. Only maximum of one "normal player" enters the map with you(you will see why in the end). - Maps would eventually get full(again as it used to be) so why not boosting the hp/dmg(maybe both) of the mobs and bosses to bring more challenge. Players shouldn't be able to go on whichever map they want. They must complete all of them one by one like a new character would need to. To keep players aiming for higher and harder maps, increase materials' drop chance by advancing in maps. Add "timewalking" boss kill achivements for more aps and farming options. If your character dies in the map, you get kicked out but replaceable by other players, left with a cooldown for x time for joining again-use plat to reduce the waiting time.
Basically this "timewalk"(sorry for using this word too often, i cant think of a substituent) would work like you got into a new phase of the game in which your gear:best is legendary , appropriate for the timewalk map you've chosen, gets better and better as you advance through the maps. The system should award players new gear to proceed further , scaled on their boss kills/mobs.
Example: Go to festerfang camp and speak to X npc for timewalk teleportation
- Your only option for now is Forest map(the first one) As soon as you join the map You instantly get some common/rare gear and start killing everything in your way. After (lets say 100 mob kills) you get your gear upgraded to epic/basic legendary and be able to advance into harder maps(like ydra forest). Make the material chances low so people farm more and more while new players also progress in their maps.
Maybe you can also give the <Timewalker> titles under the player's name while in the map.
NOTE1: There shouldn't be any leveling mechanics in this timewalk option for timewalkers nor any items drop rather than the 'materials' .You just get enough good stat with basic gear to hold your ground versus mobs. Of course there would be rich new players or twinks to abuse the timewalking mechanic. So, for them there are two options- Play in normal maps as it is now, or enter timewalk map and have your gear scaled down the same as others in the map and be able to level up or get materials.
NOTE2: The level of the maps' group gets scaled by the normal players' or if there isnt any normal player available , you get a random level between the brackets as the map suggestions ( like dead city, 14-21 ) so someone may think "Oh i am level 30 so i join brackenridge and get the group level scaled to level 30, easy farm" But no, new players are able to join timewalking maps,only appropriate for their level. As a normal player with level 18 you should advance through dead city(14-21), so your timewalking group level sets to 18.
If you find a "weak spot" for this suggestion, let it be known- i will try to fill the gap asap and fix it.
