Epic Trickle

[ManUtd4Ever]

Perhaps, but level 12-15 goes in a flash, whereas 16-20 takes weeks/months and 20-21 takes years!

I captured this quote because I asked some time ago what it took to achieve Epic levels on Sundren. I was most surprised to hear folks say "simply ask." I think Thaelis effectively captured what many may believe to be true - It takes years.

We have all heard it before, but some timezones suffer from a lower population and less frequent DM activity than others. This server has an incredible player base that spans the globe... literally. So this is to be expected.

I would like to suggest a method by which players can progress to Epic Levels in a measured way. I recommend Sundren replace the 30 xp trickle with a 10 xp trickle once a character achieves 20th level. Currently this trickle is turned off all together. This new "Epic Level Trickle" would be an encouragement for people to continue to play a character after they hit 20th level and live in a timezone less blessed.

Before anyone summarily rejects the idea, consider first how long it would take for anyone to progress from 20th to 21st level. Given the experience requirement is 20,000 for Non ECL, at 10 experience points every 10 minutes in game... it would take 14 server days to progress. This is not an insignificant amount of time.

Granted, there was a time when players would park their characters in AFK to overcome the level cap... but this exploit was mitigated. So these 14 server days would have to be gained through time spent in game.

20th to 21st level: 14 server days
21st to 22nd level: An additional 14 server days and 16 hours
22nd to 23rd level: An additional 15 server days and 8 hours
...24th level: An additional 16 days and 2 hours.

That is just over 60 server days to secure 24th level, not counting the number of server days it took to achieve 20th level in the first place. I am stopping at 24th level because there aren't any current players who have surpassed that achievement to date.

Cheers!

[Thief Of Navarre]

When you say a timezone less blessed your talking about me and doubtful right?

UK playerbase is rediculously low unless you happen to work a late shift!

[ManUtd4Ever]

I live in Zulu +1 or CET. I am right there with you.

[Dave Fritz]

I live in Zulu +1 or CET. I am right there with you.

Personal playtime has an effect, too. I live in the EST zone (GMT-5) but play mostly when CET/UK people are on.

However, back on topic - sure, put in an epic trickle.

[Memnoch1962]

I agree, a bit of slow xp is good.

[Snowmane]

I believe that with the upcoming changes to the vitality system, we will see the more epic level PCs on the server start to perma-die off, unless boiled carrots (and thus vitality healing) are easy to come by. If that is the case, then I think cracking the door to epic levels open a little bit by adding an epic exp trickle is ok. Gives Epic Characters a mechanical reason to log in when there are no events planned as well.

[Cornuto]

Before anyone summarily rejects the idea...

Too late, I pressed 'eject' as soon as I read the thread title.

I don't want this at all. If people are going to get pushed into epic levels, it needs to be either DM monitored, or involve a very substantial amount of risk.

A passive trickle people get for laying about the server is not at all something I'd want to see.

The core idea (being able to get into epic levels absent a DM) is something I'm behind, but not this method of doing it.

[Thief Of Navarre]

I quickly lose interest with characters after 20th level anyway since not a lot seems to happen. It mostly benefits multiclass characters who can continue to advance other abilities..

Im not for or against it since I dont possess any characters eligible.

[Incognito]

The players who have epic lvl chars have put in alot of proactive work, not just waiting around for DM events, into furthering the goals of their char, and faction, alot of this does go on behind the scenes, but the work is there.

With the new vitality system I see all but a few getting themselves killed off by PvP eventually event with the 2 vitality per server reset via the carrots.

If your in a bad time zone don't let that keep you from putting in requests or doing things on the forums that IC help out your faction (I've given xp out for several self thought out and run quests (and even some DMing to help out in a few). Proactivity is rewarded.

Edit: I'm also not opposed to a method (aside from not liking a bunch of epics running around at once) of getting there entirely without DM support . Just throwing ways you can push for it without always having a DM on.

[ManUtd4Ever]

The core idea (being able to get into epic levels absent a DM) is something I'm behind, but not this method of doing it.

I am not one to suffer from "not invented here" syndrome, and as such I am very encouraged by this... Whatever the method may eventually be.

Cheers!

[Kiroy]

Something else to consider, the DM granted XP before level 20 being carried over and being able to kill monsters for the total amount of XP needed to get to level 20.

So, if you were in an event at level 15 and got granted 500 XP, the max XP you could get from killing monsters would be your level 20 XP amount plus 500 XP towards level 21.

[ManUtd4Ever]

If your in a bad time zone don't let that keep you from putting in requests or doing things on the forums that IC help out your faction (I've given xp out for several self thought out and run quests (and even some DMing to help out in a few). Proactivity is rewarded.

I haven't. I have been coordinating an event for well over a month. Getting the faction members involved across an 18 hour time zone difference is daunting.

I know it is not your intent to imply that anyone not already Epic Level lacks initiative or isn't proactive. My suggestion was designed to look for slow and methodical ways to achieve Epic Level over time. There has been an explosion of Epic Level Characters since mid-September, so some players are getting much wanted attention. I can't imagine this has hurt the server at all. Many more want to achieve Epic Level and this was merely one suggestion on how to enable that outside of DM interaction.

Cheers!

[Doubtful]

I'd hate to see an idle trickle being given out for epic characters. Active ways I can kind of agree with, but a trickle? Heck no.

[Torgar]

Repeatable epic quests. We've gone months with every quest being gone except the starter sewer quest and the crying woman. Quest system, with an extremely difficult to accomplish, group needed epic quest would accomplish what you need. It would also give high level folk something to do when the DM's aren't around.

[Fezzik]

Retired characters that are in game could give out quests for epic level toons. I have an idea that follows Cybil's story line that would be very difficult (except maybe for a group of Paladins ) that involves killing a kid for her.