increase level cap slightly?

[bipolar bear]

with a couple of the previous threads this had has crossed my mind. not that this has any effect on me, I don't have any toon higher then 18th. but maybe some interest would be brought back if the level cap would be moved from 20 to 24 or 25? it might give players that feel they are stagnant to get back in and play.

again this is just a thought. I know level caps are in for a reason, but to be clear, I am NOT suggesting level 40s.

bpb

[Dave Fritz]

I'd favour that. Exactly how high is another discussion, of course.

[Farmboy2003]

I am all for this as well. But not all the way to 30/40th level.

[Fezzik]

I don't think this would work very well unless there was something challenging for characters of 20+ to do (two or three, sometimes just one) can run through the Whurest ruins now with a moderate challenge. The Abyss would have to be opened up (not sure what the CR level of that is even) -- and even then, a march into there every day or more than once a day seems a bit far fetched..."Hey, Jo, remember when we went into the Abyss yesterday and kicked that demon lords ass!? Think he's been replaced yet? Lets go find out!"

[Peridan]

No offense, but no way. That kind of epic level stuff makes life hell for a DM trying to come up with stories and challenges for PC's. The only setting where epic levels really work (if ever), is in a PnP setting where the DM is able to guide the story step by step.

It would provide a momentary flicker of interest, if that, that would quickly be extinguished after everyone managed to grind their way up.

[Snowmane]

I agree with Peridan. Raising the level cap would only make things more interesting until folks hit the level cap again, then they would want it raised even more. Not to mention the characters who manage to achieve these higher levels though years of hard work on their characters - raising the cap now would kind of spit in the face of their hard work.

I think we need to find a way to take the emphasis off leveling characters and instead offer them an alternative way to advance. Factions are one way Sundren has accomplished this. Perhaps a few more paths like this might help. Maybe player houses could be bought, giving the player a home city - and they could have a citizenship score earned by doing things for their city? Just a thought. But these sorts of alternate paths can add a sense of accomplishment when leveling becomes impractical/impossible.

For me though, it's DM interaction that keeps things fresh. I have noticed the DMs we have now are much more active, so I think that's a step in the right direction. We as players just need to get away from that Pavlovian desire to hear *ding* in order to feel we are accomplishing something.

[Jhickey]

No offense, but no way. That kind of epic level stuff makes life hell for a DM trying to come up with stories and challenges for PC's. The only setting where epic levels really work (if ever), is in a PnP setting where the DM is able to guide the story step by step.

As much as I would love to have a 25th level PC, it just does not seem right. when the average NPC in a world such as FR is 3 and the average PC walking around Sundren is 25. As Peridan stated this is a nightmare for DMs. I enjoy the fact that the only way Datton can get XP is by doing events.

I know that there is a time difference for some people, and they get much less DM interaction. I feel bad for those of you that do not get the attention, and I have hopes that there is something that can be done for these folks.

I do believe there was an Idea that the Abyss could be opened to a weekly thing for the epics (Level 18+) to run at the risk of Perma death or rewards such as XP or items. I am not sure if this suggestion is still being debated behind the scenes or not.

[Fezzik]

Before the CRs were tweaked the only critters that gave xp were blue res and purple dwarves for a level 23 (a group with myrios Blackwell). They've been dumbed down so I assume that only ones now would be red and purple so the chances of anything interesting happening/challenging is remote. Emi could sneeZe her way through before. Now she would just have to say "boo!" I'm still a proponent of a LOWER cap but that'll go over like a lead balloon.

[Peridan]

I'm still a proponent of a LOWER cap but that'll go over like a lead balloon.

You'd be surprised. I'm still reminiscent of level 15 days, at times.

[Snowmane]

A lower cap would be nice, but there are so many higher level characters running around - it would almost require either a character wipe or a removal of levels for those above whatever the new lower limit is. I think folks would not go for that, if I remember the outcome of the last time a server wipe was suggested.

[wangxiuming]

You'd be surprised. I'm still reminiscent of level 15 days, at times.

Ah, when level 16s used to be a big deal ...

[Peridan]

A lower cap would be nice, but there are so many higher level characters running around - it would almost require either a character wipe or a removal of levels for those above whatever the new lower limit is. I think folks would not go for that, if I remember the outcome of the last time a server wipe was suggested.

Yeah, likely not. It was more nostalgia on my part.

On a useful note, what some folks seem to get and some not, is that the next stage of 'leveling' is in the factions, or is most easily accessed through them. This kind of leveling isn't easily apparent, because it isn't necessarily based on faction ranks.

What it is, is an acquisition of allies, resources, and influence. Players who join factions and seek to push their organization's goals tend to enjoy the RP more, because you're gaining that kind of insubstantial 'reputation' among the DM's and other players that allows you to interact with the valley as a real 'player' rather than just a PC.

Some players realize this sooner, rather than later, and so I wouldn't disqualify people who move in this direction before level 20. But it is the next logical step in an RP flavored world, once mechanical leveling runs out that you work on your reputational leveling.

That being said, I do think if more players were concerned with how their character is going to position their faction at an advantage rather than running a dungeon for the tenth time that day, the server world would turn into something truly fantastic.

[Lotus]

As far as the level cap goes, the server is balanced toward level 20 characters, so we'd need 21+ content.

If you want to become epic:

1. Get involved in your faction/player organization. We tend to promote faction-focused PCs.

2. Devote the majority of your time to a single PC. I don't want to do anything special for a part-time hero. If you have 4+ PCs in your regular rotation, I'm reluctant to involve you in anything because I'm not sure what your focus will be tomorrow. PCs that've gotten huge have been played with exclusivity.

3. Submit character requests. Easiest way to get some love is to tell me what your PC wants to accomplish instead of making me puzzling it out from watching you grind orcs for the last hour.

4. Get all your friends on the server so we have a large enough base to run RPotM again.

We could use a more dungeons and repeatable quests. That's content development, and we're kind of a bare-bones crew atm. If you can build pretty things, please apply today.

We can always look at Kaedrin's classes. The hitch is to make sure they balance with the server content, suit the server lore, and don't duplicate something we've already done.

I think, most of all, players need a clearer understanding of what they can achieve story-wise in today's Sundren. Don't worry. Working on that.

[ManUtd4Ever]

I have a lot of 20th level characters that have no where near the XP necessary to reach 21st level, much less 24 - 25th level. I've asked in the past how people made epic level; the general response was a) be a familiar character - one that is known, and b) ask a DM. It helps too if you know a DM and play in the same time zone. This allows a character to build consistent RP slowly, and over time reach epic level.

As much I would love to have an epic level character, I wouldn't want to see this implemented. I can't imagine the pressures some of the epic level characters have on this server, e.g. Dain, Emiliana, and Clive. Making more of them would only dilute the experience.

An alternative would be to open the Abyss for 20th level parties who could gain XP just like if they were playing another area of Sundren. I would add the probability of perma death. I think one should expect to take great risks for reaching epic levels... this includes being perma dead.

Just my opinion. Cheers!

[Dave Fritz]

(snip)
I know that there is a time difference for some people, and they get much less DM interaction. I feel bad for those of you that do not get the attention, and I have hopes that there is something that can be done for these folks. (my italics)

I believe that this is the crux of the matter for most of those in favour of upping the cap. Other suggestions would be welcome, but in a separate thread.