If you don't like PSO don't play it!!
Also let's all post productively aaaa I don't want this thread to become a shitfest the third time around ; . ;
Yeah. We've seriously had these kinds of topics/suggestions a few times now, and the moment the topics of "grinding" or "lack of PDs" came into play early, shit hit the fan
FAST. And we all know where
that got us: topics full of arguments that never went anywhere since no one wanted to make a compromise, and locked once it became clear that no proper resolution or middle ground would be achieved. So perhaps we should avoid the pitfall of
immediately seeking a change purely to help hardcore/veteran players get rares/PDs/PSs much faster than your average casual (because let's face it: if you have the ability to achieve high HBR benefits and grind with those benefits, then you're
already much better off than the average player that can't give up NEARLY the same amount of time in their lives for the same benefits), and actually consider alternatives that
won't trigger Korean MMO-born paranoia this time? You know, figure out a few things that both casual and veteran players can agree on (hint: it's
not increased drop and PD rates that are exclusive to veteran/hardcore/tryhard players), and work from there.
That being said:
Seems that this is a multi-part issue where everyone does want some form of incentive.
I think a prestige system with name colors (and PS reward?) would be the least controversial. Tying experience to some form of currency seems problematic, but I think it could be done in a way that doesn't give overwhelming advantage to level 200's, it'd just give a bit more guaranteed reward for time invested into the game.
I don't think bonus RDR or DAR is a good idea for the prestige system.
I kinda have to agree with anime here. When I last spoke on the topic, I wasn't at 200 (still not there, but that's because I don't play as often as I'd like to these days, and I have the tendency to jump between characters/weapon types when I feel that one playstyle is starting to grow stale at the time), but I agreed that level 200 players needed
some incentive to keep playing. I know I was against a prestige system before, but it could work out for PSO if done in a way where it's more optional than mandatory (tying a PD/PS/DAR/RDR reward to it would make it feel like the latter). Benefits that are more cosmetic in nature and/or don't really break the balance between casual and veteran players would likely be something that I feel a lot of people would be okay with. Except the petty ones who feel that even cosmetics locked behind endgame features is too much, or those who are like "fuck cosmetics" and only care about anything that speeds up progress towards
MAXIMUM PVP GOD MODE (not really a thing here in the PvP sense, since the Battle Mode community isn't that huge, but the same concepts apply to PvE as well)!
And while I know I was okay with the lvl. 250 idea, with how level cap increases in MMOs usually work, I can see how some people would be nervous about a larger level cap number.