What sort of continuity will players have when they reach the level cap?

ArchivedUser

I have never really been sucked into the MMO genre due to everyone ending up at the same level. Someone who plays 300 hours and hits the level cap is approximately equal to someone who has played 1000 hours and is stuck at that same cap. Is there any further progression after the level cap has been reached and are there any advantages that someone at that same cap with more playtime might have other than experience?

ArchivedUser

What makes Ashes so great is there is not only vertical progression but horizonal progression in societies, crafts, etc.  So, hopefully people will not be the same no matter what their level.

ArchivedUser

Yeah. I'm not sure what continuity means in this context, but...
Even just maintaining your home City/Metropolis should keep players invested at max class level.
But, there's also government and city infrastructure to focus on, in addition to the mobs and threats that arise as specific buildings are built.

ArchivedUser

In just about any MMO, despite ending up at a level cap, there's always still some form of alternative progression to reach for. In that sense, the person who has invested 700 hours more, is very unlikely to be on a similar 'level' as the person who has just capped, despite identical combat level. The differences are generally less major than the differences between the actual combat levels, but to be honest, it doesn't and shouldn't matter too much. After all, you also do not want to segregate the endgame community too far.

There's also no real way around it though. No matter how high, no matter how insane one sets a level cap, gamers will reach it. And vertical progression is just a drag anyway, having it in place makes it no more than a mindless grind to where it's at and generally speaking games with the worst grind often use it to create an artificial sense of content which isn't there. Horizontal progression makes a lot more sense.

ArchivedUser

Yeah the horizontal progressive is definitely a plus; however, if someone were to essentially make all the exact same choices as me, would they inevitably catch up? Even if i had, for example a 1000 hour lead?

ArchivedUser

@_Aries_  I think inevitably there will be a point in time where progression wise vertical and horizontal will be complete  You will probably eventually be able to explore every inch of the world too.  It might take 1000 hrs or 10000 hrs.  With the constantly changing world there will always be a new challenge to undertake.

Intrepid have said that they intend the game to be skill based rather than progression based, if you are worried that playing a lot more hours won't give you a significant advantage you are probably right to be concerned. 

All the horizontal progression will make you more individual not more powerful. Obviously progression will be worth doing but not to the point where a player who has played 1000 hrs will be able to wipe the floor with a player with only 100 hrs under their belt unless that 1000 hours has made you a significantly more skillful player than your 100 hr opponent. 

ArchivedUser

There are still a lot of things that Steven and company are holding back because they don't want us to know about them.

They have often hinted about things that would require you to travel the world in order to obtain something for character development.  This may include abilities.

They have outright said that society membership will unlock new dials for crafting, so if you can have a dial that gives you better stats or even extra stats on the armor you craft, that will certain give you an edge in the power category.

ArchivedUser

PJ_Rydecker said:

@_Aries_  I think inevitably there will be a point in time where progression wise vertical and horizontal will be complete  You will probably eventually be able to explore every inch of the world too.  It might take 1000 hrs or 10000 hrs.  With the constantly changing world there will always be a new challenge to undertake.

Intrepid have said that they intend the game to be skill based rather than progression based, if you are worried that playing a lot more hours won't give you a significant advantage you are probably right to be concerned. 

All the horizontal progression will make you more individual not more powerful. Obviously progression will be worth doing but not to the point where a player who has played 1000 hrs will be able to wipe the floor with a player with only 100 hrs under their belt unless that 1000 hours has made you a significantly more skillful player than your 100 hr opponent. 

I want to be in a position where i have a job to do, whilst being able to help aspiring ashes get better, and i don't want an end, i want a MMO i'll be playing 5 years down the line. I am also very competetive and want to work at being the outright best at what i do. Do you think this game is what i need?

ArchivedUser

@_Aries_  You and me both   Hence I have been following this since Kick starter.  I genuinely believe this will provide what we are both looking for. If intrepid deliver Steven's vision that is exactly what we will get.

ArchivedUser

@PJ_Rydecker
Thanks! You helped me make my decision to go 'all in' with Ashes of Creation!

ArchivedUser

you gotta pump those numbers up, those are rookie numbers :P 

ArchivedUser

Unlikely anyone will make the exact same choices as somebody else.
Best at what you do is going to be subjective.
Also depends on what it is you want to do. 
You will likely have substantial competition if you hope to acquire a dragon mount.

ArchivedUser

Dygz said:

Unlikely anyone will make the exact same choices as somebody else.
Best at what you do is going to be subjective.
Also depends on what it is you want to do. 
You will likely have substantial competition if you hope to acquire a dragon mount.

Competition is what its all about 😁

ArchivedUser

_Aries_ said:

PJ_Rydecker said:

@_Aries_  I think inevitably there will be a point in time where progression wise vertical and horizontal will be complete  You will probably eventually be able to explore every inch of the world too.  It might take 1000 hrs or 10000 hrs.  With the constantly changing world there will always be a new challenge to undertake.

Intrepid have said that they intend the game to be skill based rather than progression based, if you are worried that playing a lot more hours won't give you a significant advantage you are probably right to be concerned. 

All the horizontal progression will make you more individual not more powerful. Obviously progression will be worth doing but not to the point where a player who has played 1000 hrs will be able to wipe the floor with a player with only 100 hrs under their belt unless that 1000 hours has made you a significantly more skillful player than your 100 hr opponent. 

I want to be in a position where i have a job to do, whilst being able to help aspiring ashes get better, and i don't want an end, i want a MMO i'll be playing 5 years down the line. I am also very competetive and want to work at being the outright best at what i do. Do you think this game is what i need?

Possibly with horizontal progression. You will get the option to specialise in ever greater detail. Horizontal progression enables infinite progression...the hamster wheel is optional. With vertical progression the hamster wheel is not optional if you want infinite progression.

ArchivedUser

Get to max level and the game has just begun. Explore the world, the land, sea and underground. Join the political fray. Build your home and decorate it. 

If gearing up to build your stats doesn't do much for you, I'm not big on it myself, there is still plenty to do and progress your experience.