How Fast Should Nodes Progress?

During New World testing, there was lots of feedback about progression being too quick and easy. Yet one small article by Amazon which was not easy to find suggested that the xp rates were set to 2-3x normal to ensure the testing period covered the data they were aiming to obtain.

I have not heard similar for the current testing, but imagine either similar or generic amounts of effort/exp/resources until the sweet spot is obtained.

Coming from a L2 background where no other MMO since has had as gruelling and demanding time and effort for progression, I imagine what ever amount of time was determined, I would probably prefer harder.

Putting that aside, how long & how much resources do you think are reasonable to build a node up through each of the levels?

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Comments

akabear

Project Creation did an interesting talk on it! Nice work Xillion & Plate
https://youtu.be/2v3c34rir6o?t=1053

Dygz

We have no way of guessing.
There is not enough content in the Alpha to make a reasonable guess.
Everything in last weekend’s test was hella accelerated. We went from Level 1 to Level 3 just from greeting the first quest giver.

Khronus

The first day of the alpha testing, nothing on our server leveled up. They decreased the required exp for the second day and things leveled up within the first hour. We definitely do not have enough information on this but I will say my HOPE is that it will take a long time for things to take place. I would really hate if cities evolved too quickly. I want there to be a sense of accomplishment. If we need to grind mobs and quests faster than a neighboring node, bring it on. This should be an exhilarating feeling and one that drives a community together towards a common goal (much like the very first Ahn'Qiraj leveling in WOW).

bloodprophet

I think what they have laid out so far is a good place to start.
https://ashesofcreation.wiki/Nodes

I think it would be interesting to see some of the intent behind and the math behind the statements on nodes leveling. How many people playing 4-6 hours a day would it take to go from level 4 to level 5 if the time wanted is a few weeks? 1000 or more I would guess but real way to know for sure.

Songcaller

One of my concerns remains that it will take 45 days to reach max level but it will take 2 or more months to unlock a Metro. If the mobs required to reach max level are tied to a Metro then the levelling process will take longer through no fault of the player. Not sure how accurate my concern is. I suppose you would have to be more of an explorer until max level before you settle into a more static disposition around Nodes.

I also prefer to grind than quest. Its been stated questing will level a person faster but the numbers aren't accurate at the moment. I think the Devs don't want too many grinders though if memory serves me. If the combat sucks I obviously won't be a grinder or perhaps even a long term player.

tautau

What concerns Neurath does not concern me. I prefer a slow progress game. If it takes a year for max level, that is fine with me. If it takes 9 months for the first metropolis to appear on my server, that also is fine. Really, what is the point in rushing things?

Songcaller

I have an issue because those 'Pathfinders' (pun intended) will be slowed down through lack of efficiency which means players arriving a year later will level faster and smoother than the players first in the world. I suppose it can match the other MMOs which have Levelling Guides after one year of play so the newer players can level faster and more efficiently too. I suppose the issue won't matter so much once I am top level but the nature of Risk/Verses Reward leans to a later start compared to an earlier start.

bloodprophet

I to am good with slower leveling.
For me the game starts at character creation and ends when I get bored. Never understand the need to rush to max level and complete every rightfuckingnowhurrygogogo.
I am going to assume at launch leveling will be slower as we will be held captive to node levels and mob spawn. I say good. The person starting a year later will have an easier time because there will be more opened up. But they will miss out on a lot of other things as well.
Like when the dwarves delev to deep and awaken a dragon that needs punched in the mouth when a mountain node levels.

Songcaller

bloodprophet wrote: »

Like when the dwarves delev to deep and awaken a dragon that needs punched in the mouth when a mountain node levels.

I would hope such events aren't one hit wonders. The game must have world events which are repetitive unless the Devs can code thousands of world events to span the lifetime of the game. I imagine most of their time will be taken up by expansions which could have new world events but Node Sieges will be repetitive, Castle Sieges will be repetitive and caravans will be repetitive. I suppose you could miss out on Node Developments and seeing the world with minimal nodes at first but you will also see Nodes expand and fall due to PvP too. I'm not too fussed on the amount of time it takes to reach max level (Especially because XP Debt will slow certain players down) but I would like a linear approach as much as possible. The more I think on the matter, the more I don't trust the numerical statements at all in fact. I suppose the benefit would be that players can't take a 2 week holiday, blitz to max level and then go on a PvP rampage. Of course, you could be able to hit max level without a Metro being required at all.

bloodprophet

One off node development events are stated to be a thing.
Each server should have a different story depending on the server's community and where they tend to settle and build.
The big pvp events will be an ongoing thing how often we will see a siege remains to be seen. I think some servers might be more agressive then others and am willing to bet at least one server might only ever see a minor siege one time a year.

Songcaller

I will assume every node that reaches a metro stage will have an event associated with it. Which means there will be 105 Events based around Metros. I don't believe every developmental stage will have an associated event with it but I could be wrong. Therefore, we could see 630 Events based around node level ups. I was under the impression random events can also happen which would be repetitive to a certain degree. It's true some servers will be more aggressive than other servers. I would expect a plethora of Guild Wars and therefore quite a few Castle Sieges per year. I agree Node Sieges could be rarer but it all depends on the perceived benefits. It takes some weeks to prepare for a siege though and pure PvP Guilds will be few and far between.

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