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View Full Version : How to solve the 'maxed macro chars= gods post expansion pack' problem.


Palum
08-09-2004, 11:41 AM
The problem is pretty obvious. Now that there are benefits beyond a couple points in skill to maxing stuff, certain unscrupulous types who exploited, macroed or chained unplayed characters to max xp will have a sizable advantage, especially in pvp. Some characters, though very few, legitimately earned their absurd xp amounts playing though so it creates a case by case issue.

There are two easy solutions:

1. Leave everything alone. Exacerbates the have/have-not problem that exists currently. Unacceptable to those who weren't 'lucky' enough to find their way to maxdom.

2. Remove all xp above some arbitrary low point. Problem is that some people actually did hunt that much xp, and had legitimate vassals who gave them even more. Unacceptable to anyone above the arbitrary xp amount (however they got there).

The issue is then how to mediate between losing lots and being left in the dust.

This is my proposed solution. First off, all xp would remain as is on all characters. All skills would remain the same. Current xp above 126 is stored in an 'escrow pool' (for lack of better terms). All characters above or at 126 would start the expansion pack at their current levels of 126. For each point of xp earned, .25 points of escrow xp would be awarded towards the next level. This, essentially, ONLY affects level advancement and not skills. If you untrain a skill, the 4.4 bill (or however much less) will be available for you to respend.

Eventually, everyone will have all their escrow xp restored in their level status bar.

All characters above 126 would receive a 25% increase in XP gain in reference to their LEVELS but would still only gain 100% XP for their skills (for the duration of their escrow xp).

For all the maxed people who are about to cry and whine there is a benefit for you too. Since you can now go above 126, you would have immediately been unable to advance as quickly due to xp cuts (ie level '126' fighting level 170 mobs vs. level 200 fighting level 170 mobs) if you were switched over to 200 instantly. This allows you extra time to accrue experience points as a level 126+ under the new system before outgrowing the content.

Ophar Kabitaki
08-09-2004, 12:12 PM
I haven't seen any benefits beyond a "few" skill credits having the level cap raised. All skills and attributes will still cap at the same value as previously..that is, once you have sank 4 1/4 billion xp into them. Nothing changes beyond the 126+ characters getting another skill credit or two..I would think 6 more total when you cap at 275..that's with one credit every 25 levels.

Palum
08-09-2004, 02:08 PM
Yes... however, even 4 credits can be extremely powerful.

I'm speaking mostly out of augmentations however. There will be, most likely, some which lend to combat abilities. If one person can get 20 of these augmentations and 6 credits instantly, it certainly sets the stage prematurely.

Besides, it benefits both under 126 (no instant-ubers) and over 126 (increase in xp earned while you reach your previous quasi-level without losing any xp).

Kachina
08-09-2004, 06:59 PM
I personally know of to many folks that achieved their current maxed states the hard way, hunting, and having good vassels that they are good patrons to. To punish good players for a few macrowers/ chainers is just the wrong thing to do. I do not have even one lvl 126 character yet, and have neither chained or macroed. I must point out chains were never against COC. I cannot support such an idea.

Sunjhi
08-09-2004, 07:07 PM
Seems logical that the next skill credit progression will be either 1 per every 10 or 1 per every 15 levels. Even if they expand that in later levels, it could mean that templates will change significantly. If I could earn another 10 credits, I could spec melee on my mage which alerady has trained melee. If I gain another 6, he can spec UA too. Formidable template PvP or PvM. I'd love it PvM, but I'm sure the PvP folks would have fits. Still...... challenging changes = more fun to me. :)


Sunjhi

Lunchbox_VN
08-09-2004, 07:18 PM
I just PWNED my math teacher :D