All the commotion on Steam re cubits and attaining plots has reawakened an idea that’s been gnawing at me for a while. Level progression in Boundless clearly follows the standard for MMOs; that being that with each level you gain it takes exponentially longer to attain the next, please see my crude representation below:
Though this is a fairly standard model used in many games it does by design lead to a very grind-based progression system. In Boundless this means that new characters are able to attain level 15 pretty quickly and start reasonable sized builds, however it then takes longer and longer to unlock the plots that will allow further expansion, this begins to make purchasing cubits seem necessary.
Games with this system see level progression remain very linear, with players gaining levels at a steady rate that doesn’t really change. In classic RPG MMOs this usually means that monsters become progressively tougher and worth more XP, however a similar number have to be killed to reach the next level as with lower levels.
I would like to see a similar system to this implemented in Boundless as I think it would be vital or ensuring a continuation of the feelings of achievement from tangible progress that we experience in the first day or so of play; that would result in a regular growth of our plot/cubit count; and make the post-level-50 skill set system a viable option. Currently the only way of obtaining a high number of plots is either to buy them or create new characters for the high plot/playtime ratio.
One way to achieve this in Boundless would be to tweak the XP requirements across levels, however an alternative would be to boost the XP obtained from higher level worlds significantly and from crafting higher level recipes.
tldr: Obtaining high levels currently takes an excruciatingly long time, and turns what feels like an exciting and rewarding game to begin with into a slog to achieve great results with single characters. I would like to see changes that increase the rate of level progression for high level characters.
If I’m not mistaken, you earn progressively more cubits as the levels get harder, so though it takes longer to level you get more cubits/plots when you finally do level.
Skill points, on the other hand, are a fixed 2/level. Which is a little discouraging. SP used to be progressive as well, but they changed it when they simplified the skill tree. Overall the new tree is way better but this one aspect of it does bother me a little.
Cool post mate, but you didn’t explain why you don’t like the current system and why this progression system you proposed should be introduced. I’m saying that because from perspecive of developers this post brings literally nothing. It’s like reporting only an outcome of a bug without providing an explanation how to reproduce. In addition to that, currently amount of cubits you gain for lvl up scales with the exp required for level up.
This amount of exp is literally nothing and can be negated so easily with bomb mining experience. 5 bombs and xp defuff is gone, +high level players shouldn’t die that often to feel that.
I am NOWHERE close to be able to use bombs efficiently let alone craft them. Like I’ve said in other threads, I am a VERY casual player and cannot stand extreme unnecessary difficulty. makes me want to play a different game. this is a sandbox. I like it because I can do whatever I want. including playing casually. but the death penalty is so severe, i have no reason to get rid of it unless I’m going to power level. which isn’t a fun aspect of the game with such extreme death penalty AND ESPECIALLY fall damage. dying from jumping is ridiculous.
This is a sandbox. But more importantly it is an MMO. I’m sorry if you do not like MMOs but the difficulty is what brought me here. Its supposed to be a grind. It’s not supposed to be easy.
Personally, I’m fine with the way things are now. I’m level 39, and I don’t worry about levelling and exp much. I have roughly 175 plots without having purchased any, and I just play the game. I go mining when I need metals/gems/coal, I go gathering when I need resources, and I build when I want to build. I haven’t been limited by number of plots even once, so I don’t really see a problem yet. Just playing the game for the game’s sake has provided me enough exp that I don’t feel like I’m held back from anything.
My primary issue with leveling in this game is that secondary specs are worthless as 200K xp after 50 with most of your objectives dried up takes an eternity.
Sorry on the website it says Boundless is a sandbox MMO not the other way around. I can appreciate that fact that there should be MMO aspects, but why should the sandbox side have to suffer to please the MMO side. There has to be a happy medium.
I totally agree with this, for the rest it looks fine to me, once you reach ~lvl25 you have enough skills and plots to play the game the way you want, and, at least for me, it feels good that there are some things really hard to get, but not essential. It’s rewarding for the pro players who can go hunting to T6 or plus planets, and is also good for the more relaxed ones, because you know that one day you can be able to go there,
It reminds me a lot of my old WOW days, every time I saw a player ‘King Slayer’ title I was thinking ‘one day, one day, this title will be mine’
I finally got it after two expansions with a couple of lvl 90 guys, but I got it.
My point is, is everybody can get everything, there is not challenge at all. And you don’t really need the high tier things. I’m happy with my iron tools and hunting meteorites on T3 planets. I have no forge and I don’t really need it.
What I found totally useless is the secondary spec. We still need have at least one alt for crafting. I’d like to have the skill points shared between specs
It is a happy medium. It’s an MMO in a sandbox world. You don’t need to max level to enjoy the sandbox aspect of the game. But for those of us that want the challenge of an MMO have the option to grind out for the satisfaction of end game content. I’m working on maxing 3 different characters right now and it will be incredibly satisfying to achieve that. If you don’t want to grind levels like that than don’t. Play casually on one character. Don’t rush to reach the next tier of planets, tools, etc. Enjoy what is available to you and explore the planets you are high enough level for. Get a nice base, a decent workshop, and a solid supply of tools, weapons, and materials. You will end up obtaining levels from all these activities and you will be able to move to the next tier with some time and prep. You cant have the endgame content without the work it takes to get their. Otherwise, those of us here specifically for the MMO aspects wont have anything to work for.
Actually with the new skill tree I do need the skill points to make what I want and gather what I need to build and craft with. The only way to get the skill points is to level. I am working on getting enough skill points to be able to visit more of the t5 planets. I also need skill points if I want to craft my own tools and blocks to build.
I prefer to only buy if I want to not because I do not have the ability to make something. This might make it take longer, but that is my choice.
I do understand and agree it should not be I can reach level 50 in 5 hours or even 20 hours of play. . that does remove a lot for the players that want an MMO. How many hours of play (on a single character and not using bomb mining or chiseling) should it take to reach level 50?
Well than don’t rush to a tier 5 planet. Take your time. Like I said, enjoy what is available to you. I haven’t even bothered going past a level 3 planet yet. If you don’t spec to go to tier 5 planets, you can spec for crafting and use the materials available to you on the planets you can survive on. Build some stuff with those resources. Explore the caves and under water biomes. Strip mine some mountains. Once you’ve achieved a few levels doing all this, spec for one tier up. Rinse repeat. You’re trying to rush to endgame content. It’s not meant to be available to you yet. There are so many colors and materials on the teir 1, 2, and 3 planets. Over time you will level up without trying to grind it out. And before you know it you’ll have the ability to move to new planets and it will be all the more satisfying because of it. There is no time frame. No need to go to tier 5 right now.
And IMO it should take at least 100 hours to max a character. But the MMO grind is what I came for:p
I personlay like the leveling speed. I am now lvl 32 (if remember right) and play like I want to. I did some bomb mining (just 2 or 3 times with iron and silver ones), was gathering like hell for our guild and my own needs, looked for gleam and enjoyed some walks on (for me) new planets, built some nice houses, startet to set up a shop (which still is WIP) and played arround with some other game concepts. I never felt slow, I never felt bored and I never felt that I had limitations that were out of rational measurments. Sure, on Tier 5 and 6 I have to be really careful or I’ll end as cuttlefood, but I have chosen to focus on gathering as well, so that was my own decission. I’m happy each time I level (which happens each 6-15h of play atm (varries with activity) and I would not mind if it takes 25h+/level later, cuz as a sandbox game I don’t feel to be pressed into the harsh XP grind. Just remember you get XP for nearly EVERYTHING, so no matter what you do, you progress, just in different speeds.Keep the system it as it is
