Guild Wars 2

I really like exploring in GW2, but I frequently find that when I find an area that looks cool the rewards for exploring it are tiny compared to the rewards for exploring the “appropriate” area. It feels like the game is punishing me for not exploring it the “right” way. I’d feel much better about exploring low-level areas if my experience rewards were close to the rewards I’d be getting in high level areas.

Additionally, I find that when I travel to a low-level area, the enemies are extremely easy to defeat. I rarely need to do much besides auto-attack. The low-level content could remain a lot more relevant if I were scaled down another two levels. This has the added bonus of making me earn the aforementioned XP boost.

I think scaling experience makes sense and scaling loot does not. It would be a little strange if a level 80 is finding epic swords in Ascalon next to a level 3 finding copper swords. However, if both the level 80 and the level 3 both fight a hard-fought battle to win an event, shouldn’t both of them feel they had a meaningful experience? Experience points (such an apt name!) are a great way to reward this.

Getting to level 80 isn’t difficult. It’s not even required for any content except a few dungeons…
I prefer the loot to be leveled, because at least then you can pay off the enormous waypoint travel costs at level 80.

I think they should just increase the allowed level difference by a level or 2 to give higher levels a bit more of an advantage in an area without making it overkill. Then you can more easily help your friends and get around easier without being harassed as much by aggro.

Josh Jelin.5807:

I really like exploring in GW2, but I frequently find that when I find an area that looks cool the rewards for exploring it are tiny compared to the rewards for exploring the “appropriate” area. It feels like the game is punishing me for not exploring it the “right” way. I’d feel much better about exploring low-level areas if my experience rewards were close to the rewards I’d be getting in high level areas.

Additionally, I find that when I travel to a low-level area, the enemies are extremely easy to defeat. I rarely need to do much besides auto-attack. The low-level content could remain a lot more relevant if I were scaled down another two levels. This has the added bonus of making me earn the aforementioned XP boost.

I think scaling experience makes sense and scaling loot does not. It would be a little strange if a level 80 is finding epic swords in Ascalon next to a level 3 finding copper swords. However, if both the level 80 and the level 3 both fight a hard-fought battle to win an event, shouldn’t both of them feel they had a meaningful experience? Experience points (such an apt name!) are a great way to reward this.

I agree with most of what you’ve said. I really find that content is too easy when you’re down-scaled in a low level area, which is a real shame. I think it’s a design dilemma though, and I can understand what’s happening. Currently I guess there’s a base level that you’re downscale to per zone. When you’re originally doing the zone, you’re usually attacking part of that zone which is appropriate to your level, so when level 8 you’re hitting the level 8-10 parts of that zone… when level 10, the 10-12s etc. etc. But when downscaled, I guess you’re set at an average for the whole zone.

This is a bit of a problem from what I see, as then part of the zone you feel overpowered, and maybe the high 25% end of the zone you feel just about right. Not sure what they could do. I personally feel they could downscale us one level more than they do though, as you have to take into account that you have more of your skills and a better understanding of your class when downscaled. Just my observation though.

It is a shame about the XP rewards not being level appropriate. Is that the same as karma rewards for downscaled events? I can’t remember.

brokeit.8346:

I think they should just increase the allowed level difference by a level or 2 to give higher levels a bit more of an advantage in an area without making it overkill. Then you can more easily help your friends and get around easier without being harassed as much by aggro.

You mean “boost” your friend — which is a poor solution and design choice, in my opinion. It’s a concept left over from MMOs in which YOU going into the zone with your friend had no direct reward, other than helping him mow through and get faster XP.

Here you can actually play with him, and have your high level character rewarded for doing so, which is a much better solution. As I said in the reply above this one, I find the downscaled content too easy (and obviously others do as well), and would prefer it was just a tiny bit harder so that the lower level content was even more relevant.

My goal is not to make it easier to get to level 80. I just want to feel rewarded for playing the game the way I want to play it, which involves exploring content regardless of what level I’m supposed to be when I’m there.

No, the downscaling is dynamic. Walk across the bridge from Shaemooor VIllage to the Garrison in Queensdale and watch your effective level change, halfway across the bridge.

@Brokeit: I totally disagree. I don’t want the same rewards for less work. I want more rewards for harder work, in the area I’m interested in.

raphaeldisanto.5478:

No, the downscaling is dynamic. Walk across the bridge from Shaemooor VIllage to the Garrison in Queensdale and watch your effective level change, halfway across the bridge.

Is that right? Crazy, I hadn’t noticed that. I stand corrected. Ah well, I guess then my overall impression is that it’s too easy overall then, when down-leveled. Maybe I got that impression because the mobs often have more complex mechanics (slightly… like the Ettins in Queensdale) as you get into harder areas.

Yeah, pretty much, Hawken.

Also, the benefit of your gear over your effective level is greater, the lower your effective level.

how about making it selectable?

leave the default the way it is and add a slider in settings for people that want to be downleveled further.

I have the most fun when doing events 2-3 levels above my level. I die more often but I like the challenge. other people don’t. I know lots of those and it’s just a matter of taste. it’s not even about who plays better but just about how difficult you like it.

playing better makes it easier on top of that so the slider could really go from mob/event/quest level +1 like it is now to mob/event/quest level -10 or something along those lines. I’ve killed a mob 5 levels above me yesterday and it was fun and I’m not a good player and I don’t even feel like I have any kind of clue how my class works as I’ve only played a few times. It was a tough fight for me and it was much more fun for me that way.

I personally don’t need any ‘reward’ in form of XP or loot or gold for it though. having fun and winning a tough fight is my reward. but people differ on that too.

I have the feeling of leveling too fast and missing fun on the way. I always try to do my personal story quests about 2 levels below quest level to have a challenge there. I’m level 28 now so that might change as I get higher. sometimes I have fun somewhere with the DEs and get so much XP that I miss my deadline and the next story quest is pretty boring as a result and that’s a shame, the stories are really good.

just my 2c
idefix

Hawken.7932:

You mean “boost” your friend — which is a poor solution and design choice, in my opinion. It’s a concept left over from MMOs in which YOU going into the zone with your friend had no direct reward, other than helping him mow through and get faster XP.

Here you can actually play with him, and have your high level character rewarded for doing so, which is a much better solution. As I said in the reply above this one, I find the downscaled content too easy (and obviously others do as well), and would prefer it was just a tiny bit harder so that the lower level content was even more relevant.

I think either I wrote it backwards or you read it backwards but what I was looking for is an increase in the scale down level not normal levels to be scaled up. Basically instead of an area having you scaled up to area level + 1…make it area level + 3 or something in that range. You can still get into trouble if you’re not careful but its much more forgiving, makes exploring other racial areas easier without much harassment, and still gives a little bit of a challenge depending on what you attack.

I agree, I’d love to do an area i haven’t done before and wish to complete it. since you’re leveled down to the appropriate level to the area, you should get a similar exp gain to doing appropriate level stuff. like make it percent based. all it would do is encourage exploration, and leveling will pretty much just unlock newer zones you can do without dying.

they can also scale quest rewards/gold to your level like in dungeons.