[kuyzat]

Levels have several severe problems and I would like to see at least some attempt at finding an alternative solution that works.

You need to create content for each level and devs spend an enormous time creating low and mid level dungeons/zones but once the server gets older most people are max level and a lot of the game content is very much empty because the only low and mid level characters are latecomers to the server or people's alts or rerolled characters. That makes it frustrating for these people as they have too few people to group with and low and mid level zones look dead and imo boring. Plus, they are then forced to solo and that is not viable for some classes in some games (thing EQ1 warriors) nor fun for a lot of people (I, for one, detest it).

You can delay the time it takes to get to max level by making experience harder to get but then you're making your game for the hardcore crowd with lots of time to invest and that is not necessarily the target gamer your aiming for. It just delays the problem but it wont go away and other problems arise.

Expansions tend to prolong the level grind and at the same time enlarge the world by adding new zones. This further kills the older zones and at some point you wonder whats the point in having those zones anymore and the game feels a lot less "massive multiplayer".


Planetside had a cool system where newbies had just enough skill to go into battle with anyone with simpler weapons and skills and it was perfectly possible to get some kills and exp, you just had less options and abilities. But im not convinced that system would work for an MMORPG... maybe.
You could get something like 20 skill points to spend as you'd like for example on the skills to equip swords and leather armour and a taunt and you would be a basic warrior. As you got exp you would gain more skill points and maybe you could spend them on the chain armour skill and so on. but would you be able to group with other characters with many more skills? would you be able to tank with leather? what mobs? And what about stats?

I am convinced there is a viable skill/talent system out there but dont know what would it be like. Still, i think it is worth trying to find it.