by Savanja on Sep 15, 2006
That is the question. Whether 'tis nobler in the... Oh stuff it. The long and short of it is that there will not (at this time, anyway) be a level cap increase in the upcoming expansion. There is hot debate about this particular subject.
Personally, I'm of two minds about the whole thing. I feel like Harvey Dent. (Bonus points if you know that reference.) I can see both sides of the argument, and as such am lukewarm about the entire issue.
In Favour
As a closet hardcore player, I am completely salivating over another ten levels of running out and killing everything in sight for experience and new spells and new, bigger, better, content and armour. I don't race to the cap in just a couple of weeks, because I just don't have the time to devote to that kind of grinding anymore (stupid grown up job). But, I do my best to get there as soon as humanly possible with my schedule.
I LIKE getting to the level cap and having things grey out to me so I can run around and explore places I used to get smacked around and beaten on, in safety. It's part of the fun of being the highest level in the game.
I can harvest with impunity. I can mock the mobs who used to hurt me. I can solo nameds!! Mind, they have to be thirty levels lower than I am, cause let's face it, cleric DPS. 'Nuff said. But still, I can solo nameds!
Not So Much
On the other hand, I like having the cap staying where it is. It gives me a good long time with no pressure to max out my level. On my alts... and my crafting. There's no inner voice telling me that my main isn't maxed out yet and I can't do anything else until that happens. Because I'm already there.
When there are no new levels to get, I explore. I dig into the nooks and crannies of the game, I craft, I run around and do quests I missed in my rush for the next hurdle. I harvest til my fingers fall off and ad3 all the spells I can. I get the best possible armour for my level.
When there are new levels to be had and new caps to be reached, I don't bother so much with the upgrading and such, because I don't see the point in spending time and money (virtual though it may be) on something I'll be replacing in another five or ten levels. It isn't a prudent use of my time and resources.
So, no raised level cap gives me the luxury of doing things that are just that, luxuries. I don't NEED a full set of (insert tier whatever rare metal) plate. I don't NEED all ad3 and master spells. But, I like to have them. And not having upgrades looming near in my future allows me the mental justification for doing these things. Because there's no reason not to. I won't be getting upgrades for quite a while. The things I upgrade now won't be replaced in a couple of months.
By no means is this the only right mentality to have about it. It's strictly my thinking on things. Naturally everyone has their own ideas and own wants and desires with regards to the level cap and content. The best thing is, no one is right and no one is wrong. The devs will do what they can to make sure everyone is happy, but let's face it. Not everyone is going to be happy with everything. That's just the way things are. Human nature precludes us ever being completely satisfied with what we've got. The grass is always greener, etc. What we're overlooking here, we're getting an enormous amount of new shinie stuff to play with. Is the level cap really of paramount importance when you look at everything we'll be getting? For some, yes. For others, no. For me? Pft. No way! Are you kidding me? I'M GONNA GET WINGS!