Mid-level map farming as a solution to many current problems

I believe that many of the current negative feeling towards the game, came from the lack of mid-level maps farming.

Here is my line of thoughts. The current system really push people towards T14-16 maps. All of the reliably farmable good items are drops from end-game boss contents, while the chase of the mid-endgame contents are the ones that are too rare, and often require strategies that involved very strong absolute-endgame viable characters. The consequences that I see from this are.

1). Builds problem: End-game boss viable build is almost a requirement for all characters.
2). Getting to endgame is a chore: The feeling that the endgame only start after 4 watchstones, or even full atlas passives.
3). Disparity problem: There are no exciting content for less dedicated players to look forward to in mid-level maps.


I think this problem became prominent after the release of Conqueror of Atlas. The conqueror stop spawning once you have beat them in 1-3 watchstones tier. This should be changed, since it remove less-dedicated player's ability to farm for good reliable chase items.

Echoes of the Atlas, is also more heavily reward players that can reach Tier 14-16 maps. To be fair it does gives powerful Atlas passive points, but it is more like a check box than a chase. The maven challenges, excluding the special bosses ones, are not exciting in terms of character improvements. It doesn't provide any gears or wealth to the players. And it is also not farmable until you've reach T14-16 maps.

Suggestion:
Awakened gems and Conq. Exalted orb should be farmable by player in all levels. Maven challenges should also be a regular encounter in every watchstones tier with some extra rewards added to them (some region specific uniques maybe, should be more doable with the reduction of Atlas region to 4 Chris recently mentioned).

The current system might be a reaction to the increasing power of players over the years, and forcing players to push end-game boss might be the solution that make sense at that time. But if they want the game to be more difficult and create more player aspiration, then the endgame philosophy should also be adjusted. The steps to the endgame, imo, should be way much smoother than now, and should be accompanied with good reward that is appropriate to each level.

Yop, once you get your 12 watchstones, you better be good enough to do the T14s+ otherwise your progression stopped.

Yellow maps do not matter once Maven and Sirus can't be progressed in them.

So they become just meaningless XP grind where you cannot get actually any crafting bases that would get your characters ready for the end.
Sure, you can craft low ilvl bases, but the question is why would you.

Unlucky in 12 Guardian runs? Not good enough to do the Reds? Well ... that's it I guess :D

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Marxone wrote:

Sure, you can craft low ilvl bases, but the question is why would you.

Well, if Harvest crafting was still a thing, and if Harvest crafts were limited to ilvl (zone level +2), there could be a reason - spend your low-level crafts that cannot be used for true end-game crafting on those bases.

In general, most systems, and especially crafting systems, heavily reward saving up your crafts until you have items that are really worth crafting - and only using them on top-tier items. Try to 5-link or even 6-link a mediocre item? Why would you? Spend an Exalt on a chest that isn't top-tier potential? Why would you? Chaos spam an ilvl 82 instead of ilvl 86 item? Doesn't make sense. Harvest crafting was a bit different in that regard, which was quite nice actually.

But yes, rewards from mid-tier maps should be better. In general, rewards should be less "top-heavy".

I made my bank on t10+, since t14+ are worthless to farm, timewise.

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I made my bank on t10+, since t14+ are worthless to farm, timewise.

I am curious about your farming strategy, does it require setups or just simply blasting through maps?