Experience loss driving some players away?

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Mooginator wrote:

Since I initially posted this I've hit level 70 and have moved from farming the docks to maps. When I was working on finishing the Act III quests, I lost nearly a level of experience to random deaths (it just takes 6-7); some desynch related, some getting gang banged by the lightning chicks, etc.

I also ran my first dungeon map tonight (after numerous successful fun maps) - I had never encountered the boss. BAM. There goes an hour of play experience due to a few deaths realizing I won't ever do a dungeon map again without a major gear upgrade (he basically 1-2 shot kills me).

This actually angers me. Dying and stripping away experience is from the Everquest and Diablo 2 days from a decade and longer ago. Yes, my gear is a bit lacking, but running the docks again and again now with the experience penalty is just brain draining. Maps are fun and interesting.

Yes, I know I will learn which maps to run with, but the issue here is the exp loss actually deters me from playing and just pisses me off. I look at my 0% bar after playing for hours and think "this is Bullsh*t." And... it is.

Don't get me wrong, I love the game, but this "mechanic" serves no purpose other than to punish and piss off players for <insert many reasons here; some legit, some bad luck, some desynch>.

In reality, this game should have 3 leagues. Hardcore, Normal (exp penalty), and Softcore (no exp penalty). I admit, I'd play that Softcore because I just don't like putting a bunch of time and effort into building my character that I can lose to a few bad deaths.

Also understand I was punished for exploring maps and encountering new bosses that chewed me to pieces. Lesson learned? *stares at 0% experience* ... I think I'll go play something else for awhile...

For the record, I had a level 98 or so Sorceress in Diablo 2 (which had a 10% experience death penalty), played Everquest and Ultima Online (where PvP was utterly brutal and you lost everything).

The simple fact is there were no alternatives to those games back then, so we made the most of them and did have our enjoyable moments, but I wouldn't play any of them now because I just don't have the time to waste on mistakes/bad issues rolling me backwards.

Things have changed GGG; PoE should address this issue as it's undoubtedly alienating many players. And if I can't find a good balance of survival and progress, why should I keep playing when it takes so long to level and I can lose hours of effort with just a few bad deaths?

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ArionSHFL wrote:

Spoiler

There are people who play this game for fun. It may be designed for a hardcore gamer with number crunching and shit but many people just like to play a game, not dedicate their lives to it.

I work a 40 hour work week and go to school full time. I love being able to get on PoE but can only manage 3-4 hours a week. I'm attracted to this game because of it's complexity. However... if I can only manage to play 3-4 hours a week, i progress very slowly. I have practically zero currency. I love toying with new builds, but my highest character is 61, so i cant run maps and certainly don't have the best gear.

When I get online to try to progress and die once, either by my hand, lag, desynch or whatever... my experience accumulated by by 3-4 hours of game play is gone. That's not fun. I level up super slow and I play a dual totem summoner for the ease.

Call me a casual that loves the complex side of the game but can't dedicate my life to this shit like Kripp or Havoc. Some of you seem to have a problem with that?

My cycle is like this...little time to play = no gearing up = occasional death = no leveling up = no progressing = no gearing up and repeat.

Having a league to play in that casual people could progress through would be great.

Don't hate on people for having a life or being an adult instead of sitting on their fat ass all day like some of you kids.