Difficulty Level Naming

"

shenlong wrote:

I'm a bit late to this discussion and like the general direction of suggestions (outcast..>>exiled) - and like the idea of Shark's recent comment about a 'weakling'-type label for the easy class (as long as sensitive noobs can handle it I think this could be motivating... though maybe for a trainee period or something so not part of the main level progression).

HOWEVER...
I feel like difficulty levels in MOST games are the same in that they describe changes in the world around the player. But if you look at what's going on with level changes logically it is more the case of the player and their skill/strength/status that are changing... and this enables them to venture into new worlds that are more hard core.
So what about using descriptions of the player and their progression (as others have suggested as a tie in to story elements).

Plus - I think, with the idea of using alternative difficulty level labels, you also have the opportunity to include another little clue such as making the names of levels use the same initials as the game itself (P.O.E.) with a fourth label that entices players with the subtle suggestion of a sequel/expansion to come.

E.G. Labeling the character themselves:
Pariah >> Outcast >> Exile >> *Deity*
Pagan >> Outsider >> Exile >> *Damned*

Or the player's predicament:
Pain >> Ordeal >> Exile >> *Despair*

If that panned out then ideally the final initial could hint at the direction of a future sequel (or the initial of a future expansion world, or the initial of the replacement for "exile" in a sequel or whatever)... I don't know why my suggestions all use the letter "D" for the final stage - it just worked out that way... but you get the idea.

So are you suggesting Fable-like naming systems where the difference on the way you play changes the names?

maybe this oculd tie in with the death penalty ...
Where you dont die..you "rank up" through a pre determined tree of titles...eg.weakling->pip squeak->thug->soldier->general->master of arms->hero (top level would be uber hard to get too)

and when you die you lose a level instantly downgrading you to the level below
This could also be integrated into a ladder "title" standings

"

purepower wrote:

maybe this oculd tie in with the death penalty ...
Where you dont die..you "rank up" through a pre determined tree of titles...eg.weakling->pip squeak->thug->soldier->general->master of arms->hero (top level would be uber hard to get too)

and when you die you lose a level instantly downgrading you to the level below
This could also be integrated into a ladder "title" standings

that could work but I think that this would be more your characters level group or something similar.

Nightmare

"

purepower wrote:

maybe this oculd tie in with the death penalty ...
Where you dont die..you "rank up" through a pre determined tree of titles...eg.weakling->pip squeak->thug->soldier->general->master of arms->hero (top level would be uber hard to get too)

and when you die you lose a level instantly downgrading you to the level below
This could also be integrated into a ladder "title" standings

as describe it is just too cheesey, and too done before (usually badly)

However if you flip the idea and apply titles based on the amount of times you have died, then it may produce a better description of the hardship endured by your character

It makes more sense when you take into account hardcore characters, ie mostly no title.

if time was taken to delactely apply titles based on deaths, some other options open up. eg. death-per-hour special titles

because we are talking about number value translated to a title description, there is no reason why your character could not choose their own "title path", or even a class based title path

titles where stats are evaluated in the algorythm

some examples:
die 60 times in 1 hour "Walking Dead"
die after killing 1000 times in 1 hour "Raging Death"
died before party members "Protector" or "Defender"
die after defeating 1000 "Beserker"
died while casting mostly ice "Shattered"
died in 1st fight on 1st level "Lamed One" or "Crippled"
died without firing/shooting/hitting "Target" or "Pacifist"
died after killing mostly skeletons "Bone Collector"
died after party members, killed by last enemy "Valiant"
died 10 times in a row by the lowest possible hit "Wounded Ego"
died 10 times in a row by non-sharp weapon "Pounded"
died 10 times in a row by poison "Acursed"
died 10 times in a row by fire "Roasted" or "Charred"
died after kill 1000 by magic alone "Mystical" or "Wizened"
died 10 times in a row with full inventory "Hoarder" or "Lumberer"
died 10 times in a row from arrows "Pinned" or "Feathered"
died 10 times in a row from ice attacks "Cold"
died 10 times in a row from frost attacks "Powdered"
died 10 times in a row from fire attacks "Burned"
died 10 times in a row from fire attacks while casting mostly ice "Melted"
died after killing 100 with ranged weapon "Sniper" or "Sharp Shooter"
died after killing 1000 undead types "Bane of the Undead"

This style means they are not level related, can continue to evolve and two chars with same deaths can have different titles & title history, but players can still relate to others titles, even if they have never heard (or seen) them before

certain places could also be include in some deaths, examples:
die 10 times in Caverns "Claustrophobic"
die 10 times in lower prison "Imprisoned"
die 10 times in upper prison "Condemned"
die 100 times in upper prison "Iron Mask" or "Entombed"

it appears quite flexible, adds certain "side adventures" if the player knows what is required (death wise)

so other examples could be:
died with full potions "Silly"
died with empty potions "Gutsy"
died with full mana "Untrained"
died with empty mana "Trier"
died not using magic items (weapons & aromour) "Traditional" or "Practical"
died using all magic items (weapons & aromour) "Enchanted" or "Enchanter"
died without armour, no kills since last death "Beginner" or "Foolish"
died without armour, 10 kills since last death "Hardy" or "Brutish"
died without weapon, 10 kills since last death "Brawler" or "Wailer"

portions (of title) could be tied to value of death penalty, examples:
huge death penalty "Raped" or "Flayed" or "Crucified"
minor death penalty "Wounded" or "Sore" or "Pouting"
death penalty of 42 "Answered" or "Hitch Hiker"
death penalty of 12 "Deciple" or "Dirty Dozen"
death penalty of 69 "Undecided" or "Aroused"
death penalty of 86 "Exited"
death penalty of 666 "Damned" or "Demon"

or other specific words for specific values
lost all gold "Fleeced"
picked up all items from kills since last death "Pillager"

from the above some combinations could give:
Melted Pillager of the Iron Mask
Fleeced and Undecided Brawler
Shatterd Enchanter of the Condemned
Acursed Demon and Bane of the Undead
Flayed Raging Death of the Claustrphobic
Walking Dead of the Imprisoned

"

paulwratt wrote:

die 60 times in 1 hour

Y'know, I really think you'd have to be really trying to manage that... Why the heck would you want to do something like that anyways?

"

Anbergino wrote:

"

paulwratt wrote:

die 60 times in 1 hour

Y'know, I really think you'd have to be really trying to manage that... Why the heck would you want to do something like that anyways?

if someone needs to be first at something and can't be first with experience gained, what about beeing first in dying? ;p

"

Chris wrote:

Currently, Path of Exile has three difficulty levels: Hard, Cruel and Ruthless.

We're going to be adding a fourth difficulty level to the alpha realm soon, and need some ideas for its name.

Please suggest (serious) names in this thread, so that we can select the ones that we like the best and add a poll to the thread.

Grim
Malevolent
Merciless
Sadistic
Savage
Vicious
Unmerciful
Inhuman
Demonic
Cutthroat

Afflicted>Banished>Condemned>Damned>Exiled

A/B/C/D/E for short.

"

as describe it is just too cheesey, and too done before (usually badly)

However if you flip the idea and apply titles based on the amount of times you have died, then it may produce a better description of the hardship endured by your character

It makes more sense when you take into account hardcore characters, ie mostly no title.

if time was taken to delactely apply titles based on deaths, some other options open up. eg. death-per-hour special titles

because we are talking about number value translated to a title description, there is no reason why your character could not choose their own "title path", or even a class based title path

titles where stats are evaluated in the algorythm

some examples:
die 60 times in 1 hour "Walking Dead"
die after killing 1000 times in 1 hour "Raging Death"
died before party members "Protector" or "Defender"
die after defeating 1000 "Beserker"
died while casting mostly ice "Shattered"
died in 1st fight on 1st level "Lamed One" or "Crippled"
died without firing/shooting/hitting "Target" or "Pacifist"
died after killing mostly skeletons "Bone Collector"
died after party members, killed by last enemy "Valiant"
died 10 times in a row by the lowest possible hit "Wounded Ego"
died 10 times in a row by non-sharp weapon "Pounded"
died 10 times in a row by poison "Acursed"
died 10 times in a row by fire "Roasted" or "Charred"
died after kill 1000 by magic alone "Mystical" or "Wizened"
died 10 times in a row with full inventory "Hoarder" or "Lumberer"
died 10 times in a row from arrows "Pinned" or "Feathered"
died 10 times in a row from ice attacks "Cold"
died 10 times in a row from frost attacks "Powdered"
died 10 times in a row from fire attacks "Burned"
died 10 times in a row from fire attacks while casting mostly ice "Melted"
died after killing 100 with ranged weapon "Sniper" or "Sharp Shooter"
died after killing 1000 undead types "Bane of the Undead"

Great idea :D

Ideas for the name (a bit late but here they are):
Hell (never gets old)
Doom
Torment
Pain
Armageddon
Apocalypse
Gruesomly