Shattered Kingdoms

So, I have been trying to find out why sk numbers are so low. What I can tell by asking around is that leveling just takes forever. I think it would be amazing to cut each level down to four. So..like Master 4, and instead of Master 5 you would be champ.

I know I am just dreaming...

There's one rank with 4 levels. I think having a nice even number (like 50!) is ideal. You just need to learn how to level. Sheesh. We started at the same time and you're eating my dust!

Yea. I dont know how to level at all. :-\

And the point is for new players, I think it is discouraging.

Yeah, I think we should give all newbies level 50, fully enchanted kits, and scripted loot.

That's a great idea, but I don't think it would do the game any good. Removing just one level from each status is a small step in the right direction to making the game less discouraging. We all know that grind in SK is the most discouraging part, so removing some of the grind helps.

Since you're obviously being sarcastic with this post and are using it to bash on the OP, I have another paragraph for you.

I've seen the mentality of our good friend Neconct here in one other place, World of Warcraft. When leveling was made easier and players were given mounts at level 30, all of the veterans were mad as hell. They believed that since they had to work as hard as they did to level that everyone else should. This is selfish and having this attitude deters others from wanting to play with you, at least it does me.

The problem isn't leveling. If you are an experienced, skilled player, you should be able to GM even a weak combo in 60 hours without difficulty. If you are a newb, you should ask around for some help, and with some guidance, you should be able to GM in 100 or so hours. Even the most incompetent of levelers, dealing with a weaker class/race combo for leveling, should be able to GM in 150 hours.

Grand Master is ICly meant to be a great achievement. If you are unwilling to invest the necessary time into achieving that rank, stop leveling at master. Dulrik has done a lot of good work making it so that master level characters are playable and can contribute greatly in pvp and pve. If you aren't skilled enough to GM in 50 hours, and are unwilling to spend 100+ hours leveling, maybe you shouldn't be a GM. That's fine. You can have fun at master. Getting to master is very easy. A skilled player should be able to do it in 30 hours. A less skilled player shouldn't find the task too daunting. Really, though, if you are going to play a character for a significant amount of time (several real life months), you are probably going to play that character for hundreds of hours, and the time spent leveling (even all the way to GM) shouldn't seem so great by comparison.

The time sink that makes this game unappealing is that of enchant armor. There are currently a few spells that will completely destroy you if you are not incredibly well enchanted. These spells (charm person and sleep being the biggest offenders) need to be nerfed. If we nerfed the few massively OP spells, players wouldn't have to obsess over their enchants and make sure they have 30wp/25fort on top of their MP.

I think I gm'd Cartesea at 400 hours. lol. I myself am okay with being a slow leveler. I just think it deters others who are new to the game. New players are not going to know about enchanting right off the bat.

This game isn't intended to be played alone. That you alienate yourself from everyone is a personal problem. Unless you're playing a GM sorx (and even if you are) - you're probably going to need to interact with someone at some point. Encouraging new players to be hermits isn't going to help them in SK at all. Learning how to find and utilize other players will make leveling all the more easy for new and experienced players.

As Baldric mentioned, it has been designed so that Master characters are viable in PVP and PVE scenarios. New players should be encouraged to strive first for Master status - which is 2 levels lower than knocking off a level at each status would make the new GM.

It took over 1000 hours to reach GM the first time I did it. About half that the second. And I'm not halving that again this time by any stretch. I hate leveling - it's that simple. But you don't find my character hiding under a rock because she's ZOMG NOT GM YET WAH!

The reason it takes me so long to GM is that I am interacting with other players instead of going to a specific spot and typing...kill xxxx.

Maybe this isnt the right way to go about it, but I do think there should be something done to the leveling process to encourage others.

Then the reason it takes so much time for you to finish leveling is that . . . you are not spending your time leveling? I'm not sure I see the problem. Maybe you just mean that leveling should be more fun? I agree. I know that the IMMs agree, and I know Dulrik is open to suggestions on how to achieve this change.