MMO with no leveling

jusomdude

Could this work? Like if a player was placed in the world at max level and gear was all cosmetic. Personally tired of leveling in MMOs and would rather have a game with MMO like combat where I can log in and PvP without being stuck behind XP, and or, gear walls walls every time I wanna try something new. Leveling really doesn't do much for me. I don't like my character anymore just because I leveled them.

I think it would be cool to have an open world MMO with no leveling. Just log in and do what you want without worrying about power levels.

iixviiiix

But , but i love leveling ... i just hate contents being gated by level

Dauzqul

It would take a VERY immersive world to pull this off, e.g., deep player economy (hardcore crafting, social trades, player cities, player shopping malls), complex and entertaining combat, and an endless supply of aesthetics (armor, clothing, weapons, cloaks, mounts).

Jedi Academy-style combat, Second Life-style social players, and a gigantic world.

I'm in!

gunklacker

i am not in, when play mmos i want to slay dragons, i want to go where no man has gone before, i want to be a fricken SUPERHERO....

Vermillion_Raventhal

I am all for it. Except gear be situational and gaining abilities though lore based quest that teaches you how to use them..

I like needing say a fire cloak to go to hot environment or lighter than air ring to go to the cloud realm.

blamo2000

Isn't this every MMO?  I only play mmorpgs with a chardev system that interests me, but the whole point of dropping the rpg from mmorpg was specifically for all the millions of games out now that do exactly what you say you want - MOBAs, Battle Royals, crafting games, etc.

Wouldn't ESO fit this too since everything scales?  

Amaranthar

I want skill gain, learning new skills, plain/good/better gear, all that stuff.
I just don't want the power gaps that separates the world and the players into fragments.

20% vertical, 80% horizontal.

I do indeed want that very deep world you speak of.

AAAMEOW

Some of the themepark game leveling phase is so short I don't think it matters.  But they do have gear level...  I think GW2 is something close.  Easy to level to max level but no item level on gear.

sayuu

whats the point?

with no reward for one's success or loss for one's failures all you have is a graphical chat program with emotes. . .

iixviiiix

BTW , i think this kind of design could work if monster drop digital money that worth real cash .

Gdemami

jusomdude said:

Could this work? Like if a player was placed in the world at max level and gear was all cosmetic. Personally tired of leveling in MMOs and would rather have a game with MMO like combat where I can log in and PvP without being stuck behind XP, and or, gear walls walls every time I wanna try something new. Leveling really doesn't do much for me. I don't like my character anymore just because I leveled them.

I think it would be cool to have an open world MMO with no leveling. Just log in and do what you want without worrying about power levels.

...you don't want what you think you want.

AlBQuirky

I enjoy improving my character in a game, watching them grow. It's why I play games. Improving their skills and abilities as they learn is the number one activity I look for in a game. That's just me, though.

Generally speaking, I think this idea would skyrocket because that is basically what the playerbase wants right now... "Right Now!" So many rush to endgame now, bypassing the journey, that I think this concept has a great appeal.

Aparition

ye, its called real life, take a walk outside for a bit

Phry

There have been several examples already of MMO's without 'levelling' but its a feature normally attributed to sandbox games,  probably the two most well known, if you can call it that, examples are Eve Online and SWG pre-CU. 

Amathe

I enjoy leveling my characters up. I also like building out their skills and stats, and obtaining/choosing their gear. It's a big part of why I play.

I certainly don't just want to play Barbie and Ken dress up with cosmetic gear. 

Dwaaawfful

Sounds like an average call to tech support.

anemo

Worlds Adrift has a variant.

Where your character doesn't advance in things like stats, but instead advances in what they can craft.  It's nice being able to have a few hour newbie added to a crew with 100 hour vets.

JeffSpicoli

Aparition said:

ye, its called real life, take a walk outside for a bit

But even RL has leveling. My wife issued a early morning EPIC QUEST Yesterday of grilling for 8 people & my cooking skill was  leveled by +2 evident by the perfectly charred outside crust of the steaks while the inside was pink and juicy... Sadly this quest didn't reward any gold or beer just cooking XP & a sweaty forehead....

JeffSpicoli

I love the leveling aspect in MMO's, its my favorite part tbh.

syltmacka

makes no sence with no reward system. a bunch of donkeys without carrots, nope.

iixviiiix

syltmacka said:

makes no sence with no reward system. a bunch of donkeys without carrots, nope.

That's , you need a kind of reward that make people want to play it .

Vermillion_Raventhal

AlBQuirky said:

I enjoy improving my character in a game, watching them grow. It's why I play games. Improving their skills and abilities as they learn is the number one activity I look for in a game. That's just me, though.

Generally speaking, I think this idea would skyrocket because that is basically what the playerbase wants right now... "Right Now!" So many rush to endgame now, bypassing the journey, that I think this concept has a great appeal.

It's not about "right now."  I prefer limited progression because it becomes the whole game. The whole world and content is consumed to fuel the fire of leveling. For those who don't care about numbers it sucks. 

If I am level 30 fighting level 30 or level 50 fighting level 50 it all feels the same. The only progession that seems to matter is when you stop leveling and start stacking gear on end game. The practical differences in a levelless game is you can't one shot lowbie mobs. 

My other reasons I don't want the vast vertical progession.  I don't want to run the treadmill yet again.  I like content being available and forge my own path.  I like lore making sense (world threat level creatures die in 1 hit but generic higher level wolf from new expansion can one shot me).  I like being able to play with who I want without level segregation.

For economic reasons developers it makes sense to not chew through your content on. Especially when a lot becomes unused. 

Theocritus

I like leveling..It gives me a sense of accomplishment and a reason to go forward. Take away the leveling and I really don't have a reason to play.

Sovrath

Vermillion_Raventhal said:

 I like lore making sense (world threat level creatures die in 1 hit but generic higher level wolf from new expansion can one shot me).  I like being able to play with who I want without level segregation.

That's not really lore, just logic.

A wolf should only be "so strong."

Lord of the Rings online has this issue. Here is a bird that's dangerous. x amount of levels later, here is a bird that's even MORE dangerous. What? You are now 10 levels higher? Then here's ANOTHER bird!

foxgirl

syltmacka said:

makes no sence with no reward system. a bunch of donkeys without carrots, nope.

Pavlov would be pleased by your progress.

Mendel

At some point, an MMORPG with no leveling simply becomes an RTS game.  RPG and leveling have long been companions, as leveling is one of the cornerstones of progression.  Progression is one element that helps people to connect with their characters.  Really, who identifies with 'third axeman from the left'?  I know I'd rather play 'Krodor Trollbane, Axeman of the Guards who is deathly afraid of spiders'.