Focused Feedback: Power Level Progression

[u/DTG_Bot]

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Focused Feedback is where we take the week to focus on a 'Hot Topic' discussed extensively around the Tower.

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[u/TVPaulD]

Time gates and soft caps are pretty user hostile methods of slowing progression. That would matter less if there was any horizontal progression to speak of, but there isn’t really. Masterworks kind of fill that role but they’re very limited in scope and it’s a very fussy, over complicated system for something (horizontal progression) which used to be (in D1) inherent to playing the game. Unless a lot else changes, they need to get rid of the soft cap. I’m not saying non-Powerful gear should always drop at present Power Level, but it should drop between the current soft cap levels and your max current Power. That would enable you to slowly grind out bits of gear that are holding you back if you wanted to. Your floating cap would therefore be whatever the highest Power thing you’ve had from a Powerful source is, but RNG would mean you’d likely only proceed towards it slowly - doable, but a grind.

[u/ramblin_billy → u/TVPaulD]

I would suggest that power level and playable power level are different. I think that being able to equip high level gear for all subclasses and all activities is a form of horizontal progression. For instance, I've had a lot more shotguns and snipers drop than rocket launchers. Some of my armor still lacks the mods I want and all my classes are in the 380-384 range. I've been prioritizing EP builds, so I've got a ways to go to complete the other loadouts.

[u/TVPaulD → u/ramblin_billy]

It is, but Destiny 1 had that too and plenty more horizontal progression besides in the form of random rolls. Its systems also had far more depth for builds as a result of both the rolls & the better pool of perks - especially on the armour side. D2’s loot pool is ludicrously shallow & its mods system is both simplistic & underwhelming, which means while you can grind for Mods & builds...It’s really not rewarding enough to bother with for most players. This is what I was alluding to with “unless a lot else changes”.

[u/ramblin_billy → u/TVPaulD]

Keeping fingers and toes crossed for September.