Allow me to provide some context before I delve into the issue at hand. My primary character, a rogue, boasts an impressive stash and a wealth of Dark and Darker gold. However, I’ve grown weary of the rogue’s path and yearn for a new experience. Thus, I embark on a new character’s journey. However, it doesn’t take long to recognize a glaring reality – half the time spent in goblin caves feels utterly fruitless. I dedicate my efforts to breaking objects for treasure, only to find myself swiftly dispatched by an overwhelmingly well-equipped player who effortlessly decimates the lobby. It’s disheartening to see my well-executed maneuvers prove futile when a single blow results in my demise, while my attacks barely register against the foe.
Rogues, employing permanent stealth and one-shotting adversaries, have emerged as an omnipresent force. I once stood among their ranks, but now I comprehend the less-than-favorable experience of facing a sea of rogues engaging in suicide assaults at every turn. The result often finds me trading blows with a sliver of health remaining, succumbing to poison damage ticks.
A fervent desire to adopt a new character tugs at my aspirations, yet the prospect of launching into a cycle of scavenging for treasure only to be mercilessly dispatched by an epic-clad guardian looms. Why not allow DND gold to be shared across my account’s characters? I yearn for the resources to survive these relentless assailants who pounce whenever I divert from the most meta-centric classes. Crafting an inventory from scratch at this juncture is nothing short of a nightmare, particularly for those not embracing the path of the rogue.
My intent is not to spotlight “gear disparity,” but rather to highlight the uphill battle of creating a formidable arsenal from the ground up. The current landscape presents a daunting scenario: countless lobbies populated by individuals boasting blue and epic gear, leaving the remainder of us to engage in a game of hide-and-seek. This predicament, reaching a tipping point, transforms the experience of starting anew into a disheartening endeavor.
As much as I cherish this game, I must express my astonishment at the discouraging novice journey encountered by over half of the available classes. This, in my estimation, poses a significant concern for the game’s long-term sustainability.
This weekend marks the first time I’ve enjoyed a substantial amount of free time to engage with the game. Despite participating in previous test phases, my efforts to reach level 20 in these brief sessions remain unfulfilled. Each day’s endeavor, encompassing a handful of runs after my workday (usually 2-3), feels akin to a time-lapse sequence. Each snapshot catapults me into a realm of heightened playstyle tactics and more demanding gear standards, a progression notably influenced by those with greater availability for extended playtime.
I’m left with the distinct impression that I entered this season a step behind. Today’s experience felt peculiar and disheartening, akin to starting a month after a season’s launch. The player environment and balance seem somewhat distorted, but not in the captivating manner often associated with beta testing. While this trajectory might align with the preferences and expectations of some players, it inadvertently excludes a significant demographic – those who can’t commit to a nigh-obsessive gameplay regimen with each season’s reset.