The XP deal

[kprobe]

The server population has been dropping, for various reasons, but this is causing a negative change for a lot of people. Let's discuss a way to encourage population.

I'm seeing both sides of the camp.

We want it hard, but we also want the people to experience the competition. We want classic experience, but nearly everyone is an expert at everything in the game. Where do we strike the balance?

Up until now I've seen people handle it in two ways: One, slowly but surely level up, shrug the inconsistencies. Two, exploit or use a sanctioned advantage to power through: (repeat quests (mail 1-5), swords, wands, bard AE kiting (8+ hard, 18+ easy).

What it should be: people grouping. EQ has always been about grouping, but many classes solo so effectively they reject grouping where they think they are losing the time advantage.


Suggestion: Raise group xp bonus only, but significantly.

Desired reaction: People group up more, and expect to do so because of the lucrative bonus.

Side-effects: Without changing some tactic mechanisms, you'll probably have a fair few bard kite PL groups where the rest of the group snoozes. Would encourage group-only classes such as warriors/rogs, classes critically missed currently.


Disclosure: I've played a bard on P99, due to obvious advantages I've used bard kiting as my method (20-40 mob kites yield 1-2.5 yellow in 15min drop to drop), though would prefer regular grouped experience to bring the PvP in all ranges, its the journey that counts (10ish+ IMHO, before that its boring for a lot of classes).

TL,DR:
Suggestion: Increase group xp bonus significantly to encourage classical EQ vision and critically, population increase.