Ironworks Gaming Forum - View Single Post

SpunkyMoFo · 03-28-2001, 11:23 AM

(OOC)

I think that this is an interesting topic but I have to say that I'm quite happy with the level progression as implemented in BG and BG2. I think that a lot of us play these kinds of games (or any game for that matter) to achieve a certain amount of escapism. Granted being a wizard in a game regardless of level progression is still escapism but if you progress at a rate that is more "realistic" that escapism is somewhat damaged. In real life we do not have the luxury of being 25% better at a task in the span of a week. I'm using the thief analogy here as Tipsy is a rogue and the rogue's skill allocation point system fits in quite nicely. If I start to learn how to play the guitar it is a slow and laborious process. My progress will be slow and at times will certainly feel as if I've regressed in my abilities. Playing the same music, or music of the same difficulty level, will start to become tiresome. What will allow me to continue is the knowledge that with practice I will become better and I will be able to move onto increasingly difficult pieces.

When I play a game I expect to have the level of the challenges rise but I also expect my ability to handle them to rise with them. In BG2, for example, once you first get to Waukeen's Promenade, there's an inn with some rather rude clientele on the second floor. When I first tried to play BG2 I immediately threw down with these folks and repeatedly got me arse handed to me. Several hours, levels and quests later I returned and mopped the floor with them without breaking a sweat. The fact that I could not beat them originally did not prevent me from enjoying the game because I knew that eventually I would be able to come back and destroy them. If they were always too difficult due to a slow level progression it would be somewhat disheartening.

I think that there's also the "wow" factor to consider. Reading about high level spells like "Gate" and "Abi-whomever's Horrid Wilting" and then only being able to sling Magic Missle would be somewhat of a bummer. As it is, I was dissappointed at not being able to learn as many 9th level spells as I wanted to by the end of BG2.

Perhaps the solution is to create a game with a timeframe that seems more expansive so that when you're finished your character is in the twilight of their life having left behind a lifetime of adventures. It would be difficult to incorporate the short-term events like a small battle into an adventure that spans a lifetime but I'm sure that there are folks out there that can pull it off. For now I think I'll just restart BG2 whenever I'm a little bored with Tipsy's power.

------------------
Cheers.

~Tipsy McSwagger
The Drunken Thief
http://suburbanjoe.org

[This message has been edited by SpunkyMoFo (edited 03-28-2001).]

03-28-2001, 11:23 AM	#8
SpunkyMoFo Elite Waterdeep Guard Join Date: March 21, 2001 Posts: 21	(OOC) I think that this is an interesting topic but I have to say that I'm quite happy with the level progression as implemented in BG and BG2. I think that a lot of us play these kinds of games (or any game for that matter) to achieve a certain amount of escapism. Granted being a wizard in a game regardless of level progression is still escapism but if you progress at a rate that is more "realistic" that escapism is somewhat damaged. In real life we do not have the luxury of being 25% better at a task in the span of a week. I'm using the thief analogy here as Tipsy is a rogue and the rogue's skill allocation point system fits in quite nicely. If I start to learn how to play the guitar it is a slow and laborious process. My progress will be slow and at times will certainly feel as if I've regressed in my abilities. Playing the same music, or music of the same difficulty level, will start to become tiresome. What will allow me to continue is the knowledge that with practice I will become better and I will be able to move onto increasingly difficult pieces. When I play a game I expect to have the level of the challenges rise but I also expect my ability to handle them to rise with them. In BG2, for example, once you first get to Waukeen's Promenade, there's an inn with some rather rude clientele on the second floor. When I first tried to play BG2 I immediately threw down with these folks and repeatedly got me arse handed to me. Several hours, levels and quests later I returned and mopped the floor with them without breaking a sweat. The fact that I could not beat them originally did not prevent me from enjoying the game because I knew that eventually I would be able to come back and destroy them. If they were always too difficult due to a slow level progression it would be somewhat disheartening. I think that there's also the "wow" factor to consider. Reading about high level spells like "Gate" and "Abi-whomever's Horrid Wilting" and then only being able to sling Magic Missle would be somewhat of a bummer. As it is, I was dissappointed at not being able to learn as many 9th level spells as I wanted to by the end of BG2. Perhaps the solution is to create a game with a timeframe that seems more expansive so that when you're finished your character is in the twilight of their life having left behind a lifetime of adventures. It would be difficult to incorporate the short-term events like a small battle into an adventure that spans a lifetime but I'm sure that there are folks out there that can pull it off. For now I think I'll just restart BG2 whenever I'm a little bored with Tipsy's power. ------------------ Cheers. ~Tipsy McSwagger The Drunken Thief http://suburbanjoe.org [This message has been edited by SpunkyMoFo (edited 03-28-2001).]