Lack of progression will push people away.

[Lyokira]

Getting stronger to fight harder and harder challenges is fun for a lot of people.

Why are you talking about non-mmos? Defiance is an MMO and some form of progression is a hallmark of the genre.

But it doesn't have to be: nothing about being massively multiplayer and online implies progression. And there's like over a hundred other MMOs which follows that formula, there's no reason to retread: might as well be playing all those other MMOs.

Exactly!

You cannot have one of the main features of your game be loot... Only to have such pathetic loot. I don't know of any other game with loot that has only like 20 different weapons lol

Name me some MMOs which has more than 20 different kinds of weapons (obviously not factoring bonus/different stats and such, since Defiance clearly has that) (also not factoring weapons that are different in name only, since you can add attachments to guns to make them visually/functionally different as far as usage is concerned)

[Booshy]

What happened to playing games for fun? People don't play most non-MMO multiplayer games because of a sense of progression of character abilities.

Well I'm not sure I agree with that. I can't think of many rpg's where I stayed at level 1 for the whole game and the same weapons. And I can't think of many fps games where I also didn't get better weapons as I advanced in the game. Or strategy games where I get better units and other things. Sure there are some games that don't have "progression", but there aren't a ton, and most of those are backed by a really intriguing story or puzzles or something (like adventure games). And you're free to your opinion, but I hardly find the story here to be very compelling - nor do I find the missions, especially the side missions of which is the VAST majority, anything but extremely repetitive and boring.

[jnt]

But it doesn't have to be: nothing about being massively multiplayer and online implies progression. And there's like over a hundred other MMOs which follows that formula, there's no reason to retread: might as well be playing all those other MMOs.

MMOs require communities to maintain their size. Empty MMOs get their servers turned off. Progression that comes with fun mechanics and an engaging story keeps people playing. PVP grabs pvpers, crafting grabs crafters, etc.

Defiance currently has about 20 hours of story.
No real gear progression.
Rudimentary perks

My character is accomplishing about as much when Im logged off on the forums as when Im in game.

[Erei]

That's what they said with GW1.
Just saying.

I, for one, find the lack of power creep attractive.

[Lyokira]

Well I'm not sure I agree with that. I can't think of many rpg's where I stayed at level 1 for the whole game and the same weapons. And I can't think of many fps games where I also didn't get better weapons as I advanced in the game. Or strategy games where I get better units and other things. Sure there are some games that don't have "progression", but there aren't a ton, and most of those are backed by a really intriguing story or puzzles or something (like adventure games). And you're free to your opinion, but I hardly find the story here to be very compelling - nor do I find the missions, especially the side missions of which is the VAST majority, anything but extremely repetitive and boring.

There are a LOT of games without persistent progression. Look beyond your tiny little box, and you see arcade games, card games, board games, sports games, most competitive games, etc... Interestingly, most of the examples you mentioned, happens to be single player games too.

[tinytina]

If by progression you mean increases in stats to fight stuff that also increased in stats then all you end up with is useless old zones and segregation in the community. Real progression is about increasing challenges, not just bosses with higher health, that just creates a gear treadmill. When you level up to do 10 times more damage to fight something with 10 times more health you are going nowhere and it is only an illusion of progression.

[jnt]

That's what they said with GW1.
Just saying.

I, for one, find the lack of power creep attractive.

I'd love if Defiance had the depth of GW1

[Btd5025]

Not sure what kind of progression you're looking for. This game has plenty of progression. If you want to pull a trigger and do 9999 dmg to everything in 10 m radius you should pay 15 dollar a month and go play WoW

Jaded Defance fan is jaded.

[ExcuseMyMandarin]

Please don't get me wrong, this isn't a "I'm leaving" post, but I am looking for a bit of a pep talk. The face is, there is little to no difference between an ego 300 and ego 10. While this is nice for being able to play with other people lower and higher levels, its frustrating because I feel like I'm just spinning my tires. I'm only at EGO 420 or so but the guns I'm finding are EXACTLY the same as the ones I found at 10, 20, 80, 100, etc. Other than story, I'm having a hard time getting motivated to play.

And IF by some chance you do find a gun you enjoy, you only get it for a limited time because the game forces you to use different guns once they're maxed out in XP if you want to gain anymore weapon XP. How does that make ANY sense??

Without any sense of progression people aren't going to be playing this game long. Look at other games, especially MMO's, you have to have SOMETHING that makes people come back for more. Unless I'm missing something, Defiance is missing that hook that makes people stay with a game for an extended period of time.

I kinda agree with you, the difference between levels should matter, im level 902 or something now, normal MMO sense would be that id beat the living crap out of you, not doing to much.. But this is not the case in Defiance, I sorta like it, and kinda hate it too. Annoying, yes. Uncommon, yes. leveling does not feel that fun. I just finnished up all main and side missions last night (so far) can't say im so tempted to play any more either. Leveling does not give me to much, and PVP is full of those who has gotten a OP weapon.

[jnt]

If by progression you mean increases in stats to fight stuff that also increased in stats then all you end up with is useless old zones and segregation in the community. Real progression is about increasing challenges, not just bosses with higher health, that just creates a gear treadmill. When you level up to do 10 times more damage to fight something with 10 times more health you are going nowhere and it is only an illusion of progression.

Name some challenges you'd like to add to Defiance that don't include farming, organizing large numbers of players with a broken chat system, or just increasing monster hp. I'm curious.