This game has a huge gap between new and old players, to the point where I feel bad for anyone just joining.In regards to the lack of players, that issue was apparent before the transition to the new publisher. It appeared to hit a very low point where the community was neglected and not paid attention to at all. The rate of new users in-coming diminished during that time and a gap was created after the move to the WarpPortal. Part of the issue is rebuilding that base and having new faces and new competition for those already at the upper tier. It definitely is not something that can be quickly done, but needs to be assisted none the less. At the same time, you can't have the upper tier wait for the lower group, so content must come out a little quicker, but also not at a speed where it widens the gap or becomes too frequent that the wait feels longer. So there definitely is a type of management level that is required. Without saying too much, there is a large number of content changes and new content that we have received or received word about that will be coming within this year. So there are things to look forward to.
Also, in regards to when the level cap does come, we are not looking away from possible experience events at that time either.
Some things that separate the new and old:
-End-game Heirloom Weapons and armor such as bone armor, LOak (new mage gear is TERRIBLE!!), Kimarts, antares neck, and all the old field drops such as Vegabound boots etc.
-2 less inventory slots in every backpack setion (this get hugely annoying when farming or keeping up with collecting monster drops while farming more than one end-game dungeon at a time)
-No easily obtainable Guardian sets
-Lack of IM weapons, and quality IM gear (Gambling for gear, even gambling in general in a game oriented at a younger crowd, is a seriously bad idea wtf)
So there is already that huge curve for new players who start today make it to endgame. If I were in their shoes I would find all of this deeply discouraging to the point where I would want to quit entirely and try a new game.
Edited by Miname, 02 June 2011 - 02:16 PM.