Posted May 13, 2021
Hello Devs.
This is a suggestion about how to solve the infamous RPG adaptive/fixed enemy level issue.
It's always an argument between players. Some like the enemies with fixed levels, and HATE when supposed low level enemies keep matching yours. Others hate enemies with fixed levels and argue that it keeps the game playable. Once the player reaches top level, he can overcome any enemy, and the game becomes boring.
So, I give a suggestion: use logic, use numbers, use Role Play. How?
1- scripted missions should have enemies with levels capped to a reasonable minimum/maximum.
If an area is for players between levels 7-12, then what he expects there is difficulty 7-12. No adapting there. Keep it strict, so players can level up to overcome those kinds of missions.
2- random events? Jobs? Use randomness, numbers, and specify a level cap accordingly. Use logic.
A previously cleared low level area? It could be empty, with 1 or 2 low level enemies trying to scavenge. Role Play it.
It could have A HUGE bunch of low level enemies, trying to make the area their Turf.
Swarm the player, but don't make them high level enemies to adapt.
Create rare events that only happen in those areas, randomly, so the player must search.
An empty low level area could have a distressed trader ship that offers you coordinates for a cache in a VERY DANGEROUS high level area. And the player could only find it, if he searched on low level areas.
Some fool could be hauling a dangerous bomb on a slow freighter through a 7-10 area, and you could find him in several distress calls, always getting into trouble. And in the end you find out he wants to ram the ship+ bomb into a G&B station and kill everyone. Area chaos.
I think the real answer to this problem is... imagination. Not adapting levels. If the game keeps feeding the player with new things, new events, new unseen enemies, it will keep playable.
As a general rule, having 3 level 2 ships vs 1 level 3 player is always more fun than 1 level 4 enemy ship that wasn't supposed to be that powerful. Level 10 outlaw scout? No. Put a more dangerous ship, or add more low level scouts. Hell, swarm that Player.
Cheers
This is a suggestion about how to solve the infamous RPG adaptive/fixed enemy level issue.
It's always an argument between players. Some like the enemies with fixed levels, and HATE when supposed low level enemies keep matching yours. Others hate enemies with fixed levels and argue that it keeps the game playable. Once the player reaches top level, he can overcome any enemy, and the game becomes boring.
So, I give a suggestion: use logic, use numbers, use Role Play. How?
1- scripted missions should have enemies with levels capped to a reasonable minimum/maximum.
If an area is for players between levels 7-12, then what he expects there is difficulty 7-12. No adapting there. Keep it strict, so players can level up to overcome those kinds of missions.
2- random events? Jobs? Use randomness, numbers, and specify a level cap accordingly. Use logic.
A previously cleared low level area? It could be empty, with 1 or 2 low level enemies trying to scavenge. Role Play it.
It could have A HUGE bunch of low level enemies, trying to make the area their Turf.
Swarm the player, but don't make them high level enemies to adapt.
Create rare events that only happen in those areas, randomly, so the player must search.
An empty low level area could have a distressed trader ship that offers you coordinates for a cache in a VERY DANGEROUS high level area. And the player could only find it, if he searched on low level areas.
Some fool could be hauling a dangerous bomb on a slow freighter through a 7-10 area, and you could find him in several distress calls, always getting into trouble. And in the end you find out he wants to ram the ship+ bomb into a G&B station and kill everyone. Area chaos.
I think the real answer to this problem is... imagination. Not adapting levels. If the game keeps feeding the player with new things, new events, new unseen enemies, it will keep playable.
As a general rule, having 3 level 2 ships vs 1 level 3 player is always more fun than 1 level 4 enemy ship that wasn't supposed to be that powerful. Level 10 outlaw scout? No. Put a more dangerous ship, or add more low level scouts. Hell, swarm that Player.
Cheers