[quote]- a pure xp levelling system would give players constant progression not depending on any RNG , while still keeping RNG item drops[/quote] That's exactly what Destiny has. [quote]- player level would be a honest representation of time spent playing as opposed to a indicator of RNG luck[/quote] No MMO supports this. There is no game, currently, that accurately represents the amount of time a player has spent playing the game. You can estimate, based on the collection of equipment, but nothing 1-for-1. [quote]- people could get (exciting) higher level drops they cant yet equip with slightly better stats which would motivate players to play to reach said level to be able to use their level locked items , as opposed to getting lower level drops than their level as it is now (disappointing)[/quote] This is already happening during the early parts of the game. Once you hit the level cap, this really isn't possible anymore (you're at the max level). The thing is, every MMO has an analogy to light level (WoW has Item Level, DCUO has Combat Rating). It's an additional means of gating content and ensuring that a players progression, beyond a certain level, requires additional challenge. Really, if your level scaled by the amount of time you played, then what would be the point of playing? You could literally leave the console on and just watch your level tick upward. The purpose of gating progress is to create a hurdle the player has to overcome in order to progress. The purpose of RNG, aside from its much discussed psychological application, is to create an element out of the control of the player, as a final means of gating. After all, if everything were merit based, then the extreme gamers would be completely capping almost immediately, creating a nearly unshakeable skill tier structure. That would only serve to stagnate the game. So, RNG. Makes it more likely the community grows together. End of the day, if you don't want to be part of the rat race, find a different game or hobby. There's no chance light level is going anywhere, as this is a fixed facet of these types of games. At least given the current paradigm.

The RNG system isn't bad. But the problem is that there's too much of it. Prior to TTK, when you got end game gear it had end game light, now? Lord saladfork trolls us once a month with gear that's 40 levels below the max.

No game ever will reward players for time spent. It discourages new players because they will never catch up. I would love games to do it, because gaming is pretty much my entire life outside of work, but I understand why they don't do it.

The problem is that they need some way to draw out the end game. If it weren't for the hardcore grind for light levels, many (more) people would have run out of things to do and stopped playing months ago. The problem with a standard XP system is that even if you ramp up the amount of XP between levels, it still leaves progression entirely in the hands of the player, which is incompatible with the slow content release schedule.

etheric Light was great, that actually made the light level system sustainable.

Ya i say get rid of it entirely. Its been two years of it, with year one being the best in terms of end game light leveling, and its just a stupid system to artificially prolong game play since all the current content has been exhausted. The thing that bungie has to realize, that other RPG/MMO developers all ready know, is that you have to jam pack your game and updates with content that stretches over the course of months till the next update/DLC. TTK was a good start, but they immediately went back to screwing us over and shooting themselves in the foot like always.

I don't mind the like level system and infusion and how it works, I think it's really good. What I don't like is the limitation to where you get stuff at high light levels. Like seriously has anyone ever had a legendary engram decrypt for them over 310 light? I think all rewards should be based on your current light level, and yes most of it should be a little lower than what you currently are, need that material fodder. Like maybe a +/- 3-5 light level per roll, but leave it to where the raid and the lighthouse is the only place to get max level regardless of current light. So that way, you go do these end game things you get some high level stuff and then you would have the chance of getting other high level stuff else where and really have more options over all of what to do. I also all vendor items should roll their perks and stats when you purchase them. Give us the ability to buy what we want when want to, and let RNGesus decide what perks we get. As far as Cryptarch, let him his legendaries from every loot pool in the game and I mean the whole game. So like you buy a primary weapon engram from the Cryptarch and you have a chance of either getting a Doctrine of Passing, Arminues-D, an Eyasluna, a or even a yr1 Devil you know. That would make buying engrams a real fun gamble. Just a thought.

If Destiny 2 level system is based around rng I'm not buying it period. Don't care if I can import shit from the first Destiny.

Go play The division if you want that

You should not be able to get things below your light level everything should be at or higher. Either that or go back to the old system. This new system is just an insane amount of grinding. I know people who have been grinding the raid since TTK launched done all the challenges and are still not at 320. That is some serious bullshit right there. I honestly can't bring myself to play because with that kind of time investment it just seems futile, it feels similar to counting every grain of sand on the beach.