Our reader heathcliff63 has given a lot of thought to the current status of Destiny 2 and compiled a list of suggestions for improvement, which we present to you in this guest contribution.
After I already shared my thoughts about the ominous Destiny “community” in a review some time ago and concluded that it is nearly impossible to satisfy all the different player types, I would now like to touch on a few topics that I believe could contribute significantly to improving the game.
Bungie has done a lot right with the seasons, but has also made many mistakes. Not only in our clan do I notice a waning interest, but also the posts here at MeinMMO are increasingly heading in a negative direction.
I believe that the game has enormous potential and is still a lot of fun for me. Therefore, here are a few suggestions for improvement in no particular order.
The “unpleasant” topic PvP
I assume that every player who has ever participated in a PvP match has a K/D. This is clearly unique per account and is stored in the game as well.
I would propose three groups for matchmaking that cover a specific range. Since I do not have access to statistical data from Bungie, the classification has been done arbitrarily and is only meant to serve as an example:
- Group 1 (Beginners/Casual Players): for players with a K/D of 0.0 to 1.0. All modes are active and rotate randomly. Fireteams are not allowed, level advantages disabled.
- Group 2 (Advanced): for players with a K/D between 1.0 and 2.0. All modes are active and can be selected individually. Fireteams are allowed, level advantages disabled.
- Group 3 (Pros): for players with a K/D >2.0. Restriction to one or two modes only, fireteams are allowed, level advantages activated. Possibly further tightening of conditions by banning exotics, restrictions on certain weapon classes, or disabling supers (which could be activated alternately every week). This would be seen as a replacement for the Trials and Comp, with its own loot pool.
Basically, players with a higher K/D should not be allowed to play in a lower group, which would make matchmaking easier and allow a focus solely on connection quality.
Players with a lower K/D can indeed participate in the “stronger” groups to improve their K/D. The K/D is calculated depending on the opponent’s K/D.
If I eliminate a Guardian who has a significantly better K/D than I do, it gives me more points than if I eliminate a weaker player.
The Iron Banner would only be held once per season, but over two weeks instead. Level advantages would be enabled and all players can participate, much like a Grand Slam tournament. If it were up to me, the weapons and gear from D1 could also make a return here.
Destiny is a loot shooter
This should not be a new insight, thus the game needs new loot at regular intervals. I would at least overhaul the entire loot pool (including NPCs) twice a year, with alternating seasonal availability. Loot pool 1 would be active in Season 1 and 3, and loot pool 2 in Season 2 and 4.
This way, every player would have the opportunity to earn everything, there would be variety, and it would provide an additional motivation to play all seasons. Destiny 2 already offers significantly more activities than its predecessor. The problem is, however, that these activities will eventually become boring for even the biggest fans without an updated loot pool.
The “mini-raid” for everyone
The raids in Destiny are clearly the pinnacle of the game, but are only entered and completed by a small fraction of all players. On the other hand, the game now features some very interesting multiplayer activities that – see loot pool – are languishing.
Therefore, I would suggest a “new” activity composed of three or four randomly generated boss phases from the activities Escalation Protocol, Reckoning, Blind Well, Vex Offensive, possibly a Forge, Menagerie, and Sundial (I hope I haven’t forgotten any). Of course, with matchmaking and its own loot pool (but loot only at the end, so that players don’t drop out too early).
If we’re recycling, then let’s do it right
Since Bungie is bringing back weapons and armor from Destiny 1 anyway, why not gradually bring everything back? This could be story-wise justified by saying that all of our gear was stolen by a rogue Cabal gang during the destruction of the Tower (and our vault) and sold throughout the universe.
Thus, in each season, one or two items could be reactivated, ideally tied to a small story mission or, for all I care, in one of the lost sectors or a strike at a higher level, where you can earn the gear piece from the end boss. Of course, this shouldn’t be widely announced as new content; otherwise, a shitstorm would be pre-programmed.
Bungie has designed 4 great and challenging dungeons, in my opinion. It’s a shame that these largely become useless after completing the quest.
It would be great if suddenly (without major announcement) an exotic scout rifle designed like the Whisper would appear or an auto rifle in the Siva design in the Zero Hour mission.
But please without time limitations, because I find that just creates unnecessary stress that dampens my enjoyment. The difficulty alone and the fact that you usually need a fireteam should already provide enough challenge.
Perhaps if the mission is completed within a certain time, it could be tied as a triumph with a unique emblem for hardcore players.
The “SRL World Championship”
I was a big fan of the SRL in Destiny 1. On the one hand, it allowed for high-level gear, and on the other, it was a varied and fun event. Especially now, with so many sparrows featuring cool designs, this would be a great opportunity.
The tracks from D1, plus two new courses, would already set the stage for a new engagement.
You could hold your own championship, with in-game visible leaderboards or even a world championship of its own. Qualification would depend on the best times you achieved on each track, which could be broadcast live on Twitch or elsewhere.
Add in shaders that are color-themed after famous Formula 1 race cars, and armor ornaments inspired by racing suits. If it were up to me, I’d be happy to buy these with Glimmer to ensure that the Eververse benefits from it too.
We don’t want anything for free, but give us achievable goals
Bungie has always had a problem with the drop rate of exotics. It’s an ongoing pendulum between the extremes. Sometimes, exotics are thrown at you, and sometimes they seem to barely exist.
When I read that some players have 50 or more raid completions and still don’t have a raid exotic, while others get one on their first or second try, it only leads to frustration and envy.
Especially with the raids, which are very time-consuming, the drop rate must noticeably increase with the growing number of completions, so that a drop must be guaranteed after, for example, the tenth completion.
On the other hand, exotics are devalued when they can be obtained with such little effort, like Eriana, Symmetry, Devil’s Ruin, and others. You don’t have to be a psychologist to know that a fair reward system and clearly recognizable goals are crucial for motivation.
Of course, random drops belong in a game like Destiny; they add spice and suspense, but I want to know that, for example, after 100 strikes, the chance of a particular exotic increases. This way, I can work towards a goal, and the reward feels satisfying.
Eververse yes, but lower the costs
I have absolutely no problem with Bungie wanting to generate additional revenue through the Eververse. I would be willing to spend real money on cool ornaments, ships, and sparrows, but the prices are sometimes outrageous and are not proportional to the rest of the game.
I am also convinced that revenue would be significantly higher if the prices were at a reasonable level, appropriate to what is being offered.
Further systems of Destiny 2
What I think about strikes: I do not understand why Bungie so persistently ignores the demand for strike-exclusive loot. Strikes are an immensely important part of the game, but even I am slowly finding it boring because it simply does not feel rewarding anymore.
As far as I remember, the situation was similar after some time in Destiny 1, and when strike-exclusive loot was introduced, it boosted that activity immensely.
What I think about the factions: The factions, which had a greater significance in D1, have now totally disappeared and will probably be completely unknown to newcomers.
Even though I preferred the leveling system from D1 with an exotic at level 25 and its own loot pool, I believe that the faction rallies, at least as they were at the beginning of D2, could easily be revived. Anything would be better than the current status of nearly non-existence.
What I think about the level system: I would also urgently suggest reworking the current level system. Why should I earn top loot with great difficulty in one season if every blue drop is higher at the beginning of the next season?
Just to feel “more powerful” for 1 to 2 months, because game-wise the power level is rarely truly relevant. To be honest, I lack the motivation when everything then seems wasted.
Conclusion
I am convinced that there are still many possibilities for us to improve the gaming experience. However, I would be satisfied with the aforementioned expansions, which, in my opinion, would not require a huge programming effort.
I personally do not need a new raid or multiplayer activity every season. Of course, raids are the prestige object and the crowning achievement in Destiny 2, and it is great that they exist.
But the cost-benefit ratio is likely quite low. Almost every car manufacturer has its “showcase model,” but most profit comes from the mass market of “bread-and-butter” cars.
Now and then new strikes or PvP and Gambit maps, and above all new loot, new loot, and yet more new loot. Then player numbers in D2 could approach the glorious past again.
Additionally, more open communication, faster bug fixes, and a little less “awesomeness,” meaning marketing speech. We all love Destiny, invest a lot of money and time, so we deserve an open and honest approach.
Making mistakes is human, and admitting them is not a weakness. However, covering up, concealing, or lying is reprehensible in every respect and inevitably leads to negative sentiment and distrust.
I would be glad if you could share your thoughts on the above suggestions or suggest new ways to enhance the gaming experience.
With guardian regards, heathcliff63.
