After patch 1.8.1 revised the loot distribution of The Division once again, the community is discussing again: Too much loot or too little? The viewpoint seems to depend on the invested play hours.
One of the most controversial topics since the release of The Division has always been the question: Is the game too generous with its loot, or is the opposite the case and does The Division skimp terribly with the loot?
The discussion about the topic reveals that the community unites many different types of players.
But what opinions do the different positions hold? We summarize what part of the community is concerned about.
The Division Community – Between Hardcore Agents and Casual Players
Over the past two years, two fundamental opinions have solidified in the agent community, heading in opposite directions. Should the best equipment be easier for agents to obtain, or not?
Especially the debate around the classified sets, THE most sought-after equipment in The Division, has rekindled the discussion.
Patch 1.8.1 increased the drop chance of the classified sets in all areas. Here, voices were raised, ranging from “Still too rare!” to “That makes it way too easy for players!” There are also less critical voices, who are either satisfied or slightly tend toward one of the directions.
To make it clearer, we write about “hardcore” and “casual” players. No one should be pigeonholed here; it simply serves as an illustration. This should also not become a generalization, merely addressing the debate in the networks.
Casual Players: Classified Gear is Way Too Rare!
Who are the casual players? Casual players include agents who do play regularly, but not for too long in The Division.
Especially with the classified sets, many players saw a loot problem in The Division and criticized the extremely low chance to complete their classified sets outside of global events. One has to invest way too much time!
In fact, the chance to get classified gear before patch 1.8.1 was quite low. If you didn’t have time to farm during a global event, you relied on conventional activities. This could quickly become frustrating, especially for players who avoid the Dark Zone.
The opinion: Sets should be more accessible to all players, not just those who invest significantly more time. 14 classified sets consisting of vest, mask, knee pads, backpack, gloves, and holster? And you need a special piece, and also from a specific set? With a 3% drop chance from named bosses? For casual players, this can be discouraging.
The new update aimed to address this problem and doubled the drop rate, increased the chance in legendary missions, and introduced classified containers at the special equipment vendor, yet some players still feel this is not enough.
Hardcore Players: The Rarer the Classified Sets, the Better!
Who are the hardcore players? Some agents have been with the game since the closed and open beta, others just recently and have spent thousands of hours in Manhattan, knowing every corner, every mission, and every audio log almost inside and out.
The prevailing opinion: The best loot should be rare and particularly reward frequent players.The Division is seen as a long-term engagement that one can stick with for years. In online games with a loot system, the goal is to possess the best gear in all possible variations. It is frustrating when you have everything to get after a short time.
It takes forever to complete a classified set? Good, because they are also very strong. What’s the point of having everything in a short time? Many find obtaining the best equipment too easily not motivating.
After all, all activities in The Division can be completed with normal sets! Players who do not own classified sets can still rely on alternatives like NinjaBike builds.
The Success of The Division: A Curse and a Blessing at the Same Time
In my opinion, the problem is rooted in the success and the various contents of The Division. Because the release was a record success for Ubisoft and by now over 20 million agents have at least taken a look at The Division.
The Division unites many different elements rarely mixed together in such a constellation. Single-player gamers are interested in the story, co-op fans for the squad-based gameplay, RPG lovers because of the various RPG elements. Additionally, there is the Diablo-like loot system that appeals to gear collectors.
Accordingly, the players’ demands on The Division are very different. This is a very interesting mix and makes Massive’s game so unique, but it also poses content-related problems for the developers.
With the latest update, Massive has found a good compromise. Completing classified sets still takes time, but the increased drop rates make PvE activities more lucrative and thus automatically provide more motivation.
Additionally, timing is an important factor. The Division 2 has been announced, part one is now in its third year and thus in the “end phase”. While for many, there is slowly not much to do anymore, returnees and new players are coming in who want to exploit everything before the sequel arrives.
It is therefore only logical that Massive wants to make farming easier, after all, new players have a lot more to catch up on.
Is There a Solution?
The biggest question that Massive faced and will continue to face in the future: How can one satisfy so many different needs without upsetting the other side?
Here, there is little room for maneuver and one walks a narrow path. If one changes something about the difficulty level, like back then with patch 1.4, some rejoice while others react indignantly. Regardless of whether it becomes harder or easier. An eternal back and forth could be the result.
Massive will have to carefully consider for The Division 2 how to bring the fans together. Whether with success will be shown in the future.
What do you think about the issues? Do you have suggestions for solutions? Write to us in the comments!
The Division: 7 reasons why you should check it out again after 1.8.1.
