Character Development After the Max Level
In a large number of MMORPGs, player experience is divided into two phases: 1) the journey to max level and 2) the endgame, which begins upon reaching the maximum level. In this latter phase, character progression often consists solely of acquiring better equipment, sometimes supplemented by new systems that no longer play a role with the next expansion.
Fortunately, more and more online games show that it can be done differently, especially with experience point systems that kick in after reaching max level. Here are just a few examples:
- Just take the Paragon levels from Diablo 3.
- In Guild Wars 2, level 80 heroes earn experience points for their masteries.
- In Elder Scrolls Online, there are XP-based Champion points that can be invested in various constellations to activate useful effects.
These systems often affect the entire account, allowing even side characters to benefit from endgame progression. Additionally, such a feature is usually supported long-term by developers, and you don’t have to worry that all earned progress will disappear with the launch of the new expansion.
Diplomacy as an Alternative to Combat
It is still relatively rare in an MMORPG to actually have the opportunity to solve a quest in multiple ways. Instead, games often clearly divide their NPCs into peaceful and aggressive inhabitants of the world.
Meanwhile, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes showed 17 years ago how it could be done differently: with a diplomacy system. Potential conflicts with NPCs can here be diplomatically resolved with a card mini-game. If you succeed, you resolve the dialogue in your favor.
Often, you first have to obtain the appropriate clothing so that the opponent engages in conversation. Which nobleman with self-respect would associate with a common adventurer? All this was certainly not perfectly solved, but it was a solid foundation to further develop peaceful diplomacy in MMORPGs.
