wow this seriously gives me mixed feelings.
if I can't use my gremlin properly, or my opalo, I'm going to be pissed.
I played a long time. I'm already not a hunting grinder, but sometimes I go out all eco and kill a couple hours just grinding easy stuff, and sometimes I like to throw on some "big boy toys" and go splurge a little.
Honestly I can see this forcing things into a channel like so many other MMO where you just have to do EXACTLY the right thing or you're penalized into uselessness. It's not cool if there's only one level of armor you can use 'properly' so you need to get new armor every 5 - 10 levels and new weapons as well to keep up, in an RCE.
it's alos not going to be cheap if every other level (for instance) 20 - 25 hunter on the planet needs exactly the same amor that you do, and will also have to dump it in a few levels when you do.
I'm ok with realizing that there's a little cost to inefficiency but throw the words "penalized in loot' on there and basically, this could be the update that ensures I quit trying to hunt. Since crafting and mining are in such shape, not sure about this at all.
I don't know, I feel like I'm often positive about the game and I'm surprised to see so much positivity here, when I'm absolutely in shock and very concerned that this will turn entropia into the same cookie cutter grinding game as any other cheap MMO, but with the added 'spice' of RCE and decay where +100% returns to move you along the required upgrade chain cannot possibly be sustained.
Also many of the 'secrets' and 'tricks' of EU (like loot waves) are equally available to all players who take the time to understand them. Not so when you are 'penalized' to sustain the improved loot for the few that can afford endless grinding to develop the new (required) skills ahead of the curve.
It sounds like with the new professions and specialties and various penalties it might finally be what so many have hoped, that an uber bankroll can skill to the point where regular grinding is profitable, on the backs of all the midlevel depositors.
I guess I would say I'm cautiously pessimistic at this announcement. I hope for the best, but will prepare to get screwed.