Higher level challenges

I see some repeated themes from higher level players. We all want more challenges. From the game standpoint, though, it is hard to design things that will benefit/be desired by older players without skewing things so heavily that longer time players have huge advantages that are difficult or impossible to reach by newer players. BB trees, the Chestnut row, etc... it seems that some of these most wonderful items are now doing this, giving certain players a huge leg up that is just not available to lower level and/or newer players.

I offer the following suggestion to appease both goals.
Create a new land, only available to higher level players. I know there was talk of a coral reef. That may or may not match this. Given all the hype with it, I think lower level players might be disappointed if they could nor participate. Maybe just create something entirely different, specifically for higher players. (mountain/desert or even an outer space zone -- though if outer space, not too crazy. I like sci-fi, but that might not appeal to folks who like this game otherwise) This land would have its own reward structure, perhaps even its own "coinage" (that is, not CCs, but something else, though BBs could still work, since they are purchased)

I would like the following features, available beginning level 100, or 90 (note.. not sure how many players are over 100 right now, if there is not enough of a "base", you could offer a temporary introduction event that would boost folks relatively near up, but only to create a viable base group)
1. A unique point and coinage system.. [new]EP, [new]CC for items usable in this area.
2. Perhaps have room for regular pens, but only a limited number of each. OR just have new items, similar to how Baha has its own universe of items.
3. Use some of the lesser used/higher level crops and such as food components.
4. Allow placement of giver items, converted to earn the new EP.
5. Create a new, fully international and universal market. This might only have special items for this particular land most of the time, however during G & T events, it would allow trades outside of the regular market channels. Because it would be limited to the highest level players only, numbers would be manageable. If needed, you could limit trades more heavily -- allow maybe just one post per person, though with multiple items. This would not only offer something special for the higher level players, it would help to move some items around a bit more. Though only higher level players would be able to participate, they could trade obtained items in the regular market, thus spreading some of the more unique items around a bit more, balancing the game more.
6. Offer some different and unique rewards that are attractive, but won't heavily skew the game. Givers for the new EP and coinages and new crops/ animals would work, but also:
a. harvester coupons
b. Occasional free months of premium
c. Opportunities to give other, newer players powerfeed and Supergrow (something like mentors are allowed, but this would be available to anybody below, say level 70 or even level 90). You could also allow giving things like Renzo tickets, party spin tickets, etc.
d. Skins that could be put over regular animal pens, not changing their actions at all, just appearance. They might work only on this land, or could work on all.
e. Ability to participate in special events specific to higher players.
f. Vacation coupons.
g. Auto-start event fields. Special fields that will automatically be planted with an upcoming event crop as soon as available. The limit would be 5 or 10, depending on the event. Weeds would not grow on these special plots, only event crops. This would help people with schedules that don't coincide with event. If a crop is not harvested prior to the end of the event, it will either be automatically cleared and converted to EP/CC (whatever the conversion is for the event) OR maybe they will just be cleared. (this last might be valuable for anyone leaving for an extended period).


NOTE... these are just some quick thoughts, maybe others have other ideas?


EDIT: Have a new thought. We all look forward to new breeding events. Maybe these can be introduced in a tiered manner, along with a special quest, similar to what we see in events, that would open when people reach specific levels. It would not need to be an exact mirror of the event quests, but something other than just the standard breeding quests, a bonus reward for reaching a specific level. If implemented, the new breeding animals would not be available until the person reaches the level.. similar to the way crow and bat are locked. This would keep up the fun, without having a huge increase for the newer players.


I would also like to see some kind of tiering or limit to the wonder animals and trees. Again, having so many sort of dilutes the value. I realize that you limit the stocks of some, but that winds up mostly benefiting the older players. Having some that are consistently not available until you reach a specific level, similar to the regular animals, would help. If done, you would have to change how packs are offered somewhat. It would not be right to limit the level AND then make them available for only a short time. That is do-able, though. You could either offer packs for a while after someone reaching the correct level or have the pens as a bonus for quests... or have them repeat, as a separate offering in tandem with a new pack, only these would be just available for players who have reached a specific level. In the latter case, you would need to place a limit to the number of packs/pens people can purchase, though it might be something like "1 per 6 months" , rather than just 1-2 only.

 

I like some of your suggestions but I have to disagree with excluding lower level players and the new field for EP Givers. I think it would be better to have a Museum for the CC/EP Givers or to just add a section in the Magic Stalk where they can be placed in individual cells instead of having to complete an entire row. The reward for the "Cell Section" of the Magic Stalk would be the value of the CC/EP Giver.

I have just started to finish some quests so I can see why someone at Level 100+ would want more things to work on. I think this could be done without excluding lower level players by adding more quests instead of timed events. The lower level players might not be able to work on them now but sometime in the future they would be able to complete them.

Usually any addition to the game favors the higher level players either because they have access to more land (for crops or to place EP Givers), more money, more trees/stables/workshops (have to be at a certain level to access) and because they have been able to build up their inventory. More quests/events limited to only higher level players has been suggested before and I can't understand why players want to exclude others. Although you state that this should be done so as not to create a huge advantage for higher level players the list of items you want seems to suggest that the opposite would occur. I actually think that when new fields are made available that they should be available to all levels afte they meet the requirements to open it (cc's, stars, complete quest, etc.).

I know that when I obtained access to the Rainforest it was alot easier to complete events because I had an extra field to use. My main hinderance was that I did not have computer access for all days of the event. I also remember when I first started playing there were times when I couldn't afford to water my crops because I didn't have the cc's -- this hasn't been a problem for quite some time. All of the beginning animals were for sale in the market for less than $100 also (the good ole days).

 

I am talking about more than just an EP giver field..t hat might be a different suggestion.
More quests/events limited to only higher level players has been suggested before a Ind I can't understand why players want to exclude others. Although you state that this should be done so as not to create a huge advantage for higher level players the list of items you want seems to suggest that the opposite would occur. I actually think that when new fields are made available that they should be available to all levels afte they meet the requirements to open it (cc's, stars, complete quest, etc.).
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This is not about "excluding others", it is about having challenges similar to what you have now later in the game. If they are just "finish and everyone gets access", then its just a regular challenge, not something to "shoot" for. An example is the shipwreck bay. Requirements to open it fully are very steep, but in the end it just offers another place for givers. That is not bad, I have mine almost filled now. However, the main benefit of having all that extra BEP is being able to open more statues in the monkey temple. Except.... by the time you finish all of the shipwreck quests and open the entire island, you already have all the statues open. So, its basically a lot of effort for almost nothing.

About the only thing to shoot for past level 90 is getting laurel to make kiwi feed. Snowdrops, jasmine etc are using in one farmer society quest, but that's it. I have yet to find a use for the orange tulips. Once past level 96, there is nothing at all left to earn. You level up, but get no more products.

I can understand that it might seem as if being able to open everything at once would be nice. However, once you have all that, then what? That is the issue. Rewards that come too easily wind up not being rewards at all.

One thing about events... I have suggested higher level events, but I have also suggested repeating some quests just for lower levels at the same time as the higher level offerings.


per events... Although I have said higher level events are nice, I have also asked that lower level quests be offered, too, preferably at the same time. Its not just that the events that are a challenge to higher level players are too much for lower level players, its also that lower level players need different rewards. I mean, high EP givers are nice for lower level players, but only if they can actually get them. A lot of us higher level or longer time players have more than enough rare pens and trees, but newer players need them. There are other examples. I would limit the participation so higher level players don't skim off everything, glutting the markets.

 

I didn't mean that everything should be opened at once but that it should be available to everyone at the same time and not excluded from lower level players. It may be true that someone at a lower level could not complete a quest but they could start it if they wanted and they could also buy the quest items that they couldn't produce (unless there was a level restriction).

The Tree of Wisdom has more than one rune that can be opened and the player decides which one they want to open next. This could be the same for quests in the Farmers Society.

When the Tortoises became available we had around 4 different quests that required them and we could choose which one to finish first. Also I was able to complete the Afternoon Nap without owning a Juniper or Grapefruit tree.

I was thinking that in order to avoid the problem with different level players competing that maybe Bigpoint could make higher level quests in the Farmers Society and any timed events would be at a lower level so everyone could compete but this would cut into their sales of PF, BB and Baskets during these events. So after thinking about it I was wondering why they couldn't offer events based on a person's level where if I was at level 89 and someone else just started and was at level 10 we would not be working on the event at the same time. The level 10 player might not be offered the event until they reach a certain level but at least they would not miss out on the CC/EP Givers, Cloud Rows, etc. that were offered. I realize that for events that are based on holidays or festivals that they would have to be offered at a certain date and that Bigpoint could continue to do what they have been doing recently (offering EP Givers and Cloud Rows as rewards before the event is completed).

Again it was just the two parts of your suggestion that I didn't like and that was because I have already suggested an idea for the EP/CC Givers that I think would be better than a new field. In fact if the idea of a Museum or Magic Stalk "Cell" section were implemented it would clear up the Park and Shipwreck Bay to be used for something else (Orchard, new field (Desert, Mountain Region, etc.), Decoration Field for themed contests so that other fields don't have to be torn up, etc.) The other part was where it was suggested that there be challenges for higher level players only. You may not have meant to exclude anyone but this has been suggested before by others and it does seem that some players want contests just for them (which as you stated would give them an advantage).

There are some quests (Breeding) that were open to me along time ago that I still have not finished.

It should be noted also that regardless of a player's level they may not use parts of the game which could affect whether they could complete an event or quest. I usually have limited to so I have not done much with the Greenhouse or the Artisans Village (only basics of making recipes). Some players have stated in posts that they do not do the Moonlight Mania events/quests or field.

 

nlm-- I started to quote and respond, but the truth is that most of your post is about other ideas that are not related to what I am suggesting.

The museum/giver area, and scaled events are each distinct ideas that have been or can be discussed elsewhere. I will say that many events sort of do have scaled rewards because they are based on a multiple of our EP or BEP levels.

Per your basic objections, we may have to "agree to disagree". Not everyone likes even those ideas that are implemented, never mind suggestions that may not be used at all. That said, I want to explain a little better, because your objections show I may not have made my case that well.

There are some basic problems in a game like this. Quests, etc that are of interest for the higher level players are not just daunting to the lower level players, most of the rewards that are sufficient to satisfy the higher players would boost the lower players so much it would really bypass the struggles in the game. Its like many things... its seems nice to do away with struggles early, but then it turns out that it was that very challenge that provided the interest. Think about why you play games to begin with. If everything were just offered right off, then there would be no real point. You hinted at part of what I mean when you mentioned buying the items for the new quests. I currently have so many CC givers, so many rare animals and trees that I am earning a million CCs every few days, even without event price spikes. During events, you can double or triple that sometimes. I could easily buy the swans, for example, and finish up that quest, but I am waiting for the prices to drop, working on some other quests, buying breeding animals instead. Any time offerings are made to all you will find a tendency for the higher level players to scoop things up, making it even harder for the lower level players. The team limits this somewhat by having different markets, but its still definitely a trend (and I am not sure that balancing was the reason for the different markets so much as just pure server/band width, but I am only speculating there). This is why it is important to have things that are only offered for higher level players.



I understand that you are not saying to completely do away with the challenge, but you rather hit on why just having more quests won't serve the same purpose yourself. You mentioned that you still have some quests left. I do as well.. ones that have been sitting there, in some cases, since I started. Frankly, I am just doing them to get them out of the farm society house, not because they really offer much of anything. I do get some small pleasure from getting rid of them, but it was annoying to have them sitting there for months and months. Also, in almost all cases, people can bypass this with BB purchases. You can say they just basically cheat themselves that way, which is true, but its sort of like leaving candy out and telling kids not to touch it. By the time you realize your mistake.. its past. I am OK with offering some new farmer society quests that use the higher level products -- things like Jasmine and tulips. However, too many such quests available at once will just wind up frustrating lower level players who are already daunted by the many they cannot achieve. Also, its just that when you see them sitting there so long, they are no longer new, no longer exciting. Your eagerness to have new quests is exactly what I want to duplicate for higher level players.

You did hit on one of my points when you mentioned drops in sales of powerfeed, etc. Powerfeed is one of those things that is of value to almost anyone at any level... at least as long as they have breeding quests left. However, offering too much offsets the game quite a bit, as you noted. That is why I specifically tried to mention rewards that will be helpful and nice for higher level players, but not unbalance the game so much.

Anway, like I said.. not sure you will agree, but I hope my idea and reasons are at least clearer now.

 

nlm24 is my other farm so as not to confuse you.

I might not understand until I reach a higher level. Concerns/interests with the game change as you progress in levels. I will address your original post by the numbers you posted them with:

1. No comment at this time.
2. I suggested something similar to this "Island of the Big Cats" that could maybe be expanded on or maybe fields designated as event fields where they would be the only fields you could use to complete an event (I hate tearing up my fields and just failed to complete the Carnival event because of this - short 14 drops).
3. I currently am having problems keeping crops in inventory so at this time this does not concern me. Maybe after I reach a Level 100 or after I use the Greenhouse and have my crops refined.
4. I remember when I first started playing there were "How do you like my farm?" pictures and "themed" contests for farm decoration. I suggested the Museum or Magic Stalk "cell section" so that there would be a permanent place for our CC/EP Givers. I just think the Park and Shipwreck Bay look so junky with all the CC/EP Givers on them. The creation of this would not prevent someone from putting one of these items on their field if they wanted to (favorite item) but would allow those of us who do not like the clutter a chance to get it neat and orderly. The Museum or Magic Stalk "cell section" could also be used to let us know which items we are missing for those farmers who are "collectors". Not all areas would be designated as some of us have alot of duplicates. I know another solution would be to just leave them in inventory but when you need those points to level up they just get placed in the Magic Stalk Cloud Rows, Park or Shipwreck Bay. As stated previously this would also free up the Park and Shipwreck Bay to be used for something else: orchard, decoration area, new field, etc.
5. Having a new or "international market" might be better or create more interest for Gift and Trade. Maybe Bigpoint could add items that were only available in certain countries and we could trade to get them. I know if this happened I would try to get BB Trees (especially now that the cinema hasn't been working).
6. This might serve as an incentive for people to keep playing so that they could reach a level where they get more "freebies". We all want the harvest helpers.

As far as the "auto start fields" I'm not really sure what the difference would be between this or just increasing the amount of "starter" seeds would be.

I think there would be a demand for the "skins" because there is already a "pink" club and having the skins might create more without changing the items. On a negative note this might create Farmerama Gangs. There could be a possiblity to have a team though where you could trade or gift more freely with those on your team.