Free Softcap Set: What Does it Mean for the Future of Gear in Black Desert?
370Will the new softcap set be a permanent addition?
Trina Knights First Captain's Support Kit (7 Days)
Pearl Abyss could be testing the waters with this 7day set to see if a permanent addition to the game would be a good idea.
They've been slowly adding better and better welfare items to the game (Asula, Black Abyssal). This is the logical conclusion for welfare items, a set that allows new players to compete in endgame content but is still worse than true endgame gear.
Pros:
- New players can experience endgame PvP and PvE without grinding for months and going through the experience that is enhancing.
- Provides incentive to level to 60 and beyond and helps convert f2p players into paying players as they attempt to earn silver to achieve true softcap and beyond.
- Softcap has been slowly progressing past this softcap set ever since the renown score patch. This set is just a baseline required to not be blown up against veteran players.
Cons (2 camps)
- Devalues the efforts of softcap players. Players hould have to earn their gear by themselves. BDO is a game where the journey is the content, not the destination. Endgame is something you earn. Not something that should be given to anyone who can hit 60.
- Destroys the game balance. Currently players are spread out across the zones from pirates to Valencia to Kamasylvia. A permanent softcap set would force more players towards endgame zones and cause unnecessary conflict and strife.
Counterpoints:
The benefits of achieving softcap before such a set comes out are twofold.
1. The player got to experience the power of being softcap before newer players got a boost in power. Currently a softcap player can easily stomp lesser geared players and it's hardly even a competition. Softcap players have gotten to experience this for as long as they've been softcap for.
2. Their gear retains it's value. It's upgradable and can be sold to fund other pieces of gear. The new set has no silver value and is only usable to gain a decent level of power so that they can compete as they attempt to get true softcap gear.
3. 60 is not as easy for new players as vets claim. It takes weeks with bad beginner gear and a continuous lack of silver. Having a goal to strive for (Hit 60 and get good gear) would encourage players to continue leveling and having a decent endgame set once they hit 60 encourages players to participate in node wars, new endgame areas such as Kamasylvia and Drieghan, and increases the number of players willing to stay and play the game.
Conclusion:
- A permanent softcap set would be a welcome addition to BDO. Pearl Abyss seems to be testing to see if the potential value added by converting newer players into paying players attempting to go beyond softcap is worth the possible loss in value from disgruntled veterans who quit over the new set.
- It's also possible that this will be added to either the xbox version or as a cash shop purchase. It's also quite likely that Pearl Abyss simply never does anything with the set and the event fades into obscurity.
- My favourite idea is that it will be added as an extension of the Capotia set. With pieces being doled out at level 59-62. For example:
Lv 59: Armour pieces
Lv 60: Weapons
Lv 61: Rings and Belt
Lv 62: Earrings and Necklace
This would incentivize players to level up to at least 60 on their class. It would also provide more motivation to go for 61 and 62. Finally it means that you can try out a new class with softcap weapons without having to reroll as long as you can hit 60 on the class.
The reasons not to add the set certainly have merit, but MMORPG's are games that are continuously evolving and adding more endgame content. Locking players out of this content is a bad business move on the part of Pearl Abyss and is likely to be addressed sooner rather than later.
Comment below what you think about the new set. Should it become a permanent addition to the game? Should it be banished to an obscure fact only 2018 players will know? Let us know below!
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