You know what, I wasn't really going to get into this because everyone deserves to vent, but you guys really aren't thinking this through.
Conventional wisdom dictated that the new raid would be 28 versus 30 for reasons of accessibility. This version of doing things is
more restrictive, and if not for Luke's comment about an alternate path for gearing up, I'd have had a major problem with the game's apparent longterm approach toward casual and less-intensive players.
If the Normal raid were 28, 28s could have entered confidently and, through luck, received a full set of gear (or all gear minus their exotic slot), and been able to jump "directly" from level 28 to 32 without every having experienced the agonizing "I'm 29 and can't hit 30!!!!" grind for a single moment. That would have been
less of a slap in the face?
Leveling all the way up to 29
wasn't a "broken and lame RNG system," it was a concrete token system that allowed for measured progress on any individual play session and as someone who hasn't honestly had good RNG luck in a single game before Destiny gave me my Hawkmoon, I loved it. The concept of getting from 29 to 30 with pure RNG? Hated it, and was in the end very happy for Iron Banner which provided my only route. House of Wolves
will again raise the light cap and have new plateaus equivalent to 28-29-30 right now and 30-31-32 come December 9th. This is totally unrelated to how much RNG is required in reaching any particular level (which, again, was zero with regard to 29). While I dislike that they chose a more restrictive barrier of entry to the new raid than I predicted, it's
better to allow players to overcome that barrier without RNG than to require it, like you're advocating.
It's not like you're going to hit 32 with vendor gear. Strap back in.
We're there. On Dec. 9th, better gear will be available that you have to pay to be able to obtain. If this is not an idea you can reconcile with yourself you definitely should not buy it.
Going full MMO isn't an option
Look...
I understand the frustration that people in the minority of players who raided tons and tons of times to get multiple characters to level 30 are experiencing. The idea that anyone out there will be able to hit that same number without putting in the same
effort is painful- a twinge, like, ugh, they don't deserve it for
that!
But it's illusory. RNG ensures that it's possible for someone to get lucky and get a full set to hit max level in 1 run, just like it's possible to run 50 times without getting the piece that you need. Did that player really deserve it more than someone who has been at 29 since September, couldn't get there from the boots/gloves in Iron Banner, and will be able to hit 30 for the first time come the DLC? Is it possible that maybe the latter person actually deserves the chance for some more concrete progression, especially because it won't get them all the way to the new level cap and they could be stuck, for months, yet again?
It all comes down to this: raising your level number in Destiny is never going to be a deeply compelling and magical experience because making numbers go up isn't what's
fun about Destiny.
Think of it this way- if you were that first example dude I mentioned, that got a full raid set running it their first time ever... would you be done? Would you ever run the raid again? If so, stop playing immediately. Chasing numbers can be done more effectively and with Skinneresque rewards on a far more consistent delivery schedule in other games.
If not- if you ran the raid however many times you ran it because you actually had fun
in the act of doing it, because you liked hanging out and rolling with your raid group, because you liked helping others to learn and improve as players, because you enjoyed challenging yourself (maybe even not cheesing the bosses every time you had the chance?!)... then Destiny will be rewarding to you for a very long time, regardless of what day your character level became the highest number it could be.
