The more I think about it, the more the concept bugs me.
Why did it become a design staple to offer this 'prestige' system? The only reason to go backwards over and over like that are the rewards, and those easily could have been added somewhere more interesting, like in the Challenges. I especially can't stand how in this game, promotion offers an extremely valuable, yet infinite reward; it should never be anything more than a light bonus.
Obviously it's to incentivize prolonged play. More playing, more likely to spend.
It's hardly required, but if you're the type who shoots for as close to optimal as you can get, it's something to work at.
The more I think about it, the more the concept bugs me.
Why did it become a design staple to offer this 'prestige' system? The only reason to go backwards over and over like that are the rewards, and those easily could have been added somewhere more interesting, like in the Challenges. I especially can't stand how in this game, promotion offers an extremely valuable, yet infinite reward; it should never be anything more than a light bonus.
Without promotions being very useful many people would've stopped playing already. I think the concept is good, but the game mechanics behind the stats should not have allowed for each successive point into the attributes to be stronger than the last. Just about every intelligently made game with damage reduction increase from attribute mechanic would give a set amount of ranged/melee/magic armor class number increase per attribute, and an equation with the armor class used to calculate the damage reduction % so that it would have diminishing return for each additional attribute point or tier of attribute point to prevent successive points from always being stronger than prior points. Armor rating being a flat damage reduction is an even bigger mess and is definitely the most lazy and worst implementation for damage reduction I've ever seen in any game (ever tried hitting a venatori brute 200 times to kill it while soloing routine for your challenge? you have this crap armor rating implementation to thank).
As for promotion attributes being infinite, a friend told me it caps out at 99 attributes, and I sure hope so, but he had to have heard it from a hacker or someone lying about his attributes so it might not be true. If it is 99 attributes, that means 49.5% damage reduction, plus whatever % you get from armor and abilities. Most classes could get ~65-70% damage reduction just from attributes and armor upgrades, assuming equipment attributes stack on top of the 99 base attributes. Shield classes could get 90%+. After 800-1200 hours of grinding for 99 constitution/willpower/cunning, you could be taking 2-4x less damage than someone with only 20 attributes but the same gear, which might be kind of OP but might be possible to address with some super high difficulties. But if there is no cap, there can be people with maxed out damage reduction taking 1 damage from any mobs.
I could see them giving infinite promotions and eventually simply cutting out the defense part after a while, so once you get past a certain point you're only gaining HP/crit/attack and the defense bonuses remain at a certain level.
Or perhaps they eventually add a mechanic like in the Diablo games, where when/if they add higher difficulties they come with inherent penalties to defenses that you'd have to have higher prestige values to offset. Maybe even a combination of the two.
The more I think about it, the more the concept bugs me.
Why did it become a design staple to offer this 'prestige' system? The only reason to go backwards over and over like that are the rewards, and those easily could have been added somewhere more interesting, like in the Challenges. I especially can't stand how in this game, promotion offers an extremely valuable, yet infinite reward; it should never be anything more than a light bonus.
Mass Effect 3 MP has promotions too, but they are don't give you something valuable. As a result the whole community was separated because seasoned players don't descent into lower difficulties and don't help newcomers. Less newcomers -- less money, at least in theory.
I wish there were a Rogue I enjoyed promoting as much as I do the Mages. Cunning would be nice.
I know Archer works well even at low levels (with someone to draw aggro at least), but he just doesn't click for me, I much prefer Hunter, who takes longer to get going.
I do not like promoting Alchemist.
On the other hand,I like warriors-Reaver and Templar in particular.
The more I think about it, the more the concept bugs me.
Why did it become a design staple to offer this 'prestige' system? The only reason to go backwards over and over like that are the rewards, and those easily could have been added somewhere more interesting, like in the Challenges. I especially can't stand how in this game, promotion offers an extremely valuable, yet infinite reward; it should never be anything more than a light bonus.
Promotions as it is in this game is completely unacceptable. It privileges players with more time and more resources (stronger groups, better connection) while it alienates those with less time and less resources. And I am not even talking about casual players and newcomers, for them, this game is simply unwelcoming.
I have about a thousand promotions in ME3MP, a game that uses pretty much the same system but the rewards are purely cosmetic. Imagine a thousand promotions translated into Cunning, Constitutions and especially Willpower. Bioware has gone insane for allowing it to happen.
Mass Effect 3 MP has promotions too, but they are don't give you something valuable. As a result the whole community was separated because seasoned players don't descent into lower difficulties and don't help newcomers. Less newcomers -- less money, at least in theory.
Do you know DAMP Elite players who ever descent into Public Routine lobbies to help newcomers? Let me know if you do. Even the Intermediate players that I know use their level 1s on Threatening and Perilous, let alone the Elite.
I've been playing the game for 2 weeks but I already feel bad to play Routine with newcomers and chain 20+ Killstreaks. Besides I don't actually think it helps them, chances are that it discourages them.
As for newcomers getting into this game, well, imagine in a few months time when some veteran players shall have 100+ Promotions per Class. In my view that would, if anything, ruin the game for potential fresh players.
Do you know DAMP Elite players who ever descent into Public Routine lobbies to help newcomers? Let me know if you do. Even the Intermediate players that I know use their level 1s on Threatening and Perilous, let alone the Elite.
I've been playing the game for 2 weeks but I already feel bad to play Routine with newcomers and chain 20+ Killstreaks. Besides I don't actually think it helps them, chances are that it discourages them.
As for newcomers getting into this game, well, imagine in a few months time when some veteran players shall have 100+ Promotions per Class. In my view that would, if anything, ruin the game for potential fresh players.
Elitist detected 
I remember you, "instant kick without equipment" mister.
Bioware just try to improve their business model. If you have any thoughts about how to do it better, feel free to share their with us.
I'm fully aware MEMP had promotions; the issue I'm trying to point out is that promotions on principles are an extremely cheap and surface way to prolong play and are quite possibly the worst way to deliver rewards as valuable as permanent stat boosts, especially when these stat boosts are (as far as anyone is aware) infinite.
Challenges can be fun. Its how the whole achievement philosophy started: challenge the player to play in an alternative or skillful manner for bragging rights or even aesthetic rewards. That's a great concept; casual/new players aren't intimidated, and hardcore players have something to shake up the play. This, however, is purely time=success.
I just hate the idea of promotions, and how they're handled here in particular. Challenges could easily have given us skill points (at a cap!) instead, but they just give them away to anyone who's willing to throw down time on the game. 6 months down the line when people are taking less than 50 damage from Demon Commander, there's going to be a lot of pissed off newbies. I really really hope that there is some sort of soft cap or scaling that we just can't see, because it won't take much to fundamentally break the game.
I'm fully aware MEMP had promotions; the issue I'm trying to point out is that promotions on principles are an extremely cheap and surface way to prolong play and are quite possibly the worst way to deliver rewards as valuable as permanent stat boosts, especially when these stat boosts are (as far as anyone is aware) infinite.
Challenges can be fun. Its how the whole achievement philosophy started: challenge the player to play in an alternative or skillful manner for bragging rights or even aesthetic rewards. That's a great concept; casual/new players aren't intimidated, and hardcore players have something to shake up the play. This, however, is purely time=success.
Guest_Stormheart83_*
Oh no, players that started before me have an advantage because their attributes are higher. Man, when did it become ok to insist that someone however new be on equal footing as someone who has put 100, 200 or even 500 hours into a game. Is this some sort of socialists gaming movement? Will I now be required to purchase the first five chest for all DAMP noobs as well as give them promotions? ( this is sarcasm don't bother replying )Do you know DAMP Elite players who ever descent into Public Routine lobbies to help newcomers? Let me know if you do. Even the Intermediate players that I know use their level 1s on Threatening and Perilous, let alone the Elite.
I've been playing the game for 2 weeks but I already feel bad to play Routine with newcomers and chain 20+ Killstreaks. Besides I don't actually think it helps them, chances are that it discourages them.
As for newcomers getting into this game, well, imagine in a few months time when some veteran players shall have 100+ Promotions per Class. In my view that would, if anything, ruin the game for potential fresh players.
Challenges like already existed weekly events? It's unfair to latecomers. Or they are must be presented at any time? If so, they are no better than current promoting system but required additional work. We all see current MP state, it's in public beta stage now.
No, challenges like challenges. There's a whole section called challenges. That's what I'm referring to when I say 'challenges'.
Elitist detected
Bioware just try to improve their business model. If you have any thoughts about how to do it better, feel free to share their with us.
Probably that was on a Platinum thread 
I am far from elitist on DAMP. I am a humble novice. Though I wonder if Elite players do play Public Routine games on a regular basis. In case they do, and they intend do it for months to come, then Bioware has achieved something. But that is not the reality that I see.
And Bioware business model was excellent during ME3MP, could not have been much better for its brief one year of support. The only mistake they did was to abandon it after one year.
Probably that was on a Platinum thread
I am far from elitist on DAMP. I am a humble novice. Though I wonder if Elite players do play Public Routine games on a regular basis. In case they do, and they intend do it for months to come, then Bioware has achieved something. But that is not the reality that I see.
And Bioware business model was excellent during ME3MP, could not have been much better for its brief one year of support. The only mistake they did was to abandon it after one year.
I don't play Routine at all unless I promote a Katari or Necro, and I don't even consider myself 'elite'.
Oh no, players that started before me have an advantage because their attributes are higher. Man, when did it become ok to insist that someone however new be on equal footing as someone who has put 100, 200 or even 500 hours into a game. Is this some sort of socialists gaming movement? Will I now be required to purchase the first five chest for all DAMP noobs as well as give them promotions? ( this is sarcasm don't bother replying )
I would support Promoting 100% if it were for cosmetic purposes only.
The attributes being higher are not merely an advantage, they are gamebreaking. Imagine 100% Critical Chance, 80% Melee/Ranged/Magic Defense, and Infinite Attack (which equals to raw damage in DAI). Possibly infinite Health Points too, I am not aware if they are capped.
By playing more hours in DAMP, players will have much more than better weapons and some skills. This game is on its way to become a drastically uneven experience for its playerbase.
Bioware promoted this game as being group-focused, lots of teamwork required, balanced and equal. I don't know how they were capable to implement something as shortsighted as the Promotion system.
I don't play Routine at all unless I promote a Katari or Necro, and I don't even consider myself 'elite'.
I said that because no one cares about helping newcomers on lower difficult levels in this game. If I and you don't care, the Elite players who are most likely speedrunning Perilous as we discuss would not care either.
I don't know whether Bioware's intention was to unite the community somehow with this new Promotion system, but clearly they are not accomplishing that. They are in fact creating segregation.
Do you know DAMP Elite players who ever descent into Public Routine lobbies to help newcomers? Let me know if you do. Even the Intermediate players that I know use their level 1s on Threatening and Perilous, let alone the Elite.
In top 30 atm. Played like 10 routines today leveling up low lvls. I don't like to be carried in threatening or perilous with my low levels so I get them to ~6 in routine, then ~12 in threatening, and park them for perilous runs.
I said that because no one cares about helping newcomers on lower difficult levels in this game. If I and you don't care, the Elite players who are most likely speedrunning Perilous as we discuss would not care either.
I'm aware 
Just throwing in my lot with your point.
Since your all discussing it...
There is no help at low levels. It's all lowbies trying to get thru. I've been playing 2 weeks as much as I can, w/ all Bio's glitching/drops/hangups/host migrations and no help from anybody, ie. steal kills from the rushers or you get nada....I've only prestige twice, ON 1 character. And I see the same 10 guys all the time and nobody else.
SO, as I stated, I WILL NEVER play any character but an archer. When you only find rooms w/ speed runners/kill hogs and when you burn 500k in boxes and get NOT 1 effing purple or anything over level 5(my crap a.ssd bow I'm using) you would be put off also....
IMO MP is a bunch of BS...good for time wasting only when your waiting on SM War table missions to time out. I want all missions done before progressing further in SM so that's why I tried MP, and it DIDNT IMPRESS ME 1 BIT....
And to the guy saying you got your 100. Goody for you....spent 3 hour trying and got 24 kills....to many kill hogs, no gear what so ever(as I said I get sh_t from my boxes) and dealing w/ all the BIO BS of drops/lockups/room hangs/no mobs what have you....
Again, NOT IMPRESSED...
In top 30 atm. Played like 10 routines today leveling up low lvls. I don't like to be carried in threatening or perilous with my low levels so I get them to ~6 in routine, then ~12 in threatening, and park them for perilous runs.
If you play Routine with strangers on a regular basis, then you are an exception, and you might as well know that.
I actually feel that you follow Bioware's original concept: Veterans will often promote and naturally play Routine with level 1 characters while at the same they help newcomers.
However, we know that isn't the rule and on Private Threat and Peri lobbies everyone uses Level 1s.
I do a lot of Routines with strangers, maybe half of my current games are as such. But that is more due to the lack of people to play with than trying to help newcomers per se.
If I don't like a character (which is quite a lot of them) I don't play them at all.
You only need to play 1 character from each class if you really want.
IMO MP is a bunch of BS...good for time wasting only when your waiting on SM War table missions to time out. I want all missions done before progressing further in SM so that's why I tried MP, and it DIDNT IMPRESS ME 1 BIT....
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