So here's where I am with Destiny (I apologize for covering some of the same issues noted in other recent topics, but this isn't really a response to anything specific).

I've played 120 hours. Given the last 90 days of playing, that's 1 hour and 20 minutes a day. Not a ton, but certainly not a trivial amount. It's been a ton of fun, and the more I play, the more I find I enjoy it. Crucible is excellent, the strikes are cool, and I have a good time playing the daily story missions, which are usually what I spend at least a part of the hour per day doing. To me, this game really captures the 30 seconds of fun, and I think the investment system is working on me like Jason Jones described, where it provides polite suggestions/excuses about what to do (I love Halo, but I've rarely played the story missions because I just don't think to myself, "I should play Silent Cartographer today"). I haven't had a chance to do a Nightfall strike, or even attempt the Raid, as the timing hasn't worked out with any of the DBO coordinated ones, and my IRL friends play way less than I do.

I really enjoy using handcannons, and had the good luck of getting a Red Hand IX when I got to rank 3 in New Monarchy. I've been using it ever since as my primary primary, both in PvE and PvP. I literally just finished ranking it all the way up today. These past few weeks I've all of the sudden gotten a lot of good drops, including Exotics, and my store has filled up with a bunch of really cool weapons with perks I like. I was really looking forward to trying them all out, especially after Tuesday's update that seemed to streamline weapon upgrading for the better. I'm actually a Level 29, since I made an effort to get the Iron Banner gear in hopes that I'd be able to jump right to the Crota Raid with DBO people (I really want to experience the Raid fresh, since that's been hyped up as pretty darn fun). So, I was really optimistic after Tuesday, but then as we got more news about the Expansion, things sort of swung the other direction.

Hearing the Crota Raid started at 30 was unfortunate because it didn't work out with my plans, but I figured that was a pretty unique circumstance, so I could work around it. However, the details about raising the level cap to 32 have really left me down in the dumps. I was pretty nervous about how that was going to work even before they announced it, and now it seems like my worst fears have been confirmed. I just got a great stable of Legendary weapons, and now they are worthless? The Exotic stuff doesn't both me as much, because at least there's some way to bring them with you (and I've barely leveled them anyway), but the Legendaries that I've grown to love, and the ones that I was looking forward to trying out I should now expect to just get rid of like all the greens and blues before? No thanks. That wasn't what I was looking for in an expansion. I feel like the expansion is subtracting just as much content as it is adding (for me at least). Just because I wasn't able to play as much for the (only) 3 months the game has been out means I don't get to experience the things other people have? I was looking forward to the next 100 hours, getting my other characters up to a higher level and distributing my gear, making good builds, and now I feel like I've been sent quite a ways back. And what's worse, now that I know it's going to be like this, I know that when the next expansion comes out, the same thing will happen, and I'll never get to take my time with the content how I'd like. Like I said, the first 100 hours have been great, but I was really looking forward to the next 100 hours, and now I feel like I at least have to repeat the last 50 instead of moving on to different things.

Obviously I understand I'm not being persecuted by Bungie: they have to make a choice whether to support the higher time players with more things to do. However, I really was hoping they'd find another way to go about it. I'm pretty sure Cody is right (#): raising the level cap is a bad idea. It seems like there is plenty of design space for them to make equivalently powered weapons and armor without making all the old stuff obsolete. And why not add vendors in the tower for the new stuff, or at least start a rotation with the new and old stuff? These seem like solvable problems.

In fact, these details seem to suggest to me a lot of answers about how Bungie conceived this game, and the weird advertising they did for it. I now suspect this game was never specifically designed to be one thing, and Bungie planned on changing it based on how people played it. I think they've been surprised at how much time people are spending, and and really leaning towards implementing a very MMO-oriented model. Unfortunately, this is taking away from some of their original stated goals, like being able to play with your friends at different levels (you can, but it's not very fun), and not having to play all the time to experience the full game.

I really hope the guys at Bungie think a bit more about things moving forward, about players like me (I feel like I can't be alone), and whether raising levels and driving the your fondly-gotten stuff into obsolescence is truly the best way to go about this. I refuse to shard the Red Hand, he's an old friend at this point.

Hearing the Crota Raid started at 30 was unfortunate because it didn't work out with my plans, but I figured that was a pretty unique circumstance, so I could work around it. However, the details about raising the level cap to 32 have really left me down in the dumps. I was pretty nervous about how that was going to work even before they announced it, and now it seems like my worst fears have been confirmed. I just got a great stable of Legendary weapons, and now they are worthless?

I just want to point out, all of the content will be 30 or less except the Hard Raid and of course Iron Banner, so your legendaries are still worth while. You may do more damage with new legendaries, but often the slight difference in damage (for me at least) is not worth giving up the old weapons for the perks or other attributes they have.

True. 'Worthless' is certainly an exaggeration. I think I'm just envisioning a scenario where I get a new weapon drop that's kind of the same as what I already have, but with a higher attack rating. Then I have to decide between old friends and new stuff, which is exacerbated given the minimal amount of storage space. Probably a ridiculously specific problem, and perhaps I just watched Brave Little Toaster way to many times as a kid.

Then I have to decide between old friends and new stuff, which is exacerbated given the minimal amount of storage space. Probably a ridiculously specific problem, and perhaps I just watched Brave Little Toaster way to many times as a kid.

I wouldn't mind it so much if my weapons didn't scream when I dismantle them.

I really hope the guys at Bungie think a bit more about things moving forward, about players like me (I feel like I can't be alone), and whether raising levels and driving the your fondly-gotten stuff into obsolescence is truly the best way to go about this. I refuse to shard the Red Hand, he's an old friend at this point.

I hear all of your concern. I think experiencing how it works will maybe do more clarify how it works than a million tweets or BWUs.

I'm bummed that Crota Raid is level 30 to enter, as I've not Raided enough to gather the gear necessary. And I missed out on the Iron Banner gear, so maybe I can get working on it this weekend?

Still, I wish there was another path to 30 (or further, as Destiny progresses) that didn't involve Raids (which can be tricky to organize, and to commit time to) or Iron Banner (Crucible). BUT! I do understand the incentive and esteem for dedicated and skilled players, so it is what it is.

All in all though - most of this stuff has sounded way worse than it has played, so I'd just hold tight and see what comes.

Still, I wish there was another path to 30 (or further, as Destiny progresses) that didn't involve Raids (which can be tricky to organize, and to commit time to) or Iron Banner (Crucible). BUT! I do understand the incentive and esteem for dedicated and skilled players, so it is what it is.

Do you mean another path before the expansion? Because after the expansion comes out there will be!

Still, I wish there was another path to 30 (or further, as Destiny progresses) that didn't involve Raids (which can be tricky to organize, and to commit time to) or Iron Banner (Crucible). BUT! I do understand the incentive and esteem for dedicated and skilled players, so it is what it is.

Do you mean another path before the expansion? Because after the expansion comes out there will be!

I see your 'Do you mean' and raise you: do you mean there will be a path to maxing level without Raid Gear or IB Gear? Or do you mean there is a new path for leveling exotics?

Why am I always so confused in advance of these things? It's never like this after I've played for like, 20 minutes.

;)

Right. Presumably, new Legendary armor you buy from tower vendors will allow you to proceed straight to 30 after The Dark Below is out. Legendary armor + an Exotic might get you to 31 and Raid armor will get you all the way to 32. Obviously, it'll take time to upgrade the new armor but it shouldn't be as hard or as RNG-y to get to higher levels.

I see your 'Do you mean' and raise you: do you mean there will be a path to maxing level without Raid Gear or IB Gear? Or do you mean there is a new path for leveling exotics?

Well, there will be a path to getting to level 30 (and possibly 31) without Raid Gear or IB gear, I doubt there will for 32. The new Vanguard and Crucible gear in the tower should allow you to get to 30.

I am having a similar experience. I started playing the game late and feel like I am playing catch-up. I spent several weeks playing the game every night. My wife jokingly would ask in the evening if it was time to start my second job. I was beginning to feel that I was on my way to becoming a valuable companion for raids and strikes. Now that my work schedule has increased, I have been unable to play every evening. This work load will continue till the end of the year and with the changes that Bungie is making to the game. I fear that I will fall behind again. When I am ready to join a Raid I don’t want to be the dead weight.

I am in the same boat with the Nightfall and the Raid. I haven’t attempted either one. I can barely get time to play now. I’ve seen my son try to get a Raid scheduled with his clan a few times. It never starts when scheduled. Then after they do get started late, someone almost always has to leave or is having connection problems. Doesn’t really sound like fun to me.

I understand that Bungie is trying to make this a social game. But for casual gamers they are really making it difficult. Currently, I now have an extreme excess of planet materials that I was planning to turn in for Marks and then buy legendary items to turn into ascendant materials. This change and the bug with Public events really impacts my current upgrade path/plans as a single player.

I know that Bungie is trying to make the game better but the jury is still out for me.

I am having a similar experience. I started playing the game late and feel like I am playing catch-up. I spent several weeks playing the game every night. My wife jokingly would ask in the evening if it was time to start my second job. I was beginning to feel that I was on my way to becoming a valuable companion for raids and strikes. Now that my work schedule has increased, I have been unable to play every evening. This work load will continue till the end of the year and with the changes that Bungie is making to the game. I fear that I will fall behind again. When I am ready to join a Raid I don’t want to be the dead weight.

I am in the same boat with the Nightfall and the Raid. I haven’t attempted either one. I can barely get time to play now. I’ve seen my son try to get a Raid scheduled with his clan a few times. It never starts when scheduled. Then after they do get started late, someone almost always has to leave or is having connection problems. Doesn’t really sound like fun to me.

I understand that Bungie is trying to make this a social game. But for casual gamers they are really making it difficult. Currently, I now have an extreme excess of planet materials that I was planning to turn in for Marks and then buy legendary items to turn into ascendant materials. This change and the bug with Public events really impacts my current upgrade path/plans as a single player.

I know that Bungie is trying to make the game better but the jury is still out for me.

Sounds like they'll fix that public event bug on Tuesday. I wouldn't worry too much. It might be as easy to find complete newbies for the Vault of Glass as time goes on, but this week we've got two groups of newbies trying to do it, almost three months after it became available.

Sounds like they'll fix that public event bug on Tuesday.

I know they most likely won't... but it'd sure be sweet if we got all our missed packages retroactively :)

Yes, they will fix the Public events. But, they also removed the Xur engram, another one of my sources of ascendant material.

I know Raiders have an abundance of ascendant materials but I don't. Raiders complained about collecting planet materials and Bungie's fix negatively impacts me.

Yes, they will fix the Public events. But, they also removed the Xur engram, another one of my sources of ascendant material.

They pulled the Xur Engram? Augh! I guess I need more Strange Coin then. :-/

I know Raiders have an abundance of ascendant materials but I don't. Raiders complained about collecting planet materials and Bungie's fix negatively impacts me.

I've run the raid around 6 (?) times, I still need ascendant shards (for my alts).

I really look forward to being able to buy gear to get my alts to 30 (which will need shards, yes?). I also really look forward to the improved drop system in the new raid & hope they apply it to the VoG too.

Yes, they will fix the Public events. But, they also removed the Xur engram, another one of my sources of ascendant material.

I know Raiders have an abundance of ascendant materials but I don't. Raiders complained about collecting planet materials and Bungie's fix negatively impacts me.

According to DeeJ on twitter the Xur engrams will be back, just not every week.

Source