I see a lot of talk about how the new changes are basically killing the game and as I’ve understood it there were some changed in the patch before that that also were not popular.
I’m only 70-ish hours into the game and I’m level 32. I wouldn’t say I understand everything but I’m finding the gathering and crafting part of the game very fun and entertaining… I’m actually glad that that gives XP I played a lot of WoW and there is no such thing there.
But to be honest I don’t understand properly what is going on with “watermark” or what not. I tried youtubing it but it was a bit weird and now they will change it but since I haven’t been introduced to “watermark” yet I don’t see how this change affects me that likes to gather and craft things. Many posts have mentioned that that part of the game is dead now?
Can someone please, in a ELI5 kind of way. I really don’t want to give up the gather/crafting part of the game because that is the best part of it.
All it means is that you cannot buy top tier gear once you hit level 60.
If you craft a legendary weapon like Whisper of the Wood you’ll still be able to use it but it’ll scale down to your expertise level (500) and level up with you (600).
once you hit 60 you start “leveling” your gear slots and each level increases the “effectiveness/quality/power” of your gear.
this change only affects level 60s that bought end game gear.
So if I craft a particular weapon and someone else has the same weapon we might actually not make the same amount of dmg with it? (all other being equal).
How are you suppose to “level” the expertise then? Is that the watermark system?
The situation is more difficult for a solo player. Specifically, the most accessible endgame content for guaranteed progression of your Expertise (topaz gypsum) is locked behind a 1 week cooldown.
Expertise is watermark rebranded. You level expertise by chests/expeditions/world drops.
Your expertise starts at 500 and then goes up with each drop.
If your GA expertise is 500 then your next great axe drop will go up to 501 and then to 502 503 504 up to 600. You do not even have to pick up the drops/loot. If you’re in a zerg and you forget to grab the sack It’ll still level up based on what dropped.
If you craft a 600 GA but your GA expertise is only 501 then your 600 GA will be scaled down to the effectiveness/power of a GA at 501. Once your GA expertise increases your 600 GA will become more powerful.
Luckily for you by the time it matters it’ll already be over and most of us will be off throwing a fit about something else
When you hit 60 your gear drops you get from doing end game content has a marking system that climbs as you get more of that item slots drops. Using Armor for example, you start at 500, maybe a 501 drops, then a 505. Etc up to 600
These changes force people to grind that system in order to get full stats from the gear they could previously just buy at 600gs and be done with it.
Yeah Watermark is just renamed Expertise. The jumps could be higher but thats just in how they change the system. You might see a 501 and then a 507 (like how you can now) or they may gate it to where the climb is more static like 501 to 505 to 507 etc
Today for example I finished my Life Staff, it was 590, then I got a random 597 and an uncommon 600. So Life staff is off the list
yes, but you get so many drops from chest runs.
they are also adding the gypsum system to give you a boost. jump from 500 to 510. <—not exact because not much is known.
What you are seeing, is conspiracy theorist predicting the end of the world. Most if it is all made up assumptions based in zero facts.
The current watermark system sucked for legitimately leveling up your gear score and unlocking your chance to get good item score (armor, weapons and jewelry) drops in the game to use/sell , so many people skipped doing any endgame activities and just bought endgame gear.
Which basically killed any progression from level 60-66 (gear wise).
So they (AGS) are changing the system to one in which you now have to earn the ability to use the gear.
They increased the ways you can now level up your water mark, and actually made the jumps bigger, these are all good things.
The only people complaining are those that bought the best gear in game, and want to basically skip to top tier buying gear. Oddly enough, those are the same people that complain about having nothing to do endgame…
I played a lot of WoW and there is no such thing there.