Currently a high level char is immediately able to equip the high tiers of gathering tools even if they have not invested any time to level those skills while a person who has invested time in those particular gathering trades has to wait till a decent level to equip the higher quality ones.
proposal is to allow a person to equip the higher tier gathering tool if he has worked to improve it rather than block it via character level.
for example, if I have invested time to level my logging to level 100 or 150, i should be allowed to equip starmetal or orichalcum axe even if I am at level 20 rather than forcing me to level my char to lvl 40/50 just to use them.
oh the other hand, if i have lvl 1 logging while char level is 60, i should not be immediately be able to use the highest tier of axe tool. it doesn’t make sense that someone who has never chopped is suddenly super proficient at cutting trees.
the current scenario heavily discourages gathering at early levels. it is outright better to rush to high level and then equip the highest tier tools to be optimal with your time investment in the gathering trades.
That’s the purpose of the word trade, isn’t it? You invest time in a discipline to create something someone else cannot create, but will pay gold to use.
The leveling requirements are not accurate on a lot of things in the game, by the way. You can equip Starmetal tools around level 34.
I get what you’re trying to say, but I don’t think it works in the context of this game. If there were no leveling system attribute wise, and your strength was solely judged by your proficiency around your gear it would definitely be a good system.
Since this game relies so heavily on trading markets and has zones that are reliant on attribute based levels with rare resources in the higher level zones more frequently, I think being able to equip any item so long as you meet the level requirement is better suited for the sake of the overall economy in the game.
Tools should be linked to BOTH character and skill level. A low level character shouldn’t be able to use top tier gear; While a character with no skill shouldn’t be be able to use a top tier tool.
The rate of exp gain is not even part of the discussion. The discussion is mainly whether a high char lvl should be able to gather at max efficiency even though the trade skill is at lvl 1. Please read the original post again.
All else aside, at least you as the level 20 established crafter and can make those tools and sell them to the level 60 that forgot gathering existed. They won’t actually have those tools they can’t make yet if they don’t buy them, so money for you. In theory, anynow.