So uh, if anyone was concerned about my mental state in the past few months, it was very recently healed with a well-needed break from this game and going deep into some Rock and Stone in Deep Rock Galactic. For the past month I've been able to grind each of their 4 classes to lv 25 and getting them promoted. It was a fun experience, but that wasn't the only thing it seems I was grinding.
That game just so happens to have a Season Pass as well. By the end of said Season Pass, I noticed something I'm a little baffled SoT doesn't do just out of courtesy... Once you reach the 100th level of the Season Pass... It keeps going. I kept doing missions and was still gaining season pass xp, that continued to level up past 100, and what I got? 500 Credits. Credits in DRG is the equivalent of Gold in Sea of Thieves. Getting rewarded more currency for... still playing the game?
I don't play a lot of games with season passes that I actively participate in, let alone complete. This is somehow the best implementation of it because there are no "paid" tiers, and most, if not all the content of the season pass make their way back to the in-game currency shop right after the season ends (allegedly; this game is in its 3rd season and its next season is supposed to be in a few months from now, I have yet to play in a seasonal transitionary period, so despite these being from that game's patch notes, take my words with a grain of salt at the moment).
Renown, absolutely needs additional levels past 100. Yes, it does open the floodgates to stat peacocking and such, but considering the devs have plans for everyone to use their precious less used currency, doubloons, that we've been racking up over the years, and chances are players are going to be sinking their teeth into the new content, which might cost doubloons... Eh?
It's a strange proposition, but I want to look at this from a newer/lesser player's perspective. I think after Season 8 essentially bottlenecking a new grind to be practically inaccessible and inefficient to any playstyle outside of what's expected, and with doubloons not being as easy to come by and usually offered and rewarded in less common instances besides the table scraps from renown. The only other and consistent way to gain more doubloons is by selling doubloon-sold items... or selling Reaper's Chests (which if the few that are bothered by their change upcoming in Season 9, might find themselves not so keen to tackle the challenge for the sake of the upcoming doubloon purchases).
Rewarding 5-10 doubloons per renown 100+ level would allow for players to make their necessary gains for their doubloon purchased activities, and at the very least, at their own pace, without frustration. If we're going to ease the player's experience, we ease the pressure and "need" to grind as well! This would also bring value to the deeds system as completing all of the deeds will get you more renown, more renown levels, and more... doubloons!
The creation of this topic feels a little messy, but the idea is still there in full force. I know there are flaws to the design and take away from what little player interaction people can farm out of each other, but I think those having to get the short end of the stick could at the very minimum see some benefit participating in the new content without feeling left behind or without fun/better options.
