Difficulty Scaling in Open World RPG's - Best methods?

[ShitLurker]

Another vote for "fuck level scaling". I'm speaking from a standard jrpg sentiment but feel it still applies. One of the multiple reasons FFVIII feels like ass is that leveling is irrelevant and if you level too much you actually make the game harder. You did power up in that game in other ways, but it removed the most obvious way of saying "I've gotten stronger" that didn't involve bending the junction system in half or spamming aura.

Some of the most enjoyable momemts mechanics wise for me is when I manage to inch through areas I clearly had no fucking business visiting at that point and managed to get some phat loot early. Did this constantly in Final Fantasy XII, did it make the late story segments a joke? Very much so. But did I enjoy my masochistic journey? Very much.

Also, being able to breeze areas that gave you tons of shit before also feels great. I'm playing Demon King Chronicle (small indie rpg). In each new area, pretty much anything that looks at you funny murders you if you aren't very careful, but once you sneak through, get some new equipmemt here and there and level it up, suddenly you now have a fighting chance, then a bit more and can fight groups, and so on. The start was very harsh but I'm loving my time with it.

Capping the experience gained seems like the best. I was playing Pokemon Clover for the first time the other day and noticed how much more difficult it was compared to anything Pokemon related I'd played. It's because exp is capped, well one of the reasons.

Definitely another option. Though goddamn is it kicking my ass. Beat the electric Gym afyer a lot of pain and sweat and after that, even the "weak rival" is handing me my ass regularly. I expect I'll have to breed sooner rather than later.

 

[CaptainAutism69]

I guess you can add some new things into old areas to keep them interesting, while at the same time allowing you to feel like you powered up. it's not fun having level scaling, but not fun going over old areas looking for shit and roflstomping everything. Could be nice to come against a challenge when roflstomping.