With the new inflated pokemon catch levels, what's the point in grinding anymore?
I am a level 40 player and have enjoyed this site to keep updated on PG and developments in game play. On my way home yesterday evening, I was surprised to catch several high level pokemons but soon realized this was a result of the weather effect boosting numbers, levels and possibly also IVs of the relevant pokemons. I e.g. catched a Jigglypuff which turned out to be level 34 with 91 IV. This will yield a considerably stronger Wigglytuff than any of the ones I have from before (not powered any above 30), and with the high numbers of Gastlys it should be a small task to generate a party of six Gengars at levels 34-35, and without much sweat. This seems much too easy for me, considering how much time and effort I have spent in powering up my current group of five Gengars at levels 33-40. I assume Niantics idea behind this extreme boosting of catch levels and numbers might be to make the game more accessible for new/casual players, but a side effect is that the incentive for grinding, cathing and hatching and subsequent powering up lower level monsters disappears. Why should we spend time looking for low level monsters with fine IVs if we can catch decent monsters at level 35? Other views on this?
Answers
Yet you're participating on the boards?
But wow, I had no idea catching pokemon over and over and participating in tap/hold battles hardly has any skill.
Thank you for informing me of this incredible insight. I never realized I should be feeling inferior due to other people claiming they have "skills" in other video games. My life was just turned upside-down.
OK, just for you bro :)
Noob; Someone who has no idea about type effectiveness, no idea of strategy etc. The sort of player who asks every raid what Pokemon they should use. Fortunately you can get enough raiders to carry them so the noobs are happy.
Beginner; Someone whose only just started playing. Not the same as a noob. A beginner might improve, a noob simply can't play.
Casual player; A part time player. Won't do much grinding. Raids help them get good pokemon without grinding, as does this update where you can catch pokemon over level 30.
Go is designed to be as easy as possible for these players.
Then I'll contest you on "noob" part, and insist you mis-categorized that demographic in your initial comment. They are casual players. And by that definition, you are trying to insult (hating on?) the company because of what the game's inherent nature being what it was designed to be. I agree with you that there isn't much skill involved in the game, but you don't seem realize there *is* still a strategy on how to play the game to maximize effectiveness. You let your ego get ahead of you thinking you're better. Frankly, I'm surprised it took you so long to realize you weren't the intended target for this game, rather late.
Also, you'll find it's mainly the hardcore players who spend and spend $ on this game : )
I used to be a hardcore player. I now hardly ever log in, i'm less than a casual player. But i'm not a noob because i would still know what pokemon to use if i started playing again. I don't need anyone to tell me what to use.
On the flipside i know hardcore players who are noobs. They play hours a day, spend money, but they still need telling what to do. They would be useless at a real pokemon game.
These blind sheep are the people go is aimed at.
While I'm never shy to point out Niantic fking up, maybe we're about to get a lvl cap raise, and this is meant to allow new players to catch up.
But it's probably just a desperate attempt to keep casual players around and hope they spend more money because of all the really big CP numbers they've never seen before.
Weather effects bring a lot more diversity to the older biome. The boost to the level up to 35 and greater IVs are nice features, but I think that unbalance the game a bit more than intended. I think that Niantic may review and rebalance this system and reduce the number of spawns favoured by weather. It's a nice feature, but it's currently a bit broken. Isn't it?
I agree, it seems a bit unbalanced unless they open up levels to at least 50. Maybe that change is coming with the second wave of Gen3 pokemon. Wanted to let the aged veterans who have been stuck at 40 have some time where they feel encroached upon before opening up the top.
So, if this is short term, catch them while you can. If not, learn to play within the weather.
I mean, it's hard enough now to get a group together for a Ttar raid, I spent 20 minutes at one waiting with one other raid group member yesterday before Gen3 came out, and we never got enough people to take it down. Now, if we not only have to have the right raid, but the right weather (either partly cloudy or foggy for Ttar) to get a weather buffed one, it's going to be even harder.
The newest Legendary will still get players out, but they'll take the luck of the draw on whether the weather is good or not.
We'll see.
Thanks for all the replies! As stated in another thread, this is a "gotta catch-em all" game, and I have enjoyed this aspect a lot, in combination with the search for the "near-perfect" IV variants to work on. But when this whole process gets too easy I get the "been there done that" feeling. My motivation and initial excitement for Gen3 has definitively taken a hit.
