Bhagpuss over on MMO blog Inventory Full recently penned a piece about an experience mechanic in EverQuest II that I had completely forgotten existed: experience vials. They essentially allow players to store up experience and move it to other toons. That part isn’t super unique; Ultima Online, for example, has long had a similar mechanic in soulstones, which allowed players to move their skills between characters, thereby saving them from having to grind them all over again if they retool their character build.
No, the thing that set EverQuest II apart was that you can sell the filled experience vials to other players. I know there are a few other games that have dipped a toe in these waters, like EVE Online, but I can’t think of many. And yet I find myself wishing for this mechanic in a lot of other MMOs. I love it for grinders. I love it for sellers. I love it for alters and newbies. There’s so much potential there.
Let’s talk about fun experience mechanics in this morning’s Daily Grind. What’s the most unique experience mechanic in MMOs?
Every morning, the Massively Overpowered writers team up with mascot Mo to ask MMORPG players pointed questions about the massively multiplayer online roleplaying genre. Grab a mug of your preferred beverage and take a stab at answering the question posed in today’s Daily Grind!
