After doing a little exp for the first time in a long time (a couple years or
so), I remembered why I don't run exp anymore. The personal and area exp tune
in a lot of areas is just silly.

Most areas use many monsters with the same handle, so before you even
complete an area once, the monsters are tuned ridiculously low (about 35%
original value after 6 similar kills, and continues dropping).

Changing areas after every 5 kills does not enhance my playing experience,
and likely is a major factor why new players don't stick around long. It's
just too much of a hassle.

Actually, I'm not entirely opposed to the idea of a personal tune. It's not a
bad idea to offer some incentive to make use of more areas. (At least for the
sake of the coders, who naturally like to see their areas visited.) But the
state of the personal tune now pretty much forces people to change areas...
and who likes to be told how to play their game?

My suggestion would be to limit tune so max drop is 50%, and returns to 100%
within 24 hours. Changing areas could still be rewarded, without having to
force everyone into a nomadic playing style.

I've also been thinking about the same issue and I think it would be cool if it
were addressed.
I understand why the tune works as it works: the mobs probably don't have a
unique identifier so it's the "best" way to single out mobs to tune, but as
pointed out we could use a better algorithm, if you have time and energy.
Thanks.

Doc

This is not meant to be a flame posting for or against anything, just a
neutral statement.

Many old areas were built around 20+ clone monsters, 5+ unique monsters and
perhaps an eq boss monster or a couple. Those 20+ clone monsters used to be
experience fodder. Typical new areas have only unique monsters, which is a
good thing - of course.

Those old areas were build thinking that those 20 clone mobs will and should
be reasonable experience monsters for soloers or newbie parties. The clone exp
tune has turned those areas into something completely different. I have no
idea if this is a good or bad thing, but that is what has happened.

/C