The flawless multiplayer of the First Descendant: a triumph with room for development
With its engaging gameplay, gripping narrative, and flawless crossplay experience, The First Descendant has won over players. For many, the multiplayer aspect of the game—which lets players team up for difficult missions and epic boss battles—draws heavily. One element in the multiplayer system, though, is generating more uncertainty than it ought to: the shown teammate levels.
A misleading level system
Players view the level of each teammate shown on the HUD when they join a multiplayer mission. Although levels abound in multiplayer games, in The First Descendant players could be misled. The shown level is the Descendant level, which does not fairly represent the player's general power level. This is so because a player's gear defines their actual strength more than their Descendant level. A level 10 Descendant, for example, can use a level 100 weapon, thus the shown level seems to have little bearing on actual power.
Knowledge of the Confusion
Because of their high displayed levels, players could first view colleagues as overpowered. This is reasonable since the game makes no obvious sign that the shown level does not reflect general strength. Players may become frustrated and confused if they find it difficult to understand why their attacks seem inadequate when compared to those of their apparently much more elite colleagues.
Potential Solution: Show Mastery Grade
Using a more pertinent indicator of power would help the level display system of the First Descendant to be better. Showing the player's mastery rank would be one practical fix. This rank considers mission completion as well as several facets of development including weapon and Descendant levels. This would remove the uncertainty brought about by the current level display and offer a more realistic assessment of the player's total power.
Alternate Solutions: Emphasizing Gear
One further choice would be to show the player's gear's average level. This would clearly show the player's general strength even if it might not fairly represent their ability as compared to mastery rank. This method would stress the need of gear progression and fit better the real power dynamics in the game.
An Enhancement for Future Great Multiplayer Experience
Changing the level display system would greatly increase the fairness and clarity of The First Descendant's multiplayer experience, independent of the chosen solution. Although this might not be a top concern for quick updates, it is a necessary first step towards a more pleasant and easy multiplayer environment. Together with a more accurate level system, the game's already strong basis would guarantee a really satisfying and interesting multiplayer experience for every player.
