The Portal XP Nerf and the Betrayal of "Full Progression" - Targeted Solutions
Hello everyone,
I am extremely disappointed, and I know I'm not alone, with the decision to drastically reduce XP progression and unlocks on PVE Portal servers. This reversal, just days after launch, is a massive blow to the community and directly contradicts the promises made about the Portal feature.
1. The Broken Promise of "Full Progression"
Portal was introduced as the ultimate sandbox, guaranteeing full progression regardless of the mode chosen. This was one of the biggest selling points for a large segment of the player base. The current implementation severely penalizes players who simply want to enjoy the PVE experience, learn new weapons, or progress at their own pace without the pressure of PVP.
2. The Nerf Solved Nothing and Punishes Honest Players
The rush to "fix" XP farming has not resolved the underlying issue and has caused collateral damage:
- The Problem is the System, Not the Players: The initial XP farms were a predictable consequence of the tool. The fact that the server capacity issue is still prevalent shows that the XP nerf was a misguided attempt to mask a systemic infrastructure problem, not a solution to farming.
- Ineffective Measure: The XP farm servers are still over-capacity or have simply adapted to the new restrictions. Legitimate PVE players, however, are now left with a pointless grind.
3. This Drastic Nerf Will Kill Portal
Ultimately, this broad nerf will do far more harm than good by killing the incentive to play the mode for the vast majority of users. Why would players spend time in Portal when their time spent is no longer respected by the progression system? Good community maps and genuinely fun PVE experiences will not be played under these conditions. Progression is the engine of engagement. By throttling it globally, you ensure that Portal, one of the game's key selling points, becomes a deserted ghost mode.
Proposed Solutions: Restore Trust and Progression
Instead of penalizing everyone, we urge the development team to adopt a multi-pronged approach that restores the promised progression for legitimate PVE play while seriously monitoring abuse.
A. Restore Legitimate PVE Progression
- Re-enable Full XP on Official Game Modes: Progression (Full XP, Weapon Masters, Unlocks) must be fully restored for Portal experiences based on the official game types, even with AI bots filling the slots (i.e., Conquest, Rush, Breakthrough, Escalation, Team Deathmatch, FFA, and King of the Hill), in both Normal and Hardcore settings.
- Reinstate Solo/Co-op Mode: The dedicated Solo/Co-op vs. AI mode should be restored to Full Progression. This is the intended way for players to chill, learn the maps, and progress their unlocks without any impact on the live server environment.
B. Target Abusers, Not the Community
- Serious Monitoring of Abusive Experiences: Implement active and immediate monitoring to identify and de-list or restrict XP only on custom servers that clearly use exploitative or non-conventional rule changes (e.g., 1-HP bots, instant respawns, AFK loop setups).
- Re-evaluate Unlock Requirements: Acknowledging the slow pace of unlocks, some Tier 1 requirements and attachments are currently an excessive "grind fest." Please take this opportunity to re-evaluate the requirements to make the core progression path less frustrating, reducing the incentive for players to seek out farming exploits in the first place.
This community bought the game based on the promise of Portal's freedom and "full progression." We need you to deliver on that promise with targeted, effective solutions, not a blanket nerf that harms your loyal players.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
