Originally Posted by
Gatester
Linear progressions in effectiveness does not mean we should have linear increases in cost and requirements as well. If anything, tools should increase in effectiveness in a linear order while the costs and requirements increase exponentially. This allows for proper diversity and unique setups over everyone utilizing the so-called cookie cutter options.
A complete exponential style for tools would be the worst case, as this means the difference between bad, ok, good, and great is incredibly imbalanced.
Player abilities do not increase in a linear fashion, they get stronger exponentially as well, the curve just happens to be very shallow. Because it is so shallow and the delta is rather low, most players are able to do so much, possibly too much with a given profession and we have few meaningful choices or weaknesses. If the requirements actually increased above a typical player's growth rate, and forced players to begin making choices, then perhaps true Anarchy could be brought to this game.