Remove the level system

[frigid hollow]

I don't know if anyone else thinks this way or it's just me. But I think the level system is unnecessary. I don't see any difference between a level 2 whitetail and a level 3, and the only thing I look at when it comes to score is the estimate in the spotting info. I think they should replace the level with the score estimate.

[merry skiff]

A higher level of animal usually is bigger in size or has bigger antlers, sometimes both

[hot ridge]

Other than seeing a physical difference the level means nothing. Its just there to make predators stand out.

You see no physical difference in a level 1 black bear and a level 9, if they get rid of tbe level system they have to change the body size and shapes to show a difference in predators and I'm all for that.

[merry skiff]

Alright i can agree with that

[hot ridge]

Exactly, it would make a really cool improvement

Level 1 bear, male

Level 9 bear, male

[merry skiff]

This is what cotw needs, you should honestly mane a separate post about it

[urban estuary]

I’d like it if we had different body shapes and sizes like this, for sure. However, I would much prefer to keep level system… my eyes aren’t so good and I really appreciate the clear visual indicators.

That being said, I just want to reiterate the idea of changing species appearance so drastically like for lvl 1 vs lvl 9 as you’ve shown here, would be awesome. It’s something I’d always wanted out of this game, too. Would be quite a neat feature to introduce. :)

[warm nebula]

I think the only point of the system is the difficulty of hunting them without spooking.

[vale marlin]

The lvling system does have hidden functions as well, one of them being the higher the lvl the more likely they are to detect you and flee. Golds and diamonds will always run off first and will run about 40-50yrds further then their lower lvled counterparts

[pure citrus]

They need a revamp on the medal system, the levels should indicate age but kind of dont. The game is about respawns but nobody wants to shoot anything below a gold its odd and the medals limit hunter agency

[frigid hollow]

I've Heard this alot however, and admittedly I hunt mostly with rifles but keep a bow in the load out just in case, I've never real noticed these differences. I'm pretty sure I've only seen it once, and only recently.

[urban estuary]

There’s definitely a difference. I’ve noticed lvl 1-3s for species that go up to lvl 9 are incredibly dumb in particular, and won’t be alerted as easily. Lvl 9s compared to a lvl 1 will spook/alert far quicker, and at longer ranges. Even moreso for 10 fableds.

[frigid hollow]

Not saying there isn't a difference, just that I don't see it or that it's not noticeable. I'll give it to you though that animals with higher level range are more obvious. I think animals should still have a level of difficulty, but a base level that's not displayed in the spotting info. Like lions are lvl 9 cause they should be difficult, and deer should be lvl 2-5.

Like in general for that species, not for a specific animal, to clarify my point.

[urban estuary]

Oh for sure, I hear you, I was just adding my experience !

Though I still maintain that personally I’d like to keep the levels as they help me a lot when choosing what to shoot 😅 my eyes ain’t work so well, so it’s helpful to have text indicators in addition to everything else. Maybe it could be a toggle? So those that want to play more realistically could do so, but those like myself can keep them.

[frigid hollow]

The toggle idea would be a great option.

[pure citrus]

When I played in xbox I had a lvl3 musk deer and a lvl 5 reindeer in the same lake and made some tests about that and I can confirm but the whole system could be reworked keeping those components and making species actually have different difficulties I believe goats and sheeps should also get to lvl 9 since they are very hard to hunt Irl for example. Foxes, Coyotes and red deer have no reason getting to lvl 9 since they aren't particularly hard to hunt

[plucky crypt]

If I saw that highlited id mistaken it for coyote if I didn't see the species name

[merry skiff]

Well that’s what you can learn by, i would really like for one a level 1 animal to look like it would be a level 1 (it being young and maybe more scrawny) and level 9s being more built and bigger, the only level difference there is some slight difference in size on some animals and the most noticable being antlers

[plucky crypt]

Eh I dont know, I think the level system is the best method because like you're saying level and animal size should correlate but say a deer is level one,will it basically be a fawn?

[merry skiff]

No a young buck, like the lvl 1s we see that are spikes but they should be smaller and scrawnier, levels can stay i don’t mind them, but it could add more immersion to those that don’t care for it

[mental bay]

i think they could make it a setting to remove level indicators so the game is more/less realistic for each player depending on their choice

[urban estuary]

Yes. See the other messages in this thread.

[lapis pelican]

Idk I like the idea for some species but for example whitetail’s size varies wildly and doesn’t always correlate with the antlers they have and their body weight changes with the seasons as well. (Pictured are various winter examples and one summer example)

Be kinda funky to see a scrawny summer buck on askiy imo

[hollow wave]

They would be super on missippi tho

[lapis pelican]

Yeah but ew unfortunately hasn’t spilt them into subspecies yet, they could use an antler remodel (or at least more types) as well. Plus actually give em their signature flagging behavior.

But even with subspecies it might still get funky with maps being set in different seasons

[serene star]

Hunting a Diamond Whitetail is very easy according to the level system. Lol 😆

[vale marlin]

well I mean it kinda is lol the hard part is just getting one to spawn but yea I've basically just walked right up to a diamond whitetail before

[serene star]

The codex doesn’t mention the level system or explain the concept.

[vale marlin]

Because they would have to have entries for every species. Cause not only is weight, and trophy rating considered it also factors what the animals senses are, as in does it have higher sight, smell or hearing. A lvl 3 very easy whitetail is completely different in senses compared to a lvl 3 very easy moose or black bear

[plucky crypt]

For things like deer it goes by antlers sizes like width,and total length in inches and the weight of the animal the antlers are what make the score,it fairly obvious

[serene star]

The level system lets me know which difficulty level I’m playing on. All difficulty levels are merged into a single map. If I want to go for the Diamond Wolf, I need to be at level 9 (possibly level 8). But if it doesn’t show up or is hard to find, I have to drop down to level 8 or even 7 to improve my chances of progressing toward level 9 — boosting the RNG to generate a level 9 Wolf. I’ve tested this myself.

[plucky crypt]

Thats herd management

[serene star]

Yes. What the game shows about the level system (easy, hard, legendary…) makes it easier for me to quickly understand how close I am to getting a diamond or Great One animal when it’s spotted (with binoculars or with the scope). That way, I don’t have to look up the scoring table or figure out how close I am based on the estimated score. Honestly, I don’t have all the animal scores memorized.

[plucky crypt]

Not many people do