[952] exp a bit too fast now

I actually like the current leveling pacing.

Looks like a case of "you can't satisfy everybody"...

What about a world setting "XP pacing" that would make XP progression more or less quick?

I'm ok with the pacing as well. Very few of the per-level benefits of leveling up are really game breaking, except the rate of hit point gain for groups of units.

If anything the benefits per level should tighten as they increase (for units, not champions) in level.

I agree. 

That is true too.  Some slider outside of monster density would be interesting or a way to mod it to one's own likings. 

I think the amount of XP from level 8 to 20 needs to require alot more. I would be curious to find out exactly how the XP levels are tweaked. The Elemental Defs are not very explicit.

I'd rather have quicker level gains than slower.  It makes for that 'one more turn' feeling and also the adds to the illusion of progress.  Slightly slowing this progress at higher levels (20+) would be ok.

I like getting the less important levels quickly too. The early levels are fine to go fast. But there should be a pint where things slow down and leveling a unit becomes more difficult, but also alot more rewarding. Level 9 would be a decent plateau so that other heroes have a chance to catch up a bit and newly recruited level 9 heroes are still useful. I would then switch some of the lethal traits and other very powerful traits to be extremely common, but with a level 10 prereq. 

This was one of the very first points I'm making in my next set of 0.952 play notes.

Leveling is happening WAY too fast.

My hero kills a single darkling shaman...and levels?

My sovereign kills a single bear cub...and levels?

Granted I cast Sovreign's Call on my capital, but in only 6 turns...it levels? (I haven't even had time to explore around and decide what I want to level into!)

imo, this feature was over-tweaked and needs to be dialed back.

The speed at which units and champions level have nothing to do with the cities. The cities level based on population which grows by your prestige. How you could confuse the two is beyond me.

As for XP, I personally love my heroes leveling fast. That means even above lvl 8. Even by level 8 you have nothing really of note and you never reach the higher levels by end of the game which is silly. 

Sean, I have some idea into how the XP is done since I tweaked it in my own game.

its not a matter of satisfying because its not personal taste

right now exp is too fast and unbalanced

xp cant be choosen because it HAS TO be balanced based on many other settings, anywway i would have nothing against 1 more option but first the normal setting need to be calibrated imo

I think the xp is currently too high, too, because it is no problem to reach level 15+ (medium map, standard settings) without the potential traits or the + 25 % xp spell. This makes the game much more difficult for the AI, because the player can level up faster (My Sovereign at turn 193: 17, AI Sovereign at turn 193: 10).

One thing I have noticed is that henchmen in particular seem to gain XP and levels at "too" rapid a pace (for my tastes).  I have had Henchmen gain 4 levels from sitting in the back row in a large army taking down a pack(?) of trolls...and in a few battles of just hanging back their HP are up to the 60 range and they are elite.....seems too easy/quick for me.

I don't think the problem lies with levelling speed, but what you gain from levelling...

I too think my sovereign gets a little too "automatic"... Although its abit hit and miss, you have to pick the traits that aren't rubbish

Sincerely
~ Kongdej

I like the new leveling speed. If they wanted to add a slider so that people could level slower if they wished that would be fine too.

yeah they get easy exp too but... dont forget they come in play late, when you most likely kill high lvl stuff when they are low lvl

and partially i agree they have to catch up or they are useless

but still its too much

Yeah I don't mind the exp gain but when the AI Sovs are 12-20 levels ahead me, makes me wonder what the heck is happening. Maybe I'm just a cautious player since I don't run around with only my Sov killing mobs to gain exp. I do notice the AI doing that. Should I be adopting that strategy too?

It's definitely too fast. Super-quick leveling coupled with passive, weak monsters means that heroes get imbalanced real soon, and normal units lag behind.

I'm fine with leveling, just as it is.  I thought the last beta round it was too slow.  Now, I can actually work up some heroes to use those higher level spells, and face some tougher opponents.

Another problem I see with the current levelling speed is my prestige going to massive amounts.

Sincerely
~ Kongde

This sounds like an exaggeration. I've had to kill 2 or 3 things to get from level 1 to 2.  Do you by chance have potential or some ability that gives bonus to xp?

Since these fights are near death experiences in the beginning, I consider it fair reward. 

Zero exaggeration. I keep 'notes of significance' when I play my games (see my game threads). My jaw dropped when I leveled after only the one kill. The fact that it was consistence with the next hero I hired was even more concerning.

I didn't think I had potential on either champ. Does Gilden start with potential?

My city leveling was the biggest shocker though. Had sovereign's call cast, so I was gaining 3 per turn. However, on turn 1 it said I needed only 20 more population. So....turn 7, it leveled. Not even enough time to scout around my city.

Lvl 30 hero with only a handful of hours played...shouldn't be happening ever. It's sucking out the fun of the game for me.

Try playing Altar with their experience bonuses, and Potential, and a henchman with Potential.  Even at level 20+ it goes pretty fast.

Altar city leveling is also basically as fast as you can get food because of their ability to get faction prestige from quests.  1 Prestige = 1 pop per turn.  Who needs Sovereign's Call when you have 20 prestige?  Of course (broken record) if population doesn't do much, then who cares how fast your city grows.

I found that the traits and perks that give bonuses to xp gained make a huge difference. I had one game where i took every extra xp perk I could get and outleveled everything the world could throw at me very soon. In another game i took none of those and my sovereign's power is more or less low enough that many combats are still challenging.

I honestly think they're boring, they don't do anything to make my champion more unique and fun.

Sincerely
~ Kongdej