I wish character level meant something. (Longish rant)

I think character level should be a symbol of prestige, just like epic gear or certain titles. That isn't possible if everyone easily reaches max level, and max level is required to participate in end-game content.

As it is right now - you basically race through levels because you are useless to anyone until you reach max level, at which point level means nothing.

Here is my suggestion:

Balance end-game content around players 10 levels below the current maximum.

(So if this was done in WoLK, raids would still be level 80, raid bosses would still be level 83, and max character level would be 90.)

Then, make the leveling process for the last 10 levels take so long that you are forced to just forget about it. Balance it so that only the top 25% of players will even reach max, and for the ones that do reach max level it will take them a year to get there. Then when you have an expansion, you reduce the experience requirements to get to 90 but again make it take a year to get to 100.

Imagine how rewarding it would be to get experience points:

• While raiding ICC for the 78th time
• While running heroics
• While doing daily quests
• While doing BG's and Arenas
• While using your professions

Imagine how nice it would feel to be in-demand because you're level 83.

They wouldn't even have to provide new spells for those levels, just reduction in hit/expertise requirements and the extra talent points. Maybe provide one spell or flavor item for those who actually reach the cap.

I guess this goes back to a philosophy Blizzard has embraced that I do not like...the whole "Let's make everybody special. Let's just rain epics on everyone who can step out of defile." Except yeah, when everyone is special, no one is special.

I'm not even a hardcore guy. I wouldn't be in that top 25% who made it to max level. I just want to know that the time I invest in a character has value.