I must have decode a good 10-15 engrams after doing 6-7 strikes and they were all 340. The regular blues that dropped where random, but most were above me light level.

I am at 357 Light. All blues decode to 340, all Blue items (already decrypted) are usually at or above my light level by a few points.

Legendaries are usually a bit below, or a point above my light level, but Sublimes seem to have a mind of their own. At 352, I had one decrypt to 308, and the next one decrypted to 357. Who knows.

Legendary Crucible drops (which drop more often, it seems) are pretty consistently above my light by a few points, and reward packages have pretty much all been above my Light.

But yeh, Heroic strikes just drop so much loot, you're gonna level up pretty fast.

I can't say for sure yet, but outside of CoE, I'm finding the opposite to be true. Everytime I go back to the Temple after running strikes for a while, the blue engrams I decode seem to max out at 340. But if I've picked up any blue items not in engram form, they are often at or slightly above my current level (sitting at 352 right now).

Legendary items and engrams have both been dropping at or above my current level.

Blue engrams top out at 240.

Legendary Engrams top out at 265.

Exotics at 385.

Item drops that are not engrams are not subject to this limit, which is why the only way to advance is to play the strike playlist or Forge of Archons, since those drop items and not engrams. It is also incredibly stupid to limit your progression to these activities, when TTK had post story quests and missions that would do the same thing in a much more fun way.

I agree that more exotic quests like you mentioned would be fantastic ideas. This was a topic of conversation when TTK came out. Yet here we are, Start of year 3, and its not like that, at least to you if not anyone else.

I think what qualifies as a 'quest' should be re-examined in Des2ny.

These things are treated as content, when it really isn't. For me, an exotic quest is more along the lines of Black Spindle and less along the lines of Super Good Advice. If you look at RPGs and JRPGs, often entire dungeons are constructed around getting a certain item. Raiding Charlemagne's Vault sounds like a fantastic way to get Thorn. Not getting void kills in the crucible.

A lot of what we are being asked to do is along the lines of being boring and grindy. It is always better as a player to do one cool thing rather than do a bunch of simple things.

Just keep in mind, YOU aren't being asked to do any of it. You are choosing to do it. And you are also choosing how to do it.

I agree that more exotic quests like you mentioned would be fantastic ideas. This was a topic of conversation when TTK came out. Yet here we are, Start of year 3, and its not like that, at least to you if not anyone else.

Legendary items and engrams have both been dropping at or above my current level.

I got 2 exotic drops from CoE last night, both level 334. My Guardian was level 349 at the time.

CoE drops are capped at 335. Exotic engram drops are not capped it seems judging by Munky's haul.

Card rewards can go higher.

The way I tend to look at that stuff is that its a nice little bonus reward for people who spend time doing those activities. Its not a grind unless you go out of your way to make it one.

This. Not everything in the game was designed to just fly through. I really look at the Book more like an elongated set of bounties that will eventually fill up. If im close to an unlock, sure ill chase a few down. I dont consider that grinding to myself.

That said, this little chain started because someone said "you've already finished everything in the book?" or something along those lines. I don't think "finishing the book" is a measure for "completing" rise of iron, because as you pointed out, many of the requirements within the book are just replaying certain activities over and over.

Agreed. The book isnt what I would consider "content". I mean sure by definition, but its not like a strike or anything. To me it's a cool way to earn some gear. Also how nice of them to give it to us on release instead of holding it above our heads before a future expansion.

This is the crux of the issue for me.

These things are treated as content, when it really isn't. For me, an exotic quest is more along the lines of Black Spindle and less along the lines of Super Good Advice. If you look at RPGs and JRPGs, often entire dungeons are constructed around getting a certain item. Raiding Charlemagne's Vault sounds like a fantastic way to get Thorn. Not getting void kills in the crucible.

A lot of what we are being asked to do is along the lines of being boring and grindy. It is always better as a player to do one cool thing rather than do a bunch of simple things.

The way I tend to look at that stuff is that its a nice little bonus reward for people who spend time doing those activities. Its not a grind unless you go out of your way to make it one.

This. Not everything in the game was designed to just fly through. I really look at the Book more like an elongated set of bounties that will eventually fill up. If im close to an unlock, sure ill chase a few down. I dont consider that grinding to myself.

That said, this little chain started because someone said "you've already finished everything in the book?" or something along those lines. I don't think "finishing the book" is a measure for "completing" rise of iron, because as you pointed out, many of the requirements within the book are just replaying certain activities over and over.

Agreed. The book isnt what I would consider "content". I mean sure by definition, but its not like a strike or anything. To me it's a cool way to earn some gear. Also how nice of them to give it to us on release instead of holding it above our heads before a future expansion.

They are only grindy because you make them so. I didnt realize we even had a book until I completed my first entry. Really they are almost just giving you the gear for playing the game. If you consider "Win a match with a 1.0 KD ratio" grindy then that explains why everything is so grindy to you!

Not trying to bust your balls or piggy back on the arguements, but the Rise of Iron book inst Grindy. I finished almost 3 of them just from playing the game how i have wanted to the past 2 days.

The particular K/D one I got my first game of supremacy, with a 3.0. So no that's not grindy. But ones like 20 patrols on plague lands? Pure grind.

The way I tend to look at that stuff is that its a nice little bonus reward for people who spend time doing those activities. Its not a grind unless you go out of your way to make it one.

That said, this little chain started because someone said "you've already finished everything in the book?" or something along those lines. I don't think "finishing the book" is a measure for "completing" rise of iron, because as you pointed out, many of the requirements within the book are just replaying certain activities over and over.

I'm at 355+ for nearly ever piece of gear except for my 350 artifact. It's the only thing holding my progression up right now. Any clue where we can get higher level artifacts to drop?

I believe PoE also drops higher level stuff now too. Meaning, the high score reward. I don't know about actual drops in PoE

Actual drops are capped at 335. The card rewards can go to 365.

They are only grindy because you make them so. I didnt realize we even had a book until I completed my first entry. Really they are almost just giving you the gear for playing the game. If you consider "Win a match with a 1.0 KD ratio" grindy then that explains why everything is so grindy to you!

Not trying to bust your balls or piggy back on the arguements, but the Rise of Iron book inst Grindy. I finished almost 3 of them just from playing the game how i have wanted to the past 2 days.

The particular K/D one I got my first game of supremacy, with a 3.0. So no that's not grindy. But ones like 20 patrols on plague lands? Pure grind.

I'm at 355+ for nearly ever piece of gear except for my 350 artifact. It's the only thing holding my progression up right now. Any clue where we can get higher level artifacts to drop?

I believe PoE also drops higher level stuff now too. Meaning, the high score reward. I don't know about actual drops in PoE