Home Gaming Destiny is a grind, but that ain’t a bad thing

Destiny is a grind, but that ain’t a bad thing

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19

Destiny gear

There comes a certain time in Destiny, when the game slows down. When the same areas feel far too familiar, and the effort of taking part in events just doesn’t feel worthwhile. It’s hard enough getting your Guardian from level one all the way through to level 20.

It’s even more difficult reaching the current pinnacle of Destiny, Level 34. And I agree, the game is indeed a grind when it comes to hitting that magical number. But I don’t feel that it’s a bad grind, not at all.

First off, for the uninitiated: Destiny has a peculiar way of levelling up Guardians. Going from level one through to level twenty involves the usual idea of earning experience points which up your numbers, but once you ding twenty, the game changes.

From that point on, it’s all about your light level. And once you start equipping the right armour and levelling it up, that light increases, allowing you to tackle harder challenges. Going from level 20 light through to level 28-30 light, is easy enough.

Destiny-2

You’ll pick up the right armour along the way, gaining strength and prestige. But let’s say you want to aim for the top. Level 32 and above. You’re going to need grind like a General Raam speech to the troops. And that’s a ton of work.

Because the rare gear that you’re wearing can only contain so much light. What you need to lust after, is legendary and exotic armour. And there’re a couple of ways to get your hands on that kit. First off, Vanguard marks.

Destiny1

You can earn them from events within Destiny, strikes and Prison of Elders. Vanguard marks come with a catch however: you can only earn 100 Vanguard marks a week, plus you’ll need a decent reputation with your mentor in order to be allowed to buy legendary armour.

Keep in mind that such armour usually costs around 75 Vanguard Marks, and you’ll see where I’m going with this. Likewise with Crucible marks, the exact same system applies to that market. Sire, you might be lucky enough to win some gear in Prison of Elders or the Crucible, but you’d need to eat an entire lucky dragon to be that fortunate.

And on it goes, as the various currencies need to be earned…per character. And that’s just a taste of the Destiny economy. I haven’t even gotten to Vaariks yet, or Xur’s weekly visits. Or the fact that you need Etheric Light, one of the rarest materials in the game, to get to level 34.

destiny-marks

So it’s going to take a ton of time to get your Guardian to a level where they feel like a true elite. And that’s good.

I’ve now clocked over 74 hours in Destiny. And I’m still considered a baby with my level 32 Titan. But I am ridiculously attached to that collection of polygons and paid-for DLC.

Destiny doesn’t offer any micro-transaction shortcuts to upping my Guardian power and standing, and I’ve had to endure some hellish strikes and raids to get him to that level. I’ve got a certain connection with my Titan, and I’m ready to carry that through for the next nine years of Destiny.

He’s a Tamagotchi with guns, a walking digital arsenal that I don’t have to worry about feeding or dying in a pile of his excrement. And no other Titan looks like my Titan. I’ve got a Blacksmith shader on top of some exotic armour and legendary boots, gauntlets and a helmet.

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And it’s all that progress, which is beautifully reflected in the way that your Guardian looks. You can see all the hours of effort, reflected on their frame.

My shiny Titan wields a scout rifle that shoots explosive rounds, and the Dragon’s Breath rocket launcher that fires explosive supernovas. And I’m just getting started. Destiny may be a grind, but it’s my grind.

Last Updated: July 28, 2015

19 Comments

  1. You lighties and your grinding.

    Reply

    • RinceThis

      July 28, 2015 at 15:39

      Racist!

      Reply

      • Pariah

        July 28, 2015 at 15:40

        Isn’t that the opposite of grindist?

        Reply

        • RinceThis

          July 28, 2015 at 15:41

          Mmm, not sure… Would have to speak to @Alien Emperor Trevor:disqus and his ways for that answer…

          Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        July 28, 2015 at 15:47

        You people know what I’m talking about!

        Reply

    • HvR

      July 28, 2015 at 16:19

  2. AfricanTimeZA

    July 28, 2015 at 15:50

    the greatest “freemium” game of all time

    Reply

  3. Jonah Cash

    July 28, 2015 at 15:56

    74 hours?! Hahahahahaha…. I am at 310! And I still get on there weekly to go do some things, Thorn is very close to upgraded. And then I will be in the next Iron Banner like an ass!

    Reply

    • Jonah Cash

      July 28, 2015 at 15:57

      Oh and another 40 hours with my Hunter as well. So all in all I am at 350 hours with Destiny!!

      Reply

  4. Fnuik

    July 28, 2015 at 15:57

    I’m a level 32 Titan without having played any raids and having finished only the early level strikes. The problem is I mostly play alone or with my brother, so I’ve basically reached my cap cause you cant get passed 32 without having to do high level strikes and raids.

    Reply

    • Jonah Cash

      July 28, 2015 at 15:59

      I am level 34 and I haven’t done a strike or end game anything yet. Just grind the Iron Banner and you can buy 2 etheric lights, you only need 3 to upgrade your character to level 34…

      Reply

      • Fnuik

        July 28, 2015 at 16:02

        The only reason I’ve been able to get to 32 is cause I’ve played a fair bit of crucible. Not 350 hours worth but for me to have played 40 or so hours is a lot.

        I just always feel I’m missing out on the actual game not having played the endgame. And after playing 10 rounds of crucible only to get knight armor type 3 for the millionth time I usually quit and do something else instead.

        Reply

        • GalacticLordCaptainAwesomeness

          July 29, 2015 at 12:53

          You can also go do the lvl 32 POE to get some Armor Core that will net you light level 42 armor from Variks… that can help as well

          Reply

          • Fnuik

            July 29, 2015 at 14:55

            I’ve tried playing prison of elders alone, but i’ts almost impossible to complete, cant even do the 28 alone. And when my brother joins me, hes only level 28, i’ts still crap hard to do.

  5. Stosta

    July 28, 2015 at 16:12

    I really want to play this game but hate online experiences! Is it worth it single-player?

    Reply

    • The D

      July 29, 2015 at 06:45

      As a single-player game? no, not at all. But as a single-player game with online interactions with pals, it totally is.

      Reply

  6. Francois Knoetze

    July 28, 2015 at 21:08

    The grind is worth it. After our Prison of Elders level 32 we were all so happy thinking that after finishing round 4 it would be our last round o.O…silly us we got slaughtered at level 5. But glad I still play this game and angry at myself for leaving it for so long waiting for a buddy of mine to get a PS4 and not continue playing. well I am back and can’t wait to hit Iron Banner a bit this week!!

    Reply

  7. Tr1umph4nt

    July 29, 2015 at 00:09

    Destiny is lame. I played the Alpha and thought I was playing an imitation shooter, designed to conform to every little current trend in console gaming. Destiny, AW/BO3 and Halo 5 are all contributing to the SINGULARITY of FPS gaming on consoles. The developers are in a panic trying to figure out how to make the experience of their game so similar to the current alternatives. They are afraid of standing unique while thinking that gamers will reject a difference because we are supposed to act like sheep. Look at Halo 5. ADS, Clamber, Ground Pound? Really? Its becoming a joke and gaming is becoming fairly lame right now.

    Reply

  8. Dawid Eduard Roestorf

    July 29, 2015 at 08:27

    You must let me know when you want to run the raids etc. I can help with that this weekend if you want.

    Reply

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