So I just noticed the "edge point specifics" help file exists. Seeing all the details for the first time, I have some thoughts. Hopefully constructive ones. My main pet peeve is that the current system in many ways creates perverse incentives. So...

1. PK: Award edge points for a solo kill, at any level, but cap them at a fairly low number. Say 20. No edge points for assists or non-solo kills and no points for having X kills by level Y. Also, you only get points the first time you kill a particular character. Subsequent kills of the same character get you nothing.

Reasoning:

a. Having high caps (like we currently do) creates pressure to kill as many people as possible, even when someone might otherwise show mercy (in the spirit of sportsmanship). If edge points are on the table then maybe I kill the guy in re-gear that I just killed 30 minutes ago because hey: edge points.

b. Giving points for getting a certain number of kills by a certain level incentivizes level sitting.

2. XP: Significantly lower the caps on explore and observation. Especially observation. Also, don't give points for having a certain amount of observe/explore by a certain level. Eliminate points for commerce xp altogether.

Reasoning:

a. Having high caps on observe/explore xp (especially the "gain a certain amount by a certain level") strongly incentivize "gaming" the system. That's why you see people hanging out on the Hamsah Docks for hours on end at low levels. The caps should be set such that an "average" long-lived character will hit them without ever "gaming" the system. A character whose exploration/observation is below average will suffer relative to a "normal" character, but the guy who "artificially" accrues as much explore/observe xp as possible won't gain an advantage over the guy who's just trucking along doing his thing.

b. Awarding points for bartering creates an incentive for me to barter even when I have plenty of gold and would rather spend it instead. That's silly.

3. Cabal related: Continue giving points when someone makes leader, but remove the points for retrievals.

Reasoning:

Making leader is essentially a role-play thing. That's worth incentivizing. So are retrievals, but giving edge points for them screws characters that aren't in a cabal. I feel like not being in a cabal shouldn't screw you out of many edge points. Cabal'd characters already have enough advantages.

4. Level/Age: Don't just give points for reaching old age; give them for reaching "mature" and "middle-aged" as well. Lots of characters don't even make it that far; we could stand to start the incentives a little earlier.