Dear, @ncwest, game is dead because we don't have pvp activities.
But what is the root of the problem? You all don't know.
Honestly, you manage this game the worst way and I don't know who and for what is still paying you money.
Ok, I gonna enlight you because my eyes are bleeding looking at this .
All we know about item gap. And even you started to understand something launching events with "free" items.
But now we have problem with level gap. Honestly, most of the players have never been experienced "new" content and you only rise up required level for that. Most of the content you produce was made only for couple high-level players and never seen by others. Are your designers happy with that? Do you really think it will attract new players? 90%of resources are wasted.
About me, I never leveled up (I do not count 1-2 times) in Atelia fortress and refinery, Mother three, Sea of Spores, Swamp of Screams, Fafurion etc... (Solo player what to do... with the current party matching...) Funniest thing is that I have rank 800 (and rising) ... what to say about others after me....
That's first aspect.
Second one is players should grind so hard to get level, because level is important in pvp. BUT you will not have the time for pvp. Circle is closed.
So your bad player level management is really kill the game.
We had level cap before and game was full of fun. Need serious exp. tables management. Soft cap must be harder. Then the people will fight for spot and for resources.
Look at your rivals at least, players there have almost equal equip and have a lot of pvp activities in high level locations.