But the underlying template of start weak, end strong, watch out for nearby baddies is still in play. I have no problem with that format and most of the people who play PB games wish for them to continue on.
Pretty much all RPGs have you start weak, end strong. That's kinda irrelevant.
Its the "watch out for nearby baddies" which is the discussion point. I'm aware that its a system that the series uses. I'm just asking why that system is supposedly so much better than any other system, I mean, King's Bounty uses that exact same system, but I don't hear people droning on about that aspect as being what makes King's Bounty so unique and "No instant gratification", just as one example.
"Watch out for nearby baddies" is also going to be a much more sensitive thing to balance than having an organised approach to progression. To dedicated fans of the series, sure you have more wiggle room, but for new players, that's going to take some delicate fine tuning isn't it.
Re: your other points:
I didn't want a different game, I'm not disliking the game, I'm asking why so many people are using all this over-the-top language to describe something that doesn't seem to warrant it. Why does having a scattergun approach to monster placement suddenly mean the game is sooooo muuuuuch better than any other generic action RPG?
Like this next reply:
They have those type of RPGs out there but a PB game aint one of them
Just because it isn't something else doesn't mean its automatically good… How I read that is that PB games just have shoddy level designs and if you don't like it you don't "get it", for whatever reason, and somehow the simple fact of me not getting it somehow makes the game automatically good. Even though I do get it, I just think its needlessly ramshackle, additional busywork for the sake of busywork. As I said, you'll be wanting to fight the monster at some point, so why not place it somewhere where you'll likely be when you're ready to face it? What's with this illusion that dodging the thing makes the game better than a game that puts the monster where its more relevant to be.
Regards the continuation of your karate class analogy it just gets more and more absurd with each reply, why on earth is jonny crazy? Does no-one complain?
I also am happy to see lots of PB games both now and in the future, however, it really is tiring having them raised onto this platform every time one shows up just because "watch out for nearby baddies", delayed progression and all the other made-up examples of "superiority" [complex].