This is as someone who started playing a little over 4 months ago.
A little context, so I don't sound like a new-gen talking about smth they know nothing about:
I have beat every single main campaign on my hunter, which I main. I originally played them out of order due to wanting access to prismatic off-rip. After beating them out of order I went back in a warlock save and beat them in the correct order. Realistically I've beaten the whole campaign of destiny (minus EoF) around 4 or 5 times, playing through it with friends. So at this point, ive beaten the main story, started the power/light level grinding, and just have all the raids and dungeons to beat. So, safe to say I've experienced enough of modern destiny to form an educated opinion.
Let me start with the Forsaken/Warmind/CoO controversy. As a recently new player, I can say that the overall new light experience and its difficulty experience is GREATLY exaggerated. As long as you can just pick a campaign to start with, you’re good. Any new light reading this should know that the process is a lot less daunting when you do this. I know the community gets mad about Forsaken being vaulted, and it gets constantly brought up that "destiny shouldn’t vault their expansions". Two things. #1: To play devil's advocate, it DOES make sense that they have to vault SOMETHING in order for the game to function properly. Although it is annoying and there are probably fixes, I dont believe the exclusion of these expansions directly affects the New Light experience. One quick search for a video on youtube quickly explains the lore. #2: Forsaken was released in 2018 and vaulted in 2022. Since 2018, Shadowkeep, Beyond Light, Witch Queen, Lightfall, Final Shape, and Edge of Fate have released, with Renegades releasing in December. It has been three years, with six expansions released. I don’t think we need to worry about vaulting realistically.
As for how to bring back new and old players? Easy answer, D3 with item carryforward. Release it with a new light quest that leads into three separate main campaigns, and for returning guardians, add a mission that builds off of your guardian already, like another siege on the tower, similar to the red war. This time, it would lead into the three main campaigns. These could be completed in any order, with references to each other when completed.
Since they most likely wont release D3 soon if at all, The Maya Sundaresh/Conductor story either needs to end quickly with renegades or put maya visibly in front. Too much of her and her actions are hidden behind lore books rather than actual gameplay.
Power grind needs to change. I think that’s the unanimous agreement. It’s too much grind for not enough reward. Bungie has taken small steps to fix this, but unfortunately, it’s not enough
In addition to power grind changes, past loot needs to be integrated with the new system. This will make previous dungeons and raids worth the time. For me, I have only completed Ghosts of the Deep, and have not finished any other raid or dungeon, so I still have a lot to do. However, since the loot from these activities is locked at 200 without the new loot or tier system, it makes any gains, other than the given achievements and exotics, obsolete.
