wow, this is a toughie, because i think there are good and bad reasons for this, and i'd like to apply two votes if i could. here is what i think about this proposal:
the good:
this would definitely spurn better teamwork and sharing for pus and weapons that are so desparately needed in order to get anything accomplished. resetting levels would also make for a highly reduced server population because a lot of people would give up playing here after losing all they accomplished. this would increase difficulty level for the server all over, and to many, the difficulty and challenge are the some of the most enjoyed factors to what makes the server great.
the bad:
there would be no map wins for probably a month, and this being so, levels will be very very low. think about it...until someone is level 25, they can't get denial 2, and retention pus will surely be hoarded by those who actually get a wop. and being low level, dying is so so so easy. maps will be constantly ended around waves 5-8 almost all the time, and weapons configured or summoned, if one can actually stay live to summon, will be lost. it will cause more frustration than you may be able to recall. we also might lose a lot of regulars here because of them feeling all their efforts were in vain, like beast, since they themselves are starting to last longer now after so much time. in the end, those who are high level now will be again, because those who are rather good will last longer and get more experience. there will be a lot of long and drawn out moments of people in hide spots just spamming stuff blindly, just to stay alive. then after all that time, one may poke their head out and it will be all over.
when i created the second character of jylon, i was able to get a second glance of what it was like to start over. it certainly was hell until around level 70. good weapons lost from dying, summons unused because of dying before next wave, and generally not having too much fun until i could last most waves, which came around level 100. i don't like hiding, and if i do, its for brief periods. my rush is to jump into the chaos and go at it! but anyways, jylon became level 100 before army guys were added..
we'll never make it past wave 17 for a long long time if levels are reset. even at a low level, they hurt a lot and are hard to kill, and with no vampability off them and so very little experience, it seems useless to fight the army dudes.
sometimes a wand smith appears on wave 2 or 4. you can guess how this map will go
it seems ideal to have everyone start all over, to try again as equals and to work together better to become more close-knit and teammate conscientous...but it may only worsen the "everybody for themselves" mentality in some aspects. the only way i can see this truly work is to make denial 2 available from the start, as well as gold kit skill. or...reduce the server difficulty from godlike down to something less.
it doesn't help morale at all to lose all the time, every time, and i would dislike seeing more unhappy now than they already are.
anyways, you are right about how many dislike seeing high levels dominate so much. you guys all know the criticism and such i have been through and still face, and the groans that come out when someone sees i get ssr mini <,,< that gun is crazy..for instance, that last high score i posted. i got superspeed right away on train map, and i got the ssr mini pu wave 2. by end of wave three i had full damages, superspeed, and the gun, and i essentially got most of the kills...this also lowers morale too and fosters upset...even if its fun as heck for someone like myself to have such power. but thats because its only possible due to low levels..some of you remember the map a couple days ago where i was last? at level 270, it took me 20 minutes to kill two valgaries with a full powered laser rifle, even snagging double damages now and then..that was boring for you all, and a pain for me @,,@
well, i won't apply a vote because i agree as well as disagree, that it is a good thing to do. i am level 271 now, i achieved my goal to be highest level player once on the server, and i am due to take a long break. but...i kinda want to play the next patch's stuff first and see how the new pus are to use, predator's change, and to find out what all the other mysterious things are that noone wants to tell me! D:
whatever is done, i am ok with it. i just like the server and will reside here for all ut2004 online gaming, whether or not i would have to restart in levels :}
see you guys in game!