Best Of

If there is an increase to vitals, the additional levels will be seen as something that has to be done. Likewise with crit increases.
The vitals will be seen as affecting combat effectiveness, and both will be seen as having an impact on various parts of ascension.
Even if the increase is so small as to be irrelevant, it will likely be seen that way - particularly if it falls outside of the bodyscan system.

Personally, I would like to see more RP/flavour things as you go up the levels, rather than things that are going to directly alter combat. Possibly include some things that are, or were before wonderitems, more typically associated with the divine, although that is an idea that came to me just now and I haven't thought it through - it just makes sense to me that you would become more powerful as you gain amounts of essence far beyond what would have been considered previously. Examples include things like:

Opening portals - could even have custom portal lines at higher levels.
Warn-zaps for RP use - probably with restrictions on where or how often they can be used so as to prevent spam.
Flicking people to Astral when masochism is down and not in a peaced area - would need some kind of level restriction to make sure the target can survive there, we don't want players flicking newbies ideally.
Area emotes - put a timer or a large essence cost on these - maybe have a stock set of them so as to avoid the need for admin review.
Choice (or even custom) login messages.

Basically, things that scream "Look how much essence this person has. They must be really powerful," rather than things that affect combat.

Would like all tongue studs deleted and the effect reimagined as a demipower. ChoiceVoice (with all the domoth- and org-themed options you'd expect) and CustomVoice for the demidivas.

[edit] Right, based on this interaction. Fantastic voidbaby/shadowkin/clickbait. 

Me: So many great Solstice moments for December Artisinals!
Also me: 

I had someone who I'm pretty sure is on the opposite side of the alliance (hard to tell for sure, why do so many people have hidden honours???) who asked me one time if I had gotten a gnome, and invited me to come get it when I said I had not. Because newbie. I was super appreciative! And the people like Ixion who find them and call them out to the city and the alliance helping people out. Restores my faith in humanity!

(Very) Belatedly adding several raves regarding the Solstice festival last weekend:

@Gurashi for organizing the vast majority of things, keeping everyone excited, roleplaying consistently throughout and masterfully adapting to new angles as they were thrown at him.

@Kalaneya for also organizing events and being game for extra work. (Also, that song was an incredible bit of descriptive writing, woman)

Everyone else who contributed in their own way to add a little more entertainment and novelty to the festival -- including our vendors at the bazaar.

All the contest participants, from the raffle to the storytelling, design and song contests. We were worried about participation levels but ended up pleasantly surprised!

Our guests in general -- your attendance made the celebration that much more enjoyable to host and present.

@Nocht and @Viravain for being you and adding that much-adored (and intimidating) ambiance to our events. Also for putting Other Things on hold for our Festival, which was also so appreciated.

@Mysrai for attending the song contest and letting our Pantheon do their thing. I loved it. Also for the Liar -- they were certainly an entertaining addition (and so polite!).

Ironbeard, because though your timing was consistently a bit awkward, your avalanche of gifts was much appreciated and the interactions were hilarious.

Various Admins and planners, designers, producers, builders, coders, etc of several objects which made our lives so much better and enabled us to do so much more in-game while really bolstering immersion. Items which immediately come to mind are pamphlets, design catalogues, notepads, modular origami and picnic baskets. Using notepad paper and satchels to simulate drawing from 100+ names for the raffle was a good time.

10/10, would help plan again.

I like the idea of new powers to aim for, I'm a little bit less thrilled by the prospect of vital buffs though. Maybe it's just me, but I actually quite like that there is a hard power cap on resistances/health and additional vital gains for essence kind of ruins that, especially something that highly benefits older characters and is not really something that can otherwise be overcome.

I missed the fun due to IRL stuff but this was a pleasant surprise from my Momma V:

The intoxicating scent of roses lays claim to your mind as the wreath around your brow constricts with life, its thorns pressing into your flesh. Low and deep, Her voice crawls like spiders across your mind, "My Spider, crawling in My Web -- may your path be lined with roses and bloody thorns this Solstice."

All the from Siam.

There's no such thing as tagging too much, @Gurashi! I love seeing your art.