Level 30 - now what?

Hi, everyone,

Just reached level 30. I know that isn't much of an accomplishment, but I thought it might be a good point to compile some of my thoughts on the game. I really have nothing new or interesting to share, I think all these point have been raised elsewhere and more articulately.

First, though, I must really profusely thank everyone here for all the information and discussion! It is a great source for information. Additionally, I am not on Facebook (or anywhere else on social media), this is where I find out about events and new releases.

Notes on me

  • solo player (have made no effort to engage other players, nor do I really want to)

  • 128 entries in Pokedex

Why do I still play?

  • Gives me something to do when I am on the bus or walking the dog

  • I think the dog appreciates that we go for longer and more frequent walks? Not sure though.

  • Is healthy for me too - am going outside far more often - so it can't be all bad!

  • There is a spawn point next to my office, so I can catch water and other Pokemon all day without leaving my desk

  • my bus trip to/from work has a number of pokestops along the way, so I can regularly stock up

  • I have a bunch of arenas near home and work.

  • I have a perfect Dragonite. That's pretty cool.

What I find frustrating

  • Not sure if it is my phone (Galaxy 4) or network, but the game often crashes or hangs. This is quite irritating, particularly when it is freezing temperatures outside.

  • My phone also locks if unused for a while, I've noticed the game gets weird after coming back from that (or after being in the background). Fixing this would make the game far more enjoyable. In the cold weather, I carry my phone in my pocket, and then it frequently locks.

  • I am still drowning in Pidgeys and Rattatas. They're in flocks now! I had been really hoping that with higher levels I would see more interesting and rarer Pokemon. This is slightly the case, I do occasionally still run into things I rarely see, but I had hoped for more.

  • Lures/incense could be made to attract more interesting Pokemon. The last few times I've used them they just attract the same old stuff. I never use them any more.

  • Generally, all the animations could be faster (evolution, gym fighting). Particularly gym fighting - in freezing temperatures this could really move a bit faster!

  • GPS drift - probably nothing that can be done, but can get excessive. There is one gym I simply cannot reach, as I approach it, GPS pushes me across the street and out of range, and I am not able to get any closer. Others still can reach it, as it changes hands, but I keep 'wandering away' from it whenever I approach.

  • Eggs - the three incubators I got were cool, but I used them up pretty quickly hatching 5 k eggs that really didn't give me much interesting stuff. I wouldn't mind getting 2k eggs more often, if only because they occasionally have Charmanders (and I never see them in the wild)

Gym fighting

  • almost all of my gym activity is prestiging (I will occasionally take down opposing teams gyms, but I rarely see them, and they are usually level 3 or 4 so my dragonite takes care of it pretty quick)

  • in the end, though there is some strategy, it is still quite a bit of button mashing. A determined player, even with weak Pokemon, with enough potions and time, can take down any gym.

  • would be cool if dust could be used to increase IVs or at least a Pokemon's hit points, the thought being it might make for more diversity in gyms.

Nearby tracking

  • eh, whatever.

  • Would be great if I could filter the tracker, not show pidgeys/ratattas, as I really don't care much about them.

Other notes

  • I have one Snorlax (hatched), no Lapras. I have seen them on my radar in the past, but very rarely (maybe once a month). Not sure how so many players have multiple of these in my area.

  • I have no interest in trading Pokemon, I really do not care if this feature is ever implemented. I'd really rather find them all on my own.

  • Still - what about trading coins? I would gladly give 100 Jynx coins for 5 Snorlax coins.

  • Would still be cool to change teams. I am team Mystic (as is most everyone), I wouldn't mind being able to leave a trail of yellow destruction everywhere I go. Just to shake things up slightly.

  • I really should be getting more 10 k eggs at this point.

For all my whining, it has been a fun ride, and again, thanks for all the help and strategy I have received here. Were it not for this board I probably would have stopped playing a long time ago. I will still endeavor to complete my Pokedex, but I see this taking months, if not longer, since it will involve a lot of buddy walking.

TL/DR - nothing particularly interesting.