Dude, think PVX and not one side... try!

I am still throwing out idea after idea for the PVX community. I am trying here and you just go and insult them!!!

What on earth are you on? Cloud 9???

This is correct. Also you mentioned that skill level is important and I couldn't agree more. Shai for instance is sometimes thought of as a lifeskill class because of her weight management but she's the slowest of all classes without her boomerang skateboard. She unlocks it at i think level 54. If you are gathering with a level 49 shai you are giving up on speed / efficiency / silver per hour and so, you're in a way kinda forced to gather logs or w/e at the level which you can skateboard. Some other classes might have a similar effect.

Level 49 was fine as a PvE cap back when the game's hard cap was something like 54 but this has since changed a long time ago. Unfortunately the design of many things in relation to level 49 is screwing up lifeskillers. Just remember folks that you need lifeskillers to gather the materials which you buy from the CM. Please be mindful about their experiences when you consider bashing this idea. Lifeskillers will continue to do these things with their level 49 characters but your towns will still be full of horse trainers and the game will continue to not be very enjoyable for lifeskillers in general if something isn't improved. Also keep in mind that nothing in this idea promotes a PvE environment, only a safer environment for lifeskillers who would otherwise be using a level 49 character anyway.

What about just moving the non-PvP level up?  I wonder how baked-in that is.  Could be easy to do, could be impossible.

But in theory, anyway, it makes sense.  Power creep has happened over the years, slowly compared to some games, but it is still there.  And level 49 then is probably - what level now? 59?  Maybe 58, since can powerlevel leechers there almost trivially.  At worst 56, the Mediah exit level, which also allows access to succession and awakening.  60 sounds like too much for some reason.

Anyway, this could be simpler than a "Marni's for lifeskiller" arrangement.  So many rules to work out for that one.

SMH and building a ship is different from bartering.

So I say, and my sentence is 100% accurate : you can barter safely with a level 49.

As a proof, check my profile, my warrior and his level in barter. 

You're correct. Sailing is diferrent though and it's a lifeskill and a part of bartering. I'm not sure why they decided that killing monsters will raise your sailing level but it is what it is for now. At the moment you can't really level the lifeskill "sailing" unless you have the ability to use your cannons which has a level requirement (at least 50+). Technically you could manually sail for hundreds of hours out in the open sea but I doubt anyone is interested in that. There's no autopath in Margoria so it's not advised :P

Sooo... In relation of sailing and bartering, leveling your sailing allows you to barter faster so it's kinda important.

It simply makes no sense to rise the level. At best, it'll only create the absurd situation in which normal players will have to share a spot with invincible grinders : while the first one will potentially have to deal with owpvp, the other will simply KS everyone without any consequence.

No, if you really want to change things, you have to act on the parameter which really matters : gear score.

A full PEN Tuvala set brings you at 547 GS (no journal).

If you want to limit the presence of luck in your progression (Naru gambling only), you can get the season PEN Tuvala ring and earring, choose the PEN Capotia at the end of the season, complete with the given base Capotia ring, earring and belt from lvl 58,59 and 60 rewards, get your Narchillan gear for 540 GS (still no journal).

If I'm not mistaken, journals give you 13 points right now. We may get 2 additionnal points soon.

So I'd say, let's put the pvp activation warning when you first try to equip an item which put you at 540 GS.

Don't forget about island exploration quests, some of them require smh killing, and the reward is sea coins, i.e. bartering.

Nope. You're really desperate, right? XD

Barter is barter, period.

Re-read the first post. There's nothing in there that says any grind spot will be contested any differently. Nothing will change in terms of where players do their lifeskilling work. Presently you're level 49 and invincible, no one is saying anything against that right? Nothing would change. GS doesn't matter for lifeskilling either, mastery does. Players would not be permitted to use this "invulnerable to PvP" without meeting certain criterias which I think I'm confident covered everything. No one will be griefing you as a PvPer, or PvPvE if you're going to take this part out of context for the sake of argument. This system would not allow players to use it against monsters that cannot be butchered or tanned. This is simply a QoL improvement for lifeskillers, it will not make your life harder if you like to PvPvE but it will make your life harder if you like to murder defenseless lifeskillers.

This is a very well thought-out idea OP. This way, there's no need for "PvE" servers and basically lifeskillers, to an extend, can safely do certain afk activities such as training outside safe zones.

Although, there are certain lifeskills (trading/bartering) in which trade items that you carry can break on PvP/E death. So basically by activating this feature those lifeskills can be instantly abused since you're basically avoiding all the risk. I do think that there has to be a balance, for example not being able to activate this mode if you carry trade/barter items, those lifeskills are supposed to have a risk. If you don't feel safe doing trading, you can always get some help from a friend/guildie to escord your wagon/ship to the destination.

Yet again, well thought out post! +1