I did the Lost Shores event Survey, but I felt it didn’t cover enough. I excepted a spot at end to write in more comments, but instead it finished without even giving me a chance to review and add more. So instead, I am posting my feedback on the entire update here. This isn’t about ascended gear, one time events, or the new map, it is about all of that and more. If anyone else has things they didn’t get to add in the survey, feel free to post them on this topic.
One Time Events
This was one thing I answer poorly due to the format. I wanted a spot to write in about this to explain myself, but there was none so this feedback wasn’t in the survey at all. I like the idea of one time events and how the impact the world. I like how rewarding the event was. However, I do think there is room for improvement.
The first one time event was for h’ween, also on Sunday. This was a huge letdown. I waited around a crowded city just to see a cutscene, the same thing that ended up on youtube. In fact, the youtube version is better because I didn’t hear any audio on my end for it (probably from lag). I noticed no reward for being there either. This was a bad one time event.
The first one time event this weekend was the Karka attack on Lion’s Arch. This event was very laggy. I barely saw allies and foes for the event. I think I even disconnected once or twice. My friend (who I referred to the game with the special offer) and I started in the same world, by soon after we got sent to different overflows (due to disconnects) and despite trying, we never made it back to the same overflows. The event was also confusing. I know we killed the veterans by use of conditions (I assume), but they instantly respawned it seemed. After what felt like an hour of laggy combat with little to no drops off the monsters, the event ended with Event Failed. Only a little bit of exp, karma, and coin. If there was a chest, I missed it in all the chaos due to how packed the place was. This was a bad one time event.
The only other one I really count as a one time event was the end fight against the Ancient Karka (although I did do it twice by hopping to a new overflow after mine finished in hope of more rewards, which didn’t happen). This was made up of 3 long events, which is a bit misleading. It is bad because some players may have planned to be on at start, only to find that they had to leave before event was over. It could also be good for anyone who showed up late. Personally, I felt it should have been broken into more events than just three, because all of them were very long and only the last one was rewarding. At the end of the event, a cutscenes played a chest spawned. The chest had 2 rares, 2 exotics (some got legendary precursors even, not me though), and a special chest. When opened the chest gave you an Ancient Karka Shell Box (20 slot bag) and an Ancient Karka Shell (Exotic Level 80 Celestial/Triforge Earring Accessory). This was a better one time event.
However, there are thing I would suggest to be changed. It was rewarding enough of a final event, but I will say it was too rewarding. To get that earring, currently only like it in game, you need to trade 1000 Karka Shells to NPC, which cost over 12G last I saw. That is also how much a 20 slot bag costs. So while non-sellable, the rewards saved you 24G or more just by being at event. This is a bit unfair considering some players just couldn’t make it. Does this mean events shouldn’t be rewarding because not everyone can make it? No, not at all, they just shouldn’t reward so exclusively.
Here is what I would have done instead. After the Ancient Karka dies and chest spawns, players who were at event can loot it for 2 exotics and 2 rare items. Those along would make it worth the time. Then later after the event is over (in all worlds) EVERYONE who participated at any point in the event would be mailed a thank you with the Earring and the 20 Slot Bag. By "participated at any point" I mean having been at opening battle in LA, having done the scavenger hunt, having done the missions in Southsun Cove, or having battle the Ancient Karka.
Maybe 24G worth of stuff is a bit too much to give away to everyone, but my point is that the one time event should have gave good reward, but not unique rewards, while everyone who participated in the special event weekend should have earned something unique, if something unique was given at all. I also think the initial battle should have given a chest that awarded everyone something, or a guaranteed rare. For events like the mad king, maybe give everyone some personalized trick or treat bags for attending cutscenes, like 10+ (heard rumors they did, but never noticed).