Showing Posts For Lexicaholic.4718:
“you give money (55+ Euros, 60+ dollars, aka approximatively 4800 gems) back to what I would call “scammers”, dishonest people, who got hundreds of hours of play time out of your game and then ask their money back so they basically got 3 months of free entertainment.”
This isn’t helpful to bringing the community back together and is a mischaracterization of why some people may be seeking refunds. Many people bought the game (which is a service not a good) on the premise that it would not have grind, based upon promotional materials that were used to induce purchase. Now the developer has stated that there will be a grind, which is the opposite of what those people wanted in their service. As such they are requesting a refund because they would never have signed up for a service with grind had the same been advertised as such. I think that’s an entirely legitimate and rational decision for those individuals. That being said, I think ArenaNet has learned from this mistake and can even turn the new grind into a feature provided that it finds ways to adopt it to multiple playstyles in game (i.e. the service will still be different than advertised but it might be improved.) That is why I am not seeking a refund (a rational decision based upon my own self interest, not a belief that those asking for a refund are “scammers.”) Let’s leave the vitriol behind and see if we can’t help ArenaNet in this task by making helpful suggestions and engaging the developers in a more positive manner.
I think this was a fairly productive AMA, actually. Some good ideas and it shows the direction ArenaNet is moving in. I don’t like vertical progression (I’m an altaholic completionist from GW1) but addressing the content gating mechanisms and population split is the bigger issue and it’s now understood that it is being worked on. I feel a lot better about the future of PvE now. Good show on Chris for doing so much work this Monday (now Tuesday) without a break. If I might make a suggestion regarding Ascended gear, perhaps one way you could add it into the general/casual PvE experience would be by having (bi)-monthly Events that have a chance to drop Ascended gear for level 80 players upon successful completion and that consist of large “invasion/open warfare” type scenarios taking up an entire zone and requiring teamwork to complete. That wouldn’t really invalidate Fractal Runners’ work and would be fun for the entire PvE community (and could also be used to draw level 80 players into lower level zones).
Yeah, I log in with alts just to mine nodes. It’s easier than grinding for gold and takes up less of my time.
This is a worthwhile discussion. Alternatives to power creep:
1. Aesthetic gear and mini-pets.
2. Non-essential consumables (instant res/+ Skill Point consumables that can you can grind for, if you must).
3. Wealth (have gems (as in the real money valued currency) drop in small amounts in high level dungeons).
4. Titles (worked for GW1).
5. Companions (NPCs like heroes in GW1 – they take up a party slot and you can only have one per character – but first you have to complete a ridiculous list of challenges to unlock them or pay ArenaNet).
6. Post 80 bonus rewards for doing lower level content – have lower level content provide level 80 characters with level 80 appropriate drops – this would really make the whole game the endgame. Probably the best option, really.
7. A Karka Mount. Travel Tyria in style, can’t be attacked or attack while on the mount (good for getting from point A to point B in a zone without skirmishing along the way). Costs 10000 Gems or you can grind out an excessive number of rare drops to combine at the Mystic Forge. Doesn’t affect actual combat effectiveness and gives players something to care about working towards. Best way to maximize profit on whales without introducing power creep.
1. If I were them, I would’ve added every max armor set from GW to the gem store as a set of skins.
2. Why the hell didn’t they bring consets back?
3. I actually really like this idea. Even if it’s just a gem per chest per EM path, that’ll still add up.
4. Yup.
5. Hm, honestly I’m not sure. The game isn’t built around a party anymore.
6. Well, drops do scale to your level, but you still get some stuff from the zone’s level.
7. Eh…personally, I don’t like it. Waypoints kinda defeat any desire for mounts.
Yeah, part 7 is just for people who don’t want to, for example, fight to the next contested way-point on Orr (or who want to show off). It’s a minor benefit, but it is a benefit, and it is ridiculous enough to attract the type of spender interested in such things. Five isn’t great but better than gear grind. For Six I mean to improve drops if you are level 80, such that you get drops anywhere in the game as good as you would in the 80 zones. That way you would be able to enjoy all content as endgame at 80. The 80 zones would still be worthwhile for their resource nodes and merchants, so the change wouldn’t make 80 zones redundant.
This is a worthwhile discussion. Alternatives to power creep:
1. Aesthetic gear and mini-pets.
2. Non-essential consumables (instant res/+ Skill Point consumables that can you can grind for, if you must).
3. Wealth (have gems (as in the real money valued currency) drop in small amounts in high level dungeons).
4. Titles (worked for GW1).
5. Companions (NPCs like heroes in GW1 – they take up a party slot and you can only have one per character – but first you have to complete a ridiculous list of challenges to unlock them or pay ArenaNet).
6. Post 80 bonus rewards for doing lower level content – have lower level content provide level 80 characters with level 80 appropriate drops – this would really make the whole game the endgame. Probably the best option, really.
7. A Karka Mount. Travel Tyria in style, can’t be attacked or attack while on the mount (good for getting from point A to point B in a zone without skirmishing along the way). Costs 10000 Gems or you can grind out an excessive number of rare drops to combine at the Mystic Forge. Doesn’t affect actual combat effectiveness and gives players something to care about working towards. Best way to maximize profit on whales without introducing power creep.
Just wanted to add some thoughts to this discussion. Played GW1, played MMOs since Ultima Online, played EQ1, EQ2, Shadowbane, tons of CRPGs including D2 and D3. Not a newb. GW2 at launch was easily one of the greatest MMOs ever released. The bugs weren’t worth mentioning and the content was incredible and, most importantly, fun. Liked the Halloween event too. But I felt compelled to comment on this forum largely because of Ascended Gear and how I feel it is the first and only real misstep in an otherwise terrific experience.
EQ1, EQ2, and SWTOR all have F2P options right now. These are games that catered to and are built upon the premise of rewards for time played. All of these games are competing in the same space WoW is dominating (for whatever reason). Guild Wars as a franchise was able to distinguish itself from the EQ/WoW MMO style by leveling the playing field for users and making the game experience more about fun than about investment. This was largely the appeal of the game not only for myself but for those I convinced to join me in playing GW2.
The introduction of grind and an “end-game” based around gear elitism harms this appeal and frankly is off-putting to those seeking something different in their gaming experience. Ascended gear in and of itself is not a problem, and I hope, ArenaNet, that you do introduce multiple paths to gear acquisition soon; the grind presently in the game *is * a problem, however, as older gamers, like myself, who will spend money on this game and expansions, do not want to have to participate in a hardcore grind experience in order to enjoy new content. The exotic gear grind was demanding enough. ArenaNet, please honor your promises regarding grind and make Ascended gear available through alternative casual means sooner rather than later.
PS. Aside from the Ascended issue, Fractals dungeon looks very fun and appears to be an excellent addition to the game. Kudos to its designers.