Overlord_Buni

So I've read about 13 pages of this discussion and I've been struck with a constant thought; I see a lot of talk about farming and how to control it and how it needs to be stopped, but I really have yet to see any good reasoning here.

Now, I admit, I've only been playing this game for about 4 years or so, but I'm kinda under the impression that, from a gameplay perspective, this game is not much different than most MMORPGs. And most MMORPGs are really driven by a behavior most would call farming. I mean, we do repetitious tasks to gain rewards. This is the whole system that keeps us feeding the developers money. If we didn't have new goals we wouldn't keep repeating tasks.

So how is general grinding that much different from grinding with a specific goal? How does it ruin the game for everyone else? Why does it warrant such hatred from player and dev alike?

Oh, and to add to the discussion proper, these continual reductions in the usefulness of the MA system as a valid gameplay outlet are really hurting what is one of this games most powerful assets. The ability of the playerbase to tap itself for content that the devs themselves would probably never think of or have the time to implement is unprecedented in the MMO space. The constant hamfisted alterations to the system in the name of protecting us from farming is poised to destroy one of the things that was keeping this game fresh and innovative.

MA has been my favorite aspect of the game since its inception. The handling of MA has really put a damper on my enjoyment of the game. And that's a bummer.

Assertion that this is very likely not the place to ask this question followed by assurance that this poster could not find the correct place to ask said question. Apologies for being a noob.

Brief noob question.

Apologies for being noob. Request for help.

I can't help myself. Every time I read Architect Entertainment System, all I could think was "Now you're playing with POWER!"

Set up the forum account just to reply in this thread.

Objective:
<ul type="square">[*]Many of us don't do strike forces or task forces. So we will not be getting many merit rewards. [*]Many of us play with a lot of alts. For us, merit rewards will be distributed amongst a group of characters. [*]The removal of random drops from TFs, trials, and what-have-yous will lead to a selection of recipes not reaching the markets. [*]Numerically, and with the diminishing returns, the system seems to favore blue side. More TFs to run with higer rewards. [/list] Subjective time:
The invention and black market systems have been one of my favorite things to hit City since I started playing. Now, some of the best IO rewards were TF/SF rewards, but the market made sure that I still had access to these recipes. You see, I don't run TF/SFs. I lack the time and inclination to do so. But with the market that came along with the invention system, I could play City of Commerce and get those rewards. The merit-only reward system is going to remove a chunk of recipes from the market. Things like the "Crap of the Hunter", witch I use, will be vanishing (as well as the snipes, slows, confuses, etc).

My second problem is with the blueside slant. I played Heroes a couple years ago. It didn't do a whole lot for me, at least not enough to make me wanna pay for it every month. When Villains came out, I absolutely loved it and have been playing since. Now there has always been a 2 year established playerbase and content advantage for the heroes, but setting up a reward system that favors one side will have an effect on the population. There has always been more hero players, try not to give people reasons to leave our side.

I like the idea of the merit system. I just don't think it should be an all-out replacement of the old system, nor should it favor heroes or TF/SF-heavy players. I'll end this by saying that I love this game and am only willing to post on the forums because I know you guys (the devs) listen and actually care about the game and those of us playing.

Thanks for listening (reading).