ScottE

I've been an on and off player for 7 years. Most of that time I've kept my subscription running. This year I've played very little except to keep our bases paid up. So jumped in over the weekend to see how the whole "pay to play" thing works. Figured since I'm a VIP it shouldn't be so different.

Hmmm...
Well, the store is pretty insane on prices. I'm not loving I have to pay for new powers now. Though, granted, I only had to buy Beams to be up to date.

The other stuff, wow. I'd say they they aren't nickle and diming us to death, more like dollar and fivering us to death! The 400 points a month we get certainly doesn't go far.

I made a decision when starting to play again that I would only use my 400 points and the surplus 1700 I got. If I avoid costumes (though I love them) I can probably do it. Though stuff like more enh slots are handy.

I kind of miss the old days. I'll try to keep an open mind but now that everything is for sale, and I mean EVERYTHING, some of the stuff I worked hard to earn just doesn't feel special any longer. This is the first micro transaction game I've tried and not sure I like it.

I hate to say it, but this is the first time I'm considering finally pulling the plug. I've got a stack of 50's, and 2 really upgraded super bases. Hate to see those all go. When this goes live to the unwashed masses, we'll see how it feels then.

Thanks all for your interesting comments to my initial post. Though some have vehemently defended the AE, I still wonder how good it will be for the game over the long term. I can understand that people that like leveling fast don't want the boat to be rocked. Certainly understandable. But I'd think eventually everyone will get tired of playing the same two maps for months or years at a time. But maybe I'm wrong. Everyone plays games differently and it seems Paragon is happy with this super speed leveling option. If they didn't they'd have changed it months ago. And as a game ages and the player base consists mostly of just hardcore players then a fast leveling option can keep them happy as they try all the different power options. Maybe its not a bad plan. And eventually maybe some players will lose interest and go back to other leveling options which will give everyone options on how they want to play the game.

I tried logging in this afternoon looking for people that wanted to do the newest TF. No luck but see a double XP weekend is coming up and will try again. My CoX gaming friend and I will see how it goes then. I think both of us are pretty bored now and will probably put our accounts on hold next month. If the new Rogue expansion has a significant amount of new content and gives the players more interesting options for leveling we might come back. I'm also eyeing Champions and will watch how that progresses. I don't plan to get it day of release but will see how the reviews go and evaluate it then. I've actually enjoyed my time away from MMO playing and don't know if diving back in fills me with as much joy as it used to.

Thanks all for your comments, both good and bad.

I didn't say AE sucks, I said I'm tired of the AE farm missions which seem to be the main thing people are doing.

But thanks for telling me I suck. You are very right. I'm a terrible player since I enjoy the game at a slower pace.

I just miss the game I've always enjoyed being dominated by one thing for so long. It seems we have the people that enjoy XP farming since they enjoy leveling fast to try out various classes. Others enjoy experiencing the stories and history of the game and like abit of role playing and aren't there just to get the next level. Two different kinds of players, but from my limited experience the past few months the XP players seem more plentiful. Is that wrong? Obviously not since the devs are happy with things as they are. But people like me aren't so happy.

That's all fine though if there's more farmer players, then NCsoft gets their fees and makes there money. Losing a few wackos that don't like that type of play so much won't hit their bottom line.

Again, thanks so much for reminding me what a loser I am. It's great to know these things about yourself. Builds character. You sure must be a fine person since you point out other's limitations.

I'm very sad. I've played this game on and off since beta and have always enjoyed it. I still have one friend that plays with me a few times a week. That all changed a few months after AE went live.

We are certainly now casual players but still enjoyed running around doing random missions and joining large groups. When AE was announced we thought how cool it will be to see how creative the community would be. The first few weeks were pretty cool but joining large groups seemed to only get XP farming missions. But we were getting XP so amazingly fast we didn't mind. But as the weeks progressed we became bored with farming the same two maps over and over and over. So then we looked at other missions but it was hard to get a group together since most of the more creative missions weren't designed for fast XP generation. So wandered around the old haunts and they were like ghost towns. No one was doing anything else. So we both took a break with the occasional play maybe once a week or every other week.

So this last week a new issue comes out so we thought lets try again. We logged on excited to play the new TF. We get our villains and head to Grandville. No one there, no one setting up a group, no one interested in doing a group. And we couldn't play with just 2 people. This is just a couple days after the issue goes live and no ones doing it? I remember when the Roman themed TF went live it was busy for weeks. So we try our heroes. Again, the zone is empty, not one other person there. So grudgingly we head to the AE and it's full of people. We join another XP farming mission group which were plentiful. Spend an hour getting a level and leave in boredom. Thought about logging in on Sunday but we just didn't feel like it.

What has the AE done to the game? Is this the future, endless XP farm missions either on the long narrow street map or large blasted city map? Is that all the game has turned into? Every other zone, TF, mission series unused as everyone makes a mad dash from 1-50? What's in store with the new Rogue expansion? New classes that will spend all their time in the AE farming XP, then rinse/repeat for each class until you have a full set of 50's?

I just can't get the urge to play anymore if the future is farming, farming, farming. Heck the groups are so bored now no one ever chats or even comments. Just heading from one boss mega group to the next. Turn on the TV and smash the AOE's until they are dead and move on. People can't even get excited to say "Congrats" when you ding.

I think my time with this game might have come to an end.

I'm very sad.

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In the videos and one of your screenshots you show an energy shield. I could not find it while playing iwth the test server character generator. Found the others though. I hope its not something we have to unlock or wait until a certain level to get.

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If you mean the Talsorian Shield, it was available at level one.

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So, you make your character then immediately head to the tailor and it will then be available? That seems odd. Why not have it available at character creation time?

In the videos and one of your screenshots you show an energy shield. I could not find it while playing iwth the test server character generator. Found the others though. I hope its not something we have to unlock or wait until a certain level to get.

I was pleasantly surprised by the invention system. Though with the new economy added to the game the prices have been crazy but that's to be expected with all those deep pockets now finally having something to spend money on. Maybe after all the rich players buy all the wings and outfit all their alts the prices might stabilize abit.

I fear a nerf coming since a well built character is a powerful hero indeed. They've basically made power player/casual player separation even more drastic. And since Cyptic nerfs at the drop of a hat I'd expect we'll see some slicing of the hatchet pretty soon.

I fear small SG's are totally screwed by the system though. No one wants to run in SG mode anymore since they need millions and millions of inf to buy anything. So I think the base system needs a drastic rework of the prestige system. The easiest change is to remove the +25 loss of prestige when in SG mode. Our base really needs a Super Computer now as we only have 5 control left and can't do anything else from now on. But there's no hope now with inventions, everyone wants the cash. So I'm just glad we got the base where we did at this point since it will never see an upgrade again. I feel sorry for those that are starting new bases since they won't really get to build anything fancy.

I'll give this issue a 4 out of 5. Though the fallout to bases probably should knock it down to 3.5. But the one simple change I suggested would restore bases again.

Though for those that don't like crafting or auctions this issue was pretty much worthless. We lost a long time player after this issue came out since he hates crafting and there was nothing for him to get excited about.