SithDoctor

level 36 claws/SR scrapper here. I can still solo the new missions, so keep that in mind with this post, as many AT's can't solo them anymore, who could before.

Yes the +1 minion, lietenants and bosses in missions now makes it more challenging. However it also makes missions take 2-3X as long and with a much greater risk of death. That equals a new time sink for many people. A GREAT appeal of this game to me is the ability to log on for 30 minutes or an hour, do 2-3 missions and log off to get back to real life duties. Yes many people do this. This ability has been drastically altered by the last patch. Now with a shorter play period I no longer am sure that I will be able to complete a mssion, and may very likely, if I try to rush, will encounter debt which further slows me. Thus when I am deciding what to do with that 1 hr I have on an evening, it is easier to say...well guess I will do something else. Don't need the frustration.

For the powergamers, the people with "skills" (which I always laugh at ....yes there are many of you who punch buttons better than me ) This is not an issue. The Devs have realized this is an important issue for many people, and thus the plans to make mission changes again. For uber-gamers who want more "challenge", I don't want the game I loved prior to patch 2 destroyed just so you can say "yeah, I defeated 100 purple minions solo in this mission with my uber build. I am so much better than you"

In the grand scheme of things, none of this is world changing. My baby still wakes up twice a night whether I play this game or not. But I did wish to express my opinion about how I have enjoyed the game, and how my gameplay experience has been altered since the patch. I fully understand that is part of playing a MMORPG, but the devs also understand that too much change can cause people to choose other entertainment options.

Long Days and Pleasant Nights

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Well then REDUCE SO's % buff.

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Haha, why? So people can come here and complain about that "nerf" instead?

Come on, be reasonable. If they complain about this, they will definitely complain about that.

How about players just accept that the game is about to get a little more challenging? Strap in.

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Is the game about to become more challenging, or is it just giong to slow down advancement by having to take on 3 +1's at a time vs groups of 8-10 +2 minions. If the xp earned over the time to take down the 3 +1's, is equal to the xp earned over the time it takes currently to take down the 8-10 +2's, then I am fine with this readjustment.

If not and I earned only a fraction of the xp for the time put in and risk taken, it will slow advancement down, which hurts my gameplay experience. We will have to see what effect this has when it is implemented. And no whining, if it is not as fun, many will simply quietly find something else to do with their time. I enjoy the game now and hope that continues

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Volt,

You seen how many changes were made in response to player
levelling styles, haven't you ?

Be honest, is the trend toward or away from power gaming ? [/quote


I don't know that it is a trend either way. A change in a power, like SG for example, will slow powergamers who play multiple hours using it. It will slow the casual gamer who uses it down too, making their pursuit of levels and advancement longer. So at one time it is against powerleveling, but also slows advancement for all. Powergamers will find another way to advance quickly. The casual gamer with that build (or any other that is changed to slow the powergamers down) will find their gameplay much more affected.

And I agree that some fixes need to be made. But you can only take so many recalls on your car for fixes, before you decide to trade it in and buy another model

Whenever a change is made to a game (fix, nerf, bug, whatever) all players ask themselves this question:

Am I having fun? Would I rather spend time playing this game or watching Seinfeld, going bowling, spending time with the wife, <put your favorite activity here>.

I honestly believe most people play this game for Fun, not for a challenge. If I want a challenge I will spend more time at work. I am looking to relax with my free time I use for entertainment.

That's all there is to it. Give yourself a week after issue 2 and ask yourself that question. Nothing else really matters. No one cares if one person leaves because they answer the question that they aren't having fun and would rather do something else with there time. All will care if thousands of people answer the question that they aren't having fun.

If Devs are able to track how frequently current users log on they can track the fun factor based on how often and how long we play after the patch and they will have the answer to the fun factor.

For those of us who weren't in Beta, and with the possibility this might be a live event, can those who were clue us in to what that event was like? For example is this going to be a minion plague for a few hours to fight, which if you aren't on then you will miss? Was the beta one annonced beforehand, so you could be sure to be there? Did it last for days, so you had a better chance of participating?

Powerleveling is not cheating.

That being said, I think there is a distinction between two different types of "powerleveling" that many people make.
1) example: level 32 grouped with level 39, attacking 39+ mobs. Obviously the 32 is not making as large a contribution and is getting larger xp than he could himself or with a group of similar level. They are a team though, fighting together, and actively playing the game. This is great and I believe what Statesman has referred to in his comments where he says "Bravo" to powerlevling.

2) Example 2: level 5 sidekicked to a level 32, all teamed with a 39 who is doing the hunting while the other 2 take a croissant and coffee break at the tram for days. (and we have all seen people there off and on for days leveling). This is clearly to everybody, not the way the game was meant to be played (if you think it is you are deluding yourself). It is however not breaking any "rules" so is not cheating. This way is the form of Powerleveling that grates on many people and which Statesman has said will be addressed. Until it is I do not hate those who do it, but wish it to be done away with.

On a side not this powerleveling does affect me in this way. I have been in a supergroup with some friend, however all the 40-50 crowd in the group spend all their time powerleveling each other instead of wishing to sidekick and adventure with us 30's and below because of less xp. True this may require a change in super group, but after going through a few that have done the same thing, because powerleveling exists, it affects the community experience which we are supposed to be a part of.