Farming is it fun?
By
Arctic_Princess,
Posted on: 2009-05-06 23:13 in CoH and CoV General Discussions
Oooh a Q&A session.
Telling people how to play their game, is it fun?
Well, I did a few test custom_critters farms for those badges.
The farming playstyle is essentially the same gamestyle I enjoyed doing in other MMorpgs. Going through mobs like a well oiled machine is kinda fun in its own way. But I get tired of it fast.
[ QUOTE ]
Oooh a Q&A session.
Telling people how to play their game, is it fun?
[/ QUOTE ]
This response really does get right up my nose.
Firstly he's not TELLING people how to play, he's asking WHY they play in a particular way.
Secondly you can justify farming all you like, but the bare bones of the fact remains that it is not the way the devs intended the game to be played. Like it, or lump it, you can't avoid it.
@SteelRat; @SteelRat2
"Angelina my love, I'm a genius!"
"Of course you are darling, that's why I married you. Physically, you're rather unattractive"
http://faces.cohtitan.com/profile/SteelRat
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Oooh a Q&A session.
Telling people how to play their game, is it fun?
[/ QUOTE ]
This response really does get right up my nose.
Firstly he's not TELLING people how to play, he's asking WHY they play in a particular way.
Secondly you can justify farming all you like, but the bare bones of the fact remains that it is not the way the devs intended the game to be played. Like it, or lump it, you can't avoid it.
[/ QUOTE ]
was more intended for the militant neighbourhood watch that patrols the forum not mister J.
They don't have right to tell how we should play the game, the devs do.
Myself use farms to reach a goal wether it's badge, influence or recipies doesn't matter.
Also solo farming way beyond the aggro cap with a brute is fun since i have to look at the screen for once and not just press random buttons.
[ QUOTE ]
Playing the one map with the one enemy type over and over till you hit 50. I know that in the game it is basically go to map, hit things,get to 50. But there is a variety of enemies and maps (not as much as people want but a dam sight more than are going to be in CO at launch) with a varied story attached if you want to read it.
[/ QUOTE ]
Here's where I think people make a basic error. Is farming all the way to 50 fun? No, probably not (for me anyway).
Is PLing your character through a painful part of their development in order to get them to a level where you can enjoy them properly fun? Yes, it is. Skipping Sharkshead on my Brute was a Very Good Thing. I'd also be happy to skip the 1-20 run on most toons by PLing them to 22.
The action of actually farming can be fun too, if you've a good group of people together chatting, or if you're soloing by playing the "Round as many up as possible and then blitz them" method.
Could I do it for more than about an hour without getting very bored? Nope, not a hope. As an occasional diversion to get a stuck character past a drab part of their existence it's useful and occasionally fun. As something to do solely from 1-50? Zzzzzz.
just a general reply not replying to anyone in particular
[ QUOTE ]
Farmers are content to repeat the same mission over and over and over again - because they are fed up of repeating the same content over and over again
[/ QUOTE ]
Thanks to Cappy on the US boards for the original. 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Oooh a Q&A session.
Telling people how to play their game, is it fun?
[/ QUOTE ]
This response really does get right up my nose.
Firstly he's not TELLING people how to play, he's asking WHY they play in a particular way.
Secondly you can justify farming all you like, but the bare bones of the fact remains that it is not the way the devs intended the game to be played. Like it, or lump it, you can't avoid it.
[/ QUOTE ]
was more intended for the militant neighbourhood watch that patrols the forum not mister J.
They don't have right to tell how we should play the game, the devs do.
Myself use farms to reach a goal wether it's badge, influence or recipies doesn't matter.
Also solo farming way beyond the aggro cap with a brute is fun since i have to look at the screen for once and not just press random buttons.
[/ QUOTE ]
As opposed to posts like that having a good old stomp down on people opposed to powerlevelling? Swings and roundabouts.
I tried some farming once. Needed some inf to get purples on my main. I was bored into oblivion after 1,5 hours.
The Mission Architect gives us fresh new content. Very good build and written stories. So the idea of farming fast to lv 50 using the MA farm missions is a bit strange to me when you can use it to play new content.
- The Italian Job: The Godfather Returns #1151
Beginner - Encounter a renewed age for the Mook and the Family when Emile Marcone escapes from the Zig!
- Along Came a... Bug!? #528482
Average - A new race of aliens arrives on Earth. And Vanguard has you investigate them!
- The Court of the Blood Countess: The Rise of the Blood Countess #3805
Advanced - Go back in time and witness the birth of a vampire. Follow her to key moments in her life in order to stop her! A story of intrigue, drama and horror! Blood & Violence... not recommend to solo!
I am just wondering to myself, how many people would still be here, if from day 1 you could get 1-50 in a day, don't think I would of, I think the novalty of the game would have worn out in a month, but after 5 years I am still here so that must be a plus to not farming, so is farming fun imo the odd dash of it here and there maybe, more than a week of it, I don't think so.
Too many 50's to list here's a few you may know.
Slazenger, Area51, Area53, Area54, Erruption, Mind Plague, Thresher, Sheath, Broadside, Debt
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Oooh a Q&A session.
Telling people how to play their game, is it fun?
[/ QUOTE ]
This response really does get right up my nose.
Firstly he's not TELLING people how to play, he's asking WHY they play in a particular way.
Secondly you can justify farming all you like, but the bare bones of the fact remains that it is not the way the devs intended the game to be played. Like it, or lump it, you can't avoid it.
[/ QUOTE ]
was more intended for the militant neighbourhood watch that patrols the forum not mister J.
They don't have right to tell how we should play the game, the devs do.
[/ QUOTE ]
So...reacting to people saying things you don't like, but before anyone's actually said anything at all?
Trigger happy much?
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Oooh a Q&A session.
Telling people how to play their game, is it fun?
[/ QUOTE ]
This response really does get right up my nose.
Firstly he's not TELLING people how to play, he's asking WHY they play in a particular way.
Secondly you can justify farming all you like, but the bare bones of the fact remains that it is not the way the devs intended the game to be played. Like it, or lump it, you can't avoid it.
[/ QUOTE ]
was more intended for the militant neighbourhood watch that patrols the forum not mister J.
They don't have right to tell how we should play the game, the devs do.
[/ QUOTE ]
So...reacting to people saying things you don't like, but before anyone's actually said anything at all?
Trigger happy much?
[/ QUOTE ]
Kind of. This whole farming debacle is getting ridiculous.
In a good team it can be fun, bad jokes, general discussions...it reminds of that scene with Batman and Superman, wondering whether the guys they are fighting are bankrobbers or trying to take over the world.
But, for me farming two big missions in a row...please not...as much as I love levelling farming gets pretty boring for me. Then again...many things low level are boring for me nowadays...I just hope I can get my Peacebringer out of it before I throw him away again.
The M.A.D. Files - Me talking about games, films, games, life, games, internet and games
I'm not good at giving advice, can I interest you in a sarcastic comment?
@Lyrik
Answer to the original question:
Yes, if you enjoy repetitive action, non-stop for hours at a time.
If you enjoy a lot of variety, like stories, or see a map for the third time in a row with identical mission goals that make you wince... not so much.
My idea of fun is seeing how a team handles a variety of enemies, how they mesh together as a group, and making snarky comments back and forth. Running the same map, over and over, trawling the same route through it, defeating the same mob with a level of efficiency that means it's never going to be a challenge... I can barely conceive of something more dull. And the end result doesn't seem worth it, to me: A bit of influence, earned a bit faster than if I'd been running regular missions, but without the fun of the unknown.
If people want to farm, that's their business. No skin off my nose, and I can see that there are certain potential advantages to the rest of us as a result, but I snort in amusement when people who are farmers claim that they do it because the game presents no challenge to them any longer. My answer to that is that perhaps they should try playing a different part of the game, or even a different style of play? Farm Malta or Carnies on a melee toon without mez protection running. Crank the game up to Invincible and duo "A Hero's Hero" with two Blasters. Pretend, just for a little while, that you really are your character, and make stupid comic-esque statements like "Halt, evildoers!" every time you meet a spawn on a map, and encourage your team to do the same - those weird roleplayer types must get some fun out of that sort of thing, right? Create "broken" characters that you only slot with drops, and you set yourself a rule that if you can slot it, you must slot it. Play. A game is not serious business, and if you're a good sport, the game can be a lot of fun, even if your character is potentially fatally flawed.
Break the mold! No one play-style is better than the others, and the more of them you try, the longer your period of enjoyment in the game is likely to be.
So, farming is fun, yes. But there are a hell of a lot of other things to do in-game that are also fun, and anyone who claims that they "have to farm" - for any reason - is deluding themselves.
The wisdom of Shadowe: Ghostraptor: The Shadowe is wise ...; FFM: Shadowe is no longer wise.
; Techbot_Alpha: Also, what Shadowe said. It seems he is still somewhat wise 
; Bull Throttle: Shadowe was unwise in this instance...; Rock_Powerfist: in this instance Shadowe is wise.; Techbot_Alpha: Shadowe is very wise *nods*; Zortel: *Quotable line about Shadowe being wise goes here.*
Keeping to the original topic
Yes on occasion i find farming fun with some alts largely my brutes it was nice to load into a relatively open map and just go to town smashing enemies left and right and watching that fury build.
It became less about the XP/inf (tho i wont lie and say that the XP and inf didn't matter often i needed the inf to buy IOs and XP is always nice) and more about seeing how long i could maintain max fury and how quick i could clear the map (it was almost a game within itself).
Now admitedly it would have been nice if there had been some variety in the mob types and I had up till positrons statement been tempted to create a series of maps filled with my favorit spawns so i could go on a smash happy rampage. But now i'm not so sure as it may get labeled as a exploit and get loose me a mission slot.
so yes dependant on my mood i find farming fun.
[ QUOTE ]
Now admitedly it would have been nice if there had been some variety in the mob types and I had up till positrons statement been tempted to create a series of maps filled with my favorit spawns so i could go on a smash happy rampage. But now i'm not so sure as it may get labeled as a exploit and get loose me a mission slot.
so yes dependant on my mood i find farming fun.
[/ QUOTE ]
To be honest, that sounds like a giggle, actually. And the only way it would fall foul of the "exploit" issue is if there's nothing challenging included in your list. Sure, that's rather subjective, but just make sure you include some nasty lieuts and bosses in there and it should be fine.
The wisdom of Shadowe: Ghostraptor: The Shadowe is wise ...; FFM: Shadowe is no longer wise.
; Techbot_Alpha: Also, what Shadowe said. It seems he is still somewhat wise ; Bull Throttle: Shadowe was unwise in this instance...; Rock_Powerfist: in this instance Shadowe is wise.; Techbot_Alpha: Shadowe is very wise *nods*; Zortel: *Quotable line about Shadowe being wise goes here.*
<QR>
No way!
I even try to ghost missions while soloing and hate capture all/hunt missions with passion. So farming is so far away from my idea of fun. I like the feeling of accomplishment (that lovely big blue letters) and i see little in farming to satisfy my this need.
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Now admitedly it would have been nice if there had been some variety in the mob types and I had up till positrons statement been tempted to create a series of maps filled with my favorit spawns so i could go on a smash happy rampage. But now i'm not so sure as it may get labeled as a exploit and get loose me a mission slot.
so yes dependant on my mood i find farming fun.
[/ QUOTE ]
To be honest, that sounds like a giggle, actually. And the only way it would fall foul of the "exploit" issue is if there's nothing challenging included in your list. Sure, that's rather subjective, but just make sure you include some nasty lieuts and bosses in there and it should be fine.
[/ QUOTE ]
Or when you put a timer on it. Can you clear the map before the timer runs out?
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Now admitedly it would have been nice if there had been some variety in the mob types and I had up till positrons statement been tempted to create a series of maps filled with my favorit spawns so i could go on a smash happy rampage. But now i'm not so sure as it may get labeled as a exploit and get loose me a mission slot.
so yes dependant on my mood i find farming fun.
[/ QUOTE ]
To be honest, that sounds like a giggle, actually. And the only way it would fall foul of the "exploit" issue is if there's nothing challenging included in your list. Sure, that's rather subjective, but just make sure you include some nasty lieuts and bosses in there and it should be fine.
[/ QUOTE ]
Or when you put a timer on it. Can you clear the map before the timer runs out?
[/ QUOTE ]
Oh a timer now there's a Idea a series of missions with every one having a little less time to do it in
*wanders off to once again ponder such things*
Yeah lack of variety bores me as well. I haven't farmed at all in a long time, even though I appreciate efficiency in my playstyle (when I'm not too busy chatting). The few times I have farmed have been mainly from curiosity, or because I didn't realise it was a farm team until I was in it - then I've got bored of the same map and the same mobs after a couple of repetitions and have moved on to more interesting things.
Admittedly I'm trying not to do obsessive anymore in my MMOs, which is why I neither farm nor badge - in the past in other MMOs I've done the whole uberguild/dkp "treating MMOs like a second job" thing, I've done the PvP clans thing, and nowadays I just want to play the game casually, on my terms with no expectations/responsibilities, and just develop/level character combos that interest me, at the rate the game was designed for.
Though, as a wise TV theme tune once said, different strokes for different folks - if people like farming and want to do it exclusively then that's fine, as long as it's not to the extent that it hampers the playstyles of others - that goes for all playstyles tbh, including PvP (and is one reason why I only like open PvP in pure PvP games with no/few PvE elements).
But the recent farming epidemic certainly has affected the playstyles of others, making non-farming groups harder to find, making non-farming MA arcs harder to find, turning the market upside down, filling broadcast and global channels with spam and arguments, and creating community friction.
I make most of my inf through the markets, which in some circles might make me as hated as the farmers (not that I do anything particularly despisable - in fact everything I sell is listed way below the going rate to ensure stock moves fast), but for the sake of 30mins or so per day I make enough inf to get the builds I want, leaving me the rest of my playing time to do what I want to do - levelling my characters. It fits my playstyle better than farming would and takes far less time.
I wish I didn't need to spend so much time on the market, but I do like squeezing as much performance as I can afford out of my characters - that's where a lot of my fun comes from - so I do use IOs exclusively (actually I haven't bought a TO/DO/SO since I11). However, mainly due to cost, only one of my 13 L50s has purples slotted and then it's just the cheap sleep/confuse sets - otherwise I frankenslot cheap sets til L47 and only then go for full sets. Only now have I started building towards my first fully purpled 50, just for the heck of it - and with purples soaring in price what rubbish timing I have
For me it all depends on the team, pretty much like any team task in the game.
If there's chat, generally joking around and people are having fun, it can be great, it's relaxing and enjoyable.
If things go pear shaped and I'm on say my Dark/Dark corruptor, it's fun keeping the not so great team alive by locking down various spawns and then mass rezzing those that have died while locking down another group.
If the team is all serious and nobody talks apart from "Gratz" then it gets dull fast and I will find a team who is more social.
Badge Earned: Wing Clipper
A real showstopper!
[ QUOTE ]
With all the complaints over being able to hit the same type of mobs over and over to get to 50 currently rikti comms in the Architect before it was Freaks on the Dreck map.
I only really have one question, Is it fun?
Playing the one map with the one enemy type over and over till you hit 50. I know that in the game it is basically go to map, hit things,get to 50. But there is a variety of enemies and maps (not as much as people want but a dam sight more than are going to be in CO at launch) with a varied story attached if you want to read it.
It may not be much for some people but the same single enemy group and single map over and over and over would drive me insane if purely for lack of variety.
So is it fun?
And i dont really get the I want to see how good the powers are for a specific build, a lot of the powers in the game may be awesome but not affect you farmable item of choice so you think it is not up to much. Also a lot of the powers are situational and doing the same map with same mob will never put you in that situation.
I will leave all the nonsense of meeting tanks that were powerleveld that didn't know what taunt was or did. Or those that go but we stick lots of inf and stuff into the market but dont realise that all they are doing is driving prices up so that average people cant afford them and go oh i must farm too to match the prices. I have 50's still on pre ED builds with SO's that are still effective so aren't drawn into that nonsense, but new player will see the market and go I must eeek out every .0001% of extra ability thinking it makes a massive difference as it might in WOW.
I just have one question. Is it fun ?
[/ QUOTE ]
No.
[ QUOTE ]
Oooh a Q&A session.
Telling people how to play their game, is it fun?
[/ QUOTE ]
Firstly : It isn't the people's game.
Adjusting your question to compensate for that fact: "Telling people how to play City of Heroes, is it fun?"
Answer: ... well telling them isn't bad, I guess that's the Outbreak zone. Yes, that's kinda fun.
Please fight My Brute: http://2hero.mybrute.com
Mission Architect 54161 - Michael Mundano, Megan Malloney and the Secret Senate.
Mission Architect 91838 - Constantinople Jones' Family Secret. A One Mission Story arc.
I'm currently enjoying playing "Does it herd?" more than playing "Find the content" while I wait for the two new TFs in I15 and hopefully some amazing news about I16 to keep me interested.
Mostly am just stock piling inf and rares for a rainy day on a 50 but I can see from that how could be fun to PL, to be PL'd seems dull though.
Basically until I get new story to follow on from what we have all I have of interest is "I wonder if I could do that........" which normally involves something stupid. I blame DSorrow for starting me off soloing AVs on scrappers, which led me to thinking "What can I do with my AoE toons" hence the game of "Does it herd?"
"Well, they found my diary today.
They were appropriately appalled
at the discovery of the eight victims
They're now putting it all together.
Women wrapped in silk
with one leg missing
Eight legs, one body, silk,
spider, brilliant!"
[ QUOTE ]
I'm currently enjoying playing "Does it herd?" more than playing "Find the content" while I wait for the two new TFs in I15 and hopefully some amazing news about I16 to keep me interested.
Mostly am just stock piling inf and rares for a rainy day on a 50 but I can see from that how could be fun to PL, to be PL'd seems dull though.
Basically until I get new story to follow on from what we have all I have of interest is "I wonder if I could do that........" which normally involves something stupid. I blame DSorrow for starting me off soloing AVs on scrappers, which led me to thinking "What can I do with my AoE toons" hence the game of "Does it herd?"
[/ QUOTE ]
Most spectacular death, involving as many mobs as possible is another good one till i15 comes along.
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I'm currently enjoying playing "Does it herd?" more than playing "Find the content" while I wait for the two new TFs in I15 and hopefully some amazing news about I16 to keep me interested.
Mostly am just stock piling inf and rares for a rainy day on a 50 but I can see from that how could be fun to PL, to be PL'd seems dull though.
Basically until I get new story to follow on from what we have all I have of interest is "I wonder if I could do that........" which normally involves something stupid. I blame DSorrow for starting me off soloing AVs on scrappers, which led me to thinking "What can I do with my AoE toons" hence the game of "Does it herd?"
[/ QUOTE ]
Most spectacular death, involving as many mobs as possible is another good one till i15 comes along.
[/ QUOTE ]
Got 17 Fire Melee/Fire Blast bosses on my Ice Tank last night, oddly was fine until HF ran out, then died in seconds
"Well, they found my diary today.
They were appropriately appalled
at the discovery of the eight victims
They're now putting it all together.
Women wrapped in silk
with one leg missing
Eight legs, one body, silk,
spider, brilliant!"
With all the complaints over being able to hit the same type of mobs over and over to get to 50 currently rikti comms in the Architect before it was Freaks on the Dreck map.
I only really have one question, Is it fun?
Playing the one map with the one enemy type over and over till you hit 50. I know that in the game it is basically go to map, hit things,get to 50. But there is a variety of enemies and maps (not as much as people want but a dam sight more than are going to be in CO at launch) with a varied story attached if you want to read it.
It may not be much for some people but the same single enemy group and single map over and over and over would drive me insane if purely for lack of variety.
So is it fun?
And i dont really get the I want to see how good the powers are for a specific build, a lot of the powers in the game may be awesome but not affect you farmable item of choice so you think it is not up to much. Also a lot of the powers are situational and doing the same map with same mob will never put you in that situation.
I will leave all the nonsense of meeting tanks that were powerleveld that didn't know what taunt was or did. Or those that go but we stick lots of inf and stuff into the market but dont realise that all they are doing is driving prices up so that average people cant afford them and go oh i must farm too to match the prices. I have 50's still on pre ED builds with SO's that are still effective so aren't drawn into that nonsense, but new player will see the market and go I must eeek out every .0001% of extra ability thinking it makes a massive difference as it might in WOW.
I just have one question. Is it fun ?