what good READ, especially the first half with 'lew' chiming in. I've been in software-dev business since mid 80s (old, i know), had teams of different sizes, and everything lew said is 100% spot on. 5-9 is a good number for team sizes, and with something big like NWO, would need multiple teams etc.
With my stuff, it's always been customers forced to use what I build. These guys are creating/selling ENTERTAINMENT, very subjective in regards to what works and doesn't work. And then on top of that, it's a FREEMIUM game, (make it fun, but figure out some way to generate revenue)... wow, TOUGH GIG.
Mod6 was just a bad idea: (removing content (solo campaigns, gear people were working on, etc)) from a customer-base that is 'hooked on progress', also decreasing the number of 'choices' that players have (what to do, what to wear, etc). I doubt the 'devs' had anything to do with that. And release dates, that's usually decisions made from 'above' by people that don't really know what's going on. (I've seen that too in 30 years... management usually consists of bean-counting morons who have the power to decide things just because of their title... but sometimes they justly get their heads chopped off... who knows what's going on inside cryptic/pwe).
@devs... keep plugging man! You at least got a better 10v10 GG going on... Your biggest issue now is the lag/server-not-responding stuff. It would be a good investment to get some outside help and fix that, if that's what it takes...
...
With my stuff, it's always been customers forced to use what I build. These guys are creating/selling ENTERTAINMENT, very subjective in regards to what works and doesn't work. And then on top of that, it's a FREEMIUM game, (make it fun, but figure out some way to generate revenue)... wow, TOUGH GIG.
... management usually consists of bean-counting morons who have the power to decide things just because of their title... but sometimes they justly get their heads chopped off... who knows what's going on inside cryptic/pwe).
@devs... keep plugging man! You at least got a better 10v10 GG going on... Your biggest issue now is the lag/server-not-responding stuff. It would be a good investment to get some outside help and fix that, if that's what it takes...
Finally, some sanity!
@devs, if a mob damage multiplier accidentally gets reduced in the code somehow, that would be awesome...
0
icefalcon9Member, Neverwinter Beta Users, Neverwinter Hero UsersPosts: 12Arc User
I have a general rule for such situations. 'If it looks like a Duck, Waddles like a Duck and Quacks like a Duck. Then its fair to say its a DUCK'! It really doesn't take much to notice the drop off in LFG's, Trades and friends list to realise there's a significant drop in players. It becomes even more apparent when Guild leaders make posts about huge number drops in membership. Isn't it also fair to say that if you can't make your way in lvl 70 content because you neither have the resources or gear then you're not going to play. I'd suggest that they're making an informed guess that's not without its truths.
I endorse this post 100%. Here's my take...
I have been gone from the game for two years. I was one of the original founders and loved the whole game concept. Finally, a modern, high end graphical AD&D-like game. WOOT! But then life happened and I had to step away from the game. I had T1 gear, there were no artifacts yet, and as a GF I could survive most things just fine, with a few greater health stones occasionally when things got a bit more difficult. Overall a really fun game. That's why we are here right? For fun?
Anyway, I came back about three weeks ago after that two year break and tried to play again. The amount of changes to the game were just overwhelming. I felt completely lost, no idea where to go, what to do, and I could find no public information sources that were current (a WoWhead-like site for NW) to help me figure out what to do. What should this old player do... So I created a new character and started over from scratch. Figured I would re-learn the game all over again. This sort of worked OK (missing zone dungeons...and their gear) until I hit lvl 61. That's when it was no longer fun... That's why we are here right? For fun?
I now sit with my original GF and new HR at lvl 61 and can not go anywhere except daily (standard) dungeons. The health and damage done by mobs in all 60+ zones are just WAY over the top for me in my current gear. No soloable play for them at all. I can't do any of the campaigns to et better gear because, you guessed it, the mobs hit too hard to survive. Now what do I do? Where does my progression take me now? I am clearly stumped and not having much fun... That's why we are here right? For fun?
So I start another character....
Conclusion: The key problem, besides all the truely broken/bugged content, is the over the top damage that mobs do in 60+ content. There seems to be no progression, no slow gear improvements to coinside with the difficulty, nothing but a big fat *splatt*. The game is not fun any more at lvl 60+. That's why we are here right? For fun?
Until this difficulty problem is fixed I guess I'll just start another character...
Side note: This may sound extreme, but its an idea none the less. Require the devs and product managers to actually play the game. No hacks, no god mode, just true, normal play like 99% of the user base is trying to do. Make the hours they spend playing the game a part of their job description and track their time playing. Force them to have to level characters, do the many varied tasks and achievements, make them play through end game content. Any real life $$$ bonuses paid should be tied directly to their ability to play through the games full content like the other 99% of the customer base has to play. I suspect somewhere along the way they will hit the difficulty/stupid wall, see their bonuses start to dry up, and say "WTF. That's too hard... need to fix that."
Bottom line: Devs and product managers that actually PLAY the games they develope make for one hell of a game in the end!!!!
...If you know what the "Pendrill Prophecy" is send me a private message.
Bottom line: Devs and product managers that actually PLAY the games they develope make for one hell of a game in the end!!!!
Is there a game out there where the devs don't claim (or their community mouthpieces claim for them) to play the game "a lot" and "for real?" That marketing chestnut is an oldie but a goodie.
And, even if they did, they aren't going to level progress for real. They play and design from the end game back. That's why we get things like mod 6 which seems like somebody built half a bridge from the far side of a river and, when it didn't line up with anything on this side, they say "Jump!"
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icefalcon9Member, Neverwinter Beta Users, Neverwinter Hero UsersPosts: 12Arc User
edited May 2015
[Deleted] Moved to its own topic. 60+ Content Imbalance: A Short Story
...If you know what the "Pendrill Prophecy" is send me a private message.
0
urlord283Member, NW M9 PlaytestPosts: 1,084Arc User
Comments
With my stuff, it's always been customers forced to use what I build. These guys are creating/selling ENTERTAINMENT, very subjective in regards to what works and doesn't work. And then on top of that, it's a FREEMIUM game, (make it fun, but figure out some way to generate revenue)... wow, TOUGH GIG.
Mod6 was just a bad idea: (removing content (solo campaigns, gear people were working on, etc)) from a customer-base that is 'hooked on progress', also decreasing the number of 'choices' that players have (what to do, what to wear, etc). I doubt the 'devs' had anything to do with that. And release dates, that's usually decisions made from 'above' by people that don't really know what's going on. (I've seen that too in 30 years... management usually consists of bean-counting morons who have the power to decide things just because of their title... but sometimes they justly get their heads chopped off... who knows what's going on inside cryptic/pwe).
@devs... keep plugging man! You at least got a better 10v10 GG going on... Your biggest issue now is the lag/server-not-responding stuff. It would be a good investment to get some outside help and fix that, if that's what it takes...
Finally, some sanity!
@devs, if a mob damage multiplier accidentally gets reduced in the code somehow, that would be awesome...
I endorse this post 100%. Here's my take...
I have been gone from the game for two years. I was one of the original founders and loved the whole game concept. Finally, a modern, high end graphical AD&D-like game. WOOT! But then life happened and I had to step away from the game. I had T1 gear, there were no artifacts yet, and as a GF I could survive most things just fine, with a few greater health stones occasionally when things got a bit more difficult. Overall a really fun game. That's why we are here right? For fun?
Anyway, I came back about three weeks ago after that two year break and tried to play again. The amount of changes to the game were just overwhelming. I felt completely lost, no idea where to go, what to do, and I could find no public information sources that were current (a WoWhead-like site for NW) to help me figure out what to do. What should this old player do... So I created a new character and started over from scratch. Figured I would re-learn the game all over again. This sort of worked OK (missing zone dungeons...and their gear) until I hit lvl 61. That's when it was no longer fun... That's why we are here right? For fun?
I now sit with my original GF and new HR at lvl 61 and can not go anywhere except daily (standard) dungeons. The health and damage done by mobs in all 60+ zones are just WAY over the top for me in my current gear. No soloable play for them at all. I can't do any of the campaigns to et better gear because, you guessed it, the mobs hit too hard to survive. Now what do I do? Where does my progression take me now? I am clearly stumped and not having much fun... That's why we are here right? For fun?
So I start another character....
Conclusion: The key problem, besides all the truely broken/bugged content, is the over the top damage that mobs do in 60+ content. There seems to be no progression, no slow gear improvements to coinside with the difficulty, nothing but a big fat *splatt*. The game is not fun any more at lvl 60+. That's why we are here right? For fun?
Until this difficulty problem is fixed I guess I'll just start another character...
Side note: This may sound extreme, but its an idea none the less. Require the devs and product managers to actually play the game. No hacks, no god mode, just true, normal play like 99% of the user base is trying to do. Make the hours they spend playing the game a part of their job description and track their time playing. Force them to have to level characters, do the many varied tasks and achievements, make them play through end game content. Any real life $$$ bonuses paid should be tied directly to their ability to play through the games full content like the other 99% of the customer base has to play. I suspect somewhere along the way they will hit the difficulty/stupid wall, see their bonuses start to dry up, and say "WTF. That's too hard... need to fix that."
Bottom line: Devs and product managers that actually PLAY the games they develope make for one hell of a game in the end!!!!
...If you know what the "Pendrill Prophecy" is send me a private message.
Is there a game out there where the devs don't claim (or their community mouthpieces claim for them) to play the game "a lot" and "for real?" That marketing chestnut is an oldie but a goodie.
And, even if they did, they aren't going to level progress for real. They play and design from the end game back. That's why we get things like mod 6 which seems like somebody built half a bridge from the far side of a river and, when it didn't line up with anything on this side, they say "Jump!"
...If you know what the "Pendrill Prophecy" is send me a private message.
i just dont have that kind of patience to sit around hoping things make the game fun at some point, one day, maybe.