From the latest patch notes:
"Mirror Invasion Event:
Portals will continue to spawn until the timer runs out in the first phase."
The Devs looked at the dead time between phase 1 and the boss phase in this event. Rightfully so, people didn't consider it enjoyable.
What should they have done IMO?
- Immediately progress the event to the boss phase when the phase 1 cap was reached.
What was their actual action?
- Step 1: They increased the cap of portal spawns in phase 1.
- Step 2: They make the number of spawns infinite as of tomorrow.
The action reveal the goal. It's not to reward good builds, good play, or good teamwork. It's to have us run their hamster wheel for a defined period of time. And they think that becomes acceptable if they provide targets for us throughout.
It may well be for others. Not for me, I want my effort to... oh I don't know... like freakin' matter. This is unacceptable, I won't run this hamster wheel, not for a console I won't use or a handful of pink rocks I can get doing something more interesting.
Comments
It can be crazy fun times, especially with a weak player or two. Tonight I had a half-dozen rifts around me and was using every heal to stay alive, which wasn't boring.
It sounds like you just wanted to arrive at the latter point by any means. Burnout is common in MMO's so do take the time you need to decompress. I'll say though, on the topic, that the change is very welcome to some because good teams now can continue to have fun without having either to worry about blitzing into a speed run (short-circuiting the queue, like a "good" round of CCA) or a timeout (as is the case now). See how high you can go, that's the point (now properly fulfilled.)
Notable missions: Apex [AEI], Gemini [SSF], Trident [AEI], Evolution's Smile [SSF], Transcendence
Looking for something new to play? I've started building Foundry missions again in visual novel form!
It's in the notes for the latest build on Tribble. Either someone forgot to post them for Holodeck or they're delaying that build's rollout. I'd put money on the former.
Next time we use reverse psychology.
Previous about 25 closed quickly was the placate spawn level for Phase I, this year it was 40. Now 50 or 60 is not out of reach.
This is their attempt at increasing the Queue Rewards.
l don't know.
l really don't know what l'm about to say, except l have a feeling about it.
That l must repeat the words that come without my knowledge.'
There was no 'cap'. I've seen as little as 19 portals and as much as 41 portals. What they should have done was hit AFK'ers hard. It boils my blood that people refuse to do their fair share and just sit there, and still get their reward.
The unlimited portals is good because it puts to bed the 'I was sitting around for 5 minutes' complaints.
The 'unlimited rifts' is good because it allows you to pick up extra Marks, even if your team wasn't able to keep the station alive.
Another change they need to make to it. AFK'ers get nothing, zilch, nada. If don't close at least one portal, zero rewards.
I like the idea and the basic mechanics of Mirror Invasion. I play it on several characters daily and do my best outside of premade AFK runs, be it rift closing or ship clearing. If I identify an AFKer in a PUG, I warp out, because I refuse to carry the leeches and the only way to deal with the plague is zero tolerance. All that said, adding extra rifts misses the point of the concerns raised: playing well does not speed things up or complete objectives. The root cause of the AFK pestilence is the perception that effort does not matter, you will be stuck there for 11 minutes no matter how many rifts are closed.
A mission like this needs goals to meet. Perform well and be rewarded with more marks and faster completion time. The dreadnought phase is an example of good design: playing smart will earn an extra 15 marks and shave a minute or two off the mission duration. Now extend that philosophy to the first phase (and cut the intro timer to 15 seconds if everyone skips the cinematic) and this will be a fun mission with much less player fatigue and its ugly side-effects.
I have to agree with geekguy.
"The root cause of the AFK pestilence is the perception that effort does not matter, you will be stuck there for 11 minutes no matter how many rifts are closed."
Can it maybe have some random voice overs, or something slightly different? The only variable that changes is the name of the Dreadnought. Even guessing which one you got was fun for a while, but after seeing too many I.S.S. Kirks, even that got old.
You honestly want another "kurland here" incident?
we already have one: 'Player investment retains value!'
#LegalizeAwoo
A normie goes "Oh, what's this?"
An otaku goes "UwU, what's this?"
A furry goes "OwO, what's this?"
A werewolf goes "Awoo, what's this?"
"It's nothing personal, I just don't feel like I've gotten to know a person until I've sniffed their crotch."
"We said 'no' to Mr. Curiosity. We're not home. Curiosity is not welcome, it is not to be invited in. Curiosity...is bad. It gets you in trouble, it gets you killed, and more importantly...it makes you poor!"
A tiny amount that's not significant. No do I need marks to be honest, I can't spend what I already have.
There should be a ISS Kurland.... just for the kicks!
l don't know.
l really don't know what l'm about to say, except l have a feeling about it.
That l must repeat the words that come without my knowledge.'
"Sould curdling Kurland here..."
How is there not an ISS Kurland yet? The memes create themselves.
That would at least mean people couldn't complain about sitting doing nothing for 5 mins, they'd be throwing away rewards.
But i do seriously question the logic of playing a game that involves flying a spaceship and shooting things......and not enjoying a mission that provides practically unlimited shooting for a straight 15 mins. It boggles the mind....
CM