tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711156850879162685.post993773986235573227..comments2024-01-02T23:18:18.412-08:00Comments on Yeebo Fernbottom's MMO Blog: Sacrificing the low level game to balance the high level gameYeebohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028940396189544294noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711156850879162685.post-15047147441032328522010-07-03T18:37:33.888-07:002010-07-03T18:37:33.888-07:00Considering all the new players they've recent...Considering all the new players they've recently gained, this sure doesn't seem to be a smart move. Players don't like having their fun classes nerfed, especially because of some end game reason which doesn't effect them.<br /><br />Hopefully they realize they've gone overboard with how it's affecting the lower levels.Aspendawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01295434130203411301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711156850879162685.post-78486898621920915582010-07-03T07:42:21.746-07:002010-07-03T07:42:21.746-07:00@Anjin: I personally don't care much for endga...@Anjin: I personally don't care much for endgame focused builds. If the game isn't fun to me 1-10, I'm sure as hell not going to see 20. Picking skills that seem useful for your current content is a very reasonable way to learn the game. <br /><br />That said, if you plan to even hit the ripe old age of ten, I think you almost have to use a character planner or you will miss out on abilities. DDO has a very nasty habit of requiring pre-requisites that aren't at all obvious for some of the better enhancements.Yeebohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08028940396189544294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711156850879162685.post-12282623320598820952010-07-02T22:48:37.936-07:002010-07-02T22:48:37.936-07:00An excellent analysis, Yeebo. I never got to the m...An excellent analysis, Yeebo. I never got to the meta-gaming aspect of DDO. I just picked whatever I was enjoying at the time. I suppose I would have been horribly gimped at endgame content, but I doubt I'll ever see level 20 in my lifetime.Marty Runyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08456700794989273981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711156850879162685.post-86546748375748649402010-07-02T10:16:02.781-07:002010-07-02T10:16:02.781-07:00@Dolemite: I have to agree that it's a little...@Dolemite: I have to agree that it's a little immersion breaking to see my TWF characters go through a long combat animations that aren't really related at all to the attacks they are doing. Before the offhand weapon would hit just when you'd expect it to from the animation, which I quite liked. I also dislike that the new proc system distances the game from the PnP rules it attempts to mimick.<br /><br />@Jomar: I still think DDO is a pretty good value, if you intend to play it long term. If you think about $60 for a box and $15 per month to sub, it doesn't take very long for a typical MMO to pass what I have spent on DDO so far. And unlike most MMOs I have permanent access to everything I've bought whether I pay or not. That said, you can be certain that the choice to go FtP in LoTRO was motivated by profit margins rather than charity.<br /><br />@GreenArmadillo: Turbine is in a tough position. MMO players expect game balance. However, the PnP rules are not remotely balanced. Some character builds are simply light years more powerful than others. Particularly when you get into prestige classes in 3.5, it's pretty easy to make a character that practically breaks the game.<br /><br />On top of that, MMO players expect a reasonable challenge at all levels. However, In PnP a high level wizard can slaughter a legion of enemies with a spell, and high level fighters can butcher just about anything they can get close to in single round of attacks. Obviously DDO wouldn't be very challenging if we had that kind of power at high levels. So instead Turbine ramps the power levels of mobs up to obscene levels that you never see in PnP. In the process they also break the underlying combat mechanics, creating ridiculous situations such as the extra AC from plate mail versus leather being almost pointless and a natural 20 being the only way to hit something. I say this not as a criticism so much as an acknowledgment that Turbine is in a tough spot.<br /><br />All that said, I think 60%, 70%, 80% would have been a much more logical progression for the TWF feat line. There is no reason in the world for TWF to suck as badly at low levels as it does currently.Yeebohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08028940396189544294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711156850879162685.post-53523468904156813012010-07-02T07:29:11.437-07:002010-07-02T07:29:11.437-07:00Hmm, this may explain the somewhat frustrating fig...Hmm, this may explain the somewhat frustrating fights I had last time I logged in with my level 3 (highest I have so far in DDO).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711156850879162685.post-6793908753493234862010-07-02T07:23:02.386-07:002010-07-02T07:23:02.386-07:00This is not 100% Turbine's fault. They're...This is not 100% Turbine's fault. They're implementing the licensed Dungeons and Dragons rules, which have the exact same flaws of builds not scaling well with levels. (Well, you don't get to dump your spellcasting stat because the PNP rules don't let you count gear buffs towards what you can cast, but anyway...) <br /><br />The stated rationale for the change actually did include specifically nerfing TWF. It's so much better than two-handers or sword and board - yes, at endgame - that everyone builds around it (including 17 points of unbuffed dex in feat prereqs). Armor classes get so high that you're better off spamming a ton of attacks in the hopes that you eventually score a hit (5% chance to hit no matter how many penalties you've got). <br /><br />That aside, I'm strongly considering looking for or maybe even starting a "level 11 = gkick" guild. I just think that the game is more fun at low levels where things like armor class actually work.Green Armadillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15564045048380177626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711156850879162685.post-54831180226705476052010-07-02T05:59:19.330-07:002010-07-02T05:59:19.330-07:00Hmmm... as a new player, I'm glad I didn't...Hmmm... as a new player, I'm glad I didn't go dual wield, but I can't say that making the game effectively less deep is making me any more inclined to play this game long term.<br /><br />It appears that decisions like this and LotRO pay-as-you-go are motivated by profit margins. That's fine, but I'm going to be spending my gaming dollars where I get the best experience and best value.jomar1955https://www.blogger.com/profile/14735265172924084148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711156850879162685.post-37665498182720673122010-07-01T22:43:38.299-07:002010-07-01T22:43:38.299-07:00Thanks for saying this. The most frustrating thin...Thanks for saying this. The most frustrating thing in the TWF nerf discussions so far is virtually nobody is discussing what this does to low and mid-level characters. Everyone just talks about their epic level RAID grinders as if that's the only way to play the game.<br /><br />The low-mid level TWFers have been gutted by this incredibly stupid and dishonest nerf. This is going to attract and retain new players how?<br /><br />I'm playing my first TWF character after years of trying other things. I'd done THF and Sword&Board to death previously. This is a multi-classed stealth build that used to be fun to solo with. I'd got this toon within spitting distance of 7th level and the ITWF feat.<br /><br />A week ago this toon's fights felt exciting and it felt like each swing onscreen was actually happening in the game. Now fights with this toon feel like a really lame dance-fight out of West Side Story. The illusion that onscreen attacks were happening is largely gone and I feel stupid for having gone to the trouble of carefully structuring feats and finding a decent off-hand weapon. My off-hand weapon might as well be a pillow now.<br /><br />Turbine basically stole the fun out of this character. I'm pretty sure I wasn't paying them to do that. When my current VIP payment cycle expires I probably won't be paying them at all. In my workplace there would be consequences for being this inexcusably bad at one's job...dolemitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14456633597725166739noreply@blogger.com