Tara and other "top bosses"
When I started the game in oct. 2002 I learnt a thing or two.
One of the first things, I learnt, is the fact, that I will be ever a "noob" in the eyes of some, who played the game for a longer time. And as such a "noob" I am not supposed to have an opinion.
Nevertheless, I take the risk to be flamed and dare to have an opinion.
My descision for this game was based on it's skill system. In my early visions I saw so many ways, to develop one's character. Of course I learnt also very early, that most of the skills are not possible or at least very hard for for certain professions. Ok, no problem, so I must specialize and become "good" in my prof.
Then I learnt, that I do not really have a chance to become "good", because those, who have a rich main are always better, simply because they can twink their new characters without end, due to the credits, the main earned. So I learnt, that for me, as a "true noob" remains only the hard way to go. I tried my best, knowing, that I will be avarage compared to those twinks until I reached higher levels beyond 150.
At about level 20 I heard the first time about Tara and other top bosses. I heard about the precious items they drop, why everybody wants them and why it is so hard, to get them. That was my perspective: Make my way, until I can take it up with some buddies and win fights against those "uber bosses".
Meanwhile, at lvl 168, I know a lot more about the game.
About two weeks ago I took part on my first "Tara raid". Man, was I disappointed. A mass party with a tombola, nothing else. A point system, which supports only players with A LOT of time. Skills? ROFL. Team coordination? LoL. Luck and time, that's all.
Well, some know, how to force "luck" a bit in their direction. I know some players, who are on with 2 or three characters of friends, who are off. Nice way to gain Tara points.
I met ppl, who organize their life after Tara-spawns. I don't know, if they even quit whatever they do in RL, but in game they are a PITA for any team. Regardeless, what happens, they quit during team missions, tower battles or whatever, just because it is Tara time. IMHO the game itself becomes torn apart beyond lvl 140 because of this, although I can understand the motivation of those players, who are not to blame for this ridiculous system.
Why ridiculous?
Well, as stated above, in my imagination in a MMORPG one can earn good stuff by skill and not only because one has more time and/or more luck and/or more buddies, who give away passwords and account rights.
Almost the same, although a bit better, with other top bosses.
First one needs a good team to go for one of those. Alone this makes it unimpossible for some players, to ever gain one of the "better items". Why is it so hard to find a good team at higher levels?
1) Players are simply fed up, have all, need nothing
2) Players are too rich and buy good stuff for ridiculous amounts
3) Players are simply tired of camping hours and hours a certain boss, just to find some crap, but not the desired item
4) It's easier to make some quick BS-missions; more XP, less work
5) It's almost impossible, because the major bosses are mostly camped by several teams
Conclusions:
1) The game supports the lucky one, not the skilled one (other example: pppe)
2) The player, who prefers to play independently and solo gains nothing (except he is lucky, finds a pppe or a GAx, becomes rich and buys the stuff)
My suggestions:
1) Stop Tara-tombola! Make a Tara-quest instead: Everybody, who wants to take part in a Tara-raid, must have solved the quest. The quest could be somewhat random, to avoid boredom and routine. Restrict numbers of ppl, taking part in one Tara-raid.
2) Make special dungeons for top bosses to avoid the presence of several teams at the same time
or
3) Allow PvP in a "top boss area" between all, who want the loot.
4) Remove "NODROP" from all items, which can be found on bosses.
Of course I know, that it is simple to suggest things. Maybe some events must be the way they are, because it is technically not possible, to do it in a different way. But I am not convinced, if FC did really think things through, before they were implemented in the game.
Maybe I'm missing something...
I agree with all of the above, while I'm not sure this is exactly the rightt hread to be dropping this in, but it seems mildly appropriate. (I apologize if this should be put elsewhere, and will gladly accept flak for it)
I'm currently playing a lvl 83 Engineer, and I've nearly completely lost interest in the game.
I've done missions, solo and team, dungeons, quests, ran around in the wilderness, made things, etc. etc.
I don't have a boundless amount of playtime at my disposal, usually towards the later hours of the night, so getting in a team is extremely difficult at times, and I find myself forced to solo alot. It's taken me a week to go from 82 to 83 doing solos.
As noted above, items essential for certain tradeskills (such as the PPPE) are so rare that most will never be able to find one, or afford to buy one of another player for multiple millions of credits.
Another point is that alot of the good missions I'm pulling are so far away from a whompa or grid point that it would take me 45 minutes just to run there, and being that I have to buy a new bot nano every couple levels, chances are it will be a long time before I have enough credits at my disposal to afford a yalm. (I've heard rumors of yalms dropping off Ninjas, but have had no luck thus far)
I guess what I'm asking is if there is anything else to do? I'm getting tired of doing mission after mission after mission after mission just to get enough IP so that I can equip a single piece of armor, or use a new nano.
I'm not whining, merely asking if there are any other options that I haven't explored.
Thanks,
-- Cybr0t McWhuflf
82 Engineer, Clan Outcasts
36 Adventurer
Re: Maybe I'm missing something...
Quote:
Originally posted by CybreWulf
I'm not whining, merely asking if there are any other options that I haven't explored.
Thanks,
-- Cybr0t McWhuflf
82 Engineer, Clan Outcasts
36 Adventurer
Start a fixer, MA, or enforcer and learn to have some fun. Engineers are a hard class at times (you'll feel so free without a bot following you around), and if I hadn't started my fixer when I did between my engineer dispair and my NT I would have quit.
-Before getting a yalm ask yourself if this is a character you enjoy playing, cause once the yalm is in your inv its not going anywhere...
-If you like getting to places fast all the more reason to play a fixer :D
-Fixers are one of the best classes to get money in quick, exciting blitz runs :)
-this is not a shameless plug for my profession.
You have an adventurer too which is good :)
Re: Tara and other "top bosses"
Quote:
Originally posted by Lemain
My suggestions:
1) Stop Tara-tombola! Make a Tara-quest instead: Everybody, who wants to take part in a Tara-raid, must have solved the quest. The quest could be somewhat random, to avoid boredom and routine. Restrict numbers of ppl, taking part in one Tara-raid.
2) Make special dungeons for top bosses to avoid the presence of several teams at the same time
or
3) Allow PvP in a "top boss area" between all, who want the loot.
4) Remove "NODROP" from all items, which can be found on bosses.
Of course I know, that it is simple to suggest things. Maybe some events must be the way they are, because it is technically not possible, to do it in a different way. But I am not convinced, if FC did really think things through, before they were implemented in the game.
3) Hell NO.
What about: make Tara a quest/mission so that :
1) A copy of the dungeon is spawned for every team that enter. (or limit that just to Tara's room)
2) People can only take the quest 1/week. (to avoid uber multiplication of Tara's pieces)
or why not :
3) Make an ingame tombola, winners can enter the area.
(it can't really be worse that what we have today)
A few random idea for bosses :
1) Random spawning time
2) (Maximum) time left for respawn should be accessible to everyone, not just the people that camped its last spawn !
Re: Tara and other "top bosses"
Quote:
Originally posted by Lemain
Conclusions:
1) The game supports the lucky one, not the skilled one (other example: pppe)
2) The player, who prefers to play independently and solo gains nothing (except he is lucky, finds a pppe or a GAx, becomes rich and buys the stuff)
My suggestions:
1) Stop Tara-tombola! Make a Tara-quest instead: Everybody, who wants to take part in a Tara-raid, must have solved the quest. The quest could be somewhat random, to avoid boredom and routine. Restrict numbers of ppl, taking part in one Tara-raid.
.
First i find this a bit self contradicting. Saying forst you dont like that you like ppl finding ppe at random, then you want the ppl that can join tara, to be random? ;)
But i see your point, about tara can be dull. But its not always like that. Sometimes its fierce fights, somtimes you can catch tara alone, sometime you can get rushed when tara is at 10% and you loose/win it all. Sometimes ARKs shows up as trees or skeletons... I have yet to win a raffle at tara myself, but friend of me won Gaily painted hood the only time he been there. A raffle system isnt fair, with points or not, but maybe the fairest that can be used.
I think there is alot of changes that can be made to tara, but that will just make other things bad as there will be things that is better.
(if you switch to omni there is no point system for number of times you has attended)
Re: Re: Tara and other "top bosses"
Quote:
Originally posted by Xeni
First i find this a bit self contradicting. Saying forst you dont like that you like ppl finding ppe at random, then you want the ppl that can join tara, to be random? ;)
Please look closely: Not ppl are chosen randomly. The proposed "Tara-quest" should be with random contents. Nothing worse, than doing exactly the same quest over and over again.
Let the quest taker earn points for e.g. how fast he solved it. Those with most points can go to Tara as next.
To say one thing loud and clear: I do not think, that I invented the wheel again. I am aware, that there is always a big gap between a desire and the final action.
OTOH I am a customer and not a designer, nor a coder.
In my job there is a saying: "Impossible" does not exist.
So: It IS possible to make things worse, but it IS also possible, to make things better.
