Friday with Means - July 24th, 2009 - Pink Eye, Airplanes and Nightclubs

[SSK]

Default546512, Noname, Ignored
So many good names

[RedWatr]

Club Nowhere

[meatybtz]

Club Unused

Club Empty

Club Abandoned

[Wrangeline]

Club Unused

Club Empty

Club Abandoned

Club Partypooper!

[RedWatr]

.........................

[bitnykk]

AstroHype Club

[Louderer789]

If the new club is fitted with surgery clinics, banks, GMS terminals, grid terminals and a grid exit,

And it can be in EFP! woooo yay grid exit

[meatybtz]

Club Partypooper!

I am a long time proponent for social aspect of AO, storyline, and even "gasp" RP. The problem is FC has crafted the game into something that is mutually exclusive to a living breathing social system in game. You cannot have such a huge, long, slow road in a stat driven game where the latest and greatest is so vastly stat-superior to what has come before that due to the nature of stat based games, its that or nothing. Sublatestandgreatest builds are vastly surpased. If FC had decided to make storyline activities key, based leveling more on story, had more interractions with the player base and didnt hyper-inflate the games stats then yes we would have one hell of a lively game full of social interractions and RP and PVP (the oldest pvp was RP).

They kept swining new carrots till the players glutted themselves on carrots. Social/RP/Story/Active in Game Interractions by FC Corporate (not ARK.. sorry they dont count because they cant control the primary storyline) provides long term player satisfaction. Instead we grind our bloody brains out till the point we are sick of it, hate it, but need it if we are to compete with the Jonses. As in real life trying to keep up with the Jonses when someone keeps giving them new stuff is draining, mental and emotionally. No one in game has the TIME to be social, those that do, are pretty much chewed up and spat out by the system they have just progressed through. Usually, PVP IS their social. They log in, solo 5-10 lowbie towersites and log off, or do some rounds of TL5 BS.

I recently unboxed a toon I havnt touched in over 5 years. I had completly forgotten about the toon I had rolled on RK1. It was like a time capsule of what the game was like back then, all the memories flooded back. Save the glitches and the errors on FCs part there was alot more social, alot more RP, alot more FUN. There was alot less stress to keep up with the Jonses because stat inflation hadnt opened up such a huge GAP!

Carrot Grind has been the life support keeping the game alive but it was destroying it at the same time. AO has more cool stuff, has more working RIGHT than ever before but the players are starting to feel like withered husks. I rerolled my enf after deleting him a year ago or so. I dont know if I will relevel him now. Before LOX yeah, I could have done the grind. After? The road is too long. Something has to give: tokens, pvp grind (yes its a grind too), credit grind, xp grind, SK grind, AI30 Grind, Dreadlock item grind, Old DB, New DB, Scheol, Brontoburger, Xan Civ, Keys, Neret, Arid, Vortexx, Mitaar, 12M, Ipande... somewhere.. something has to give. ROAD TOO STEEP. In this situation even if I played that character exclusivly I am looking at a year to get everything done and be "back where I was before and then some because the old before is the now gimp". In that time I would spend ALL my AO time grinding. All, 100%, no downtime, no social. F'it. 3/4 of my org burned themselves out on LOX and left the game, they just couldnt take it anymore.

If this wasnt true then the social clubs in AO would be filled. They are not, many new players dont even know what they look like inside. They know hecks, they know aliens, they know BS and LoX. Funcom has left NOROOM for social in game. I'd love to do some social aspect but I am sorry Funcom, I am too busy grinding out all the crap you've put in game that is so damned stat OP that I need it or-else.

My unboxed ancient timecapsule toon showed me something. Back then, NO ONE WAS UBER because no one could get enough "inflated" items to open the gap wide enough like wehave today where most profs have enough static evades to evade support profs (only engies and doctors can I think of that have less than 2700 end game static). One of my favorite memories of the pre AI time was a TL7 enf vs a TL7 Soldier..enf was in T3 sold was in the Abaddon Chasis. The fight was long, and fairly even.. enf won but not by a large margin. Its not about the prof, its about the equipment a froob armor wearing soldier was a match for a decked out T3 enf. Froob gear vs SL Top gear.. the gap wasnt all that great. Same time period remembers OA Hill being PACKED with people, or West Athen being packed with more thna 70 people at any given time. I'd trade every expansion since SL to get it back that way. Back when people knew about ALL the social spots and there were parties quite often. When people gathered weekly at The Cup. Remember that? I think it was poetry or something. Guess people had time back then to be social.

[Lheann]

So much truth meatybtz.

I miss the simpler days of pre-SL. The game was way more fun.

[Wrangeline]

So much truth meatybtz.

I miss the simpler days of pre-SL. The game was way more fun.

Bump

@Meatybtz: I was just joking. I do agree with what you're saying

[trousers]

[Lots of Text I 100% Agree with]

Indeed, the game doesn't really need another club that will only be used when GSP decides to go there.

It doesn't need additional apartments which disregard story continuity. (Aliens are Invading from outerspace? Hell, I might as well go live where the alien battleships are floating around! lol dumb)

It needs to have the focus placed back onto the storyline. Systems need to be implemented to support and encourage the growth of the RP community. (/rp ... rly? I can tell you the equal signs have done nothing to help the community)

Many people I know of stick with AO because of the storyline, what it currently is and what it might become. If the game continues to lose focus on the underlying story it will become like SWG, and in the end, fail.

[Dors_Venabili]

"The Nightclub at the End of the Universe"

... I admit it's not totally original :P

[ArienSky]

/rp ... rly? I can tell you the equal signs have done nothing to help the community

I disagree, I like that feature, it is way easier taking a break from RPing.
Before the feature you more or less had a character for RP only..

Now you can turn the RP tag off and help people of the opposite faction as well, leaving room for more socialising and teaming.


I also fail to see how meatybtz can blame FunCom that there is less social interaction.
The notion that lvling not following storylines hinders socialising and that storytelling should be a larger part of lvling.

ToTW and other static dungeons are great places to meet new people.
The subway and Biomare even follows a storyline.

Missioning brings you a lot of good stories, if you care to read the mission descriptions.


There are many possibilities for lvling, socialising and gaining story knowledge at the same time.
FunCom has presented the possibilities.

But some people blitz through missions and quests or grind hecklers.
That is the way they like to play.


I can not see the point..
The possibilities are there, people have chosen to not use them.
Forcing a player that hates reading text to do quests and read long mission descriptions, I do not think is a solution.


Could it be that people choose not to socialise and RP as much, that it isn't FunCom's fault, but those playing?
meatybtz, you try blaming FunCom for less socialising and RolePlaying.
Soo.. what do you think could bring more RolePlaying and socialising?
you mention that if there were less grind, the clubs would be full..
could it be that people might roll an alt or stop playing instead?
That not everyone likes hanging out in a virtual club?


I agree that equipment should not be all, that people should have a chance and a hope of doing great with knowing there profession well.
Not just being smashed by someone with far superior equipment, that is rare or painstakingly hard to get.

That is Why I like TL5 more, there you can, though being a bit gimp, use RK QL 200 armors and equipment.
You still have 24 AI lvls and lvl 6 research to grind, but it is at least not as cookie cutter as TL7.

Sadly the AI lvls and research means that even TL 5 need higher QL equipment than 200 now..

By the way.. mentioning old times.. do you remember those GA twinks that were unhitable?

Kind Regards
Ariensky

[trousers]

I disagree, I like that feature, it is way easier taking a break from RPing.
Before the feature you more or less had a character for RP only..

If this is true, I feel very sorry for you; because this is not how things worked on Rimor in the 5 years I've been there.

[meatybtz]

Yes, I do remember unhittable GA twinks. I also remember the first time was fighting one he swapped to a Rifle and poked me with AS a few times, /discoed, and sent a tell.. uhh use Aimed Shot dude.

*clue bat --> my head*

So when running about PVPing I learned. I learned to watch for ARMOR. I carried multiple weapons not for *hotswappingzomgburstflingfullautoaimedshotsneakat tack,brawl,fastattack,dimach* but because I had weapons that were "good enough to kill* that each did a different damage type. I carried an AS weapon that while sucky in every other way was good for one thing... Killing GA fixers.
Least we not forget Grid-Armor nukes + rifle weilding NTs.

GA Fixers were NOT gods.

As for FC vs The Players, who is at fault. Both are but FC FEEDS THE BEAST! IF things never escelated beyond the SL design then it wouldnt be a problem. FC kept OLDTIMERS in game because they couldnt get enough new blood. To keep old timers round you have to provide good pvp and new PHATS that make them more godlike. SO periodicly we get more godlike and it just lengthens the curve.

Let me say I am not lacking in resources. I have them. I dont even use T1 anymore because I have become one of those... in miys untill I can put on one of my MANY full suits of combined armor. My releveling enf has 2 full suits of CM, one 210 the other 300. He is currently lvl 132. My agent has full CSS, my crat uses mostly CS (300) and onward. I dont really level in anything other than AI or other many bonus giving armors. Tier isnt worth jack by comparison. A few years back everyone rolled with T1-T3 baring the ultra wealthy and the twinks. at TL7 you'd start to collect your ql 300 suit of AI armor because then it was worth it.

The thing is it is stressful knowing EVERY DAMN THING YOU NEED and knowing how long hte road is vs back in the day the road I also knew was much shorter and I could handle the grindy parts knowing they were limited.

Back in the day I enjoyed the ride, explored, or just sat round talking to people and didnt feel like I was falling behind in the process. Also, TL5 is no longer the "ahh grounds" Considering the extreme level of twinking and the power of a few profs means the only people who sit at TL5 are PVPers, which I would enjoy doing more of again like I did years ago but unless I am of the favored prof there is no fun to be had there. 24 AI levels, retch, nice grind there considering no APF and no Aird means doing LE missions..

[ArienSky]

So when running about PVPing I learned. I learned to watch for ARMOR. I carried multiple weapons not for *hotswappingzomgburstflingfullautoaimedshotsneakat tack,brawl,fastattack,dimach* but because I had weapons that were "good enough to kill* that each did a different damage type. I carried an AS weapon that while sucky in every other way was good for one thing... Killing GA fixers.
Least we not forget Grid-Armor nukes + rifle weilding NTs.

GA Fixers were NOT gods.

A time many of us want back..
The good old RK armors, always having a couple of AC holes.
the combined armors have one AC that is 15% lower than the rest of the top AC
on RK armors the hole was 75% lower (High-Quality Obtru Steel-Ribbed Body Armor)

If you have read the Q&A you will see that Means apparently have no intention of uprating the RK armors, I guess that means we will have to get used to armors being perfect, with no holes.

It required skill to, by the look of the armor, remembering what it was and what hole it had.
1) we can not see it any more
2) people have perfect armors with no holes..

I am all for social tab, I just think it should be disabled on BS and in duels.
(but not enabling inspect, as implants are hidden)


On the grind, yes, it is mind-numbingly dull.
I feel the pain of having LOX, but nothing but LE missions to do my TL5 AI levels..

I like the AO RK mission system, that you can do some alone, if no one else is around, or you can have more fun as a team.
Sadly LE missions are made for teams, unless you get a lower lvl puller and do it that way.
I would love the system to be set up so you would not have to do that, but just could grab a solo mission.


As you have mentioned, it all gets boring, even the RK missions.
I try variation, going for dynabosses, as I prefer outdoor hunting, sadly it is kind of hard to find areas with enemies challenging for your level, 3rd party maps note the boss's lvl, but it more or less random what level the surrounding mobs have, so I mostly stick to SL dungeons for soloing.

Kind Regards
Ariensky

PS. If you have any advice on where a lvl 172 Agent could solo outdoor, your knowledge is welcomed.
(yes.. I have attended inferno missions and they are fast.. it just feels wrong to team with lvl 220 where monsters can kill me in 2-3 hits, making very little difference in the damage output)

[meatybtz]

actually at your level you should be able to re-as 3-4 times in inf and contribute a goodly amount to the damage.. I did but yeah you go crunch and squish if your no careful. As for leveling outside Inf Missions. At least nothing compariable. Hense why we are getting the new PF. That being said I have dinged 3 TL7s into their Shadow Levels in RK missions..lol .. You can level outdoors in inf (adds can be a pita though). More rock bashing in INF Rocks... :\ Realy the TL5-6 gulf is aweful. I can't think any where on RK for gaining good XP post 150. Should add some outdoor real means and such.

Hands down we need that new PF.

[PhoenixOfAges]

AC holes are one thing but the big aspect of the AI armours is the lack of decisions required in regards to bonuses. With others you get this or these bonuses on this piece and different ones on others. You then need to figure out what you want/need the most and if you can likely need to do some mix and matching. With that juggling around you get what you really wanted higher but loose out on some other things.

With AI armours you generally don't. Short of maybe swapping some combat bonus armour for nano skill ones to use a nano if you wanted something each type gives it all. If you want melee, range, melee & range or nano skills there's AI armour that gives all the related bonuses on each piece. They are also big bonuses, short of the GM stuff and the odd other items the bonuses for each on AI armours are among the highest out there.

[Nursevixen]

"Stellar Lounge"

[Lheann]

The AI armor bonuses are just insane. I could see the bonuses if the AC was not all that. I mean some type of cost for the benefit. But as it you can equip a full set of 300 CC and have 210 pts in every primary ranged and melee skill and over 10k AC.

AI armor is really just the worse game addition ever. As Means said the developer of it never imagined people having full sets. That is so short sited of a game developer especially given the power of the item.

There is a very bad trend in the game development of AO. It is "Add new content" and let the old stuff become useless. My question to Means about old RK weapons getting some love was answered with "vendor trash" and "rather add new" is very disapointing. The fact that outside of cluster shops and some of the trade skill shops the medical supply / NCU / backpack stores are the only real stores with items of value. Ok I admit weapons store for ammo only.

AC holes were great. I remember as meatybtz my solider having a chem gun / engergy gun / flame thrower / projectile gun with me all the time. I also remember the post explaining how to have even AC's with mixed armor types. The carrying of all the reflect bracers and damage rings. Figting PVP back then was as much about the fight as it was swapping into the best choice of gear. Heck even missions benefited from it.

Grrrrr, I feel like we have hit the tipping point and are going over. Health wise the game is suffering. Heck even on the forums. The number of actively updated threads a day is down considerable to this time last year.