Roadmap on how to NOT NGE your community

[ironhands]

"Best" just loses so much weight for me when any old weapon can do more then well enough to complete all of the challenges in game.

"best" is really subjective though, and that's what he's saying. My reflexes are crap, so a pistol doesn't work best for me. What is the "best" for me is a high RoF/capacity SMG, and a shotgun, so I can spray'n'pray.

[EchoOne]

terrible post
...
game without end-game fun = game with no future

Gah, just reading the term end-game referring to Defiance gives me the shivers.
I see the game as an open world I can have fun in, at any place and any (EGO) level, solo or with others.
More things to do > anytime of course, but end-game just sounds like power-leveling to max and than grind for uber-items.

As for listening to players ... some people would suggest adding gasmasks to a high fantasy game, just because they like fantasy and Call of Duty. Listening is good, but game designers have to stay true to their own vison and implement feedback on their own terms. But I think Trion is doing that anyway.

Just to throw it in, I think Eve Online is a good example for how to maintain a game and it`s fanbase. It`s a niche game, and most classic mmo players think its crap. However, they never listened to this kind of feedback, kept their outlines, and implemented feedback that made sense within the game`s frame. Very healthy niche mmo since 10 years.

[jnt]

I absolutely agree. For the mod system and weapon types to mean anything in the game, the game's difficulty needs to be increased in certain areas.

Dark Matter, the highest "tier" of skill-based progression, is laughable as an "experienced player" tier of enemy. We need at least one more tier, maybe even two.

Dark Matter are just Raiders with more hp :P

[ironhands]

I absolutely agree. For the mod system and weapon types to mean anything in the game, the game's difficulty needs to be increased in certain areas.

Dark Matter, the highest "tier" of skill-based progression, is laughable as an "experienced player" tier of enemy. We need at least one more tier, maybe even two.

Volge - and they were already supposed to be in the game as part of the first DLC to coincide with the series launch, from what we can piece together. Whether they actually are a challenge, we'll see... But Dark Matter were definitely a challenge first time through, still can be for me. Even 99ers were a change from raiders and mutants. I think the AI engine is capable of a lot more

[jnt]

"best" is really subjective though, and that's what he's saying. My reflexes are crap, so a pistol doesn't work best for me. What is the "best" for me is a high RoF/capacity SMG, and a shotgun, so I can spray'n'pray.

I can see that. I just lucked out. The most comfortable weapon layout in the game costs me 1k script from a vendor anytime I want a new one :P

[Shogo_Yahagi]

Horizontal progression necessitates sidegrades: new elementals, new weapon types, new challenges.

...that offer no advantages over what you had before, right? Otherwise you break horizontal stagnation. Again, what is my reward? Why do I put more hours into this game, or god forbid, actual money?

[ironhands]

Dark Matter are just Raiders with more hp :P

and shield generators, and ED-209, and cool outfits, and cool dropships and trucks

[ironhands]

I can see that. I just lucked out. The most comfortable weapon layout in the game costs me 1k script from a vendor anytime I want a new one :P

That is lucky then. Hopefully we get some new fun weapons soon. The weapons in this really make me wanna watch District 9 again.

[ironhands]

...that offer no advantages over what you had before, right? Otherwise you break horizontal stagnation. Again, what is my reward? Why do I put more hours into this game, or god forbid, actual money?

Why do we play any game? Distraction, escape, challenge, fun, prestige, actual money in some cases. Lots of reasons. A new shiny sword in WoW isn't really much of a reward either when you think about it.

Also, with this game, we need to look beyond the weapon stats to see what is good. While it might be a sidegrade, in terms of stats, it might be a HUGE advantage in terms of actual use in the hands of a player. Many of us are used to the MMORPG mindset that a weapon is better because of stats, but there are so many variables that you can't account for when you look at player skill. Something like, the value RoF or reload speed on the statline might be a minor difference on the DPS, but, the overall timing might be a massive increase to a player who is used to playing a certain way.

[Ichidakiller]

Here the thing when people hear scaling they panic and think world of Warcraft like scaling. I ran a raid got the hammer of doom that hits for twice the amount of damage as anything outside of the raid.

Here is the thing IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY. The item that drop in these dont have to hit luke a truck. But they can be slightly better then stuff you buy out of a vendor. A ar that guy for say 10-20extra damage. Or have a slightly increased fire rate. Increased nano effect. Just some small perk t that weapon. It doesn't have to be a weapon that make the game super easy.

IMO if they add this these should drop mods you can't get any other places. Purple and orange mods anyone? They should also have the chance to drop unique outfits. But very very small chance to get those. (kinda like the old vanilla wow epic chance out of an instance .001% chance)

You can make unique loot table and not have it overpower the game. While also installing some incentive to run these over and over again.

Tbh they should remove the cars from the specials and make you get these inside of co-ops. Give people the chance to get these but ya have to do something for it instead of hitting the right vendor at the right time.