Experience Changing and Grouping

[Calren]

Well, there's a lot of talk on the fansites about the recent experience "nerf". People complaining that this game is giant timesink and that the casual market for Vanguard will eventually be non-existent.

It takes time to level in Vanguard, granted. People keep talking about how little one can accomplish in a short space of time. Lets say 1-2 hours. That's a minimum when it comes to most MMOs I think we can all agree. If you play for 30 minutes you might get one quest or work order done, maybe a few more.

What's the problem? If I play for 2 hours I can easily find a group and get down in to a dungeon, I might not get a huge amount of experience from it unless I manage to complete a quest or two while I'm there, but chances are I'll pick up some coin and items. From what I've seen of the dungeons so far (Riftseekers Torrent, Khegor's End) they're are beyond big enough to come back to on multiple occasions and still do something new.

I'm happy to log in for an hour and just ride around exploring.

One thing I'll say to the people out there complaining this game is "too much of a grind" is this: who said you had to grind? There's enough good quests to keep you occupied if you want to be, crafting and diplomacy are both in-depth and interesting if you want them to be. It's not just about getting the numbers up until you're at cap.

What it comes down to, from what I've seen is that some people are excited about the content, they want to read each quest dialogue and diplomacy conversation. They want to learn the lore of the game and feel an attatchment to each area they play in. The sense of accomplishment when I was sent out of Tursh to the dwarven dam was huge, I felt a real sense of venturing in to the unknown, a new chapter in my character's story.

Others couldn't care less, they simply want to grind the spheres the only way the know how, get through the content as quickly as possible so they can get the uber high level gear and focus on endgame raiding. Some may find Vanguard caters for them if they play 14 hours a day with this goal in mind, and that's fair enough. If you have problems with how long it will take to reach that goal, then go back to a game where you can do it in a month, not six.

I'm leveling pretty slowly myself, but it doesn't bother me. I'm enjoying the amount of content available to me, if I wanted to level quickly I'd group in dungeons the whole time grinding through the content, but I've realise how much you miss in these games when you do that.

With Vanguard the journey really is half the fun, if not more.

[RazVan07]

A well thought out post and a good read and i agree the game needs longevitity and i think its just right at the min. (apart from terrible lag in cities) =D


Raz

[Ysharros]

The fact is, Vanguard is designed to appeal most to a certain kind (or band of) playstyle, and not to all - certainly not in equal measure. Sigil deserves credit for at least trying to break out of the WoW mould, and I think they've done pretty well. Those to whose playstyle it *doesn't* appeal call it a grind-fest; those of us to whom it does appeal say, there's no need to grind. Ultimately it's a matter of opinion but in this case I sure hope those who *don't* enjoy it don't manage to sway the game into something *I* wouldn't like. There's plenty out there I don't like already. /grin

There's a general perception -- which I find highly narrow -- that a game should please all playstyles. Games that try to do this usually end up pleasing nobody particularly well.

The industry is expanding. We have WoW, now we have Vanguard - they're not exactly at opposite extremes but they're not at the same end of the spectrum either. This is a good thing. It gives us more choice, and I hope that choice will expand in the next few years as all the new games currently in development are released (here's hoping they won't all be just like WoW). If I wanted to be playing WoW, that's where I'd be. ;-)

Edit for clarity - I'm not bashing WoW per se, but it doesn't suit *my* playstyle at all. If ALL games were like WoW I'd have nothing to play. It's limiting us all to demand that games cater to everyone (and do it badly), or that games all be like WoW. Diversity ftw.

[Fauxpaw]

First time poster long time lurker here.

I had to register and post that I agree whole heartedly with you Calren. Very nice post.

[Cryogenic]

Some very nice posts here....and i agree with them

Ive played alot of MMORPG...mostly SWG as being a vet for 3 yrs, pre-cu is wat i would say my 'best' gaming time, i was hooked...i got 'that' feeling...there was soo much to do..

After the first Combat Upgrade, alot of my friends left...few went to WOW, which i will say has good content, and the PvP battlegrounds were amazing...but the graphics are not for me, even the lore...i would skim over those quests as it bore me slightly, and the fact i took me 1-2 hours just to find where to go for a certain mob.

I was unsure about this game at first with it being so hyped up by a few of my mates (same thing happened to DnL and that was...let me say...crap)

Then i bought the game (VG)...and i love it, im at work now wishing i was home hehe, im grinding slowly with my rl girlfriend, and ive just had my first taste of crafting too....and im very impressed, i love reading all the quests, and like someone mentioned above...it makes you feel into the game world hehe

Apart from the lag in cities, this game not only looks truely amazing but runs well too....and im soo excited about its future.

Only one thing that bothers me atm, they dont take Solo cards through Global Collect like SWG, EQ2 does etc

[sherrjo]

Yup I totally agree.

I was fairly skeptical as I followed some online friends from DDO beta and DDO was simply not an MMO we then went on/back to WoW whilst waiting for this game. I was filled with trepidation about it as I'm a very casual player. But I like it alot. Nice player base so far (Galenia) and interesting aspects with crafting and diplomacy which is drawing me further and further away from questing. Infact I could see myself never leaving the dwarf city and just talking to the civilians

[Greymain]

To be honest i never noticed the exp nerf until I decided it was time to finish off my current level (going from 13 - 14 as a ranger). I must admit that being aware of my exp bar drove me crazy. i was killing mobs at or just below my level and it did not seem that the bar moved at all. I grabbed Missive quests by one of the beacons outside Khal. My stealth and hide skills rose from 1 - 99 as i hunted in wasp swarms and roaming lions. must have killed a hundred wasps and I know I killed 30 lions for quests. In short it took nearly 2 days to finish half a level. That was a weekend with so many hours online.

I think exp has been nerfed a bit too far. Just a small increase would give back the feeling that progress is being made. on the other hand getting rid of that exp bar might have the same effect as the raising of skills did show progress.

[Fyrestrom]

Originally Posted by Greymain

I grabbed Missive quests by one of the beacons outside Khal.

I have noticed that missives are not great xp. I think it is because they are repeatable that they are like this.

ps: New smilies?

[vizigoth]

/agree with op 100%