For the record, I have just finished Part 2 and posted it here. I will post it here in its entirety shortly (because it's really painful to have to re-format the text).
Hehe good posts. I"m not sure why your putting the effort into it other then its a good subject to study, but I remembered while reading this post that awhile back Rusty I think it was had said that this game was created as "pvp with a purpose". I then read what Wintersdark said and basically remembered why I wanted to pvp in POTBS. It was because the PVP had a purpose and it wasn't just random killing with no reason other then to put notches in your virtual belt. Eh I stil think that making a seperate PVE server would be a bad thing and that PVP types and PVE types are not mutually exclusive. I just dont think the red ring system that have would support PVE and I dont think it really supports PVP. My solutions would be to make it all PvP so that people are more spread out thereby reducing the "gankage" cause they can't be everywhere at once and making the map much much larger (big time larger) spread out the ports etc. The big factor in making ganking so easy though is still the instancing. It makes it just so easy and appealing to that type you can have your prey all nice and safe inside a litle instance after x number of seconds NO one can enter. Ganking would be not so easy if the group of 6 was out in the open pursuing the one lone ship and the guy lets out a cry and 4 people on the docks can jump in their ship and sail in to even things out and not worry about instancing. Ganking then would probably have to occur much much farther from ports and be somewhat harder to do.
Unfortunately with the game design and map size instancing is a necessity. That and the high detail ship battles which are cool makes instancing a necessity. It just doesn't work with an MMORPG. I had heard ruminations of them saying they were going to get rid of a lot of instancing except I can see no way of them dumping it in the place it counts as far as PVP which is in the sea/ocean.
For the record, I have just finished Part 2 and posted it here. I will post it here in its entirety shortly (because it's really painful to have to re-format the text).
What a carebear noob. You'd have thought he could have at least played the game for a bit for making such shallow comments.....
(sorry, I had to say that, the devil made me do it)
PS: In regard to what Ummax says above, I too would like to see elimination of the red circles, open PvP, and the map "stretched" by reducing visability from 50 miles to 3-5 miles, and open sea speed reduced. Basically, the only place a player would be guaranteed PvP action would still be outside a hostile port, because ports are the only place traffic is guaranteed to travel in and out of. Friendly nations can then set up their forces to patrol their ports, interdict enemy ports, and embargo becomes a viable economic strategy.
Today's readings of population levels at 1830 PST on Saturday is:
ZERO Medium/Moderates
All at Light with 13 Nones (not including the Test server)
And that is why...
Conservatives' pessimism is conducive to their happiness in three ways. First, they are rarely surprised -- they are right more often than not about the course of events. Second, when they are wrong they are happy to be so. Third, because pessimistic conservatives put not their faith in princes -- government -- they accept that happiness is a function of fending for oneself. They believe that happiness is an activity -- it is inseparable from the pursuit of happiness.
The slow death continues... Today's readings of population levels at 1830 PST on Saturday is: ZERO Medium/Moderates All at Light with 13 Nones (not including the Test server)
It's been a long time since I've seen anything other than one medium and the rest light/none.
I just got the time to read it Vetarnias, and once again a good read.
This suggestion:
"Another suggestion I would make for any server is to force captains expecting to take part in a port battle to actually sail their ship to the port in question, and to be in the town by the time the invitations are sent. This would get rid of the unrealistic situation where someone could be grinding contention near Tampico one minute and find himself in the Port-of-Spain battle planning room the next. This would also force captains -- unless their ship already happens to be docked at that port -- to risk their vessels to get involved...."
Is the one I would also suggest and it would be even more meaningful with a larger map.
In fact, my thoughts on a Naval Ranking System included this - but with current game mechanics it is not possible to enforce.
Your comments on port Governance also reflect my own and I really don't see any light at the end of the tunnel there because I really doubt with all the conflicts in this game it would be possible to make it work effectively?
I still think this game has potential but I don't know if the current design team has the ability to realize that potential.
Patch 1.3 arrived on the Aussie sever and I had a chance to look around Point-a-Pitre over the past two nights.
I like it from an artistic point of view - but from a games design point of view I have to say WTF?
Just wondering: How is the situation on the Australian server these days?
You guys have a general population of 21 million, and yet are being secluded while the whole of North America and Europe (Canada alone has 50% more population than you) is being split into 4 servers and activity still comes up as "moderate" at best. So unless Telstra made a spectacular ad campaign Down Under, I doubt your server has even a population large enough to be genuinely functional.
And that they chose to delay the latest build by a few weeks... Good grief; we've just started to get over the byzantine mess that is the new Pointe-à-Pitre....
I keep seeing people on line - so they are there. Although the market is dead. 90% of my sales are between my alts to concentrate wealth into my primary FT alt.
It's been a long time since I've seen anything other than one medium and the rest light/none.
Indeed.
Just an update, though late at night on Sunday at 22:20 PST:
Zero Mediums
All Lights with 19 Nones (two servers are at None across the board)
And that is why...
Conservatives' pessimism is conducive to their happiness in three ways. First, they are rarely surprised -- they are right more often than not about the course of events. Second, when they are wrong they are happy to be so. Third, because pessimistic conservatives put not their faith in princes -- government -- they accept that happiness is a function of fending for oneself. They believe that happiness is an activity -- it is inseparable from the pursuit of happiness.
Worse still, on the game login screen, the Pirate faction on Rackham is now showing up as "light", probably for the first time in the game's history; it is a major blow to a server that once prided itself on its PvP. Brits are now the last faction showing up as "moderate", but not for long I fear; they are currently last in victory points, and a few of them have explicitly stated they were moving on to Conan.
I think we will see what the new version is going to bring. As a CB fanboi is can say this, they didn't listen to me either. Probally they listen to all which is never good. I had rather a sail Sim then these arcanish motorboats. But hell why no sailing the speed your stats say lets double it. On the OS i can understand it but in the instances i would have just the speed max. that is fast enough.
Most are burnedout from leveling so fast I told folks not race to 50 because it doesn't do anything. (still lvl 42 myself) I think i am staying around because i am a PVE/PVP player which this game is perfect for.
Portbattles are not for the eilite but for the players who will try to win and listen to their groupleader. And the groupleader must listen to the PB leader and stick to it.
Further signs towards a decline, but can the new patch turn things around? Stay tune.
Todays snapshot of the holiday in the US during prime time hours:
Zero Moderates
All Light with 21 Nones (Not including Test Server).
Note: Three servers are empty, with two others having just one light.
And that is why...
Conservatives' pessimism is conducive to their happiness in three ways. First, they are rarely surprised -- they are right more often than not about the course of events. Second, when they are wrong they are happy to be so. Third, because pessimistic conservatives put not their faith in princes -- government -- they accept that happiness is a function of fending for oneself. They believe that happiness is an activity -- it is inseparable from the pursuit of happiness.
Further signs towards a decline, but can the new patch turn things around? Stay tune. Todays snapshot of the holiday in the US during prime time hours: Zero Moderates All Light with 21 Nones (Not including Test Server). Note: Three servers are empty, with two others having just one light.
I have a feeling the announcement of the game's sale to SOE is coming very soon...
Sometimes I like to log back into these forums and see how mad people are at this game!! I really enjoy it because I spent a long time using logic and examples of why this game is so bad in late game, and how many of the key systems are fundementally flawed.
At the time, (beta) people were giant fanbois and discounted my claims as flaming... but look at where they are now? LOL A guy actually said that it was IMPOSSIBLE to gank... nuf said
This Sunday at 7pm PST the servers had an actual increase from the prior Sunday... well maybe not really, but for once there is a Moderate.
1 Moderate (Blackbeard)
All Lights with 21 Nones...
Figure the Server Mergers are in the works. But question is, will there be a Heavy to be seen?
And that is why...
Conservatives' pessimism is conducive to their happiness in three ways. First, they are rarely surprised -- they are right more often than not about the course of events. Second, when they are wrong they are happy to be so. Third, because pessimistic conservatives put not their faith in princes -- government -- they accept that happiness is a function of fending for oneself. They believe that happiness is an activity -- it is inseparable from the pursuit of happiness.
Sometimes I like to log back into these forums and see how mad people are at this game!! I really enjoy it because I spent a long time using logic and examples of why this game is so bad in late game, and how many of the key systems are fundementally flawed. At the time, (beta) people were giant fanbois and discounted my claims as flaming... but look at where they are now? LOL A guy actually said that it was IMPOSSIBLE to gank... nuf said
I had an arguement with one of the Fanbois where he claimed that the Port Battles would always be balanced thanks to instancing...
Anyway - what's happening with AoC? Lot's of instancing, ganking and bugs too so I gather?
I would like to add that many of the old closed beta testers already pointed out many flaws of the game design and problems. They were not all fanbois...several beta testers saw these problems coming and typed their fingers off in the closed beta forums to point to problems and flaws from early on...a year before release or earlier...but its FLS who make the decisions! Some of the big problems discussed here already have been discussed several times in the closed beta forums and in the forums later...but they were either ignored or FLS had different opinions about them or not the ressources or will to change it.
Its strange...they have their usability lab with staff to test UIs and interface accessibility and spend lots of money to improve the game in these aspects...but didn't listen to many of the (reasonable) critics many beta testers and players made about game design and game features from early on and then again and again...
----------------------------------- Life is too short to play bad games.
Comments
Unfortunately with the game design and map size instancing is a necessity. That and the high detail ship battles which are cool makes instancing a necessity. It just doesn't work with an MMORPG. I had heard ruminations of them saying they were going to get rid of a lot of instancing except I can see no way of them dumping it in the place it counts as far as PVP which is in the sea/ocean.
What a carebear noob. You'd have thought he could have at least played the game for a bit for making such shallow comments.....
(sorry, I had to say that, the devil made me do it)
PS: In regard to what Ummax says above, I too would like to see elimination of the red circles, open PvP, and the map "stretched" by reducing visability from 50 miles to 3-5 miles, and open sea speed reduced. Basically, the only place a player would be guaranteed PvP action would still be outside a hostile port, because ports are the only place traffic is guaranteed to travel in and out of. Friendly nations can then set up their forces to patrol their ports, interdict enemy ports, and embargo becomes a viable economic strategy.
The slow death continues...
Today's readings of population levels at 1830 PST on Saturday is:
ZERO Medium/Moderates
All at Light with 13 Nones (not including the Test server)
And that is why...
Conservatives' pessimism is conducive to their happiness in three ways. First, they are rarely surprised -- they are right more often than not about the course of events. Second, when they are wrong they are happy to be so. Third, because pessimistic conservatives put not their faith in princes -- government -- they accept that happiness is a function of fending for oneself. They believe that happiness is an activity -- it is inseparable from the pursuit of happiness.
It's been a long time since I've seen anything other than one medium and the rest light/none.
I just got the time to read it Vetarnias, and once again a good read.
This suggestion:
"Another suggestion I would make for any server is to force captains expecting to take part in a port battle to actually sail their ship to the port in question, and to be in the town by the time the invitations are sent. This would get rid of the unrealistic situation where someone could be grinding contention near Tampico one minute and find himself in the Port-of-Spain battle planning room the next. This would also force captains -- unless their ship already happens to be docked at that port -- to risk their vessels to get involved...."
Is the one I would also suggest and it would be even more meaningful with a larger map.
In fact, my thoughts on a Naval Ranking System included this - but with current game mechanics it is not possible to enforce.
Your comments on port Governance also reflect my own and I really don't see any light at the end of the tunnel there because I really doubt with all the conflicts in this game it would be possible to make it work effectively?
I still think this game has potential but I don't know if the current design team has the ability to realize that potential.
Patch 1.3 arrived on the Aussie sever and I had a chance to look around Point-a-Pitre over the past two nights.
I like it from an artistic point of view - but from a games design point of view I have to say WTF?
http://www.burningsea.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27448&highlight=Point-a-Pitre
These comments stood out for me;
http://www.burningsea.com/forums/showpost.php?p=320525&postcount=17
http://www.burningsea.com/forums/showpost.php?p=320614&postcount=20
http://www.burningsea.com/forums/showpost.php?p=320705&postcount=23
http://www.burningsea.com/forums/showpost.php?p=320807&postcount=26
http://www.burningsea.com/forums/showpost.php?p=320941&postcount=31
etc etc and etc
And not to mention that the "Toastmistress" mission "Party, Me Harties!" is available but cannot be completed so I have read?
Meh.
Nothing says irony like spelling ideot wrong.
Just wondering: How is the situation on the Australian server these days?
You guys have a general population of 21 million, and yet are being secluded while the whole of North America and Europe (Canada alone has 50% more population than you) is being split into 4 servers and activity still comes up as "moderate" at best. So unless Telstra made a spectacular ad campaign Down Under, I doubt your server has even a population large enough to be genuinely functional.
And that they chose to delay the latest build by a few weeks... Good grief; we've just started to get over the byzantine mess that is the new Pointe-à-Pitre....
I keep seeing people on line - so they are there. Although the market is dead. 90% of my sales are between my alts to concentrate wealth into my primary FT alt.
Nothing says irony like spelling ideot wrong.
Just an update, though late at night on Sunday at 22:20 PST:
Zero Mediums
All Lights with 19 Nones (two servers are at None across the board)
And that is why...
Conservatives' pessimism is conducive to their happiness in three ways. First, they are rarely surprised -- they are right more often than not about the course of events. Second, when they are wrong they are happy to be so. Third, because pessimistic conservatives put not their faith in princes -- government -- they accept that happiness is a function of fending for oneself. They believe that happiness is an activity -- it is inseparable from the pursuit of happiness.
Worse still, on the game login screen, the Pirate faction on Rackham is now showing up as "light", probably for the first time in the game's history; it is a major blow to a server that once prided itself on its PvP. Brits are now the last faction showing up as "moderate", but not for long I fear; they are currently last in victory points, and a few of them have explicitly stated they were moving on to Conan.
I think we will see what the new version is going to bring. As a CB fanboi is can say this, they didn't listen to me either. Probally they listen to all which is never good. I had rather a sail Sim then these arcanish motorboats. But hell why no sailing the speed your stats say lets double it. On the OS i can understand it but in the instances i would have just the speed max. that is fast enough.
Most are burnedout from leveling so fast I told folks not race to 50 because it doesn't do anything. (still lvl 42 myself) I think i am staying around because i am a PVE/PVP player which this game is perfect for.
Portbattles are not for the eilite but for the players who will try to win and listen to their groupleader. And the groupleader must listen to the PB leader and stick to it.
Further signs towards a decline, but can the new patch turn things around? Stay tune.
Todays snapshot of the holiday in the US during prime time hours:
Zero Moderates
All Light with 21 Nones (Not including Test Server).
Note: Three servers are empty, with two others having just one light.
And that is why...
Conservatives' pessimism is conducive to their happiness in three ways. First, they are rarely surprised -- they are right more often than not about the course of events. Second, when they are wrong they are happy to be so. Third, because pessimistic conservatives put not their faith in princes -- government -- they accept that happiness is a function of fending for oneself. They believe that happiness is an activity -- it is inseparable from the pursuit of happiness.
I have a feeling the announcement of the game's sale to SOE is coming very soon...
Sometimes I like to log back into these forums and see how mad people are at this game!! I really enjoy it because I spent a long time using logic and examples of why this game is so bad in late game, and how many of the key systems are fundementally flawed.
At the time, (beta) people were giant fanbois and discounted my claims as flaming... but look at where they are now? LOL A guy actually said that it was IMPOSSIBLE to gank... nuf said
Elite poster by 82
Continuing to monitor the populations...
This Sunday at 7pm PST the servers had an actual increase from the prior Sunday... well maybe not really, but for once there is a Moderate.
1 Moderate (Blackbeard)
All Lights with 21 Nones...
Figure the Server Mergers are in the works. But question is, will there be a Heavy to be seen?
And that is why...
Conservatives' pessimism is conducive to their happiness in three ways. First, they are rarely surprised -- they are right more often than not about the course of events. Second, when they are wrong they are happy to be so. Third, because pessimistic conservatives put not their faith in princes -- government -- they accept that happiness is a function of fending for oneself. They believe that happiness is an activity -- it is inseparable from the pursuit of happiness.
People will come back, after they realize that conan is even less of a long term game than potbs was.
Seems like mmos get worse and worse as new ones come out. What gives?
Anyway - what's happening with AoC? Lot's of instancing, ganking and bugs too so I gather?
Any good links?
Nothing says irony like spelling ideot wrong.
$
I would like to add that many of the old closed beta testers already pointed out many flaws of the game design and problems. They were not all fanbois...several beta testers saw these problems coming and typed their fingers off in the closed beta forums to point to problems and flaws from early on...a year before release or earlier...but its FLS who make the decisions! Some of the big problems discussed here already have been discussed several times in the closed beta forums and in the forums later...but they were either ignored or FLS had different opinions about them or not the ressources or will to change it.
Its strange...they have their usability lab with staff to test UIs and interface accessibility and spend lots of money to improve the game in these aspects...but didn't listen to many of the (reasonable) critics many beta testers and players made about game design and game features from early on and then again and again...
-----------------------------------
Life is too short to play bad games.