So how is the AE system now?

sylum69

I'm thinking of coming back for a few months or at least until CO comes out. I played earlier this year and enjoyed it for a while but ultimately took a break a few weeks after the AE system was added. Although I wasn't crazy about Architect Missions, I'll concede that a lot of new gaming additions are never perfect at first and there were a few enjoyable story lines.

 

My questions:

Is it difficult to find a group? I've read a few posts complaining about how difficult it is to get a group going. Has anything changed?

I believe my characters are on Virtue. How is that server doing in terms of population and activity?

How has the AE system blended with the game? Have the bugs been ironed out? Do you guys find it enjoyable or is the honeymoon over?

Has the AE had an impact on the amount of developer content released? (i know it's only been a few months, but that was always a concern of mine)

 

I had a few problems with this game but I was really impressed with the community and that's what I miss the most.

 

Thanks

 

Amarsir

Virtue is doing very well. Some days there is more risk of it being overcrowded than of it being vacant.

Issue 15 improved the AE a good bit - making good missions easier to find and fixing some of the bugs. I still wouldn't say it's "blended" though. My personal opinion is that it has actually supplanted a bit of the regular game. Right now farming is _rampant_. If you want to find an AE farm team, go to the Atlas Park AE and stand still for a couple minutes - you'll get grabbed.

Those of us who don't enjoy that farming though are still out and about. You can find regular teams. I was on a good TaskForce team yesterday. (I often find TaskForces are good ways to find quality teams anyway, and recommend your server's Badge Channel for that.) And then there are some who use the AE for non-farming, to enjoy varied missions. But I honestly think the system makes that much harder on them than it should.

The point is that the population - while still fine - is split into farmers and non-farmers. And the farmers are a little more brainless about it, sending out blind invites to anyone regardless of level, while the traditionalists have to worry about levels and stuff like that. So if you want to find a good team you definitely can, but you might need to put a little work into it to find the right team.

For developer content - yeah maybe? I mean 13 was small because they pushed back AE to 14. 14 was nothing but AE. And 15 was mostly updates to the AE with a new TF and SF. And honestly nobody's running the new TF because they say it's not all that interesting. i16 isn't so far off, so we'll see what's in that. Another consideration is that a lot of their team is busy working on the Going Rogue expansion, which will definitely have new content. So what we get are new systems like AE. Or Power Customization is rumored to be in i16.

If you like the community most of them aren't going anywyere. As I say, you need to filter a bit. But then you probably always did.

Amarsir

p.s. There's a Rikti Invasion starting Friday. I don't know if that's better or worse for you (it's routine, but out ouf the AE). But it brings out the teams for big group fights.