AC1 today (8/02): a tearful analysis
edited from a thread on ACVAULT
new items + tinkering == frightening acceleration of the 'uberosity' of the established
character.
one certainly needs to be of an appropriate level to take advantage of the new equipment. but once you arrive there, a
cavernous gap develops between the haves and have-nots.
tinkering == one massive collection quest
i'm really not a big fan of collection quests, and that's what the tinkering material search feels like to me. hunting for random item drops == hunting for random item improvement drops.
yawn.
no new content: we must divert the attention of the player
base
imho, there's been a serious lack of new content. all the new power plus tinker material collection plus
bitching about the elemental spawns plus 67% item destruction ... all short term diversions that mask the lack of content and the plodding advancement of the story arc.
bread & circuses, that's what we're being fed.
forthcoming playgrounds?
the game NEEDS significant amounts of significantly higher difficulty
content, and SOON, or the game will immediately die once the diverted attention of the player base if
refocused.
class rebalancing: essential for new content?
we've had a lot of class rebalancing lately, including drastically greater strikes from the nerf bat then we've ever seen before. but balance "for balance sake" is not really a good thing, especially when it seems to alienate more of the player base than it benefits.
HOWEVER, i believe (maybe hope is a better term) that all this balancing is necessary precursor to the high-level playgrounds --> prior to the rebalancing,
there have been too many exploits and broken mechanics that prevented the deployment of and enjoyable and equitable high-level content.
think about it -- previously, you could make something well-nigh IMPOSSIBLE (execs or Q rifts for melee, C Lords for mage) ... but you really couldn't make it DIFFICULT for a high level player to defeat.
difficult is good ... impossible is bad. the only real success in this dynamic has been the combined-arms scenario required to defeat the CLord/Minion platoon ... and that was only accomplished after a couple months of rebalancing.
my sincere hope is that all the pain of the recent rebalancing efforts has been to advance the theater of possible conflicts to the point where
difficult, compelling, challenging yet rewarding content will soon appear. imho, that's essential for the majority of the CURRENT player base to retain (and in many cases rejuvinate) their interest and fanaticism in
AC
the ultimate price?
nothing is without a price. the recent (and hopefully forthcoming) changes coupled with the anticipated high-level content, while essential to retaining the current player base, will only exacerbate the gap between the high and low levels. there are very, very few newbies today (anyone sub-50 is likely a reroll of a mule). there will be none tomorrow (increased competition in the MMORPS space, high/low gap, no new low level content, AC2 perceived as sequel/replacement, no advertising ...)
i wonder what levels of sustained player base will keep AC1 in production? consider both the levels necessary to keep AC1 a viable commercial endeavour (if, in fact it is viable today) PLUS the oppotunity cost of shifting those resources to a newer venture like AC2.
now estimate the resubscription rate of the current player base (post launch of AC2, SWG, WoW, SimsO, etc). realize that critical resources like srand WILL be reallocated to AC2, further eroding the capabilites of the AC1-live team. consider the growing research that online communities are just like nightclubs -- the downside slopes are steep, treacherous and irreversible.
the conclusion is foregone. compelling HL content may forestall the end of AC, but the end is
imminent and inevitable. for turbine's sake, i hope that leaves an adequate bridge to
AC2.
enjoy it while you can. do all the quests you never thought possible. solo aerlinthe with your tinkered bow. kill the queen with a party of 3. party nekkid on the caul. it is
GREAT FUN: consider it your just reward for your unflagging support of turbine's
magnificant achievement. when the euphoria fades (and while in the minority, i'm convinced it will, sooner rather than later), hang up your PP matty robe and move on (to AC2? SWG? RL? <RL?
inconceivable!>) and fondly remember your stay in dereth. evolution is a harsh mistress --
go gently into that good night, AC1: you've earned it.
tearfully,
-di
