[SC] Poor help to the weaker players

From the blacklight-teaser thread in the forum (an excerpt only) ...
'In addition to all the new things, some of the existing equipment will be adjusted so that it is quicker to obtain, in order to help players catch up to current UFE status.'
-- well that hasn't happened yet. Throw oodles of rsb and x4 ammo along with a lot of credits and a lot of uri ... plus logdisks, etc.... and maybe the weaker players can get an item or two.... not easier, it is still much harder than the wallet warrior elite ships are.

Then again, most changes and/or events are being bought and paid for by the cash donations which are being gobbled up for pretty little decorations.
Basic ship price is one thing, but to get a paint job is the same price. If you get a 250,000 uri 'design' and it is the same price as the basic model, then the design should be flyable as well.
Then look at the P.E.T. ... why is it using what amounts to an internal combustion engine when even the drones can use the same engine types as the ships?
Huge amounts are being required to make what the weaker players still cannot afford.
Drop rates of resources like scrapium, etc. need to be increased, either from the npc pops themselves, or, through the quest rewards upon completion (double digits quantities). Even spending hours, it takes a lot longer than some will be alive to get close to ufe status.

The other really silly part of the new stuff on December 5th was to get some of the rquired items to build what you need, you have to go into the area that was built for those who can get very close to ufe status. The weaker players still have no chance; whether to get the parts to build for ufe, or to defend themselves at their lowly levels from th epredators that are only trying to complete the outlandish developers ideas of quests without taking into consideration minimum combat level capabilities for elite and weak players.

The gap continues to widen at an extraordinarily FAST pace.

 

Well, the so called help is the end of the annoucement in:

They do somehow help, but the UFE status is far from simple LF4 + maybe some LF4 enhanced / per year (if they would have done that in 2015, you could say that). The updates honestly were never targeted to the beginners and they could only participate in like 10% of a big event.
Unless you collect boxes/palladium, the more damage you have, more uridium you will make overtime and you can't really change that.The developers know that the game won't rise from its ashes (by getting a large playerbase), so they just release some content which mainly targets the TOP UFE players (since they are also the ones who probably still spend).
I think every player who isn't UFE would prefer the updates to contain cosmetical designs than new designs,weapons,resources which make your previous work obsolete, but this way you won't be sure that people will spend on those things .. so there is the result.
Anyway, things won't change in my opinion and if the game would ever revive ,it would be another game, another version, another graphics etc. - it's a web flash player based game in end of 2018, which still wants good graphics and rapid action.

 

So is it that you cant afford to spend $ or is it that you dont have the time to grind? Even those of us that have invested $ in the game had to grind as well. Nobody gets UFE overnight, but for a small amount of $ and some grinding you can get close to UFE in about a month. If you cant spend then it will take more hrs of work, but this doesnt mean that DO should just give you UFE status because you are to lazy to work for it and cant afford to spend to speed it up.

Just because some people drive Porsches doent mean that everyone that gets a license should be given a Porsche just because they feel it is unfair for others to work for and buy the car they want.

 

I totally agree, DO should never give out UFE without the player having put in the time and effort/$.

What they should do and as quickly as possible for the sake of the game, is find a way to kerb the bullying play style adopted by more than a few of the older more experienced players/clans.
I saw a guy last night boasting about having popped over 100 Venoms in a few hours - He even included the fact he believed all were new players from the bonus code DO handed out to players from another game they have just discontinued (could DO be next?).
This guy has been playing on this particular server for just over 10 years (I looked up his profile) and was overjoyed with the fact he killed 100+ players, all of whom were less than 24 hours into their DO careers.
What struck me as the worst part - He was actively encouraging others to join him - In showing these people from another game, DO is not for them, no matter what freebies DO hands them.

These guy with 10+ years have completely changed the meaning of PVP. It is no longer about fighting each other to determine who is the best - It is about who can get the easiest kills with the least risk. Sadly, these guys who hunt new players have this down to a fine art.
Years ago when i first encountered this game "invaders" hunting in enemy maps were driven out or at least challenged by the bigger players from that company - Today, the big players who could/should protect these new players are either, friends with the hunters (and often help them) or leave the map when hunters turn up. I shudder every time I see 5 or 6 Cyborgs with Spartans and the best of everything run to a portal because a single enemy from another company comes into the map.

Conclusion - Yes UFE should be earned and it needs to be reasonably hard to achieve BUT there needs to be some intervention on Devs part or it won't matter how easy or hard it is to get to the top as there won't be enough new players for it to matter. Already the only real goal of the game "top rank" in each company is out of reach of a huge percentage of players - At least give them something to strive for.

Bullying and gang issues in many cases comes from boredom and lack of direction - Pretty much sums DO up.

 

they say they've made the enhanced lf4s easier to get but still kept the cost off 400 log disks the same

 

All you need in this game is premium the odd box doubler and maybe the odd time to buy rebate and you can built a ship up easy, I already did it my ship has only just over 300 hours i have full havocs 10 drones found in booty boxes, almost full lf4's from laserstorm and calendar pet lvl 20 crafted from calendar and green booty i have cyborg. It's all cause i know the game and how to play all you need is a group of ambitious players and do quest gather boxes and do event's. Also have like 8 promethius lasers if you want it for free you have to grind if you don't have the time then players pay that's how it works.

 

The game will never be like it was when lvl 16 FEs would hunt the x-1 maps teaching the newest noobs how to survive and encouraging us to drop a little $. Now all we get is a bunch of whiners that want to be UFE without putting in any effort.

 

LOL, the general attitude in this game is what really gets people. I stroll around in my nostro or bigboy with flaxes and have a ball. This game has everyone in an uproar about the next level of UFE. Its not even regular UFE anymore with all the new lazers coming down the pipe left and right. Relax and just play. You may find you have a ship load of equipment while just having fun.

 

I personally enjoy running around in an FE or UFE Piranha, it's such a good looking ship and attracts noobs

 

People dont play games for fun or entertainment anymore. Now all they worry about is bragging rights and rank. They even go as far as using cheats just so they can run their mouth about how weak the legit players are.

 

The biggest problem with the game is, there are no other goals than those bragging rights.
Most players who have started in the recent past (6 months or so) would have to commit to 6 or 7 years of grinding Hades just to get close to the rank points .†ι¢є_gяιмσιяє†. has right now (he is currently ranked 8 on our server) and that is only possible if for some reason he decides not to play anymore (which i hope he doesn't ).
So, the primary and only real goal of the game is out of reach for many current players and those to come.
There are many who have made it to, or close to UFE who have realised they will never get to number one, so instead have adopted a play style that borders on outright bullying.

Yes we just had an update that has added yet more content (endless grinding) but this still doesn't add any goal to playing the game aside from, getting more new lasers than the next guy as fast as you can, so your gang stays the strongest.

DO need to come up with some new goals for those players who will never be able to get to number one but want to achieve something for their time, effort and money invested.
The meta of the game isn't much more than pixel based gang warfare - Players form groups, groups form into larger gangs and the biggest most organised gang will always win.

There is no incentive for players to fight for the company they belong to, most don't consider "company" relevant as far as their play style goes (this includes many who aren't in MCC, so we can't blame it [all] on them). The meta has evolved over time, in the early days it wasn't much of an issue but left unchecked it has now become so entrenched only a minority get to participate in events and other select content, such as cubing or farming 4-5, 5-X maps (including the new BL content).

DO could make the game entertaining again for more than just the biggest group/alliance on a given server by giving players and clans goals, as part of the company they play for.

 

We need company wars, we need company bases, x1 and x8 bases should be re-designed and made into fortresses that can be attacked and certain parts destroyed which gives the whole company a bonus. Make it an all day long event and give the bases huge HUGE amounts of HP. The company bases would be a treasure chest of rewards which are distributed to every member of the company based on how much damage they did. The treasure chest can be filled with whatever rewards BP seems fit. You build up your own company treasure chest by doing gg, npc and PvP, so for example every 100 gg that your company does grants all those in the company 5 billion credits or 50k uri or boosters or whatever, however these rewards are only granted if your company manages to destroy another company base.
This is just an idea off the top of my head which I feel but make company bases a lot more exciting and bring companies together to fight for one goal.

 

Hi All,

I liked JustMe3 post and it is bring out a lot of information. Pros and Cons are here and I wanted to say thank you for the post. I have seen something like this over the years, and it brings out feelings on both sides. Good Post.

New bes' are the fodder of this game, but people don't realize it is also the back bone too. With out new blood this game is dying. Look at the mergers. When there were so many servers and I was on two in the same field. Now both ships are on one server. Where have all the people go? The have left because DO only like wallet warriors. Like in real life the very few runs over the many.

I have been in the pilot's chair when the big boys/girls have come a knocking. Even now as UFE pilot (I was told I was because I'm 18th level, have all 16th level weapons) I stilled get killed. I hate it when I'm fighting PVE and down on hit points and a pilot pops' in and attacks. One of my problems is locking on quickly, but I still die. MCC is another story. I like the idea of x-1 and maybe x-8 being safe zones.

Back when I was playing D&D, a first level cleric had the "Finger of Death" in his temple. I don't remember, but I think is was a 12+ Level Spell. Normally low level player didn't get that spell.

Angus

 

Agreed, its gotten worse on both the pvp and pve side. Its why I am glad I have this account. I don't even respond the same to attacks on this account. Nice and relaxing. I get a lot of laughs actually when I get attacked.

I think the company wars has gone away as the population dwindled and the mcc, in response, formed. A lot of mcc's started due to people making friends across the maps and infighting. Why they are still here as more and more have left is lost on me though. X-1/8 bases should just stay as is. We have the capability to make cbs in lots of maps and that is not fully capitalized on anymore. People don't even really protect them. They are just built and used as pvp battle zones.

 

Actually, on the servers i play anyway, bases are used solely to gain extra boosts for Sundays Hades spamming. Most are held by the same one or two clans week after week and are left to die late Sunday night or Monday.

MCC exist today simply because "Company" means nothing, there are no benefits or incentives to fight for your company. Better to belong to one of the dominating MCC and at least be sure you have the run of the server with few to challenge you.

The only way the current meta is going to change is if it is changed at the base level (by the owners/developers of the game) - Something is done to make fighting for your company more interesting, challenging, REWARDING than just being in one of the top ten clans.
We have; "Top player" in several categories and "top clan" but there is nothing about the "top company".

I like the idea Dexter put forward, not sure about the bases in lowers but certainly the uppers base of each company could be made into something more than it is.
It would give members of a company a reason to upgrade and protect their companies base if there were rewards for doing so. The "company base" could have a prime time each week that lasts for 24 hours with rewards paid to successful defenders (5% bonus to Honor and EP for 1 week) who participate in the protection of the base, with a smaller or different (eg; 5% more uri for npcs destroyed for 24 hours) reward going to the whole of that company. If one company is successful in destroying another company base those involved could get a reward, with a smaller reward going to that companies members.
If for instance EIC and VRU team up to destroy the MMO base, only the company that deals the most damage, gets the most kills in the map get the rewards.

Spaceball too, as a "company" based event could be modified to turn it into a company event once again - The company that wins the ball is the only one that sees the boxes that drop from that ball. This would greatly reduce the ability of dominating MCC to profit from the event.

 

They could do that with the CBS's as well. Spaceball idea would just get twisted. I can already see how but not going to say. Players need a place to just relax, and the bases are that place. CBS's get overrun and that is how its supposed to be but you should be able to concentrate and plan at the upper and lower base.

 

I see your point, which is why i suggested they only be vulnerable 1 day per week.
Trying to rework CBS would create so many more problems than currently exist - Current CBS is outdated and not at all relevant to today's play style. They are predominately held by large MCC who use them for boosts on Sundays and easy kills, with a base to help protect them, through the week. You'll see 3 or 4 MMO players building a base in 1-6 but when that base is built it belongs to EIC or VRU.

The game is supposed to be about "company wars" yet there is nothing to encourage members of a company to fight for them. There is a great focus on "company" when you start and account, then - Nothing. The best option for new players is to find the best MCC they can and join it as soon as they can.

Make fighting for your chosen company relevant and MCC disappear all on their own, or at least have far less overall control on how we all play the game..

 

While I agree with the point that it shouldn't be too easy to obtain UFE status and that in fact all of the recent changes are somewhat unfair for those who had to spend much more time and uridium, I also feel like there is a big difference between 'giving UFE status' and helping new players.

Regardless it seems like the developers are heading towards a new strategy, they try to make it more attractive for new players to spend money as that money will now grant them with much better equipment than it would back in the 'old days'. At the same time they are also releasing new lasers that overpower all the others.

This leads to not only more new players buying stuff but it also maintains investment from more advanced players.

It's just... good business... I guess...

 

As a new player this week I can say that I dont want to be instantly UFE. No fun in not working for it.
However a few basic boosters,emps and slow down mines for example as part of a noobie package.
Say once a player hits level 9. Once a new player had made it to this level they should have a few incentives to keep on going.
Example,,
Level 9: 1 alpha gate ,4 basic boosters,50 emps, 1000 rsb,1 week premium,500 gate spins,500 ,2021s,500 ,3030s and 5000 sab ammo.
would this change the world of DO no. would this take out of the pocket of DO no,would this put a dent in a uber FE wallet warrior NO!
But it would be a breather bonus to keep a player in the spirit of the game.

Level 9 was easy level 20 or 22 is a pipe dream with current Uber players.
This would be a bonus for a new player sticking with DO and also giving them a little I mean little chance once they get onto the bigger maps.
I have not even went to the uppers yet as I am still getting my 2 flax Goli hammerd in the lowers on the newbie quests.
So level bonuses every few levels to help match the strength of Uber players and AFK Bot players i see in the X-2 maps and such.

 

I agree that handing out 'good' stuff shouldn't happen; the problem is the current set up breeds contempt from both sides of the arguement. On one hand, the beefed up ships are over crowding the maps so new players have a much harder time than 8 years ago. The dribble called help to players is pathetic. It would be much more help if the ships capable of a higher battle value (not a rank and-or xp level) were not able to target the fodder (much lower battle value capable ships). They could cruise the current 4-x series maps; company uppers and that new cess-pool called the BL maps.
Wallet - warriors that grind... seems to be an odd description, but I guess fodder hunting can seem to be a grind or drag because it's too easy. I am barely level 20 in GA2; that is after 8 years at approximately 3-5 hours a day 5-7 days a week (minus a couple of weeks when I had to take the family vacation time). Even when I worked my nice paying tech support job I could not afford the amount of cash or time to jump the ship to whatever the ufe level was at the time.

If the rumour I heard about new players starting were gifted new lasers and other equipment is true, even if my level 20 got them, it probably wouldn't help much at all.
The game is increasingly going the route of helping only the currrently ufe ships get even stronger to more quickly kill off the new or just weaker ships as fast as possible, when those high kill number quests need to be put on a new set of maps that only ufe ship can go to.

I realize that those who are in the ufe class or almost there, may not like the above comments. However, if the ceiling is to be raised as much and as fast as it is, then the lower levels need to be adjusted for it, not just given some weak hand out and have that piled on with drivvle from the ufe caste that they had the same tough time. They didn't.