Post by chugs on May 20, 2009 17:36:46 GMT -5
As discussed in email:
Bots sound great. I hate the idea of mobs that require bot armies though. Might as well just tone the mob down. However, from reading, mobs are already toned down, so it should make it a solo server.
May want to consider making Anguish level a two to three people (each with a group of bots) encounter just to spark community interactions.
2x exp is still awful slow on 1100ish AAs being needed. Maybe 2x regular and 3x AA. I still have nightmares from doing 1400+ aa's on each of my chars on live.
Starter NPC that gives a few freebies. I make due without them, but some people really need that warm and fuzzy feeling a starter NPC gives by selling (for free) weightless bag(s), j-boots, and a charm item. Epic 1.0's are so gimp, that even tossing them out seems to make people happy. People also like to have a general area to go sit while afk, and a common meeting ground (banker, illusion caster, epic vendor, etc) typically provide multiple reasons for people to be in the same area. Again, all about that warm fuzzy feeling that some people need. (I personally afk away from those spots!)
The current buff NPCs are nice, and with bots coming, not necessary. Maybe turn them into something else - illusion casters, a curer, etc.
No clue on mob respawns, but hopefully they are no longer than an hour. If zone mobs are constantly down due to increased server population, possibly consider lowering spawn rate, or an NPC to trigger a refresh.
Scribespells and traindisc should certainly be given to players. I can't tell you how many runes it can take to get the two spells that someone needs. This is corrected in GoD at least, but still relying on dropped and farmed items just to then get a spell is a frustration that a player should not experience. Players already have to farm the same boss mobs over and over to get the loot table drop they need, throwing in farmed spells is just an extra frustration.
My impressions on what would draw a crowd.
Bots sound great. I hate the idea of mobs that require bot armies though. Might as well just tone the mob down. However, from reading, mobs are already toned down, so it should make it a solo server.
May want to consider making Anguish level a two to three people (each with a group of bots) encounter just to spark community interactions.
2x exp is still awful slow on 1100ish AAs being needed. Maybe 2x regular and 3x AA. I still have nightmares from doing 1400+ aa's on each of my chars on live.
Starter NPC that gives a few freebies. I make due without them, but some people really need that warm and fuzzy feeling a starter NPC gives by selling (for free) weightless bag(s), j-boots, and a charm item. Epic 1.0's are so gimp, that even tossing them out seems to make people happy. People also like to have a general area to go sit while afk, and a common meeting ground (banker, illusion caster, epic vendor, etc) typically provide multiple reasons for people to be in the same area. Again, all about that warm fuzzy feeling that some people need. (I personally afk away from those spots!)
The current buff NPCs are nice, and with bots coming, not necessary. Maybe turn them into something else - illusion casters, a curer, etc.
No clue on mob respawns, but hopefully they are no longer than an hour. If zone mobs are constantly down due to increased server population, possibly consider lowering spawn rate, or an NPC to trigger a refresh.
Scribespells and traindisc should certainly be given to players. I can't tell you how many runes it can take to get the two spells that someone needs. This is corrected in GoD at least, but still relying on dropped and farmed items just to then get a spell is a frustration that a player should not experience. Players already have to farm the same boss mobs over and over to get the loot table drop they need, throwing in farmed spells is just an extra frustration.
My impressions on what would draw a crowd.