Best posts made by Esoba

Backer #1 and Immortal EB

Solid review, but honestly that's what tests are for. If y'all were able to learn something, and subsequently improve that thing, then it is a major success in my book.

I agree. My hope is that since this is a test, things are this way just for data for the test. Ultimately there shouldn't be any limitation on what individuals can build themselves, and on their own plot. Wanna build a metalshop in the middle of nowhere (out of a city). Go ahead. You won't have any access to your own ore, but that's what trade is for. Who knows, maybe you'll become a gifted hobo crafter who people seek out, and through buying tons of ore from the 3 cities closest to you, there ends up being a pretty active trade route there. Then maybe another person will build up the homestead closest to you with a tavern that services those traders. That is a nice way to encourage play between players without artificially created restrictions.

Just baffled by some folks. Thinking that open tests might not be worth the vitriol when a test actually does what's it's supposed to do, even if that leads to having to stop said test. Although hopefully those same people avoid any tests of any games in the future as a "feature complete" and bug free game is really what they're wanting.

A reminder its worth remembering, "an alpha test is not a demo, it's a test. Expect stuff to break because it's a test"

First and foremost Chronicles of Elyria. Haven't been excited for a game that much since I first heard of LotRO many many years ago. I'm also a bit intrigued by Mavericks.

Can you give any hint of what we might be able to pick up during the KS, such as the potential for design experiences (weapon, naming something, animal, etc...)?

As someone who paid earlier, I say excellent job with the sale. If it brings in new people who were on the edge, awesome. Personally, I'm a "the more the merrier", and don't see the purpose in being upset because "I" didn't get the best price, just because I was an earlier purchaser. Also, personally, I think it's more beneficial to be pleased at the growth of the community than the fact I paid a few bucks more for my pledge. But I've always been a "we" more than "me" person.

For me the game has to have a pleasing aesthetic and an interesting background story. That will get me playing. Then to keep me it needs more sandbox elements than not, and absolutely must not devolve into a stupid endless grind for gear. Grind gear which is needed to go to the next area, where you guessed it, you need to grind for more gear. That get me to quit pretty quick. Finally, a solid community will keep me around.

I agree. Would be pretty sweet to have specific events that occur depending on night/day. Would also be nice if there were differences in mobs depending on night/day as well. Maybe you stumble upon some resting mobs during daylight and they are quite easy. At night they would tear you apart.

@kralith You have some valid points and I - for the most part - agree. However, even the best games and companies can lose if a toxic environment takes over. I'm still a little sore about others I've seen that happen to when I truly enjoyed the game. Still, this response shows me that Prometheus is absolutely serious about putting a stop to this and fostering a good community. This gives me a lot of faith, and definitely means I will reassess my decision.

Fishing has always been one of my most favorite additions to MMOs. So much so I really can't live without it.

Aaaaand we hit it. Wooooot!

Wow, some good discussion here, so let me add my 2 cents. The thing that excites me about this project is that it has delivered something very quickly after KS despite a low funding goal. This gives me a higher degree of confidence that things are going well.

Also, I imagine if they wanted to increase funding they could start offering timely limted cosmetics deals, or sell more of their cash shop currency. This also gives me confidence that they've got the means to deliver something great.

The one thing I disagree on is the house bit. I love the time commitment and really hope it doesnt get dumbed down. It will get easier with the introduction of carts, but I want it to be a time commitment. Dont want to do it, dont build it. I'm sure the game will introduce ways for adventurers to utilize others storage or resting and what not. Yeah it took me several hours to build mine, and it was frustrating at times, but it felt really good to finish. A feeling that wouldn't be there if it took 1/2 the time.

Exhibit A in how the broader gaming industry has ruined the idea of alphas and betas. Too often now a days people forget that alphas are actually meant to test things, not be an early release.

So to the OP, fret not, those things will be in the game. If those are the things you're really interested in trying, then it may be best to sit out tests until they are mentioned to be in one. The designers have been wonderfully straight forward about features in tests, so you'll know ahead of time whether or not they'll be present.

Well said. My hope is that since this test introduced new city mechanics they wanted to force that more to get more data. However, if they've truly shifted to a point where you can't do all this stuff solo, then thats a pretty significant shift from when I started following this a long time ago. I personally like that it takes forever to build. Instills a sense of accomplishment. However, I want the option to do some things solo, even if it takes longer or I can't be nearly as efficient. I just want the option. Part of the reason this game stuck out to me was that I could be part of a community, but also forge my own path. Now that simply isn't possible. Heck I don't even think you can solo farm at the moment out of a city (or city controlled node). As a citizen I can't even plop down my own farming square in my own city plot. That's just silly.

Yeah I definitely do not envy you specter

Yeah, I actually don't find it an issue at all, and fond that I rarely have to think about it much. They could even increase it a bit if they wanted to really make it more survival-y. I mean food is so, so easy to get, and fills satiety so much, it doesn't even feel the least bit like a "survival" game. My hope is that the cooking gets a bit more fleshed out to give bonuses and what not, making cooks a potential playstyle for people.

A good write up. Like you I've been thinking about the KP system with abilities and I'm on the same page. Logically it never made sense that when you gain an ability it further costs knowledge to unlock it.

My suggestion is that once you see an ability, but haven't killed enough to learn it, unlocking it would cost knowledge (the same way it does now). At this point it should even be a higher KP cost than it is now. It would be a mystery since, at this stage, you've only witnessed it, but haven't gone through the effort of killing the creature over and over to fully learn it. However, once you have fully unlocked that ability through repeated killing, that ability is yours, KP free. Logically that just makes sense. Then people who want to rush a specific ability can do so at the cost of KP, while others who want to take the longer route can get it for free. It would require some KP cost rebalancing with "purchasing" the ability, likely increasing it some for those who want to rush it, but in the end I think it stays true to their vision while improving the system a bit.

@Logain

Thats understandable, but if that's the case, it again goes back to communication. Something like:

This patch we're increasing upkeep significantly to test out decay and to see how manageable it is for groups to maintain. Rest assured we understand this may be too high for some groups, while others will take it as a challenge. Ultimately it's unlikely to be this level when the game launches but we need to test it in a live environment. Thank you.

Then it minimizes "bitching", while being clear to the player what'shappening. Just doing it however makes this level of complaints happen if what they're really intending is to just test their numbers.