Why does SOE insist on reinventing the wheel at every turn?

[SunT]

<P>I did both the solo and the Heroic Ferrott Boat rides this afternoon.</P> <P>I was excited to take the boat ride today.  I got my ticket, got on the boat and ... big let down.</P> <P>No story line, though I didn't expect one.  Both rides were grey.  I am 47.  Highest mob was a solo 38.  Not very Heroic IMO.  You could have done so much.  I could have had to keep someone alive, stop a dragon form burning the sail, stop pirates form boarding and maybe even looted their ship when I killed them all...but instead I got grey solo mobs.</P> <P>I don't understand why SOE does not use the LDON engine to determine difficulty.  They could very easilly scale each and every intance in each and every zone to the group or individual entering it.  They already have the bloody code in EQ1 LDON.  </P> <P>I think every single instance zone should use this code.  If I want to go to a TS instance at level 47 why can't I?  The engine should read my level and give me 43 to 48 mobs to fight.  If a level 20 zones into the same zone but different instance he should get 16 to 21 Mobs.  It really isn't that tough, <STRONG>use you own old code</STRONG>.</P> <P>Why does SOE continually attempt to totally reinvent the wheel at every turn?  </P> <P>The Market?  The search function in EQ1's Bazaar is far superior.</P> <P>Instance zones in EQ1 scale to your level.</P> <P>Raid Mobs have a set guaranteed loot table and all drops are no drop.  No farming and no over raiding because you can't sell it and eventually you exhaust the table.</P> <P>LFG fuction in EQ1 has a message portion where you can say what you want to do.</P> <P>Shared bank in EQ1 allows you to swap money and Items.</P> <P>I could go on but I am out of time.</P> <P>Look at your previous successes and draw from them.  EQ1 was the number one MMO for ever.  There is a reason for that.  Use some of what you have in that game.  Everytime you implement a fix or addition it remains substandard to your prior work.  you could have simply implemented a variation of the old code into the new game, changed the story line and visual effects and you would have had a winner.</P> <P>I understand you want to make a totally new game, and you did.  But there are great things you left behind that could be used here and you would still have a totally new game...but it would be a better game.</P> <P> </P>

[Bruge]

<P>Even though you will be getting flamed with the "This isnt EQ1 crowd" since they dont understand the ideas behind this post.</P> <P>I completely agree that there are alot of ideas and game mechanics that worked well in EQ1 that should also be in this game. I understand that EQ2 is its own game. But there are alot of things that are trying to be reworked and IMO failing, when they worked so well in EQ1. </P> <P>If they really want change, then just take the ideas that worked before, and build upon them. Improve them. Make them more user friendly. Whatever you want. But thats the whole progression thing, take what works and improve it. Not take what works, ignore it, and make a whole new system.</P>

[Dazzler_Twodir]

It's because the wheels keep falling off.

[eratikat]

<DIV>Its all a conspiracy. Sony creates an bad game, making us get in our cars and drive to buy a new game forcing us to buy overpriced gas which makes the oil companies billions. Its true!! </DIV>

[Eileah]

I couldn't agree more.

[Demothis]

I agree 100% as well. The 2 games are by no means the same, but there is no reason not bring over the ideas that really worked well such as LDoN.

[yaen]

<DIV>uhh</DIV> <DIV>i don't think these heroic boat thingies you speak of were ever on the Test Server</DIV> <DIV>in fact, i don't even think they're there now and they are Live</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>may or may not be one of the reasons that they're crap...... </DIV>

[dawy]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Brugeor wrote:<BR> <P>Even though you will be getting flamed with the "This isnt EQ1 crowd" since they dont understand the ideas behind this post.</P> <P>I completely agree that there are alot of ideas and game mechanics that worked well in EQ1 that should also be in this game. I understand that EQ2 is its own game. But there are alot of things that are trying to be reworked and IMO failing, when they worked so well in EQ1. </P> <P>If they really want change, then just take the ideas that worked before, and build upon them. Improve them. Make them more user friendly. Whatever you want. But thats the whole progression thing, take what works and improve it. Not take what works, ignore it, and make a whole new system.</P> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>I understand what your saying,but some people are never satisfied..</P> <P> </P> <P>If they shipped over the ideas from EQ1 into EQ2,you would get post saying that they've just updated the game,nothing new here,you know the sort..</P> <P> </P> <P>Way of the world sadly</P>

[Jadr]

You probably can't just take the LDoN code and stick it EQ2 and have it work. And they have just announced scalable content for Adventure pack 2, so it is coming. <div></div>

[missionarymarr]

Anyways for these specific boat rides why should they be scalable. They should be set for the level of the zone you are heading to which seems to be the case so I would say they are working well.

[Aegori]

<P>well just to give you guys a glimmer of hope, here's a snippet from the IGN interview regarding the upcoming Adventure Pack:</P> <P>"<EM>The Splitpaw Saga</EM> does more than tell an interesting story; it also includes the addition of dungeon instances that scale to your group's level." - <A href="http://pc.ign.com/articles/610/610167p1.html" target=_blank>Article</A></P> <P>I'm hoping the can work backwards to integrate this in some of the current instances (like boat rides).</P> <P>-Aeg</P><p>Message Edited by Aegorian on <span class=date_text>05-05-2005</span> <span class=time_text>10:33 AM</span>

[SunT]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> missionarymarr wrote:<BR>Anyways for these specific boat rides why should they be scalable. They should be set for the level of the zone you are heading to which seems to be the case so I would say they are working well. <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>You missed the point.</P> <P>They are good for about 5 levels, perhaps the main five that take that boat.  But they could be ideal for ALL levels.  These boats are actually less challenging than the beach in the zones you are heading to, so they will be too easy for anyone who has progressed beyond the beach.</P> <P>The LDON mechanics read your group as you zoned and leveled the difficulty based on this information, so you ALWAYS had a suitable challenge.</P> <DIV>LDON code is SOE code.  They can simply adapt its code or at least its concept and apply it here and then all past, present and future instance zones would be the appropriate level of challenge when you zoned into them every single time regardless of your level.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[eratikat]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> missionarymarr wrote:<BR>Anyways for these specific boat rides why should they be scalable. They should be set for the level of the zone you are heading to which seems to be the case so I would say they are working well. <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>uh, lvl  27  mobs for the boat ride to EL? I dont think so. And 4 turtles and 2 goblins? Come on. This is just lazyness on the devs part.

[Malack]

<DIV>I totally agree with the OP.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>As for scaling the boats... it does make sense. I can get to Zek because of my artisan level, and sometimes do go there if I need to harvest, but I'm only a lvl 26 adventurer. I'd like to get a boat suited to my level, not to the level of the zone I'm heading into.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>As far as complaining that this isn't EQ1, it's a new game, etc. etc. There's nothing wrong with keeping a good concept. In fact, every game that comes out incorporates successful ideas and concepts taken from other games. </DIV>

[b3taha]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> SunTsu wrote:<BR> <P>I did both the solo and the Heroic Ferrott Boat rides this afternoon.</P> <P>I was excited to take the boat ride today.  I got my ticket, got on the boat and ... big let down.</P> <P>No story line, though I didn't expect one.  Both rides were grey.  I am 47.  Highest mob was a solo 38.  Not very Heroic IMO.  You could have done so much.  I could have had to keep someone alive, stop a dragon form burning the sail, stop pirates form boarding and maybe even looted their ship when I killed them all...but instead I got grey solo mobs.</P> <P>I don't understand why SOE does not use the LDON engine to determine difficulty.  They could very easilly scale each and every intance in each and every zone to the group or individual entering it.  They already have the bloody code in EQ1 LDON.  </P> <P>I think every single instance zone should use this code.  If I want to go to a TS instance at level 47 why can't I?  The engine should read my level and give me 43 to 48 mobs to fight.  If a level 20 zones into the same zone but different instance he should get 16 to 21 Mobs.  It really isn't that tough, <STRONG>use you own old code</STRONG>.</P> <P>Why does SOE continually attempt to totally reinvent the wheel at every turn?  </P> <P>The Market?  The search function in EQ1's Bazaar is far superior.</P> <P>Instance zones in EQ1 scale to your level.</P> <P>Raid Mobs have a set guaranteed loot table and all drops are no drop.  No farming and no over raiding because you can't sell it and eventually you exhaust the table.</P> <P>LFG fuction in EQ1 has a message portion where you can say what you want to do.</P> <P>Shared bank in EQ1 allows you to swap money and Items.</P> <P>I could go on but I am out of time.</P> <P>Look at your previous successes and draw from them.  EQ1 was the number one MMO for ever.  There is a reason for that.  Use some of what you have in that game.  Everytime you implement a fix or addition it remains substandard to your prior work.  you could have simply implemented a variation of the old code into the new game, changed the story line and visual effects and you would have had a winner.</P> <P>I understand you want to make a totally new game, and you did.  But there are great things you left behind that could be used here and you would still have a totally new game...but it would be a better game.</P> <P> </P><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>My main problem with your post, is that you are stating to "use your own old code." <DIV>Realize this, EQ2 was made completely different from EQ1. Infact the devs stated at one point that EQ2 is not a upgraded higher version of EQ1 but a different game. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Because people really wanted some sort of emersion with boat rides. From what I understand in EQ1, you actually rode the boats, they gave you a option to kill some mobs on the way to your destination. Now if this is broken it is a different story. But it is working as intended. I believe there would be a level cap on these "mini" boat rides, like when a level 47 hops on a boat to EL the monsters won't be 50, because they have a cap. So they would be high 20's to low 30's. </DIV>

[Stimp]

<P>Well, b3tahack did exactly what the OP was afraid of, came back and said EQ2 was not EQ1.  The OP was not suggesting EQ2 was EQ1.  He was suggesting bringing some of the better interface and mechanics features to EQ2 to enhance the gameplay.  This does not make EQ2 more like EQ1, but brings enhanced functionality to the game.  Scaling mobs to adventurer level in EQ2 would be an enhancement to anyone wanting to play in a particular instance, and would in no way make EQ2 suddenly similar to EQ1.  It would make more content available for all levels if the instances scaled to whoever entered.</P> <P>If they offered bette search functions in the bazaar for finding gear, then it could only enhance EQ2 to offer those options for purchasing from players.</P> <P>As for boat rides in EQ1...yeah, there was some immersion for you.  Wait at the docks for 30+ minutes for the boat to come, fall into the water trying to cross the plank into the boat before it left and watch it sail away while you swim back to shore.  Wait another 30 minutes for boat to return.  Board boat.  Sit on boat for 20 minutes until arriving at destination.  Sometimes when the boat zoned from the destination or departure zone into the middle zone where the islands were, you would fall into the ocean...that was always fun.  As for fighting, well I never saw any combat on a ship in EQ1, but then once ports became common I never used the boats anymore. </P> <P>Just because a Honda Accord and a Toyota Camry have power windows doesn't mean the Honda is a Toyota or the Toyota is a Honda.  They just share a convenience feature that makes rolling the window up and down easier.</P>

[Malack]

<DIV><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Stimple wrote:<BR> <P>As for boat rides in EQ1...yeah, there was some immersion for you.  Wait at the docks for 30+ minutes for the boat to come, fall into the water trying to cross the plank into the boat before it left and watch it sail away while you swim back to shore.  Wait another 30 minutes for boat to return.  Board boat.  Sit on boat for 20 minutes until arriving at destination.  Sometimes when the boat zoned from the destination or departure zone into the middle zone where the islands were, you would fall into the ocean...that was always fun. <BR></P> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>LOL good times....</DIV>

[Dracko]

<P>The 1st poster is right. THE NEW BOATS SUCK!!</P> <P>All they are is a longer boat ride with mobs on them. No ring event. No mini quest. No same the capt from hell.</P> <P>Just a boat with mobs for 5 min or so and the end. Needs to be changed.</P>

[Aegori]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Drackoss wrote:<BR> <P>The 1st poster is right. THE NEW BOATS SUCK!!</P> <P>All they are is a longer boat ride with mobs on them. No ring event. No mini quest. No same the capt from hell.</P> <P>Just a boat with mobs for 5 min or so and the end. Needs to be changed.</P> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>Ya kno... they may suck, but give it time. SOE has always had a decent track record within EQ2 of changing mechanics the community thinks "suck". This is likely a stepping stone that they'll build upon to make the boat rides into something more interesting. Lots of people wanted and were looking forward to this, so i doubt they're just going to leave the boat rides as is. If you have ideas... give them... they are likely listening. "boat rides suck", while feedback, isn't really helping anyone solve the perceived problem.</P> <P>-Aeg</P>

[VonStein]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Aegorian wrote:<BR><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><FONT size=4><EM>Ya kno... they may suck, but give it time. SOE has always had a decent track record within EQ2 of changing mechanics the community thinks "suck".</EM> </FONT>This is likely a stepping stone that they'll build upon to make the boat rides into something more interesting. Lots of people wanted and were looking forward to this, so i doubt they're just going to leave the boat rides as is. If you have ideas... give them... they are likely listening. "boat rides suck", while feedback, isn't really helping anyone solve the perceived problem.</BLOCKQUOTE> <P>-Aeg</P> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P>Are we playing the same game???</P> <P><BR> </P>

[Gnimsh Bonesmuggl]

Problem is that the community says everything sucks.

[Cecil_Stri]

features like this give flesh to expansions... not sayings its a good thing or not but... i am sure they are saving some of this stuff as a selling point to expansions

[Demon]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Gnimsh Bonesmuggler wrote:<BR>Problem is that the community says everything sucks. <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>dead on right. 90% of the stuff I see on these boards is negative nerf this nerf that. Oh no my class is getting nerfed so lets cry nerf on this. I can't do this I can't do that. Blah blah blah. It gets old real fast. If you don't like the game then leave already. I will be much happier without everyone flaming every person who offers a piece of advice or constructive critisism. The op had an idea. He said something he would like to be seen included into this game. The reason why SOE keeps nerfing everything is because everyone keeps crying for the nerf bat.</P> <P>If you take the time to offer something besides cry nerf on someone who is doing better than you we all might see alot more brought to the table by soe. As long as you continue to scream nerf SOE will continue to oblige and it will stay in the vicious cycle. Point in case of SOE brining something new to the table is the new guild interface window. Nerf example is the combat nerf they are planning.</P> <DIV>If ya 1 star me you only do it cause you know I am right and don't want to admit it.</DIV><p>Message Edited by Demonos on <span class=date_text>05-09-2005</span> <span class=time_text>01:02 AM</span>