Just to pass the time and maybe give VR some ideas about what the community would most like to see, what info are you most looking forward to?
List your top 3:
1) Atlas update/whitethaw
2) Racial skills/abilities
3) Details about class specific spells/abilities that are used in the colored mana system
Some of my friends that are intregued by the game but, still on the edge about it and are worried about what do to when they log on and cant find a group or if they need help to finish a quest, becuase i told them this game is not really a "solo type"MMO like WoW is.
Therefore, they are worried they wont be able to do anything in game if they cant reach out and find a group right away. So, that being said, id like to see how something like this would be addressed in the newsletter, or someting to tell my friends to solve their dilemma.
Whats the first thing you do when you log in? whats the routine? Do you just run into the wilderness and type /ooc LFG like in EQ? is their going to be a group finder? when using the perception system can you solo that content if it requires downing mobs?
The short list:
* Zone previews, possibly flythrough videos when possible
* Atlas Update: This one. I'd like to see an update to zone previews, lore, and the world map.
* Deeper class details
* Racial Bonus Preview
* Crafting Info
* Starting city previews as well as who is welcome where and who is not.
* More info on climates and attunement
* Progress updates (where we are currently and where we're going). Kind of a development roadmap if possible.
* Progeny Info
* More about Perception
* More Music Samples
Edit: Added a few more.
Valorous1 said:Some of my friends that are intregued by the game but, still on the edge about it and are worried about what do to when they log on and cant find a group or if they need help to finish a quest, becuase i told them this game is not really a "solo type"MMO like WoW is.
Therefore, they are worried they wont be able to do anything in game if they cant reach out and find a group right away. So, that being said, id like to see how something like this would be addressed in the newsletter, or someting to tell my friends to solve their dilemma.
Whats the first thing you do when you log in? whats the routine? Do you just run into the wilderness and type /ooc LFG like in EQ? is their going to be a group finder? when using the perception system can you solo that content if it requires downing mobs?
Expanding this into a segment on the "world outside of adventuring" would be fascinating.
Valorous1 - this is precisely why I have been pushing for a solo-friendly game since I got access to these forums. Not solo-focused. Not mostly solo. In fact a game where solo rewards are inferior. But a game where new players who have been immersed in the current milieu of never needing to group before level-cap (if then) would have time in which they could do what they were used to doing, without needing to group until they were ready. With help to make that process as easy as possible.
For almost all of *us* the newsletter doesn't need to say that groups are optional and you can start at level 1 feeling the game out without grouping. We know this.
For almost all of *us* the newsletter doesn't need to say that there will be a lot of effort spent on having a very good groupfinder - they have said so many times.
But having a section of a future newsletter devoted to those that are not *us* - things to tell friends. Things for the friends to read if we send them a copy - may be a good idea.
I agree with other suggestions as to what would be good in a newsletter. As always my own top priority is any information that can be released as to where the game stands. Is pre-alpha over (as of the January newsletter)? What needs to be done before alpha. How long is the type of alpha VR intends likely to take. That type of thing. Understanding the reasons they have not to be very specific. But recent newsletters *have* started to give this type of information and I applaud it.
I would really like to get more of the indepth behind the scenes type things similar to what they did with the perception system. It doesn't even have to be something so integral to the game, but giving us an insight into what went through their minds and what discussions were had, possibly even ideas they thought about and discarded.
1. Why some classes don't have combat resources.
2. Factions and lore.
3. Progeny system.
I would love to see more screenshots released with more frequency.
Valorous1 said:Some of my friends that are intregued by the game but, still on the edge about it and are worried about what do to when they log on and cant find a group or if they need help to finish a quest, becuase i told them this game is not really a "solo type"MMO like WoW is.
Therefore, they are worried they wont be able to do anything in game if they cant reach out and find a group right away. So, that being said, id like to see how something like this would be addressed in the newsletter, or someting to tell my friends to solve their dilemma.
Whats the first thing you do when you log in? whats the routine? Do you just run into the wilderness and type /ooc LFG like in EQ? is their going to be a group finder? when using the perception system can you solo that content if it requires downing mobs?
I would love to see a stream centered around soloing. If even just to show how difficult it would be. Maybe even bring in another player after an hour and show how it drastically changes with 2 players. I think would be extremely informative.
EQ was hard to solo, and it made sense to group, but you could definitely solo if you needed to. I wanna see what that side of the game is like.
1) an updated and finalized map showing all 3 continents with the zones therein (although I personally find the concept of the 3 principal alignments being sequestered on their own alignment continents very fairytale and foolish)
2) a class reveal for the bard
3)a beginning to race reveals much like the class reveals were had recently. A preview of how the races will stack across the main stats, racial abilities and bonuses, who has dark vision. Who is kos to them, who is 'tolerated' and who is able to train/sell in the holdings of each race.
4) yup, adding a 4th. A breakdown of what stat effects what. Does agi add to ac? What determines crit % chance in melee (and then for casting)? Etc.
5) another, just because. Will monks be penalized for gear/carried weight like they were in EQ or able to actually loot and carry stuff like in VG?
1. Racial abilities
2. Updated map of Kingsreach
3. Some type of status update on the state of creation of the various zones within Kingsreach
4. Clear definition of what needs to occur before Alpha 1 begins.
5. An update on the hiring process for the recent push for artists and programmers.
Would love to see each month a short video (maybe 5 mins) displaying a class in action and what they envision will make them special and unique. What will this class do that no other class can and how they will bring something a group may find beneficial, but not necessarily required.
As community is a big focus for this game, are there any plans to incorporate anything unique and innovative centered on community to the game? Or will it be mostly be what we are already familiar with, just more focused (not that this would be a bad thing). I am just wondering since it is a big focus, maybe they have some plans for something new that could excite people.
My top 3 ( Xilshale trying to make more work for us with 5.... no thanks :)
1: Beginning city lore/factions
2: Deeper insight into harvesting/crafting
3: Class basic skills.
The reason I pick these is cause I want the world to be a mystery. I want dungeons to be lost to us, and found by us. I want the " upgraded skills " quest, or quest gives to be hidden and spoke of in lore. I do not want to know what creatures lurk in what level zone, on what continent.
I would like to at least know about my city I start in. And what to look for in building my character. But the scary mysterious world outside those walls, should be just that....
drop community spotlight.
updated Detailed World maps. A detailed view of the world, video Flyovers etc. with PROGRESS INFO for the WORLD:
"we are still gray-boxing here"
"we have nothing started Here, yet, other than sketches showing the basic layout of the zone."
"we are working on NPCs and creatures in this zone" ....give us some REAL info about the world, be real with those of us supporting the game with hundreds of $.
Starting City info
Progeny info
What Vjek said, what Kratuk said ^^^
Updates on Necro and Bard progress: it's ok to not have them ready for launch, but any info is more than we have now.
I would rather see a world map with percentages of completion, or stages of Progress per zone than read newsletters with asian elves.
More screenshots and videos with more in depth info. Something to sink our teeth into.
Newsletters to me are not only about tossing a bone at the community.
It's in line with how the dev's see the priority of their development and some developed content might be held back deliberately. This for marketing/strategic reasons.
So, with that in mind. I'm happy with what fragments they choose to put out into the world.
It's a steady pace of information release so far. The game is still being developed further and as Alpha and beta get closer, more info and details will be pushed out anyway.
I'ld hate to see another EQnext disaster, where too much content release elevates the expectations and puts more pressure on the dev's then necessary.
As the actual launch is still some distance away, I understand the way they keep us on board with the occasional tease.
I've said this before, it's a matter of riding the waves and experience how THEY choose to handle this game.
Naturally, if Kilsin asked for feedback on the forums, it's our opportunity to engage.
So, I see where you're aiming at here asking this question.
My response is simple: it's good as it is, I'll read about it when they put it out there.
There was a video one awhile back showing an artist working on armor, more behind the scenes stuff like that would be awesome.
Community spotlight, for me is more for the devs to meet us, I honestly dont care how someone came up with their character name, or where they would visit in game for an hour.
Tell me more about the state of the game, tell me about the team, the vision and ask for feedback on that vision. For instance... this is what we have planned for colored mana, what do you guys think and how could we improve upon this idea.... before we even get moving on it, rather than post implementation.
I feel like the last newsletter felt shallow and the forums are pretty dead right now, give us the community stuff to talk about. Newcomers to investigate this game, seeing a very active forums will draw them in.
Would be most interested to learn more about the team's current plans for the faction system.
How will factions play a role in the 'dynamic, zone-changing events' that have been mentioned in passing?
What's the scope of a single faction? Are all the NPC's in a city part of the same group, or can there be multiple factions that make up the population of a settlement? (think of guards, merchants, thieves guilds, religious cults, noble houses, etc)
Will a faction's strength and presence in the world vary from server to server (possibly as a result of dynamic events and players influencing things)?
How will factions interact with one another? Will some of them work against each other and/or will there be alliances?
How will players interact with factions? Obviously players might perform tasks for them or fight them and collect some material rewards in the process, but will faction reputations also open up or close options through the perception system for instance? Might they lend aid for some 'quests' or encounters if you're on good terms with them, while a player character who isn't has to make do without their assistance?
Will player run guilds be connected to factions in any way?
It's been mentioned that some factions judge players based on reputations and others will judge them based on alignment, but how does alignment work? Is it based on a Good-Evil score, or will there be separate scores for opposing personality traits (i.e. aggressive vs. diplomatic, honorable vs. deceptive, etc), or is it something else entirely?
Lastly, a few examples of factions and some basic lore describing who they are and what they stand for would be most welcome.