0.9.7 Status Update

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dime wrote:

Only trouble is it removes the intensity and pacing of the race.

Why would it? Let's say there's a race that lasts 1 week. Let's say the time limit is 7 hours and you are allowed to play those 7 hours anyway you want. All 7 at once, or 1 hour per day or any combo adding up to 7. There should be no less intensity because you are still competing within the same time frame as everyone else. Sure, it feels a little different because depending on when you play you won't see the 'so-and-so is the first person to _______'. But the lack of messages shouldn't make anyone complacent, at least not anyone who is serious about the race. And if the dev's wanted to be nice, they could just post those first in the forum for people to see when they want. Pacing is different if you want it to be and really doesn't affect anything except for when the end results are announced. It might even encourage more people to play because then they don't feel obligated to take x amount of hours out of their lives for a straight session.

It has its pros and cons and I think would be a great idea to at least try if only for variation.

I like where this is heading. Make it more of a 'race week'- each racer can use up their allotted time in smaller sessions, or all at once.

Also, do away with "first one to clear area X".
Instead, award the "fastest one to clear area X".

The ladder page could show top times for each area clear, and if players want to use up more of their allotment to re-try an area clear time that would definitely increase the competition intensity.

Competition zones would need level restrictions, likely based on the safe experience range (to compete in normal Fetid Pool full-clear race you must be between levels 3-7, to compete in normal Old Fields Cave full-clear race you must be between levels 15-21).

This way no one is excluded due to work or other engagements, and you actually increase the level of competition. Its not just the top 4 players racing to clear each area first (leaving nothing for 98% of the competitors to attempt), everyone that wants to try their hand at beating the record time for a given zone would have their opportunity.

A week long league without prizes would be rather pointless. There would inevitably be a few players who would partake in such leagues, but I feel the idea would be uninteresting for the vast majority of players.

So, I don't think they'd be good, and here's why:

1) Moving from one league to another is the same as "losing everything" especially if the temp-league stash is wiped. Also, see HC to Default.
2) I wouldn't be motivated to play in a temp-league since I play ARPGs quite casually and I'd either end up in Default anyway (or worse, lose all the progress)
3) Some may still compete and not sleep/eat anyway
4) No prizes -- the "selling point" of temporary leagues

If the idea is to test late-game content, you could run the same style 3 hour league, but in late-game content with pre-leveled characters.

With the warm-up period before the league starts (perhaps an hour), players could allocate their passive trees up to their current level and begin with a selection of skill gems. (To solve dilution of skill gem value if chars will be transferred, a quick fix would be to wipe all skill gems w/ 0 quality).

Anyway, that's my two cents.

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FaceLicker wrote:

"

dime wrote:

Only trouble is it removes the intensity and pacing of the race.

Why would it? Let's say there's a race that lasts 1 week. Let's say the time limit is 7 hours and you are allowed to play those 7 hours anyway you want. All 7 at once, or 1 hour per day or any combo adding up to 7. There should be no less intensity because you are still competing within the same time frame as everyone else. Sure, it feels a little different because depending on when you play you won't see the 'so-and-so is the first person to _______'. But the lack of messages shouldn't make anyone complacent, at least not anyone who is serious about the race. And if the dev's wanted to be nice, they could just post those first in the forum for people to see when they want. Pacing is different if you want it to be and really doesn't affect anything except for when the end results are announced. It might even encourage more people to play because then they don't feel obligated to take x amount of hours out of their lives for a straight session.

It has its pros and cons and I think would be a great idea to at least try if only for variation.

Let me disagree here. If people can use their playtime whenever they want, it's not a race anymore, it's a time trial, you're only playing against the clock. Therefore, we obviously lose the intensity given by a real race, you can't deny that, and it's a big deal in my opinion.

In my suggestion, people would still play at the same time, thus the intensity is globally preserved. Of course, if one race last for several events, the issue of availability for players would be even stronger. Then there would be naturally less players in the second phase of the race, because of deaths/unavailability/too slow progression. For that issue, a new race could be started in parallel with the first one in a new league, so that people who wants to race could play even if they were defeated the previous weak. If the races were 3 weaks long (9 hours), there would be actually three different leagues each week, but you could take part in only one (they are at the same time). Now I think there might not be enough players to do this, but when Open Beta arrives, it should be more viable.

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Chris wrote:

what do people think of the idea of a one-week league or something like that? Last time it was mentioned, there were concerns that it'd promote unhealthy gaming, but if there are no prizes then there's less reason to stay awake for a week.

I think its a good idea, a good option to allow players to competete on a fixed (time) basis. Lasting a whole week I'd expect more fair and less unhealthy as 24 hours races for example.
And, offering only competition instead of prizes, will lead to an more average interest from the players than to force them to take it too much serious for the winning options.

I'd vote: check for the non-existence of major balancing issues in the new patch for some time(especially for the 3rd act), then give this a try.

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zriL wrote:

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Chris wrote:

what do people think of the idea of a one-week league

It sounds nice at first, but sadly these concerns are completely justified. I can't think of a way to prevent this kind of event from becoming unfair and unhealthy.

This would disqualify any kind of high level based ladder...

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zriL wrote:

However, I can suggest the following idea. For the next event, don't remove the league at the end, then make us start the next event with the character we played last time. It's like a 6 hours event. This idea can be declined in many ways(3 hours per day, 1 hour per day, 2x 3 hours per weaks, ...). The purpose is to make it fair while not promoting unhealthy gaming and allowing players to reach higher levels in an event.

Sounds like a good option, if its possible to handle within the league system - just cant imagine what to happen with the char if the time freezes it?

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On a side note, what do people think of the idea of a one-week league or something like that?

I'd try anything once. I say try it and see how it goes. I wouldn't mind starting a new char every now and then and the new league/races gives me the motivation to do this.

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MCGusto wrote:

Set up 1-2 month leagues - something long enough that players will feel justified in investing their time.

Thats too long time for the actual (beta) situation, with probably lots of changes/patches/addons over the league time - but I assume that is like the (standard "race") leagues will work after the official release.

SKELETOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




i am happy

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zril wrote:

Let me disagree here. If people can use their playtime whenever they want, it's not a race anymore, it's a time trial, you're only playing against the clock. Therefore, we obviously lose the intensity given by a real race, you can't deny that, and it's a big deal in my opinion.

You should be disagreeing with Loaf, not me. Im suggesting the same thing you are, the only difference is you can't fairly award prizes for 'firsts' with the way I suggested on this page.. Take into consideration that Chris said there would be no prizes, then the whole race technically is a time trial anyway. Whether or not there is a prize for top ladder, Is this kind time trial not a race of sorts? You are still competing for top ladder position if only for bragging rights. So yes, I can and will deny that any intensity will be lost. IF this race on particular is any less intense its only because there is no real incentive. The idea in general though with a top ladder prize will, imo, retain the feel.