(Helping GGG in) Creating a unique item: a breakdown of the breakdown

"

Hrishi wrote:

I must say I was fairly shocked that my unique was one of the most used during the month race in both HC and non-HC. It was supposed to be for a niche build...

which is your unique? I couldn't find it in http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Unique_item

"

andkamen wrote:

"

Hrishi wrote:

I must say I was fairly shocked that my unique was one of the most used during the month race in both HC and non-HC. It was supposed to be for a niche build...

which is your unique? I couldn't find it in http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Unique_item

Signature man, signature

I've finished my unique's post-mortem. Should I post it before or after the patch?

It is in all intents, finished.

If it's coming with 1.2.0, wait. If not, go for it.

"

Lyralei wrote:

I've finished my unique's post-mortem. Should I post it before or after the patch?

It is in all intents, finished.

Sounds exciting! *\(^o^)/*

This is really a fantastic thread. Thank you. I honestly only clicked it for the dev responses and then read it all the way through when my curiosity got the better of me.

The only substantive observation I will make now is this: Some of the issues that are brought up in the op and discussed throughout the thread concern communication and customer service. The unspoken problem is that unique item creators are not customers. Oh they may be customers most of the time, enjoying and "buying" services from ggg as they play the game, but that's not what purchasing a unique item is. Someone who buys a unique item is a donor. They are donating money and time to something they care about. They care enough, and have the financial wherewithal to invest their time, talent and treasure (as the lingo goes in development/fundraising).

A customer can choose to "buy" (in this case play) or not buy. A donor is all in. A donor's needs are much deeper and harder to satisfy than customers. They contribute their ttt and need all three to be appreciated (oddly enough the treasure part they care the least about). You have some leeway with their time too. But mess with their talent and out come the horns. It is fascinating to see the feedback contained in this discussion. You don't often see a company permit this sort of thing in public.

And thank you Monopoly Legend for the blood dance. Those boots have been the defining base equip of my (crappy) characters since I started playing a almost a year ago.

It's true, the Diaternal is not a customer as regards item design. What they really are is a client to a contractor, perhaps the other way around (it's a murky relationship!).

I shy from the word donor simply because, well, donation is 100% goodwill with virtually no expected kickback except perhaps tax perks and 'fame'. GGG themselves have never, to my knowledge, used the word 'donor', although 'contributor' does come close. I don't believe a 'donor' has this level of interaction with the cause they support, thus there's also that implicit line between 'donor' and 'cause' that divides the donor's offering and the cause's usage of it. There is definitely something much closer to a purchase with what happened here.

Regarding the devs allowing this to be publicly discussed: I didn't actually think to ask Chris if it'd be okay to sound off like this. I saw an Announcement post by a relative newcomer to GGG discussing the item design process and felt a desire to respond without responding directly. I think it's almost an unspoken that civility and respect would be maintained, simply because those giving feedback on the process *are* Diaternals: however they feel about the game now, they have shown without doubt that they support GGG and likely did so because they agree with their moral inclinations.

"

NotACuckRoach wrote:

"

Lyralei wrote:

I've finished my unique's post-mortem. Should I post it before or after the patch?

It is in all intents, finished.

Sounds exciting! *\(^o^)/*

I hope the so. I might post it the moment the patch hits or I might do it after the first one is found.

Depends on whether I'll be busy with Beyond or not.

"

Lyralei wrote:

"

NotACuckRoach wrote:

"

Lyralei wrote:

I've finished my unique's post-mortem. Should I post it before or after the patch?

It is in all intents, finished.

Sounds exciting! *\(^o^)/*

I hope the so. I might post it the moment the patch hits or I might do it after the first one is found.

Depends on whether I'll be busy with Beyond or not.

I'll be posting mine after work today. Draft ready and done in 2 languages.

Chris read and said it's awesome. Can't wait to read yours! Cheers. ♪(*^^)o∀*∀o(^^*)♪