Curse

pumpkin pie · Nov 15, 2007, 11:56 AM // 11:56

what the title says, randomly invite someone in Heros Ascent, take one every now and then.

Amon Warrior · Nov 15, 2007, 01:24 PM // 13:24

Improving the game, providing a greater range of ways for interaction, defining a solid and positive set of rules, constantly balancing what needs to be balanced, is a better way to expand the community; so that each player can find their own thing they like.

These type of qualities are worthy goals that a passionate game developer should aspire for. That's what I infer from Strain's comment.

Worrying about improving the community specifically, getting only a certain kind of player catered for, while marginalizing others, is to take the focus out of what the development of a game should be about...

TwinRaven · Nov 15, 2007, 06:46 PM // 18:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amon Warrior

...Worrying about improving the community specifically, getting only a certain kind of player catered for, while marginalizing others, is to take the focus out of what the development of a game should be about...

I have NO problem marginalizing griefers, leavers, leecher, racists, scammers, hackers, botters and the like...Socially catering to players who would like community play seems viable. Building a community of dedicated, friendly players only ads to the experience and strengthens the game. Why not cater to these people? The more of these people you have, the more you get...

Group behavior is an interesting dynamic that is easily manipulated...increase rewards (intrinsic and extrinsic) for those working together vs. those who choose not to join the group, and you will have more people grouping together...Those who solo, generally choose to go it alone for several reasons: loot scale, time constraints, PUG dynamics (social retardation). Increase the reward for group play and more people will do it...trouble is, the quality of those people is out of the hands of game designers. If the rewards are high enough, however, Mr. Jackass may well suspend his disruptive behaviors in favor of receiving a reward only acquired through genuine cooperative play.

I'm not in favor of nerfing solo play (I spend 95% of my time playing with AI)...but, I know I personally would join more groups if it were required for a reward not available or more difficult to acquire by myself. As it is, I henched/heroed my way through 10 titles because the reward for doing so alone was no different than if I had done it with a PUG or Guildies. With a PUG, it would have taken 10 times as long....Can you imagine Cartography titles with PUGS? If the reward were a quicker title by combining efforts and clearing as a group...each player accounting for their section of map clearing towards the title for every person in the group..."OK guys, split up"...Or what about loot scaling INCREASING dependant on the number of real players in the group...say an increase of 2-5% chance of getting gold items per real person? A group of 8 having a 16-40% greater chance of a gold drop simply by working together...I'd PUG more.

IMHO the creators of GW have done a great job with the game in spite of the several skill changes that have challenged me to create new and abandon old builds. The community in the game, however, has not changed for the better. There are fewer old-timers like me who really remember and appreciate the game as it once was...I the begining when everyone was impressed with a non-max gold bow with a 13 req because no one else had one. Back when players who had made it to Lion's Arch came back and helped out those who hadn't without a fee...When it was such that all was new and everyone wanted to accomplish the same goals of beating the next mission and finding out what comes next because no one knew...

Now GW has become like any other community without common goals. Everyone wants something else...and why shouldn't they, really? But without common goals we become divided and only want what we want, with little consideration for others. I play alone, now....I didn't always. I've been trained to play alone through the consequences of negative behavior of others....there is little reward for me to play with other people...so I don't. How many of us are there out there who WOULD play with others, if there were a good reason to?

Should ANet do something more about it? Naw...Could they if they really wanted to? Maybe...but what reward is there in it for THEM? Will we be grateful...will we do OUR part to make it a better place...What would it take to get us to be better people online? What reward...intrinsic or extrinsic would make it worth it for everyone to play fair, be kind and helpful and not cause others greif. You figure that out, friend, and you just fixed the world.

Amon Warrior · Nov 16, 2007, 12:30 AM // 00:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwinRaven

I have NO problem marginalizing griefers, leavers, leecher, racists, scammers, hackers, botters and the like...

Any abusive behaviour should be discouraged, like in any community.

And Anet has been doing something about it. Loot scaling turned out to be a wise decision in the long term. One just need to take a look at the price of gold selling these days. Also, reporting players of wrong doings might not be perfect but is a mechanism that seems to be doing more good than harm.

A game like Guild Wars has benefited from its constant evolution. I don't feel nostalgic at all of how things were before. We all have to move forward or risk stagnation. Who can say that Guild Wars would now have only a handful of players for not letting go of the "old ways"? These changes through time have made players rethink strategies and see through entirely different perspectives and that can only be a good thing. But a game has its limitations in technology so, Guild Wars 2, I'm looking forward to it.

But in order for the social aspect of the game to be enhanced, then I agree that some inner-workings should be expanded: Provide players with better customizable Guild Halls with better options for player interactivity; an in-game chat service; more manageable options for the friends list, an in-game email system with an option to attach game items; encourage a full-player team by dropping more/better loot or give more experience in combat, etc...

Giving more options and structured freedom for players to do whatever they want is my idea of game bliss.