Curse

freekedoutfish · Jun 21, 2007, 08:03 AM // 08:03

We need a Hard Mode weekend or week to help promote this idea of hard mode! There are a few reasons...

1) Alot of people still dont know what hard mode is!
2) Its still extremely hard to find parties to do hard mode, even after 2 or 3 months of it being in place.
3) Those who can do HM and know what it is, just dont seem bothered!

I now have GOT and GOC, but getting GOE is going to be even harder and more frustrating. Not because the missions are impossible in HM, but because there seems to be even less people doing Hard Mode in Elona then the other compaigns.

I enjoy HM and I wouldnt have got GOT and GOC if I didnt, but I only just got them by holding back the frustration at how hard it is to find PUGs. I came soo close to just giving up and packing in the game because it didnt seem worth it.

It gets worse when you join bad groups. Which is someone you shouldnt expect in HM. Im not looking forward to standing around in outposts endlessly jumping between districts posting "Nuker lfg hard mode" again!

But I dont blame the players, because HM players do exist. It just finding them! I blame the lack of awareness that HM exists and the benefits to it! Anet havent exactly advertised it or explained what is it very well.

Its like when my local bus service completely changed the bus names and removed half the services! They just did it without telling anyone, and onyl through pressure did they eventually put posters up.

We need some kind of week to make people aware of what HM is! Even if it meant giving people who havent completed the campaign temporay access to HM to give them a taster!

Something to wet their appatite and just make realise what it is.

I've seen a few times when you post "LFG HM" and someone posts "what is hard mode?" or "what the advantages of HM?" and you explain the 50% xp and the better drops, and then they seem excited!

Maybe have a week where the drops in HM are doubled, or the xp is increased to 75% or 100%! Something to incourage people to HM for an entire week!

We need something to make people aware of what it is! So my ideas for the week would be....

1) Give temporary access to HM to all players in instances, regardless of whether completed campaign or not (but only for the week).
2) Increase XP to 75% or 100% increase for the week.
3) Increase the drop rate and gold amounts dropped for the week.
4) Put NPCs in cities making announcements like "come tryout Hard Mode, test your wit agaisnst hard creatures!" or somet!
5) Basically give nicer rewards for doing it for the week, something to intice people to do it!

P.S - I know I could use henches and AI, but i completed all 3 campaigns on NM using AI. This time I wanted to try and do HM using PUGs for a change.

the_jos · Jun 21, 2007, 10:33 AM // 10:33

I like the idea, with a few adjustments.

The earlier areas have groups of 4 players and are therefore harder most of the time compared to areas where you can get with 8.
Putting people from start to 8 person areas breaks the storyline and giving 8 person teams early in the game makes vanquishing there too easy.

For new players, I'd surgest creating seperate instances of missions /areas with outposts where people get moved to when they talk to the surgested NPC's. In the outposts, they will be level 20.
Perhaps put a skill NPC in that ourpost to offer some elites and other usefull skills. Those are not unlocked on the account and can only be used in these areas. NPCs grant access to vanquishing areas and missions that are not in regular gameplay.
People do get a small reward for vanquishing/HM missions, perhaps some gold reward, but no XP (to prevent HM power leveling).

In this weekend people with ascended characters should be able to access HM in the areas they have been.
Finishing HM missions or Vanquishing does count for the title.

Don't increase drops, people will be very disappoined when the weekend is over and the drops are greatly reduced. Specially when they are new players and can only access regular HM in a couple of weeks.

Quote:

But I dont blame the players, because HM players do exist. It just finding them!

I'm in a (European) guild with HM focus, if you want I can ask around if people still need Elona and want to team up with you. I'm not sure I have a lot of time myself, but others might.
PM me on the forum when you are interested.

upier · Jun 21, 2007, 11:01 AM // 11:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by freekedoutfish

1) Alot of people still dont know what hard mode is!
2) Its still extremely hard to find parties to do hard mode, even after 2 or 3 months of it being in place.
3) Those who can do HM and know what it is, just dont seem bothered!

I just tried to vanquish the first area in Shing Jea.
Killed 10 foes.
Quit the game.
It just reminded me why i didn't do HM after the first try ever again - it sucks.

NO weekend/week/month can change that - i don't like it. PERIOD!
And I am guessing that might be the case with some other ppl that don't play it either.
The only reason why HM is used these days is farming.

And no additional XP, drops,... nicer rewards can make me do it again.

The ONLY thing that might make me do it - are new quests. High reward quests like the Glint ones EXCLUSIVE to HM!
Anything else is just - been there, done that, and if I really want to visit it will be to admire the amazing scenery but that is best done in NM.

Rusty Deth · Jun 21, 2007, 11:25 AM // 11:25

I'm becoming addicted to HM now.

Lets face it, after a while the regualer campaigns become boring. HM brings the challenge, maybe even too much, but still its fun revisiting areas seeing how pumped up the foes are.

And I totally believe alot of people either do not know of HM, or are too afraid to give it more than one shot.

HM just makes you a better player. After doing for it while going back to NM is like playing with an advantage.

/signed!!

Government Flu · Jun 21, 2007, 11:51 AM // 11:51

That event will come in one variation or another soon enough. All in due time. As for me, I'm still waiting for the free obsidian armor event. Any day now.

Any day.

Epinephrine · Jun 21, 2007, 11:57 AM // 11:57

I'm 18/20 for GoE, Gate of Madness is the tough one. If I'm on give me a PM, I'll do it gladly. Nundu Bay is my other one, but I've almost managed that with heroes on my second attempt, so I want to see if three's the charm.