Curse

KamikazeChicken · Jun 11, 2006, 04:29 AM // 04:29

Imagine trying to do Prophecy-style bonuses in Factions in the 13 missions over 5 characters. The time required for most people would be well over the 6-8 month period for the next chapter to be released. I'm also slightly disappointed that bonuses are -only- based on time, but there's just not much else they could do that wouldn't severly prolong a character's progress toward the Protector title.

lyra_song · Jun 11, 2006, 04:36 AM // 04:36

the prophecies style would give you secondary objectives, which is typically how bonuses in video game missions are handled....

Maybe part 3 would involve both a speed bonus and secondary goal bonus ^^

Maria The Princess · Jun 11, 2006, 04:44 AM // 04:44

i donnow......

i agree with OP, i liked GWP Bonus system much better. its like anouther mision, that you dont have to do, but can if you are bored

Big_Iron · Jun 11, 2006, 04:54 AM // 04:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fates Monk

Rage quitters quit if you miss the masters? At that point, isn't the mission over anyway?

Not really. I was doing Vizunah Square tonight and both Monks rage quit when it became apparent that we weren't going to make masters. Eveyone else held on though and we did make expert.

Sagius Truthbarron · Jun 11, 2006, 05:05 AM // 05:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thom

I find the time limit very nice for PuGing. No arguing about the bonus or sitting around waiting for an elementalist to recharge. I see other people may not like this flavor, but I find it to be challenging and exciting.

Yeah, but now you get people arguing: "are we going to try and get the master's?!" "get more elementalists and rangers! We need to do this fast!!"

I liked the old bonus system better.

Swinging Fists · Jun 11, 2006, 06:24 AM // 06:24

I think I like the Factions aspect of the Master's better than the Prophecies bonus. Very few of the bonuses in Prophecies offered much of a challenge, beyond simply something extra to do during the mission. In factions, it is a challenge to do most of the missions under the time, or protect the turtles / tree singers.

I've now completed the storyline 8 times, and gotten 3 Protector of Cantha titles so far. My fourth will be my monk, which I don't see taking very long. First time through, I have just been trying to complete the missions, leaving the Master's for later. This is probably more because I wasn't as interested in the title as I was accumulating amulets before. But as I go back, I clearly advertise that I am looking for a Master's group, even to the point of (Gyala Hatchery) confirming that we will just restart if any of the young turtles die. If the group just wants to do the mission, then I decide BEFORE starting the mission, whether I want to stay or find a different group. This works out just fine for everybody.

I just finished the bonus at THK for my first time tonight. We made it clear from the beginning that we were doing the bonus, and those that just wanted the mission simply left and found another group. If you just make your wishes clear in the outpost, there shouldn't be much of a problem during the mission - everybody is on the same page.

Since ANet implemented titles, it is now common to see "LF Master's Group" or "LF Bonus Group" all over. If you are not prepared to rush in Factions, don't join a "Master's Group". I think most people who are redoing missions for the Master's, clearly state "Master's Group", but people who are just trying to do the mission may not think much of it, and think "Yeah, sure, let's get the Master's", but they aren't prepared for rushing or they want to explore or whatever. If you don't want to rush, don't join a Master's group. Simple.

It's late at night, so I may be seeing things, but did someone say they sometimes take hours to do a mission ? OMG - what mission is that ?

I think I got a little off track, but basically, I like the challenge. I don't find most of the bonuses in Prophecies to be much of a challenge, but the timed ones, I feel a sense of accomplishment. I'm not saying timed missions as a way to get the highest level is the way to go, but I prefer it over the easy extra tasks in Prophecies. Hopefully ANet will have a 3rd method in C3.

bigwig · Jun 11, 2006, 07:34 AM // 07:34

i just want some variety. a prophecies style bonus, and the on the next mission a canthan style bonus, and then maybe something entirely different?

i'm a little tired of kill, crush, destroy.

llsektorll · Jun 11, 2006, 08:07 AM // 08:07

i infact hated bonuses and thought it was a waste of time.. now the time limit bonus feature is out and i couldn't be happier.. the faster you do it the more bonus you get... rewarded for doing it quick... like finishing fast isn't a reward in itself.... what more could i ask for

jackie · Jun 11, 2006, 08:12 AM // 08:12

Maybe third chapter would introduce different difficulty levels to missions. Party leader could choose if ppl want normal, hard, godly... Harder the difficulty, the more harder foes, different world conditions (-4 hp degen, 20% chance to miss target...) maybe couple alternative objectives, new bosses here and there etc..But not necessary any time limits though.

Just good challenges that need strategy & little bit wit. Harder difficulties might be a problem to pug-groups but encourage guilds to play together.

Swinging Fists · Jun 11, 2006, 08:39 AM // 08:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackie

Maybe third chapter would introduce different difficulty levels to missions. Party leader could choose if ppl want normal, hard, godly... Harder the difficulty, the more harder foes, different world conditions (-4 hp degen, 20% chance to miss target...) maybe couple alternative objectives, new bosses here and there etc..But not necessary any time limits though.

Just good challenges that need strategy & little bit wit. Harder difficulties might be a problem to pug-groups but encourage guilds to play together.

/signed

I think this is a great idea. I'd like to see it.

Fitz Rinley · Jun 11, 2006, 01:14 PM // 13:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tijger

Do you think those people wouldnt have raqequit in Prophecies missions when you miss the bonus? I can think of a few missions in which that can easily happen and you try and get the kind of people that ragequit to take it easy and ponder strategy in Prophecies, like thats going to happen.

IMHO it requires a lot more tactical thinking and good teamwork to get Masters in Cantha then getting the bonus in Prophecies in most missions. Basically, even a half-assed team could get the bonus on most Prophecies missions, in Cantha you have to work for it a lot harder, I feel.

So far, I completely disagree. The only thing I have to do in Cantha is slam keys and keep running. It is mindless bull. I would agree that it requires tactical thinking, a personal thing, but that is not to be confused with strategy (higher eschalon of action).

Since the implementation of Factions, I find little to no reason to bother playing with those outside of personal friends in cooperative missions. The behavior is now much closer to that of PvP. I have no respect for it. If chapter three is going to be like this I will never again consider buying or recommending GW to anyone else to buy.

Fitz

Pompeyfan · Jun 11, 2006, 02:32 PM // 14:32

I agree with th the OP too - I hate the rushing aspect of the time limits as you can't enjoy the missions, and no repeating them 3 times isn't a solution - there's already too much repetative stuff in factions to pad it out and make it seem bigger/last longer than it does.

Almost as annoying as the time limits are the having to keep x amopunt of AS (Artificial Stupidity) NPC/creatures alive.

SirShadowrunner · Jun 11, 2006, 03:09 PM // 15:09

The bonus system in Factions is stupid, and has created a
major problem in assembling pug's, you have ppl spamming
for forming masters groups and they *** themselves, been on
many teams like this, it is know "trick" now.
Also for certain missions ppl think there is only one "perfect"
team, so this makes it alot harder for certain classes to
get on one.
I was thinking about trying get 3 swords on all missions, but
after going back and trying a few "masters" groups, I feel this
will be total luck. Tried the Vizunah sq. yesterday for "masters"
the local side was one guy and all henchies, that team was
completely dead after second big fight, we still completed the
mission with 8 us and got 2 swords, but maybe I should have
"rage-quitted" because I knew masters was out the window.

anonymous · Jun 11, 2006, 07:26 PM // 19:26

I like the factions system better. It takes a good group to get through the mission fast on their first try. In prohecies you could get the bonus no matter how bad of a player you are if you spent a couple hours on it.

LifeInfusion · Jun 11, 2006, 07:54 PM // 19:54

I didn't like the masters reward things because it encourages people to charge in instead of taking their time.

However, the nice thing is people redo the missions over while helping guildies and such which means you have more people in earlier missions actually doing the missions.

dreamhunk · Jun 11, 2006, 08:48 PM // 20:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fitz Rinley

So far, I completely disagree. The only thing I have to do in Cantha is slam keys and keep running. It is mindless bull. I would agree that it requires tactical thinking, a personal thing, but that is not to be confused with strategy (higher eschalon of action).

Since the implementation of Factions, I find little to no reason to bother playing with those outside of personal friends in cooperative missions. The behavior is now much closer to that of PvP. I have no respect for it. If chapter three is going to be like this I will never again consider buying or recommending GW to anyone else to buy.

Fitz

i would agree with you. It is tooo much like pvp thinking. Infact i would say it is more designed for pvp play.

It should be fun, not competive.

Count to Potato · Jun 11, 2006, 09:10 PM // 21:10

Master's award is same as bonuses, tests your ability in missions

Andy_M · Jun 11, 2006, 09:24 PM // 21:24

Not really, it just wants to see how fast you can kill stuff.

Stockholm · Jun 11, 2006, 10:42 PM // 22:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Count to Potato

Master's award is same as bonuses, tests your ability in missions

It tests your finger dexterity thats all,
RUSH RUSH where is the fun in that? Freaking Ratrace

Malachi The Fallen · Jun 11, 2006, 10:59 PM // 22:59

/agreed.

Time limit is just an easy way for developers to replace bonuses for missions, as those would actually require some additional work from them.