Curse

Sir_BlackJack · May 06, 2006, 02:10 PM // 14:10

I just whish there would be a quick way to get through the slums....

Are there any runners ? While playing through it seemed quite impossible just to the masses of enemys. Also some ares can't be accessed w/o quests.

Thallandor · May 06, 2006, 04:11 PM // 16:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dove_Song

the entire area lookind like it was built with photoshop cut and pasting the same texture over and over....

it felt like a "filler" area with no real content....

Most everyone I know couldn't wait to get the hell out of there....I agreed...

It's not that I mind the concept of a slumy city.....just how is was executed was poorly done.

Anet should take a lesson from other games who have done it successfuly....Omicron the nomad soul....syndicate wars.....

update the city so it is not the same smear of Sh^t brown texture over and over...

/agreeded

The Great Al · May 06, 2006, 04:20 PM // 16:20

i'll /sign

i made a similar thread to this. the areas are confusing to navigate through, totally pointless, henchmen get trapped behind people and areas, and its just not necessary.

Ashleigh McMahon · May 06, 2006, 05:32 PM // 17:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by aron searle

Once i got out of that area, i really enjoyed the game a heck of alot more, and it wasnt just because it actually looked nice, but because i wasnt getting lost so much, or spending as much time pointlessly walking.

I so have to agree with you there. It was so boring running from point A to point B constantly- the Shing Jea island was great, but when I reached the slums it was so boring. I'm just glad to be out of there- the undercity area was bad aswell.

Some will say-"But you didn't have to do the run around quests"- well... I found I needed to because it was hard to get into groups if you weren't level 20, and it was exp that I needed.

Also, the sight wasn't nice at all- it gave me headaches, and stressed me out quite alot, traveling around, killing monsters for 30minuites, just to find out the npc I need to find is below me- making me have to take another route.
Down with the slums, or atleast make them less maze-like.

This is also putting me off making another Canthan character- because I just simply can't be bothered going through that area again.

Ashleigh

Gmr Leon · May 06, 2006, 06:08 PM // 18:08

The Slum area in my opinion would be a great place to hide easter eggs if it's so confusing. When I get Factions I'm going to look for some easter eggs in that area..

Though I ponder one thing....if it's a city how do the civilizians get through it's maze like structure? Why the hell would anyone build a city like a maze?!

Sanji · May 06, 2006, 06:11 PM // 18:11

While I kind of liked the whole urban sprawl the first time around... Frankly, it's getting old trudging the rest of my characters through the point A/B/C/D/Etc questline.

Kool Pajamas · May 06, 2006, 06:17 PM // 18:17

I liked the compact area. Made AoE useful for once.

The only thing I didnt really like was seeing the same enemies over and over. Those celestial things in one of the missions (forget the name) was a nice change.

Omega X · May 06, 2006, 07:39 PM // 19:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by GmrLeon

Though I ponder one thing....if it's a city how do the civilizians get through it's maze like structure? Why the hell would anyone build a city like a maze?!

Look at a big city like Houston or New York. Then ask yourself that question again.

/not signed

Getting rid of the slums because its "ugly" is like getting rid of your mom because she wore the wrong dress.

Weezer_Blue · May 06, 2006, 07:45 PM // 19:45

I didn't mind it, but I was glad to get out of the city. It's supposed to make you feel uncomfortable and suffocated. Isn't that the point of a sprawling city infested with disease? It was an easy area anyway - the confusing maps actually made it feel more interesting.

Alleji · May 06, 2006, 07:47 PM // 19:47

I didn't like it, but meh. What frustrates me a lot more are the locked doors in front of every single RED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GOing area. What if I don't want to do togo's 20th goddamn quest?

MinaDrakul · May 06, 2006, 07:48 PM // 19:48

Ah, the slums. I was wanting to hex it last night when I couldn't find Guardsman Pah. But I find it very realistic, and it makes you think. Also, as other people said, it's different, not many games takes place in the bad part of town.

ElinoraNeSangre · May 06, 2006, 08:04 PM // 20:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by lyra_song

Seriously, if you dislike this environment in the game, dont ever plan to visit: Hong Kong, Tokyo, Manila, or even NYC >.> Crowded confusing dirty...but full of fun.

Bingo! It made the game, to me, feel a bit more real. I know that a lot of it seems to be all photoshopped together, but look closely and you'll see festive lights once in a while, rocking chairs, little things that show people do live there... heck, I even found a cat rolling around on the ground during one of the missions (I'm sure they're all over).

It's certainly not pretty, but sometimes I'll turn a corner and find something beautiful just out there in the middle of nowhere, and it makes me think of those big confusing cities you go to and then suddenly find a small lovely park in the midst of.

fallot · May 06, 2006, 08:39 PM // 20:39

The slum makes me feel desperate to get out, which IMO is the perfect kind of vibe. I enjoy it a lot.

Teddi · May 06, 2006, 09:39 PM // 21:39

I agree 100% (To the topic starter).
The slums look terrible. Firstly, they look like 2D images were cut and pasted together. Secondly,they stretch up so high. I dont think normal slums would do that..
As well, there is a LOT of slums. More than half of the city is slums. We dont want slums, we want asian themed content. Sure, having some slums are fune, but there is just way to much. they try to make it up by adding good looking buildings in the middle of it all, but it just looks silly. Why would a rich building be in an area of nothing but slums?
I wouldnt get rid of the slums, because much of the game takes place involving poor cathans, and it is realistic. BUT, i would a)redesign them to make them look, not so "We really only took 5 minutes to make this stuff, but we wont tell you that", b)Make them smaller and add more.. wealthy areas.And of course stop putting 1 whealthy building in the middle of a poor population.
The 2 levels are anoying, but I have gotten used to them. Sadly, in previous days, i have spent a while trying to get to a city, just to find I was on the wrong level. They would add a level one and level two level to the map for less confusion.

Omni Spirit · May 08, 2006, 03:06 AM // 03:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teddi

As well, there is a LOT of slums. More than half of the city is slums. We dont want slums, we want asian themed content. Sure, having some slums are fune, but there is just way to much. they try to make it up by adding good looking buildings in the middle of it all, but it just looks silly. Why would a rich building be in an area of nothing but slums?
.

LOL...very true.

Artisan · May 08, 2006, 04:52 AM // 04:52

I think it would be boring if the whole game was lush grasslands and golden palaces and sweeping vistas...

Ristaron · May 08, 2006, 04:57 AM // 04:57

The endless slums seemed sort of pretty at first... until I had to run through them a hundred gazillion times.
It made me doubt whether or not I wanted to pay $80.00 for the CE. But now that I see that there is stuff beyond the slums I am more compelled to buy it.
Please, ANet, do not repeat this redundant ugly setting in Chapter 3...

CK0 · May 08, 2006, 09:08 AM // 09:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasterDinadan

I absolutely *LOVE* Kaineng.
It reminds me of Midgard in FF7, especially the feelings I got when I finally left the city for the very first time...!!!

Oh no. Please don't make any comparisons of FFVII to anything in Factions. The slums is definitely no Midgard and has no resemblence. You are comparing a diamond to a piece of coal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shmek

Drove me to take my recommended breaks with 24hour extensions it did. Just a monotonous bore that wore me down. Hope others enjoy it. It's not going anywhere though.

"You have been playing for 3 hours. In the slums. Self-inflicting cruel and unusual punishment. Please take a break."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hunter Sharparrow

From what I've played and read it seems the problem isn't the slums itself but rather the maze like navigation. It's too easy to take the wrong turn even when following the map.

That is one problem, coupled with the countless mobs. The rangers that set the spike traps in the thin corridors making retreat impossible. Multipled with the "fun" run-around quests. Taxed with seeing the same pattern design, on every house, every corner. And I hear valid criticism of the henchies - where it's difficult to pull and seperate a particular mob of enemies, without getting super-agroed!, and then watching henchies die slowly 1 by 1, thinking to yourself they can still make a comeback. Then, when you've had enough and decide to fight and sprint to the nearest portal/gate, you are locked off. The slums is really a mock prison. You can't get out fast enough, and you wonder what crime you have done to deserve it. Well maybe I'm being overdramatic, but I was on a roll. -.-
And they made it a considerable amount of the game. If ANET's plan was to have a negative association to part of the game, well mission accomplished. It looks like from the comments you either love it or hate it. To each his own.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Draygo Korvan

I think you are ment to hate it a little and want to get out. It makes that valley soo much more appealing.

Probably true; without darkness there cannot exist any light. But they really did not have to make the slums so terrible. And if they really needed a "bad" part of the game to accentuate a particular area, what does that say about the area in the first place? Not so hot. There is probably not much they could have done to avoid designing a "slum" area though; since they were going for an Asian-theme. Although there are alternatives.

A perfect storm I tell you. If you hated the slums, ask yourself this: What else could they have done to make it even worse? Not much else, and that is saying a lot.

Miakoda · May 08, 2006, 10:43 AM // 10:43

Maps are re-used in factions.

RTSFirebat · May 08, 2006, 11:45 AM // 11:45

Yeah I have to agree, I hated the whole city area. I mean why is the whole city a slum? Each and every single part of it, there is only 4 areas which are nice, 2 of them are towns (Like Marketplace). Makes you wonder how it got into that state.

Once I got the Jade Sea area I was blow away, it was beyond lovely. The art work is amazing!