Curse

Zoolooman · Sep 08, 2005, 05:49 PM // 17:49

I think this is an improvement. If you want to grind for notoriety, you can still get a gold rare with a neat look. Otherwise, you can grab a green or a collector's item and have some fun. This game was never about grinding for those weapons: that's why collector's give you such awesome shit.

Think about it that way. The green items don't replace rares, but instead they compliment the collector's items. The worst thing A.net can do is to nerf their drop rates and encourage *even more* farming of the Furnace bosses. As it stands, people will farm them for a time, but their commonality will ultimately make such farming pointless.

Sciros Darkblade · Sep 08, 2005, 06:02 PM // 18:02

Well, ANet was saying how they want to put "unique" items in the game, because they like that feeling of having "the only one" of whatever item. The Green items are a step in that direction, but a very weird and funky step because while the items can be classified as "unique" by name, they seem to be limited to 2 items per new boss or something.

Doesn't that mean that soon most protection monks will be running some version of The Yakslapper, etc.? How does that give anyone a feeling of uniqueness?

What I was *really* hoping for is personalization. If you can take an item and give it your own name, then that would *really* be something. Of course that would customize it, but hey, that's the point.

While green items do a great job of balancing everything, they also become must-haves in a way, as perfect gold items, unless personalized, aren't quite as interesting in any case, unless they're the *super rare* ones (Serpent, etc.)

tlr1293 · Sep 08, 2005, 06:04 PM // 18:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Numa Pompilius

ANet's added a massive gold sink with these keys. What I wonder is how we're supposed to make any money now? Chest farming is a losing proposition, as the items in the chests are worth less than the key, and judging by a quick jog in the desert monsters hardly drop any gold any more.

I see the worry, but I do not feel it. I took 2 Krytan keys, open 2 Krytan Chest and got items worth 98gp (400gp spent). Losing money and fast, eh?

I ID'd them (2 unlocks) and salvaged:
- Staff Wrapping of Fortitude +21 health, sold for 300gp
- Sundering Axe Haft 10/6, sold for 300gp

600gp for 400gp spent = 200gp profit.

Granted, not your "WTS GODLY max Uber mega slam-jammer of this-that-and da other ting: C/O=80k, B/O=100k" but I don't think the game was really meant for that. I think the game was meant for playing the skills, monsters, storyline, PvP, etc... and the making of small bits of money, to better yourself along the way (upgrade armor, customize weapons, runes, etc...).

I just think the game will become fun again, now that "WTS - bestest, baddest set of uber spam-killing jelly weapons for 100k" may just go away.

thejynxed · Sep 08, 2005, 08:26 PM // 20:26

From what I've seen, it's only gotten worse in the short term. Green items going for 100-200k a piece in LA 1. Pfft.

Then again, I've been getting alot of purple items from the chests that I get mods out of. I just got a +21 Fortitude bow string for instance. Not perfect, but very useful for my ranger character fresh out of Pre-Searing. I paid 200 gold per key in this instance. Price of that bowstring in the open market isn't that much, but for only spending 200GP and using 1 expert salvage use to get the mod out of the junk bow it was in, made it more than worth the while to pump up my lowbie character's bow.

Sciros Darkblade · Sep 08, 2005, 08:41 PM // 20:41

That will stop, I hope (the 100-200k thing). For now people in LA dist 1 are still just as insane as ever (I was one of them, but hey I made good money doing it at least; farming n00bs was way more lucrative than farming Underworld ^^), but once people catch on to the fact that green items aren't anything more than interestingly named collector's items, I think prices on them will drop to 2-15k per.

The thing is, swords still have Fells and Crystallines and Axes still have Sickles and Sephis, etc. Staffs never really had such a sought-after equivalent, and as a result the green items are, for a brief time, filling that gap.

I'd personally rather have a perfect Fellblade than Brong's Monkeyspanker any day. But, since the Monkeyspanker is waaaay easier to get, I'll just use it and save my $ for something else, like armor.

By the way, there's no such weapon as the Monkeyspanker.

Oh, and yeah, the +5 energy sword, why the heck did they pull that? I mean, I'm glad I have one, but come on, nobody cared about them before. So why get rid of them? I personally found it seriously awesome and very much underplayed.. I'd give up 1 point of damage for having 25 base energy on a warrior any day, but I'm not sure anyone else did.

TSBasilisk · Sep 08, 2005, 08:45 PM // 20:45

I must say, despite the loss of profits with the keys, I've gotten some good stuff. First chest I opened was one in Perdition Rock. What popped out you may ask?

For 650 gold spent, I got one sword.

A gold, 15-22, +14% damage always, +25 health Fiery Dragon Sword of Fortitude. I'll lay you odds that, on the open-market, I could earn several times my initial investment back.

I've been playing since beta, and I have not gotten a better weapon ever. A green weapon will be nice to have as a showcase item, but I intend to earn it myself.

Mugon M. Musashi · Sep 08, 2005, 08:45 PM // 20:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by sidepocket13

people cried that they wanted new items in the expansion, now they are here and people want them gone.

maybe people actually wanted "new" items...
not the same ones with different stats

Thor Wolfson · Sep 08, 2005, 08:59 PM // 20:59

What were you looking for polearms or something Musashi? I think it'd be too hard to make something like that until a full expansion comes out...

But i want polearms too

And i love the green items and keys. This severely lessened the need for gold, and made the game easier to concentrate on playing, not getting gold. Take that botters!

Weazzol · Sep 08, 2005, 09:27 PM // 21:27

The thing some people (those who call nerf to the things that can possibly take away money from them or make someone have equal gear as them) need to remember is that this game is for the casual gamers. The people who don't get to farm for hours, play for hours, accumulate all the money and items as quickly as they can to charge ridiculous prices for a decent item to the guy who spent 1 month trying to make that much money to buy it only to barely catch up to the next patch where something better is out.

This game is made to keep everyone as equal as possible so that it comes down to skill, not the uber item so and so has because it's so rare no one else can get it. I’m very glad they are making it easier to get nice equipment for all, there’s no reason one should have more than the other and then try to charge 500k+ to someone who struggles to have 1k in storage (little bit of exaggeration there).

So stop calling nerf to the fixes and things the casual game needs for the casual players!!! Or go back to DAoC, EQ, Texas, or wherever the hell you people are from!

kleps · Sep 08, 2005, 09:38 PM // 21:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sciros Darkblade

By the way, there's no such weapon as the Monkeyspanker.

haha damn it would funny if there was.

Esrever · Sep 08, 2005, 09:48 PM // 21:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sciros Darkblade

Once people catch on to the fact that green items aren't anything more than interestingly named collector's items, I think prices on them will drop to 2-15k per.

I doubt it.

Look at the previous situation with gold items and collector's items.
Cost for me to buy my current longbow, a 15%>50 max Ascalon Bow with perfect +5 armor grip: 800g buying the 5 items the collector wants from players, 1k for the grip.
Cost for me to buy a Gold Stormbow with identical mods: Easily 100k, if not more.
What's the difference in game terms? Only the price to sell the bow to the merchants? Why the vastly different prices? It is because there are people who say "ZOMG! IS LEET GOLD STROM BOW! I MUST HAVE!" and pay ridiculous prices for the same items as collector's. Add in the fact that the new items have cool names and that they only drop from hard to beat area's, and I can see prices only going up.

Draco Hunt · Sep 08, 2005, 09:56 PM // 21:56

Because they arent so rare they give an even chance to the players that are not that experienced and dont have such great farm skills and not as much money as most long players have. I think these green items make allot of thing more fair.

M3lk0r · Sep 08, 2005, 10:06 PM // 22:06

/not signed

WNxArchmage · Sep 08, 2005, 10:13 PM // 22:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weazzol

The thing some people (those who call nerf to the things that can possibly take away money from them or make someone have equal gear as them) need to remember is that this game is for the casual gamers. The people who don't get to farm for hours, play for hours, accumulate all the money and items as quickly as they can to charge ridiculous prices for a decent item to the guy who spent 1 month trying to make that much money to buy it only to barely catch up to the next patch where something better is out.

This game is made to keep everyone as equal as possible so that it comes down to skill, not the uber item so and so has because it's so rare no one else can get it. I’m very glad they are making it easier to get nice equipment for all, there’s no reason one should have more than the other and then try to charge 500k+ to someone who struggles to have 1k in storage (little bit of exaggeration there).

So stop calling nerf to the fixes and things the casual game needs for the casual players!!! Or go back to DAoC, EQ, Texas, or wherever the hell you people are from!

^^^ ALL HAIL U WEAZZOL ^^^

if i wanted too, id have plenty of time to farm and do all that 20 hour a day shit... but y? first, its boring to do the same stuff over and over and over just to make money... 2nd, id rather put a few hours into this game, a few hours into another game, and so on.

so heres what i say to those of u who want good weapons and items to be for people who play this game 20 hours a day to sell items to ppl who dont play this game that much.

GO PLAY A GAME WHERE THIS IS ENCOURAGED!!!!!!!

imho, i believe they should make weapon drops a lot higher, so that a weapon is worth a lot less than it is now (for example... a good fel blade should go for about 5k max with mods)

i think farmers should stop complaining about how they cant walk around town going "WANT TO SELL MAX DAMAGE FEL BLADE WITH UBER GODLY MODS FOR 1,000,000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" (just a bit of overexaturation (RED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GO my spelling abilities >.<)

if u farmers wana play the game 20 hours a day, y dont u do something like pvp? or run noobies to places for free? or even better - take the stuff u farm and give it out for free!

imho i think they should take out the ability to trade gold. that way ppl cant sell their items, they can only trade for other items. like for instance, ill trade u my sup vigor for ur fel blade. this would totally nuke farming, which is exactly what i would like to see happen.

this game was not made for ppl to sit there for 20 hours a day and farm for good items. it was made so that people could play and have a good time no matter how long or short their playing time is.

so u farmers who are trying to nuke these items need to listen to this last paragraph. nuking these items makes people who dont have the time to farm not able to get anything good without paying ur rediculous prices. how is that fair. its more fair to increase drop rates of good items to make the game more based on skill and less based on ur playing time... u dont like it... go play wow or something

thejynxed · Sep 09, 2005, 06:28 AM // 06:28

I give out gold items to people for free all of the time. I have exactly... 4863 gold between all 4 of my characters. I know, I'm poor. But I'd rather be poor and make someone happy that I could give them an item they needed. That's just how I am.
Right now I am just trying to scrape together the cash to make a second set of Drok's armor for my Wa/Mo, and at the current rate I am earning gold, it'll be another month or two before I have enough.

And I like that idea about getting rid of being able to pass gold to other players. I think gold should be passed between your own characters and the various merchants only -nods-.

Nikos Battlehammer · Sep 09, 2005, 07:48 AM // 07:48

I think that being able to easily acquire "uber" weapons is double-edged.

By making good weapons easier to acquire, ANET imho is really working towards its goal/promise that this game is about skills and not about the number hours you play. Casual gamers can now concentrate on the game instead of farming to get enough gold to buy good weapons.

But different people experience fun from the game in different terms. There are those who enjoy the PVE/story aspect of the game; those who love to PVP; the people who want to get most expensive armors and weapons; people who collect only gold weapons (will this now be collecting greens?) or having a set of the glowy weapons; the people who like treasure hunting and unlocking items.

I think that those people who enjoy the "treasure hunting" experience of picking up and unlocking items, or finding "uber" items may feel disappointed or their satisfaction lessened. If something drops so easily and so commonly, where's the thrill in finding that uber weapon or mod?

But right now, Im just happy and I'll just enjoy the new content.

Gustav Gloomp · Sep 09, 2005, 07:50 AM // 07:50

is the shadow blade back?

id0l · Sep 09, 2005, 12:50 PM // 12:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weazzol

Or go back to DAoC, EQ, Texas, or wherever the hell you people are from!

Not that I am necassarily disagreeing with your point of view on the patch Weazzol, but I take offense to that comment.

Racthoh · Sep 09, 2005, 02:22 PM // 14:22

The only problem with the green items is that if you find one that is your weapon of choice, and you don't like the mods, what are you to do? For some people these new items are just what they've wanted, and to boot they're completely new with a different colour.

Another problem I have is what this will do to the UW and FoW. There isn't much point going there in hopes that a perfect gold weapon will drop when there are items that you know are perfect just waiting to be dropped from set enemies. As long as the mods appeal to you, you're better off going to the place where you don't need the favor to get into to find your weapon. Heck, it will save me 1,000 gold PLUS I can just go there with a few henchmen.

The mods should be random, because IMO crippling is not the mod I would want on my PvE sword. And at least that way, there is more of a point to continue to return to SF.

I'm half and half on these new items. They're neat, but I think they could've been done better.

Moskel · Sep 09, 2005, 03:51 PM // 15:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silmor

Up to five mods? Oh no! Let's look at something from before the patch, shall we. I kill a couple of jade scarabs for five jade mandibles. I head out to Dunes of Despair, to talk to the collector there for a Smiting Staff. Here's what I get, for the monetary equivalent of 125g:

Smiting Staff (11-22 light damage, +10 energy, 20% chance of fast skill recharge using smiting prayers, 20% chance of fast skill casting using smiting prayers).
That's three mods down. Now I've found an insightful staff head someplace:
Four mods. Now I tack on a staff wrapping of defensive.

<BLINK>Five mods. UBAR GODLY!!!!1</BLINK>

The only problem was that +15% while health >50% swords, axes and hammers were not available from collectors, nor were 20/20 healing staves or 20/20 protection staves, and only shields with stance conditions were available, no while enchanted (or while hexed, but... yeah). I believe they put those in now. Everybody wins.

You can get +15% while enchanted sword from collector (middle of Snake Dance, I think he wants troll tusks).

You don't -need- any of this though for the PvE game. If you have a group that has played tombs/gvg against difficult compeitition for a while and is moderatly good now they'll mow through any PvE challenge presented because it is static -- if you can't figure out how to counter something in this game that is the EXACT same every time you go in you need to spend more time reading skill descriptions.

All PvP characters already had this *GODLY FIVE MOD UBBBER STUFF* as long as you spent a bit of faction to unlock it. This just gives people an actual chance to play with a PvE character they may like the look of better without putting themselves at a disadvantage.