Curse

LookingForJustice · Dec 18, 2006, 09:02 AM // 09:02

Hello,

I wanted to drop a line about the enemies code. OR AI code, as it got used to be called.
I know, that ANET programmers try to make the game as realistic as it may be. That's no problem. Problem is, that sometimes it may proove wrong. Or - spoils the gameplay totally. And I don't want to complain about "thousands" of monsters appearing in Shiverpeaks. I just HAD TO get used to the fact, that ANET makes everything lately to forbid anything and disable all possibilities in moving through locations in any other way than fighting. It is another subject and I don't want to write about it here. But sometimes I am wonderine if comrade Stalin still lives and works as programmer in ANET staff.
But getting into the point:

INTRO

1) The resurrection shrines. If it happens that the team dies, it is resurrected in the "respawn" shrines. Also another subject is, that if the full party does not reach the "respawn" shrine, it is "reborn" at the far, far away previous one. But, if You are reborn, it happens, that the enemies draw near. Then You don't stand a chance. It happens in most cases in Torment, but not only. Automatically (You must be spawned somewhere) You aggro more monsters in few seconds. Then, everytime You respawn again - You die increasing Death Penalty. Well, it looks like ANET takes 2 possibilities: either You get to the destination without death of the team or You keep on dead, then, going back to the nearest city. With a bad mood.
Well, congratulations! But think twice before You make any changes into the "enemies" code. If a grown up player has got alike situation, well, crashed something on the window glass and comes back next day. But consider, that GW also plays children. And this kind of situations is no more viewed as gameplay.

2) The enemy following the player. IF it also happens, that You attack a group of enemies, sometimes it also may happen, that some players may die. If You don't want to arrive in point 1) (welcome to the nightmare) - logical way is to run away, then, try to resurrect the team. BUT - as I see it for about 2 months, it is logical no more. Monsters keep on running after You even through all of the location on the way! Or, they follow You until You get in range of another group. But - not so easy! - if You stop "at-the-radar-range" not to aggro the next group - the monster that were following You - run toward You once again! Bravo! Perfect idea! Especially if You are the only survivor out of the team and don't want to loose another hour in making the quest. IF the player would be walking, ok, monsters are ALWAYS faster than the player. Funny, but true. But if You are running, this is illogical.

3)

Don't You think, that the number of ice imps is enormous? Half year ago, the groups had 1 or extraordinarily 2 imps. Now the groups got 4 or more onboard. And everyone knows what is their primary weapon. They slow down the whole.
Is it only a hazard situation I experienced, or do the ice golems throw You to ground (knock down) even if You are under ballanced stance??

SUGGESTION

Ad. 1) Make a "safe" range for the shrines, so that monster does not come - or even - step ON the shrine, so that You stand any chance of getting out of the situation without extra hour of the game, -60% death penalty, by killing each monster for 3 times. This is especially seen in Torment -> You die, the necros spawn more monsters etc. Then, it is like John Rambo - agains 100 oponents.

Ad. 2) Make the code, so that program checks how many survivors are there (compared to the staring number of the party) - so to assure that it was a team, not running 2-plyers party. It would get rid of the trivial running. Then, to stop the monsters after following the player some time. And give the player any chance to keep on gaming.

Ad. 3) Well, if this is the ANET well-known description of "fun" while playing, maybe better change every tree, every rock, every chest into ice imp or ice golem? It would bring more fun! And pleasure of playing.

QUESTIONS

Does the code in Tyria or Elona, concerning the point 2) of this message, differ? Because as far as I remember, I didn't loose my psychic health in those situations while playing Nightfall. The monsters were stopping after following me few seconds.