WoW inspired idea(equipment) -open minds please-

[bounty]

I was playing WoW today and I wondered what it was that kept me glued to that game for hours on end, and why I kept playing month after month. And I'll be candid with all of you, the pace and pvp system in Neocron is hands down the most enjoyable of any. That said, What makes other mmo's like Everquest and Dark Age of Camelot successful? It occured to me that one major thing that retains such a large playerbase and draws players to subscribe month after month is equipment.

There are minor differences in most of the equipment that I obtain in said games. One piece of armor might just give a little bit more health, others a larger mana pool, some make my spells do more damage, they are extremely tiny incriments, but make a difference, especially in pvp. It seems that there is a constant, exhaustive, and endless search for the best gear. Some is extremely rare and only pure luck will deliver these to your character.

This equipment can also come in sets, and having peices of a set also add additional bonuses. Again, small bonuses, but definitely worth your efforts. A single capped character with the best gear won't dominate over a person with inferior gear, but a group of people with the best gear will have a significant advantage over people with inferior gear.

There are many ways that this idea could be implemented into the game. Everything from a special vest that gives more fire resist than what is currently in existence, harder hitting ammo, guns that maybe not only do theiir normal damage, but also do an additional 5 damage of xray. The ideas are endless, and I feel could be easily implemented.

How these drop is a different idea all together, but could definitely be implemented I'm sure somehow. The main difficulty is that the game developers for Neocron will have to come up with many different types of armor, weapons and gear, and will need to constantly be creative with new ideas for newer and different and attractive equipment.

The main attraction to this idea is to give the capped playerbase endless tasks, epic quests that take time to obtain the best equipment that then allows them to be a better runner out on the battlefield.

I know this is a borrowed idea, but in summary a restructuring of the current equipment and equipment system could attract new players and heavily influence the retention of current players.

I do want to note that one main attraction to Neocron is that people DON'T have to spend time collecting gear just to pvp, and that the game is attractive to those that want to pvp. I understand this, and I just am trying to find a way to keep this game fresh to everyone and retain capped players longer.

Thanks for your time.

[Asurmen Spec Op]

I was playing WoW today and I wondered what it was that kept me glued to that game for hours on end, and why I kept playing month after month. And I'll be candid with all of you, the pace and pvp system in Neocron is hands down the most enjoyable of any. That said, What makes other mmo's like Everquest and Dark Age of Camelot successful? It occured to me that one major thing that retains such a large playerbase and draws players to subscribe month after month is equipment.

There are minor differences in most of the equipment that I obtain in said games. One piece of armor might just give a little bit more health, others a larger mana pool, some make my spells do more damage, they are extremely tiny incriments, but make a difference, especially in pvp. It seems that there is a constant, exhaustive, and endless search for the best gear. Some is extremely rare and only pure luck will deliver these to your character.

This equipment can also come in sets, and having peices of a set also add additional bonuses. Again, small bonuses, but definitely worth your efforts. A single capped character with the best gear won't dominate over a person with inferior gear, but a group of people with the best gear will have a significant advantage over people with inferior gear.

There are many ways that this idea could be implemented into the game. Everything from a special vest that gives more fire resist than what is currently in existence, harder hitting ammo, guns that maybe not only do theiir normal damage, but also do an additional 5 damage of xray. The ideas are endless, and I feel could be easily implemented.

How these drop is a different idea all together, but could definitely be implemented I'm sure somehow. The main difficulty is that the game developers for Neocron will have to come up with many different types of armor, weapons and gear, and will need to constantly be creative with new ideas for newer and different and attractive equipment.

The main attraction to this idea is to give the capped playerbase endless tasks, epic quests that take time to obtain the best equipment that then allows them to be a better runner out on the battlefield.

I know this is a borrowed idea, but in summary a restructuring of the current equipment and equipment system could attract new players and heavily influence the retention of current players.

I do want to note that one main attraction to Neocron is that people DON'T have to spend time collecting gear just to pvp, and that the game is attractive to those that want to pvp. I understand this, and I just am trying to find a way to keep this game fresh to everyone and retain capped players longer.

Thanks for your time.

In my opinion, I think that equipment also drives people away from those games, I played EQ once too, but I didnt have the time for an endless search for a small gain.

I utterly LOVE the way NC does it, its what made it my favorite MMO Ive ever played, because In a month I could be fully equiped to fight without being horribly gimped

[Philchow]

Well, I assume WoC Items were design for this kind of end-game gear.

[QuakCow]

im a notoriously slow leveler in every mmo i have ever played, ive helped noobs and then had them surpass me in lvl 2 fold. i love how nc is faster leveling and has (somewhat) easy to obtain items. its true more item diversity would be nice; such as alternative rare weps at high level or just alternative weps at every level for that matter.

everyone goes for one gun...and as far as i know slasher and exec are really the only guns that one has to choose from based on skill, not which one does apocalyptic dmg

[bounty]

I have loved all of your replies, and I think what I'm trying to get at more so is just some variations and more customizable options for the player. And yes, some of the stuff have some extremely small but worthwhile bonuses. I am a slow leveler myself, but I would have enjoyed a little more reasons to get out and hunt other than rare parts. There are so many dungeons and caves in neocron, and they just are underused severely. Making some cool ammo drops or variations of armor would really help people get out there and hunt and explore some more. I love the pvp, but sometimes I loved going with a team from my clan and shooting down monsters and going for good loot. For those that love to pvp that is great, but this game loses a lot of players because capped players grow bored, and this would be another way to retain them. Also, out hunting for that awesome new pair of (slightly) upgraded boots and you are suddenly fighting an enemy faction that you meet up with in a cave. I can see some potential with this idea, and I also understand and agree with your points.

[Scanner Darkly]

I think we need more items and quests and such, the problem is all these take time to develop and implement. The small size of KK's development team in comparison to the other "big" MMORPGs just means we don't get to see that much new stuff added as often as we'd like.

[retr0n]

In my opinion, I think that equipment also drives people away from those games, I played EQ once too, but I didnt have the time for an endless search for a small gain.

I utterly LOVE the way NC does it, its what made it my favorite MMO Ive ever played, because In a month I could be fully equiped to fight without being horribly gimped

I'm starting to make a habit of this, but I agree with Asurmen, agan. I took a
break from NC a while back and played some WoW, nice game, but once I capped
and realized that in order to compete in pvp I would have to devote my life to
finding groups and doing instances, just so I could get that stupid set, and by
the time I have it, there will be 2 new ones to collect, i quit.

I imagine the equipment thing being something a "hardcore" player would like,
but for all casual players, it's a plague. And not to mention, that if that was
implemented in NC, it would just be another MC5, where you would need a
PPU / APU (or tank) in order to get equipment for your PE/Spy. (hint hint,
rework mc5 damnit)

I say no, one main thing I have always liked about NC, is that nothing _that_
time consuming to collect that it feels like a chore, and if it does, i can live
without it (mc5 chips).

[giga191]

14 hours of searching for woc disk, my apu has 1.2 billion XP psi overcap but still do no disk. Think this counts as high level content

[Dribble Joy]

I'm all for new items as long as balance isn't affected. What we needed are things that give a choice between them and other things, like PAs with different stats, but overall no different balance wise from each other.

[ZoVoS]

all games are based on part the 7 deadly sins. most are greed. u need to get everything and pride, u need to be the best

nc is sloth and pride

u can be lazi and put little effort into equpting and then take pride in having the best skill not investing ur time in having the best amour.

WoC will be implimented to get better diversity to items, and the constant search for the ultimate con setup is just as rewarding as getting better items

lom out 1 point in xray to get one more point in energy WOOP =]


diversity would be nice but not if it costs simplicity. nc apeals to ppl who want to fight with skill but have to think at the same time (its basicaly a counterstrike game that u need a brain to play, invest time for items and skills and setups) but in the end its still about the pvp. and putting in a ton of new items will just overcomplicate nc's simplicity

[Serious_Sam]

How about forgetting about copying other games and concentrate on ENHANCING the things that make people want to play NC.

[Felissa]

Well, there are many different types of players out there, and I don't think you can put it that easy. Some like PvP, some like exploring the world, some like playing with other people, supporting them, some of them are just "stat hunters" (being the best in something, if possible everything)... A good mmorpg offers something to all of them.

And Neocron does offer something to all of them, but the new content usually doesn't offer something for all of them, and besides this it is often bugged or you have seen all interesting stuff after a few weeks, or even worse, days.

Rare stuff, hidden content, with only some clues of their existance. Maybe some hints in articles of the Neocronicle / VotR. These could use some articles anyway.

[Paper Dragon]

"WoW inspired idea (equipment)". It falls down right there.

We already have enough equipment that's from drop-only. Can we keep it that way? I'd rather not see another game descend into months on months of grinding just so you can get Slightly Better Equipment+7.

[CMaster]

I'm all for cool items that you have to jump through (interesting) hoops to get. I don't like lost of random drop chance stuff, and I don't want USEFUL items - just ones that acheive the same thing in slightly differnt ways, or look a bit different.

[msdong]

well armour is a good point to discuss NC changes.
the current are allmost "all in one"
it works against force pierce and one of the major damage forms.
i think thats wrong.
with all hat armour parts ingame you can make the current armours "rare" and add a tonn of selfconstructed armour that protect against only one or 2 forms of damage.
so if you add like 10 more energy armours that only work against energy and are only different in the "extra" damage you can bring alot of work to the game.
since they are hightech armour make them high level with low requirements

like a TL120 STR20 armour
or a TL200 STR80 ...

thats like a 100 new armours ingame all made by players