Head-start for the headless...

ArchivedUser

Sooooo... I was trundling through the Quotebin, and came upon this one.

I know that some people think that 'head start' isn't that big a deal, since it has no impact on nodes... the world is just a painting.  I'll look at it on someone's twitch stream... or maybe go play with my legos for a couple days.

I also know that some people probably think 'head start' is the biggest deal in the world, regardless of impact on nodes... there may be a lot that folks can do with an extra day or two to get an edge over the unwashed masses. 

I actually haven't decided which of these categories i fall into yet. 

So i'm a little curious where others stand on the 'headstart server' vs 'non-headstart server' decision?

ArchivedUser

My pledge(s) included a head-start. As I see it, the main advantage of head-start will be the extra time you and a bunch of friends/guild mates will have to travel to a remote spot to get ready to level your node, away from the nodes that will be closer to the divine gateways and competing for their ZOI.

ArchivedUser

Head starts are exactly what Steven said in his quote, a small short Beta Test.

To many games use them as a cash grab advantage for players (cough Trion cough) and many times there are outages, crashes and queues so the people who payed for head start freak out as they feel their money is wasted. 

I support the way Intrepid is handling it. Sure there's an advantage in exploring and maybe a jump on money making in game, but if that's super important to you and you didn't buy into head start then WTF are you doing?!

ArchivedUser

I wonder if node leveling via PvE will be based on quality, quantity or some mathematical nightmare mixture thereof.

If i'm a level one gemini pipsqueak attacking a lvl 1 dire shrew, am I contributing the same amount of node-experience as lex's level 50 hydromancer attacking a lvl 50 earmuffed badger?

What if lex decides to kill lvl 1 dire shrews with his level 50 hydromancer.. surely he'll kill them faster than I... logically, this means he's contributing more right? Unless being lvl 50 gives him diminishing returns...

If nodes are inactive, but player characters are still able to gain.. stuff (the xpees, the munnees, the luls)... surely having that head-start will be advantageous far beyond just being able to put distance between you and the Gates? 

ArchivedUser

I think there could be an advantage to staking out a spot further from all the other places. However, if everyone does stay closer to the portals and they hit that coveted "level 5" city before you, that plan could backfire (until you plan a siege ). This could also be shifted the other way if peeps decide to not join a server where everyone had a 1-2 day head start.

For me the head-start was part of a package, not the reason I chose the package. I will be happy to play during that period, but if the servers go crazy and there are last minute fixes that prevent me from getting my 2 full days (or possible 0 days) I would not throw a fit.

ArchivedUser

I don't disagree with you either @Karthos  I think Intrepid's approach is very wise.  I can hardly think of a game i entered at launch that didn't have a very rocky first couple days.

As i indicated above, i'm not sure where i fall in the caring spectrum.  I did purchase a package, but it didn't include head start, and i have been thinking of grabbing it when it becomes available again. 

ArchivedUser

lexmax said:

My pledge(s) included a head-start. As I see it, the main advantage of head-start will be the extra time you and a bunch of friends/guild mates will have to travel to a remote spot to get ready to level your node, away from the nodes that will be closer to the divine gateways and competing for their ZOI.

This. Since those who spend the time and effort dealing with the issues of alpha and beta will have a much better idea of where the "best spot" will be to crank on their node. The map is initially going to be static, and they haven't said whether node type placement will change from testing to live, it will have an impact. (Most likely it won't once they find out they have balanced the node types so that one area of the map is MUCH more advantageous than another). So load up the family an' move to Beverly.

ArchivedUser

UnknownSystemError said:
So load up the family an' move to Beverly.

Hills that is

ArchivedUser

lexmax said:

UnknownSystemError said:
So load up the family an' move to Beverly.

Hills that is

Swimming pools, movie stars.
 (Queue Banjo)

ArchivedUser

That song takes me back, lol.  The biggest advantage I see is picking out a spot where the guild might want to build and we can meet up.  But like most experienced MMOers, we know how awful launch days can be, and so be prepared for problems.

ArchivedUser

I really don't care that much either way. I do think that the way IS is handling it is vary good in that they are going to have servers that are head start and ones that aren't head start, which gives a choice for those that don't like head start while at the same time relieving the stress on the servers and the devs when issues pop up

ArchivedUser

Wraeven said:

I wonder if node leveling via PvE will be based on quality, quantity or some mathematical nightmare mixture thereof.

If i'm a level one gemini pipsqueak attacking a lvl 1 dire shrew, am I contributing the same amount of node-experience as lex's level 50 hydromancer attacking a lvl 50 earmuffed badger?

What if lex decides to kill lvl 1 dire shrews with his level 50 hydromancer.. surely he'll kill them faster than I... logically, this means he's contributing more right? Unless being lvl 50 gives him diminishing returns...

If nodes are inactive, but player characters are still able to gain.. stuff (the xpees, the munnees, the luls)... surely having that head-start will be advantageous far beyond just being able to put distance between you and the Gates? 

Can't really advance your character much without the nodes leveling.
Node advancement controls the content - especially the levels of available content.
I don't expect characters to be leveling very much -if at all- before nodes become active.

ArchivedUser

Agree. What I am hoping for is since there is no box cost that they allow people to download the "final" build in the week leading up to headstart. Companies that sell the game via "box cost" have to have set release times to deter pirates and other issues, but since that doesn't matter, let as many people be set up and ready to go from minute one. Allows them to get ahead of all the "My game won't install! Help me!" tickets and concentrate on actual load issues at launch. By functioning as a staggered release of a sort, they also get a real-time handle on how the server loads are going. I know it is too much to ask for that Day One is just like any other day leading up to release and you just log on and play, but we can always dream.

ArchivedUser

UnknownSystemError said:

Agree. What I am hoping for is since there is no box cost that they allow people to download the "final" build in the week leading up to headstart. Companies that sell the game via "box cost" have to have set release times to deter pirates and other issues, but since that doesn't matter, let as many people be set up and ready to go from minute one. Allows them to get ahead of all the "My game won't install! Help me!" tickets and concentrate on actual load issues at launch. By functioning as a staggered release of a sort, they also get a real-time handle on how the server loads are going. I know it is too much to ask for that Day One is just like any other day leading up to release and you just log on and play, but we can always dream.

Allowing downloads in advance can also give them an idea on numbers for day 1

ArchivedUser

Am i remembering correctly that Stephen said there's already a quarter of a million accounts registered?  

Even if it is only half that, I rather wonder if the majority of us forum-dwellers will even end up on the same server.   I kinda think it would be rather sad if we didn't. 

ArchivedUser

Wraeven said:

Am i remembering correctly that Stephen said there's already a quarter of a million accounts registered?  

Even if it is only half that, I rather wonder if the majority of us forum-dwellers will even end up on the same server.   I kinda think it would be rather sad if we didn't. 

Quarter of a million accounts was a number he threw out. But a large portion of those are people that you may never see again. They see a video or a link and sign up, and never come back, or they just wait for release. Most companies use numbers like this to build hype, as long as they don't end up believing inflated numbers for their plans they do fine. Do I hope it just explodes closer to launch with active people screaming to get in? Of course. Do I realistically think that launch will be around 100k players? Yes.
Some of us are already sorting out geographically and are fine with it. I will be in OCE/SEA. We will all be thrown together for close to a year and half, then will move to our separate areas to seed that knowledge onto the crop of incoming players. Plus you have a chance of not having to interact with people who are just toxic. For me anecdotally there seems to be a specific region where our "gankers should have no penalties" posters seem to be from, for me, not having to deal with their bullshit will be a welcome relief farther down the line. And yes, I know there will always be that small subset on every server.

ArchivedUser

Like most North Americans, i tend to forget that there's a rest of the world...  I guess if there will be servers specific to OCE/SEA i won't be seeing some of my favorite forum people in game.  

As one president once eloquently put it: 'Sad'.

  

ArchivedUser

The only "advantage" a head start player will get is being able to scout the world map and maybe get a few levels (that depends on mob XP and how much you can grind in 1-2 days).

But then again, if the mob XP is not that high, then the head start player won't get that far ahead and if you're planning on playing on a head start server (you could also just not roll a character on a head start server), then you can just as easily get the "world map advantage" by watching a stream those 1-2 days.

So in the end I don't see an issue with the head start, it all comes down to the mob XP and how impactful a character's level will be.

ArchivedUser

I don't care either way. As for the type of server I join. It'll be the one that the RP community decides on making the unofficial RP server

ArchivedUser

Karthos said:

Head starts are exactly what Steven said in his quote, a small short Beta Test.

To many games use them as a cash grab advantage for players (cough Trion cough) and many times there are outages, crashes and queues so the people who payed for head start freak out as they feel their money is wasted. 

I support the way Intrepid is handling it. Sure there's an advantage in exploring and maybe a jump on money making in game, but if that's super important to you and you didn't buy into head start then WTF are you doing?!

It's very true - headstart is us just being made voluntary guinea pigs ^^ 
Remeber aswell the ZOI also correlates with the node level so our progression can only go so far - so we won't be getting really far at all xD Once the servers open - we would need to redo activity within the zones to progress our nodes in order for us to make any real progress ^^

ArchivedUser

I recently got the PAX Alpha pack, so I don't have headstart, but if it comes available in the future to upgrade, I might do so. I also wonder if the alpha/beta world will be the live world or if they will be able to switch up node types so you still have something to discover on launch. I sure hope so, because I think that little RNG and not knowing makes the first few days more fun and keeps the guild leaders(including myself) on their toes!

ArchivedUser

Boci said:

I recently got the PAX Alpha pack, so I don't have headstart, but if it comes available in the future to upgrade, I might do so. I also wonder if the alpha/beta world will be the live world or if they will be able to switch up node types so you still have something to discover on launch. I sure hope so, because I think that little RNG and not knowing makes the first few days more fun and keeps the guild leaders(including myself) on their toes!

The stated intention is for them to do wipes at each stage of testing. So possible wipe after alpha 1 before alpha 2, definitely before beta 1, and maybe before beta 2. They will also be doing things like advancing nodes to different levels through dev actions, initiating seiges, and giving out stuff during the phases, all so stuff can be tested correctly. Would be kind of a waste of testing if it takes months to get to a metropolis level in the alpha, only to find out late in the cycle that all the raid content is broken. So expect weird shit to happen when it comes to stuff being tweaked at a moments notice.
Once testing is completed, the server will be wiped and will become the test server. I will not become a "live" server.
As to node types they have said that they are set. We probably won't see much shift in their actual location once the map has been tweaked and balanced from test to live. They are designing it in mind so that no one locations is much better than another as to starting advantage. Would really suck if you hate snow, and they used a randomizer and all the node types you wanted just happened to be in the north. Expect there to be surprises, but balance. And don't forget the ever present Underrealm basically mirroring things up top. Might be a really good strategic decision to develop your guilds/group node underground with natural chokepoints for seiges.

ArchivedUser

@UnknownSystemError I didn't mean RNG in the system, I more meant as in RNG for the players. So they have a balanced setup of nodes for the test server, but on live server they won't be on the exact same locations. Otherwise there is no point in not telling us what the node is before stage 1 as everybody will have the map mapped from Alpha/Beta

ArchivedUser

Yep, I got ya. And my point is that they probably will not change it once they have balanced it on test to live. We find out in alpha that zoi spreading causes a preference in certain node types to dominate other, or because of terrain and design the nodes in this area are deemed undesirable by just about everyone. Things they will play around with while we test, find the sweet spot, and then not change. Thing is, we will know what the node type for Summer Meadow zone is, but we may choose in Live never to develop it.
But since they have not declared either way yet, it is just regular forum mental self-pleasuring.

ArchivedUser

As a guild leader this is one of the problems that I have to adress and not everyone will be happy. 
- Do we roll on the 2 day headstart server?
- Do we roll on the 1 day headstart server?
- Do we roll on the non-headstart server?

Either option will not be fair for someone in the guild for sure. People with 2 day access will have to re-roll to join the guild or non-headstart folk will have to roll on the server where people are already levelled up and such.

I wish there was no head-start at all. But I can see why there are and I can live with that so, not complaining.

ArchivedUser

@AeonAuron, I am glad you mentioned this as I have not considered it. There are some community members I would like to play with, but I don't know if they are head-start or not (let alone NA or OCE/EUR).

It would suck to find out they are all in my area but none of them are on the head-start server(s). I would have to decide to re-roll or forego their companionship

ArchivedUser

I have 2 days early access.  In the long run do I feel that it gives anyone a huge advantage, No!  In the short term maybe a tiny bit.  I always try for alpha and early access for tactical and strategic planning.  What I learn in alpha in respects to what works and what is a mistake or a waste of time I apply to the early access.  For example if I learn that making fox fur hats gets me from tailoring 1-5 the fastest and then bunny slippers gets me from 6-10. I'm going to apply that immediately.  If they turn off experience gain I'm going to stock pile materials then immediately use them on day 3 and power level.  But I do t feel that it is relevant a week into the game.  If I play 8 hours a day and you play 2 hours a day, you will always be behind and I'll be behind the people who play 12.  And with non bound equipment the people who start with a group will be able to pass down gear giving an advantage to them over solo players.  People will hopefully join AoC a month or a Year after launch and they won't care about people who started 2 days early.  

ArchivedUser

I don't see the point in having different servers for each of the launch dates.

Sure, some features disabled during headstart, that's fine, but why open a new server each day?

As Aeon mentioned, it just causes confusion. I'd prefer the usual servers, just opened 2 days early with limited features until full release instead of opening new servers for each day of headstart and official launch. Why would players with no headstart even bother to play on 2-day headstart servers?

I didn't vote yet because my opinion remains on the ability to buy into early access, since there are no more crowdfunding plans and no word on founder packs either.

ArchivedUser

Players without a head start but with guild mates that did have a head start could possibly benefit more by joining their server. They missed two days of play time, but what would be different if they didn't have time to play at launch? Would they just never play because they weren't there day one?

ArchivedUser

Yeah i'm not really sure i see the point of having a non-head-start server..  i figure when it comes down to it, i'll go with whichever server has the guild that suits me best.

Or whatever server isn't locked out because it already has too many players 

ArchivedUser

The problems I see with the head start is the gold/currency, level, and map layout advantage those players will have. For a game that is so focused on being player driven I believe that this is a problem especially when the number of houses in a node are limited. Players with the early start can then buy the first houses, escort their caravans more safely (level advantage), and have the advantage of already knowing the layout and choosing exactly which node they will basically rush up to level 5. For these reason and because these players tend to be the most hardcore and most toxic players I will stay away from head start servers.