The map got bigger, how do we find each other?

akabear

So for new players, how are you going to know where the denser populations are?

Dygz

Same as always: make friends in your Node and find out where your friends’ homes are.

Asgerr

You can literally walk 5 minutes to the next node and check.

ButtercupClover

We don't know what type of information will be available on the in-game maps. They may have node levels listed with nodes so it could be easy to tell where the main population is gathered.

bloodprophet

Magic.

Scarbeus

Simple solution: If someone is on your friend list then it also lists their location! Job done. And I'm sure you'll be able to send a private message to anyone or search their name to add to the friend list, however they want to do it. So just add them and look it up.

Percimes

Alacrite

I know everyone is saying the map got bigger, but the 480km^2 size of the previous map was a reference to land size. The new land size was stated to be roughly the same. The only new information is now we have an idea of how much ocean there'll be, right?

750km^2 water + 450km^2 land = 1200km^2 map

maybe i'm wrong, but that was what i got from it

Ironhope

It's going to be a PvP focused game, trust me, you're going to be glad there's the extra breathing space.

As for finding people.... I don't know, as others said, just /whisper your friend who can tell you where he is or maybe agree to meet at the closest node which is like 5 minutes of walking away.

One needs to keep in mind the servers will have a population of up to 10.000.

The real problem is that servers which will have population problems (this is going to be a real problem for the game, especially once the launch hype lowers and people realize it's a niche game) will feel even worse with this increased size now in mind.

I have no idea how they will manage to fight this problem but I hope they think about it seriously because it's, in my opinion, by far the greatest threath to this exceptionally sociable game (hype wearing off and people realizing this is a niche game, not for everyone, which is okay by the way ---> some people leaving ---> random noobs starting to scream ''this game is dead'' because their particular node/guild started getting thinner--> domino effect among the normies).

Sengarden

Maybe we can all just… explore the world? Wild concept these days, I know. I understand that in single player games, you’ll often hear NPCs make big talk about the major cities to help point you in the right direction, but even then, they don’t tell you, “Oh yes, Solitude, huge city! I’d even call it a metropolis! Morthal? I wouldn’t bother going there, I’d designate it as a village.”

You have to enter this game with a sense of adventure, be willing to communicate with other people, and revisit areas you haven’t been in a while. Maybe you find a nice place you like on your starting continent and decide to make a home there, only later venturing across the sea and discovering a new area you might like to relocate to! A good understanding of a vast, dynamic world takes a bit of legwork and communication to maintain its relevance.

Dygz

Well, the exploration of the Open Sea is a free-for-all PvP zone... good luck there, but...
Yes.

akabear

I was thinking in terms of a new player after the game got established.. I recall in past games going back to a beginner area when starting an alt and finding a new player xp`ing in a pretty much empty zone and wondering what motivation they would have to continue when they have no idea where the bulk of players are.

And that is where I am driving at, how will we know where the denser / sparse populations are?

tautau

There won't be 'Beginning Areas' because players will be intermixed throughout the world.

Each node will have lower-level mobs near the node and higher-level mobs as you move further from the node. Therefore, any node in the world would be a fine place for both high levels and lower levels to be. It is a great design idea, you will meet people wherever you go! The walk from the center of one node to another is about 5 minutes. It looks like there will be paths or roads that won't be too dangerous to walk on, though it always makes sense to keep your eyes open, right?

If you go away up in the mountains or into a cavern, you can find really tough mobs there.

Sengarden

akabear wrote: »

I was thinking in terms of a new player after the game got established.. I recall in past games going back to a beginner area when starting an alt and finding a new player xp`ing in a pretty much empty zone and wondering what motivation they would have to continue when they have no idea where the bulk of players are.

And that is where I am driving at, how will we know where the denser / sparse populations are?

My reply still applies exactly the same... New players won't get special benefits by starting in an established environment. They'll have to explore the world, fill in the corners of their map, talk to people, make choices, and see what happens. They don't get a magic compass. What MMO have you played where the entire map was revealed to you and all the major content areas were marked on your map the moment you logged in?

Sengarden

Dygz wrote: »

Well, the exploration of the Open Sea is a free-for-all PvP zone... good luck there, but...
Yes.

I guess that's why I separated that part a bit time-wise. I think most people will level up their characters a bit and learn their starting continent before making that first voyage, potentially as part of an escort? I could see some guilds providing paid escort services for "lowbies" setting off on small vessels for travel purposes. But yeah, that whole scenario is gonna be... interesting.

Dygz

akabear wrote: »

I was thinking in terms of a new player after the game got established.. I recall in past games going back to a beginner area when starting an alt and finding a new player xp`ing in a pretty much empty zone and wondering what motivation they would have to continue when they have no idea where the bulk of players are.

And that is where I am driving at, how will we know where the denser / sparse populations are?

I mean... Node Stage should be a pretty big clue.

Hinotori

tautau wrote: »

There won't be 'Beginning Areas' because players will be intermixed throughout the world.

Each node will have lower-level mobs near the node and higher-level mobs as you move further from the node. Therefore, any node in the world would be a fine place for both high levels and lower levels to be. It is a great design idea, you will meet people wherever you go! The walk from the center of one node to another is about 5 minutes. It looks like there will be paths or roads that won't be too dangerous to walk on, though it always makes sense to keep your eyes open, right?

If you go away up in the mountains or into a cavern, you can find really tough mobs there.

Nailed it

akabear

I thought it was mandatory to have you start your journey shipwrecked on an island in an MMO

WHIT3ROS3

Sorry. Wrong thread. Ignore.