Is it just me, or do I see some downgrade in the latest Ranger devstream?

Artharion

Aszkalon wrote: »

Artharion wrote: »

However, when I saw it today, I felt a bit cold. I noticed that many animations and skill effects look simpler than before.

Could it be fine-tuning ?

Were former Animations to big ? Was the Ranger jumping to far ? To cornered and stiff ? Were the Shots way more fancy and hence, straining on the Eyes - in a former Presentation ?

Could be that it was simply made more smooth. I admit - i haven't seen any Presentations in the Past that are "older" than the Juni(?) LifeStream around the Freehold which the Developers visited via Bunny/Rabbit Mounts and then butchered a poor Pig inside it for Meat and Leather. 🤣👍

I agree with your point. The gameplay and the combat looks much more fluid and smooth, and of course when you make a game, you need to make it playable, and gameplay > graphics. Maybe last year ranger stream was very flashy but in terms of gameplay was not fluid enough. In that case, I understand the changes and even accept them over the previous build.

DesyncGaming wrote: »

I love how you are posting the exact same thing everywhere and getting shut down everywhere aha....

It's a discussion son. It is not about 'shooting down' people. Grow up.

Scarctic

Liniker wrote: »

less flashy animations were asked by the majority of the community, it's not a downgrade it's making the game better.

True. I like the old-school approach on the effect side, esp. for physical classes...
If you augment mage elements on the other hand... I'm ok with a "bit" flashy elements.
Well-defined effects and animations are cooler!

Enigmatic Sage wrote: »

I do like the more archer and less bow caster side of it to be honest. Looks like an archer class minus the Peter Pan flying with Air Strike lol.

Exactly. I don't need Air Strike tbh. Delete this skill and put more emphasis on "normal-looking" movement abilities. I'd like to see a movement ability with vines used like a grappling hook tho. *g*

TheDarkSorcerer wrote: »

I thought it was an upgrade tbh

It depends, but overall yes.

Diamaht wrote: »

I think you are right, it was simpler. However, I like that change. I really hope they cut down on all the visual noise you see in games like FFXIV. When a lot of people are around you want to be able to have a visual sense of what everyone is doing.

That's why I reduced the visual effects for groups and other players to minimal, so I could see some effects but not the full particles and eye-blinding lights in raids and world boss events or hunts... oof I don't want this game to become an "immature anime combat particle nuke hell"...

Dezmerizing

I like flashy gameplay in general, but I am with Mag on this one regarding it causing issues in a game that is made for big groups and even bigger PvP battles.

In my opinion, GW2 is pretty spot on when it comes to handling this. Subtle effects, but with both visual and audio cues... That said, since AoC is aiming for much bigger PvP battles than GW2, they will probably have to tune down said cues more to not make massive PvP extremely unpleasant (performance issues aside). But what it lacks in flashiness, I hope they add up for in animations and great but more subtle effects! Personally, I hope their animation team can take some inspiration from Warframe.... Warframe might be a much smaller co-op looter shooter, but it nails the feeling when it comes to a lot of animation movement.

Also! Make sure you post this in the official feedback thread! Bigger chance of the ranger devs reading it there!

Dygz

Artharion wrote: »

Greetings!
Casting skill.
DevStream from 1 year ago. Minute 14:38: https://youtu.be/0257a-goFwE?si=tAzoAOX6HejZAaUh
Today's DevStream. Minute 4:55: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sp4H9XdKHao

If you notice, today's stream effects are simpler in terms of particles.

The timestamp in the first video @14:38 demos a Longbow Weapon Skill.
The timestamp in the second video @4:45 demos the Snipe Active Skill.
AFAIK, we have no indication that the Longbow Weapons Skills have been changed at all.
You would have to provide an example of the Longbow Weapons Skills being referenced in the recent Ranger demo to support your claim.

RazThemun

Community in the past have mentioned to much going on with casts and abilities in regards to animations. They likely just scaled it back so it wasn't going ham on showing all the abilities and visuals.

Songcaller

The sound of the old arrows would drive a person insane after years of repetition. The new arrow sounds are much better in the same regard. High pitched whistles are always a bad move.

Vaknar

This is one of the bittersweet things about open development! It's great seeing feedback about these things, but it's unfortunate knowing that not everyone can be pleased at once.

Ultimately, it's about finding the balance. Finding the balance becomes easier when people share their feedback!

Everything shown on streams is an active work in progress, so I wouldn't be surprised if much of the Ranger has been tweaked by the time we see it again

CROW3

Looks better each time. Keep going.

Dizz1

I feel everything getting better each time, Skill VFX, SFX, animation.

But yes still can be better, Snipe skill animation for example archer shouldn't engaging his/her back like that it's less powerful and less stable stance for making a perfect shot and higher chance to injure him/her self, the archer's back should stay straight and neutral as possible and use 50:50 right and left side muscles. Or the bow design is not right, like I said in feedback post.

I think they are on right direction, less is more.