Game is too punishing.

Hello,
I could write tons of feedback but I would like to get across the most important point for me which is how harsh the game is.

For context I'm a solo player and don't intend on joining a team/guild

Personally, I'm a fan of how tough the game is but the material drop rate on death is way too punishing. I think its okay if I lose half of lets say 2 random out of 10 different materials in my possession but to lose 60% or w/e it is of EVERYTHING?? Additionally, anyone can just freely loot me, not to mention, In a few cases I had to travel 5mins just to get to the area I died. It should be significantly lowered, or make lootbags only accessible by the person who died if it was an NPC death.

Honest opinion I think in alpha we shouldn't drop anything on death due to the following reasons:

* its full of bugs, which can cause death.
* Poor performance overall currently, can result in death.
* No one wants to spend 2hrs farming mats just to die (especially due to the above) and have to start again in alpha.
* People will quit alpha testing if they keep getting punished so heavily before they reach higher levels which means less overall testing.

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Comments

nanfoodle

Personally I think you should drop items on PvP death. PvE you should not drop glint and crafting supplies.

Gizban

It's a group focused game. If you were in a group, you would be less likely to die and if you do your party could pick your stuff up for you as you travel back.

bloodprophet

I find the Alpha 2 to be great fun.
Not punishing at all. Even solo, there is a lot of unfinished stuff and tons of bugs. But for an alpha it is in a good place.

If you refuse to join a group in a group focused game that is on you.

Blip

I found that there is a lack of solo content to do. We don't always have groups to join, and sometimes they are full.

This weekend, my guild groups have mostly been full, and I've been feeling a bit lost not able to progress much, just wandering around without getting much done.

When you play DPS, it's usually the spots that are taken first, and everyone wants a Bard, Tank, or Cleric.

That's something Intrepid needs to account for. Yes, the game feels punishing then.

Kalnazzar

To be honest, I disagree with removing the PvE death penalty. Having a real risk factor adds excitement and stakes to the game. Without a death penalty, players could abuse death as a quick way to fast-travel, undermining both the challenge and the game’s intended mechanics. This kind of system would remove the need for players to improve their class skills or team up for tough content, and it would take away a lot of the strategy that makes PvE engaging.

On the character stat sheet, I see stats like ‘Resource Drop 25%’ and ‘Resource Delete 25%’ which help define the current penalty system. I’d love to see new stats to support a more immersive system, like ‘Flash Inferno’ and ‘Slow Burn’. Here’s how they could work:

Flash Inferno (e.g., 3 Minutes) – This would prevent others from looting your ash pile for a short time after death unless you’re within 10 feet of it, If you come within 10 feet of your ash pile, the protection dissipates, turning it into a free-for-all for your loot. This allows you to approach your pile and see who might be attempting to loot it, allowing for PvP engagement if you want to contest it. However, if you can’t return within those 3 minutes, the pile will cool down, allowing others to loot it.

Slow Burn (e.g., 15 Minutes) – This stat would delay the complete despawn of your items, giving them a longer duration before turning to ash. This would offer you more time to retrieve your items, which is particularly useful given the game’s travel times. I believe the current in-game duration is around 15 minutes, but this could be adjusted and slightly improved as a stat.

To make these stats even more dynamic, I’d love to see them influenced by gear, augments, or even node relics. For example, players might be able to improve Flash Inferno and Slow Burn times incrementally, but not to the point that it removes the risk of dying. Minor improvements like these would reward time and effort, adding depth without removing the game’s challenge.

Incorporating these mechanics as stats or through obtainable gear would add strategic layers to PvE and PvP without making death penalty-free. It would keep the thrill and challenge alive, even in a PvE environment.

katarinae

Material punishment is not too harsh. It means get better.

mainedutch

This games goal is quite literally to put massive back in the MMO by reviving group play, which other MMOs are deincentivising for some reason.

Solo play is possible. I haven't had an issue personally. But if you don't want to play with people, that's sorta the whole point of Ashes, and MMOs in general. It sounds like you want a single player game if you have no intention of playing with other people.

Czeris

Palmax wrote: »

Hello,
I could write tons of feedback but I would like to get across the most important point for me which is how harsh the game is.

For context I'm a solo player and don't intend on joining a team/guild

Personally, I'm a fan of how tough the game is but the material drop rate on death is way too punishing. I think its okay if I lose half of lets say 2 random out of 10 different materials in my possession but to lose 60% or w/e it is of EVERYTHING?? Additionally, anyone can just freely loot me, not to mention, In a few cases I had to travel 5mins just to get to the area I died. It should be significantly lowered, or make lootbags only accessible by the person who died if it was an NPC death.

Honest opinion I think in alpha we shouldn't drop anything on death due to the following reasons:

* its full of bugs, which can cause death.
* Poor performance overall currently, can result in death.
* No one wants to spend 2hrs farming mats just to die (especially due to the above) and have to start again in alpha.
* People will quit alpha testing if they keep getting punished so heavily before they reach higher levels which means less overall testing.

I died from lag moments after being unable to store items due to bugs. But this is Alpha and to be expected. The death penalties are fine, please stop trying to make this into something it's not. As expected, there has been almost instantaneous whining about all of the features that are core parts of the game, like lack of fast travel, death penalties, pvp, etc. I hope Intrepid stays the course for their vision of the game, because changing things and half-assing systems ends up making a poor excuse for a game that pleases no one.

RedLeader1

I think people are getting bent out of shape on balancing issues when we are at a stability and performance stage.

I think there will have to be a wipe incoming because Artisanship and the economy is hopelessly out of balance and not integrated at all with the rest of the game. It is going to need a few weekends to get it up to speed. But it has to wait until the basics are done.

If you get frustrated, take a rest and come back later, just don't get attached to anything, because at this point it is easy come, easy go!

Personally, I really don't want them wasting time on QoL changes for the testers, I would rather they cracked on and tried to hit the dates for P2 and P3 starting.

eastonl

Blip wrote: »

I found that there is a lack of solo content to do. We don't always have groups to join, and sometimes they are full.

This weekend, my guild groups have mostly been full, and I've been feeling a bit lost not able to progress much, just wandering around without getting much done.

When you play DPS, it's usually the spots that are taken first, and everyone wants a Bard, Tank, or Cleric.

That's something Intrepid needs to account for. Yes, the game feels punishing then.

I was level 15 by Saturday night on a fresh start server and one of the higher level if not in the top5 of priest levels by just being social. Joining groups in chat. And well, played the game.

doken

For me it's in a very sweet point.

It causes you pain but it doesn't make you ragequit. Teaches you to play safer when you have a lot of stuff on you, to set revive points as you travel, makes you consider if you should go sell/store earlier...

Very pleased with how risk and world traveling feel so far.

PD: If you died because of bugs/lag it sucks yeah, but obviously they shouldn't design around having those. It's an alpha and will get fixed.

ratbait

Game will straight up not survive as a greif box game,80% majority of MMO players do not partake in PVP even 15% of there play time,if it become too much PVP they will leave and this game will go the way of the DODO till they "relaunch" cause it hemoraged all its players who just refuse to be victims in game,especially crafters,they lose half there stuff ,there gone period.As soon as a game stops respecting peoples time and actively punishes em for it the game will be a wasteland.

Spif

I don't disagree with the OP, right now the game is too punishing. But some of that punishment will go away with bug-fix and polish. Two examples:

Material drop death penalty is too harsh. But that's at least partly because there's way too much stuff that kills you that is not your fault. IE, because of bugged leashing, server instability, etc. Also, no storage (for my characters anyway) means you can't offload stuff before heading back out.

Crafting makes it very hard to create anything useful (matching up item rarity for processing is awful), and the lack of an Auction house makes this worse. But once there's an AH an storage, this gets a lot better.

Zapatos80

Death is meant to sting. Risk/reward. If you're out for a while, consider making a run to storage to bank your stuff.

Palmax

I think people are either not reading or not understanding the intent behind some points in my post. I want there to be group play as primary way of playing but I don't want to be forced to find a group for almost every activity I do otherwise i'm at a major disadvantage. In fact so far I would be fine with solo play if I didn't get punished so hard.
Also I don't want deaths to have 0 consequences I specified that I think we shouldn't drop loot IN ALPHA ONLY because of the bugs etc, by all means it should be re-enabled in beta even when the game is 'smooth'.

Tahiti02

I agree with some of the other commentators, the PVE drops from death are great. Maybe the numbers can be tweaked a bit, but in general its a good concept. There is real consequence to dying, and you dont just mindlessly jump into every single battle. It should be kept in no matter what.

redherring

@Palmax , have you seen the latest video with Steven and @PirateSoftware that is related to this topic about solos in Ashes?

I still only see the stream version of this that starts about here, but Steven did address solo play, this is still an Alpha, and the Corruption system IS NOT completely implemented yet as... well, this is an alpha

https://www.youtube.com/live/01p7c0fW9Wo?si=9agj7-vT9Ciazvs-&t=35435

Dezemi

The only time I want them to take a closer look at death penalties (PvE related) is for the tank in group play (which has been mentioned in the tank and forums I believe).

They are usually the first to die if something goes wrong, and they are usually the class with most responsibility and highest skill cap (pulling mobs, making routes etc as taking aggro back from someone else pulling is a bit of a hassle)... I just think we're going to lack tank players in general as it is right now. Highest risk by far, for no more rewards than anyone else. (Well, except for coordinated group play that just funnel gear into the tanks to compensate for this, but in pugs tanks will be rare af soon...)

Mardrik

I am very much against changing rules only for the alpha. As time goes on more people will be coming in. Changing the rules now will lead to a massive cryfest later when those people have gotten used to it and it gets turned back on. Or those who didn't have it before suddenly do. I have died alot. Rarely due to any bug. Mostly due to me not being geared, not being situationally aware, me taking risks, going places to high for me. I have lost some stuff I dropped here and there. I also have found random stuff here and there. Easy come easy go. If not then take it to the bank.

I like to run around solo as well. Not always but alot, especially when I know I could be pulled away from the game any moment. Still though as I have geared up decently, filled the slots with regulars at least, I haven't died recently. Close calls but by lvl 8 now I have adjusted to the particulars of the game. Maintain situation awareness and know my limits and risks. That tension in fact adds to the feeling of the game for me. Maybe if you plan on alot of solo stuff choose a class that is more solo friendly like a healer? Or at least choose skills accordingly, I did. Early on before I had that gear I did die alot. Usually my fault not the server really. Even then though it didnt bother me one bit. Give it time. You will adjust, things will change as well over time. Nothing is so important right now you cant lose it. You will in fact lose everything here soon anyways.

Kinsei

Blip wrote: »

I found that there is a lack of solo content to do. We don't always have groups to join, and sometimes they are full.

This weekend, my guild groups have mostly been full, and I've been feeling a bit lost not able to progress much, just wandering around without getting much done.

When you play DPS, it's usually the spots that are taken first, and everyone wants a Bard, Tank, or Cleric.

That's something Intrepid needs to account for. Yes, the game feels punishing then.

Playing as a cleric who was with a group one day to flying solo the next couple of days, it is definitely punishing to try flying solo. While I do not think this is a terrible thing as they have said the balancing mechanics are geared more towards groups than single player, I think that it may be nice to have some areas with mobs not so closely packed together.

I spent some time attempting to solo some commissions and was overrun more often than not when attempting to pick out solo enemies. Part of this could be because it is still Alpha and things aren't fully working as intended in all areas. It could also be that I have not fully grasped the systems and how mobs work with other mobs (including pulling within aggro range).

I have been having a blast with it even though it has been a little difficult but I think that once the servers go live and the game is released, that people will find groups to play with because the game experience is better in a group. I feel like this will drive more people to work together and hopefully promote good crossplay for everyone across the map.

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