My only worry about the game

Imo visual progression is a big thing in MMOs, especially in a game as big as AoC. Considering it will take a long time to hit max level, the feeling of visual progression should be slow and satisfying.
With that said, there should be big difference in looks of players who play the game for a long time and a new player.
Also a player should not be able to look "amazing" until they reached max level, even then it should take them some time to get that badass gear/costume.
I can understand selling cosmetics (as part of test access packs) to some extent even though im not the fan of it.
With that said, i would like visual progression to be present in AoC and here is my way of making that possible:

Make cosmetic store cosmetics obtainable only through cosmetic store, also make ingame cosmetics obtainable only through playing the game.
Let's make ranks for cosmetic's looks for easier explanation(1-10 -->> 10 being only legendary items).
Cosmetic shop should include cosmetics up to look "7"( the prelaunch ones could go to "8"), and ingame ones obviously to "10".

*Also apply a common/uncommon/rare/epic/exotic/legendary status to all cosmetics, also apply item level to them. Then cosmetics can only be placed on items corresponding to their appropriate rarity and item level.
For costumes, I would make prelaunch ones usable only on max level and for postlaunch ones i would do the same thing as said above(*).

It feels very sad seeing all the people in game looking good with no effort. It demotivates me to grind for that cool looking armor i want because it's on par with theirs, so i only "caught up" with them and for that i had to do a lot while all they did was put some money in.
Also there is nothing worse than seeing some lvl 1's looking better than some max lvls, it kills that "starter" feel as well as that excitement when you finally start looking decent.

This is my only worry about this game and i hope to see it resolved. All feedback is welcome and i'd like to discuss more about it.

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Comments

Maezriel

Steven has said that the best looking gear will be available through gameplay.

That said, I really don't agree w/ people's worries of players looking "too good" at the start of the game b/c that's entirely subjective and I'd like to think that the days of people looking like a melted bag of skittles ended w/ Classic WoW.

Talents

Well, we know that there will Legendary tier cosmetics that will look better than the store ones and will only be earnable in-game. There will also be regular in-game cosmetics as well as being able to transmog your gear that they plan to make look as good as the store cosmetics.

Chunka

Looking like a " melted bag of skittles" brings so much excitement and anticipation to gaming adventure.
If you look good as soon as you start the game then there is no motivation to grind for looks at all, but only for stats. Especially if someone can get armor (on par with yours in terms of looks) in few seconds, while you struggled for hours to get it.

Legendaries should not be the only tier of ingame cosmetics that look better than store cosmetics. There should be at least 1 more tier ingame which is better looking than store cosmetics and is not legendary.

Talents

I'm ngl, if you're looking for a game with lots of visual progression, Ashes is probably not the right game for it. Now, that's not to say there won't be any since people will recognise earnable in-game cosmetics and probably put more prestige on those than the shop ones. But yeah, visual progression isn't really a major concern for Intrepid.

I'm a bit more fine with it than some people since visual progression is something I've never really cared about, and if there is a tier above the shop cosmetics that is only obtainable in-game and looks way better than shop cosmetics, then that's good enough for me personally.

Chunka

That might be true and if it true it's a shame because game is so well set up for a very good visual progression with it's huge map, slow leveling, players identity etc.
It's not a game breaker but it's still a big thing to me. Nonetheless i can get over it considering all the other game's ideas a very well thought out.
Yeah i could also roll with that 1 tier in between those 2.

Krullver

I like visual progression for myself, but I don't hold others to my standards. I like seeing others in nice things and thinking "OOOoooo! Where can I get that?". Whether they purchased it from a store or earned it in game, it makes me want to look good too. I am good with the in-game possibility of achieving my desired style. It gives me one more thing to work on, which adds way more enjoyment to my game experience!

Songcaller

I appreciate transmogs because i can downplay advanced gear. I often use basic skins to cover high tier equipment when it is possible. In Ashes though people will still be able to detect the high tier gear because i believe you can disable cosmetic appearances.

Samson1

I am a big fan of visual progression. I like seeing my character with crumby, mismatched gear at the beginning of my leveling experience. And as the levels go by, I enjoy watching my character slowly become better looking and more epic.

Khronus

Maezriel wrote: »

Steven has said that the best looking gear will be available through gameplay.

That said, I really don't agree w/ people's worries of players looking "too good" at the start of the game b/c that's entirely subjective and I'd like to think that the days of people looking like a melted bag of skittles ended w/ Classic WoW.

I'm not worried that people will look too good. I am worried that people will look fake AF with glowing wings, halos, floating spheres and any other garbage visual I have seen in some games. I'm hoping for a rustic earthly (verraly?) tone to the in game cosmetics.

Karthos

I don't give a shit what my gear looks like.

As long as the stats are higher than your's

I'm just hoping they don't go the Blizzard route and go full edgelord with their gear. "Cool gear' doesn't mean the discount aisle at Hot Topic.

Shinaso

Visual Progression is very subjective... what is OP for you maybe is trash for me and viceversa

Jamation

I think personal preference is going to matter more than where the armor came from. I have a few of the cosmetics, but to wear on a daily basis, some of the in-game armor they've shown on stream looks more appealing to me.

People all have different opinions and tastes so where one person might not care what they look like, another might only like a certain cosmetic, while another changes their design every day.

As for people starting off wearing a bunch of different things: it kind of makes sense. Considering all these people were just living normal and various lives (wearing a bunch of different kinds of clothes) when the portals opened up any-who.

Cadac

I would like to look like I have actually been in the fights I've been in, but I don't think Ashes is going to be that way. I have to say the low level gear looks really good, and I am sure the high level gear will be appropriate. For myself I am looking for another option. Maybe there will be skins in game like that.
I am not overly concerned about looks, but given the option I would pick used over new looking.

Greendino

I see the concern, but so long as gear starting out looks good, and it just gets better as you level, I think that is a good thin.

Tyranthraxus

Shinaso wrote: »

Visual Progression is very subjective... what is OP for you maybe is trash for me and viceversa

^ This

I can't share the OP's concerns, at all. Yeah, some games tend to put out some stuff available at low-levels - especially through cash shops - that give a very 'accomplished' or 'end-game' type of look.

However, there's typically something that yours truly finds as "off", about default sets of armor. The boots could look better, the gloves don't need to be as long - or aren't long enough - for the set. This or that shield doesn't fit quite right, because it's a size too small. The helmet that's supposed to go with the chest-piece that I really, really like covers the eyes at this-or-that angle, so I'll find one that gives an armored head appearance, but has an open face.

Will there be people who look *amazing* on day one? Sure - but even without a cash shop, there always will be - even if they've simply gotten lucky and looted something that looks great with this-or-that piece of gear that players start with or get early on.

What you seem to be getting at is that players *shouldn't* be able to look amazing on day one - but if they've paid to do so, why not? Is your own vanity too much to bear the fact that people who have spent some money might look adventure-fabulous out-the-gate, or are you concerned about RP? Because if it's the latter, remember: each culture has an upper class. Just because we're all coming through the portals upon returning to Verra (except the mole-people), doesn't mean we all had the same upbringing and level of privilege, on Sanctus; Some people will have come from a wealthier class, and if that's their character's back-ground, they should be free to spend the money to make their appearance reflect this.

BigPapa1

What's wrong with people wanting the game to be democratic instead of based on your real life wallet? It really makes me sad to see so many people defending the cash shop. It's not like the money from the cash shop is going to your pockets, guys. Is it a complete deal breaker? No, of course not, but if it didn't exist, the game would be better for its players. Not for Intrepid perhaps, but who knows? Even WoW despite existing so many years has less armor sets on offer in their cash shop than AoC already has and this game hasn't even launched. If there was absolutely no problem with cash shop cosmetics, you think Activision wouldn't have milked the cash shop dry with armor sets? Most people prefer earning their gear rather than taking out their wallet. We are talking about a game where you pay for development with your subscription, not a free to play title.

Maezriel

BigPapa wrote: »

What's wrong with people wanting the game to be democratic instead of based on your real life wallet? It really makes me sad to see so many people defending the cash shop. It's not like the money from the cash shop is going to your pockets, guys. Is it a complete deal breaker? No, of course not, but if it didn't exist, the game would be better for its players. Not for Intrepid perhaps, but who knows? Even WoW despite existing so many years has less armor sets on offer in their cash shop than AoC already has and this game hasn't even launched. If there was absolutely no problem with cash shop cosmetics, you think Activision wouldn't have milked the cash shop dry with armor sets? Most people prefer earning their gear rather than taking out their wallet. We are talking about a game where you pay for development with your subscription, not a free to play title.

I don't think anyone is defending the cash shop, so much as saying "new players shouldn't look good" is too subjective of an argument against it.

I personally prefer keeping a fairly consistent look throughout my leveling experience and then "progressing" when I see fit and if that means some people are running around w/ wings at level 1 then I really don't care b/c it doesn't affect me in the slightest.

Tarkl

BigPapa wrote: »

What's wrong with people wanting the game to be democratic instead of based on your real life wallet? It really makes me sad to see so many people defending the cash shop. It's not like the money from the cash shop is going to your pockets, guys. Is it a complete deal breaker? No, of course not, but if it didn't exist, the game would be better for its players. Not for Intrepid perhaps, but who knows? Even WoW despite existing so many years has less armor sets on offer in their cash shop than AoC already has and this game hasn't even launched. If there was absolutely no problem with cash shop cosmetics, you think Activision wouldn't have milked the cash shop dry with armor sets? Most people prefer earning their gear rather than taking out their wallet. We are talking about a game where you pay for development with your subscription, not a free to play title.

I do not consider WoW a good comparison because they continue to charge 40-120€ (edition depends) per expansion, even if they added to sell mounts with even some special features and some pets.

I don’t mind the cosmetics store, or that people look incredibly good or not,
seeing that perhaps a simple transmog as a lumberjack I would like more for my character who is lumberjackall, this as long as they keep what they say and do not contribute anything more than aesthetics to the game, nothing of statistics or some extra modification

in my opinion this IF could be a problem but for it before, we must analyze and compare the payment suits vs the ones you get within the game, if they get lazy for the suits you get playing and become super ambitious by the payout , if I would see most complaints, but if they get a natural balance in which there is not so much difference, I do not understand why not

I could just buy that suit and wear it until I get another one that I like better in the game, without looking horribly bad until I get to that point

Chunka

Since most of you say it, i guess my opinion is very subjective and that's okay. I will enjoy the game a lot less that way but i will still play, it will still be a good game (hopefully). With that said i would at least like it if store cosmetics and in-game ones are separate, so someone cant just buy an armor i tried so hard and struggled to get. I trust in IS so hopefully it won't be as bad as it is in my mind atm.

Maezriel

Takagi wrote: »

Since most of you say it, i guess my opinion is very subjective and that's okay. I will enjoy the game a lot less that way but i will still play, it will still be a good game (hopefully). With that said i would at least like it if store cosmetics and in-game ones are separate, so someone cant just buy an armor i tried so hard and struggled to get. I trust in IS so hopefully it won't be as bad as it is in my mind atm.

They are separate. You might see similar models of individual pieces on NPCs but Steven has said that there will not be recolors or material swaps.

He's talked about it fairly recently here.

Child Item