Glorious Alpha Two Testers!
Alpha Two testing is currently taking place five days each week. More information about Phase II and Phase III testing schedule can be found here
If you have Alpha Two, you can download the game launcher here, and we encourage you to join us on our Official Discord Server for the most up to date testing news.
Alpha Two testing is currently taking place five days each week. More information about Phase II and Phase III testing schedule can be found here
If you have Alpha Two, you can download the game launcher here, and we encourage you to join us on our Official Discord Server for the most up to date testing news.
Feedback (A Casuals Perspective)
Palmskee
Member, Alpha Two
Just to set the stage, heres a brief list describing the type of player I am:
1. I have a 730-1630 job (military in Japan) & am the shop lead so a lot of times I work longer hours & am responsible for occassional work location changes
2. I have other hobbies I enjoy doing & other aspirations (going to the gym from 5-630ish, some days music class, other days Japanese class, maybe soon personal pilot license school)
3. I have a girlfriend
4. I can't play every 4-day testing period but some weeks I have a good bit of chill time to just relax and play such as this Valentine's weekend (we have 4 days off)
5. I'm 28 & I usually play FPS games because they're better for someone that doesn't have much time to play
Basically I am a pretty casual gamer in general, but a gamer nonetheless. I'm sure other casuals out there have a similar schedule to mine with an adjustment of hobbies and responsibilites, so I wanted to mention some feedback points I have as one of these casuals, definitely not speaking for all but my perspective. Also side note that my MMO experience is pretty nonexistent - I've played Runescape when I was much younger but I didn't play it much. Most of my gaming hours were spent in FPS games like CS Source/GO, EFT, Modern Warfare 1/2, The Hunt and non-FPS games like Dark Souls 1, 3, Elden Ring, Bloodborne.
Feedback
1. The population of this game is low. I understand that yeah its still in Alpha and not everyone wants to spend $120 to access the game, but its unfortunate that I am somebody put in a situation where I cannot find people to play with in a game that REQUIRES you to find people to play with.
2. Because the population is low, it takes FOREVER to level up. I started playing this Alpha phase shortly after new years right around 3 Jan. From that day to now (not playing every weekend) I have 2 bards on different servers, both level 8. Currently I am logged into game typing "LFG 8 Bard" just like I do every weekend that I hop on but I still cannot find anyone to play with. Others seem to fall in one of three categories: 1) they have their own group to play with, 2) they're like me and can't find people so they muster together a horrible comp, 3) they're much higher level. So I usually end up spending my in-game time running around trying to find people to play with or I stay at the starter area and kill goblins for that repeatable quest. Usually in either case I get bored after about 30 minutes and log off, but I'll repeat this same process at different times of day.
3. I get PK'd by groups that are levelling while I am trying to find a group to play with, or a much higher level than me decides to run by and kill me for no reason. How is this fun, killing someone that literally cannot fight back?
4. People that no life the game get priority over feedback/issue resolution. Theres so much miscellaneous feedback/bugs/issues I've brought up on their discord feedback threads that I've yet to see a single change for. Makes me think the sweats/loudest group are all they care for. They focus on the issues most mentioned (because a full clan of people will hop on and mention these issues) while casual gamers like me are just completely ignored.
5. What is the stuff to do beyond combat? I know artisanship is a thing in game because I've seen it discussed, but I haven't actually seen any of it in game. I haven't gone out of my way to learn any of it, but why make it something you have to dig for? Maybe this is just how MMO gamers prefer things, but personally I like to not have to think about things much when I play so I'd like it if it were at least a little bit more obvious how to do the artisanship stuff. Also though I think the idea of gathering materials is super boring so I doubt I'd engage in it anyways.
I hope none of this is taken in the wrong way, I am just trying to express concerns from a perspective that maybe isn't mentioned elsewhere. I enjoyed the game and I can see why others keep playing and probably have multiple characters, it's just unfortunate that I am having a different experience because I don't play as much as I seemingly should and I am punished by the game for it. Maybe I just need to return at a later date, or maybe this is just the MMO experience.
To summarize, this isn't a casual friendly game in my experience due to not being able to find players to play with in a game that requires you to find players to play with. If you're not going to play several hours at or near the release of servers, you're probably going to get left behind. Maybe this is just an Alpha issue however, so I hold out hope that this is the case, and maybe I'll return at a later date/phase of progression.
Arigato Gozaimasu.
1. I have a 730-1630 job (military in Japan) & am the shop lead so a lot of times I work longer hours & am responsible for occassional work location changes
2. I have other hobbies I enjoy doing & other aspirations (going to the gym from 5-630ish, some days music class, other days Japanese class, maybe soon personal pilot license school)
3. I have a girlfriend
4. I can't play every 4-day testing period but some weeks I have a good bit of chill time to just relax and play such as this Valentine's weekend (we have 4 days off)
5. I'm 28 & I usually play FPS games because they're better for someone that doesn't have much time to play
Basically I am a pretty casual gamer in general, but a gamer nonetheless. I'm sure other casuals out there have a similar schedule to mine with an adjustment of hobbies and responsibilites, so I wanted to mention some feedback points I have as one of these casuals, definitely not speaking for all but my perspective. Also side note that my MMO experience is pretty nonexistent - I've played Runescape when I was much younger but I didn't play it much. Most of my gaming hours were spent in FPS games like CS Source/GO, EFT, Modern Warfare 1/2, The Hunt and non-FPS games like Dark Souls 1, 3, Elden Ring, Bloodborne.
Feedback
1. The population of this game is low. I understand that yeah its still in Alpha and not everyone wants to spend $120 to access the game, but its unfortunate that I am somebody put in a situation where I cannot find people to play with in a game that REQUIRES you to find people to play with.
2. Because the population is low, it takes FOREVER to level up. I started playing this Alpha phase shortly after new years right around 3 Jan. From that day to now (not playing every weekend) I have 2 bards on different servers, both level 8. Currently I am logged into game typing "LFG 8 Bard" just like I do every weekend that I hop on but I still cannot find anyone to play with. Others seem to fall in one of three categories: 1) they have their own group to play with, 2) they're like me and can't find people so they muster together a horrible comp, 3) they're much higher level. So I usually end up spending my in-game time running around trying to find people to play with or I stay at the starter area and kill goblins for that repeatable quest. Usually in either case I get bored after about 30 minutes and log off, but I'll repeat this same process at different times of day.
3. I get PK'd by groups that are levelling while I am trying to find a group to play with, or a much higher level than me decides to run by and kill me for no reason. How is this fun, killing someone that literally cannot fight back?
4. People that no life the game get priority over feedback/issue resolution. Theres so much miscellaneous feedback/bugs/issues I've brought up on their discord feedback threads that I've yet to see a single change for. Makes me think the sweats/loudest group are all they care for. They focus on the issues most mentioned (because a full clan of people will hop on and mention these issues) while casual gamers like me are just completely ignored.
5. What is the stuff to do beyond combat? I know artisanship is a thing in game because I've seen it discussed, but I haven't actually seen any of it in game. I haven't gone out of my way to learn any of it, but why make it something you have to dig for? Maybe this is just how MMO gamers prefer things, but personally I like to not have to think about things much when I play so I'd like it if it were at least a little bit more obvious how to do the artisanship stuff. Also though I think the idea of gathering materials is super boring so I doubt I'd engage in it anyways.
I hope none of this is taken in the wrong way, I am just trying to express concerns from a perspective that maybe isn't mentioned elsewhere. I enjoyed the game and I can see why others keep playing and probably have multiple characters, it's just unfortunate that I am having a different experience because I don't play as much as I seemingly should and I am punished by the game for it. Maybe I just need to return at a later date, or maybe this is just the MMO experience.
To summarize, this isn't a casual friendly game in my experience due to not being able to find players to play with in a game that requires you to find players to play with. If you're not going to play several hours at or near the release of servers, you're probably going to get left behind. Maybe this is just an Alpha issue however, so I hold out hope that this is the case, and maybe I'll return at a later date/phase of progression.
Arigato Gozaimasu.
2
Comments
When it comes to the OP issues: you have joined the Phase2 testing after its population peaked. Most of the playerbase is level 25 as you probably know. A lot of people don't even play anymore, due to the state of the game content, and grindy nature of many systems. People are still making alts, but due to the group nature of the game, it's fairly hard to solo level. Your best bet is to find a guild to level with, but with your time zone you might struggle to find likeminded people during your gaming session time.
Your experience might be quite different if you start playing when Phase3 drops, but the problem is that if you have little time to play, your gaming friends are likely outpace your level and you will end up with a similar problem.
Welcome to MMORPGs genre, which refuses to acknowledge and address the problems which kill MMORPGs off since 2000's.
Blown past falling sands…