I was hoping to spend at least another week or two tinkering with the newest item/game update before giving my feed back so I could have a better grasp of the changes and fighting balances before putting in my two cents.. but I don't think I can get there.
The fun factor for the game for me personally just dropped completely.
I'm going to do my best to be as neutral as I can for this post, but please bare with me, I am a tad salty and some bias might shine through in my feedback.
I think the item changes are more positive towards folks that are level 200+. They were basically quickly climbing a big mountain, getting close to the top, and now found much more content and more mountains to climb. This is a good thing.
I think the item changes are completely negative for anybody level 100 to 200. We were basically starting the mountain, seeing all the awesome things along the way, only to get pushed back to the bottom and having to look up at Mount Everest without a sherpa.
These are the levels where growth and power mostly come in. Mortals start to get a taste of some cool powerful abilities and multi classing skill and spell combinations, and get to master another class by 200 as well as see some awesome gear kick into place and start to be able to take on the best monsters in the world in groups. This is no longer the case. More or less players are throttled into being very weak until level 200-250.
If the game/post wipe had been started this way, things may have shined better. Although it didn't, players have been playing this version for years and spent time building their characters and gathering equipment catered towards their strengths. Basically all players have been downgraded, some more than others. The players 100-200 have taken a HUGE hit in power levels and players 200-300 have taken a smaller hit in power levels.
Essentially, I think this has created a divide. Groups are no longer an option. Level 150 characters grouping with level 250 characters and trying to take on top tier monsters is now obsolete. Level 150 players can't even land blows on the type of monsters level 250 characters tackle no matter their class/weapons/abilities.
Basically the only way to group now is to group with players that are about your level, and only fight monsters that are about your level.
This is a cool idea in theory... in practice, the MUD doesn't have enough player base to support active groups.
The way things were a week ago, players of all classes, all levels, all abilities would group together, contribute, and go on awesome power leveling runs together. It was SUPER fun.
The last few months I've been back on Distant Lands I've honestly had so much fun testing and tinkering new classes, and thinking up class combinations and gathering equipment to grow into as I went from level 100-200 with a few different classes. I honestly didn't even really think about getting to level 300, the classes were too fun and I wanted to try so many combinations.
Having all that equipment I've gathered over grinding, camping, gathering is now only workable at levels 300+. I honestly don't want to put that amount of time into the game.
I was using a level 100 assassin, it was extremely painful to level, I got it to level 116 over the past few months, it was painstaking but felt worth it as many of my coolest items would start working at level 120 and level 150. I was eager, excited, and motivated.
All of that is mush now, nothing I had gathered will work until 300, I reverted to some older equipment and got most of my item slots still filled with some of the best backstab gear in the game. I'm still only backstabbing for about half of what I was before the changes. I was a weenie with a tiny power level before the changes, maybe 2/10. I could barely contribute in groups but I was powering along because I was going to unlock some cool abilities soon when I got talismans.
The way things feel, I pretty much think my assassin has gone to the power level of about 2/100 now. Weenie to weenier. I can't imagine I could contribute really anything until demigod to a sizable group. All of my motivation to level and gain strength is completely gone. My backstab went from about 900 to under 500. My assassination rate is less than half of what it was even with rearranging and using equipment that works at my current level. I can barely kill a tree in the conifers without dying. I can't even do a run in the Ferry without nearly dying every other kill and one of those runs nets me probably less than 5% of a level. I'm too weak for the game to be fun.
My cavalier, level 168ish or so, can barely kill anything to gain experience. My magic user, about level 115, similar, can't really kill anything for experience without being carried.
If I could kill monsters even around my own level, it might be alright. My magic user can only use two monster summoning abilities now.
In all honesty, playing the game has become painful instead of fun. I think making all of the players weaker is not the funnest avenue for change, changing the monsters we're facing might have been a better route?
All of the character abilities I've come to rely on and the equipment we've been relying on has become obsolete. This isn't a terrible thing. We're physically stronger and can take on monsters our own size better. I just don't think it's for me. All of the planning and growth I've charted for all my characters just went down the kitchen sink, and I don't want to invest the time needed to rebuild.
I'm not sure if this is a good or a bad thing overall for the game. I know the changes are bad for me as a player, and I think that's what this feedback forum is for. I know the staff has been working HARD at making changes behind the scene to make the game better for everybody. I do appreciate the hard work but I'm not sure the target was hit with this large change. I think bigger mountains and more to do at higher levels is great. I don't think tuning absolutely every item in the game and making spells and skills that were too strong into not useful at all is the best way to make the game better. Instead of nerfing strong players... couldn't the monsters have been made bigger, and better? Couldn't old zones have been amped up to keep up with the rate of the players growth?
Anyways,
I do want to provide valid feedback for the changes. I think there's some good things, and a lot of not so good things. I've tried hard with all my characters to fight monsters, change around equipment, group with others and play around with many things but the fun factor has absolutely vanished for me.
I absolutely love playing DL, and have had a lot of fun on it this year. The multiclassing system with talismans is one of THE BEST updates I've seen to the game since I started playing. It created new combinations, new powers, and unique characters. Creating an entirely new system changing the max level from 108 to 300 was a huge undertaking and again, an AMAZING update. It provided growth levels to go beyond the best.
Adding in new zones with ultimate equipment such as the mist temples, the dragon dungeon, and old town provided the new growth levels places to play and do things and unlock new fantastic equipment. I simply wish we had more zones like these to grow into.
I also love the idea of old zones "training" to become stronger and growing over time into higher levels to keep up with players.
What if Belar decides he's tired of being killed all the time? Takes up combat training. Comes back stronger than ever. Gains 50 levels.
That would be fun! More challenging monsters. Having my player dialed back and my growth plans changed completely... it's just not fun.
Anyways, I wanted to make this a bit more of a feedback post, but it feels like a rant, sorry if the words are discouraging, I don't mean it to be that way. I try my best to make composed feedback and evaluate all sides, but I'm struggling in finding upside with these changes.
I'll still be popping on to chat, and see how the changes go and I'll keep my eyes peeled on the forums for thoughts and changes, but as it stands, due to the new changes and character nerfs in place I'm going to take a leave of absence in terms of actively playing. It's just not as fun to play in this new world as it was in the one that was there a week ago. I'll miss it. It's been a blast, wish you all well and hope to see the changes provide growth and a positive environment for new and old players alike! Thanks for making this place more than just a game
Perhaps I'll play again one day. If things do change back to the way they were, I'd be back in a heartbeat
