Thrillhouse Van Houten
Expert Intervention
Caldari State
14
   |
Posted - 2013.03.03 01:09:00 -
[1] - Quote
Nobody has mentioned a friggin simple solution to the player retention aspect in this thread.
Somebody mentioned in another thread I was looking at that there is a matchmaking setup that CCP already has made up but that they haven't flipped the switch on...Now, that could be complete flop, but if it isn't then they should freaking hit the switch.
You want to keep newbies playing the game? Keep them interested or make them more interested? Let them fight other newbies. Lowbies fight lowbies. Protos fight protos. I have to believe some kind of simple matchmaking utility based on, say, total SP but involving WP earned could completely solve many of the problems.
I've read several newbie QQ threads and they all say the same things: pisspoor spawns and superskilled players dumping on them every match they join. CCP is trying to address the spawn problem but they appear to have taken little action on the other problem. The much bigger problem, imo.
That is all ignoring the fact that the game isn't finished. When this thing fully integrates with Eve the lion's share of the pros are probably going to grab their proto gear and haul out into null sec for the big SP/ISK to be gained. That could be a long way off, I guess, and that is a problem.
I agree with whoever posted that this thing shouldn't have gone into open beta as it is. I, personally, have mostly enjoyed playing despite being so-so at shooters. I think part of what keeps me playing is seeing vast potential in this game. Potential does not guarantee success though, and the success of this game relies on it keeping at least a steady flux of players. I am very concerned about player retention as well and the OP was dead nuts about that problem. Gotta keep people around for this thing to be a success. There are over a thousand solar systems in Eve, most have at least one celestial body for ground forces to fight over. That'll be pretty lame if the population is so sparse you can't even set up a halfway decent battle over it.
I just don't think completely flattening the SP skill system is exactly the way to go... |
Thrillhouse Van Houten
Expert Intervention
Caldari State
14
|
Posted - 2013.03.03 02:26:00 -
[2] - Quote
Moejoe Omnipotent wrote:I believe segregating players by SP and splitting the playerbase can be avoided entirely.
My suggestion does not come remotely close to flattening the SP skill system. The skillbook system does not revolve solely around health upgrades and the sort of health upgrades I'm asking for are still substantial.
Reducing the shield and armor bonuses of a handful of skills or modules IS flattening those skills and modules. That's the definition of flattening.
Without reducing the damage bonuses of other skills and modules, reducing the health bonuses is almost completely moot. A guy with AR Ops and Prof and Light Sharp maxed will still whack a newb in fine time and the newb might get him down to 90% of armor instead of 10% of shields. Newb is still dead. Pro is still alive. The KDRs might shift slightly as pros suffer a few more deaths here or there, but you will still have the same problems as before only marginally less so.
I don't particularly want the playerbase completely stratified either, but I do think it is the best option. Its one thing to throw a guy like me with 2.2mil SP into a round with a bunch of 4mil proto guys. I'll go out like a punk, but I might get a few kills and WPs along the downward spiral. You take a fresh pound of hamburger at 500k SP and throw him in the same match, he'll get eaten and no amount of shield/armor skill/module reduction will save him.
At the very least I think there should be a new player ambush and skirmish. Say, 500k to 1mil SP. Just long enough to get a feel for the game, try some varying suits, find a corp... |