wtf_man wrote on Jun 14, 2012, 09:13:
Sempai wrote on Jun 14, 2012, 06:21:
What exactly would you do different?
I think GW2 is nudging the genre in the right direction.
PvE is designed for "coop"... not "forced grouping" like the old days... and not "solo only" because folks can't stand asshats in PUGS, or even bothering with LFG.
Things just happen all around you and you participate.
Others can join without grouping.
There's no kill stealing, ninja looting, griefing.
Everyone can rez a fellow player and the coop environment encourages you to do so.
It makes for a much more friendly environment. Everyone can have their own agenda, yet play together in peace. That is awesome design.
What would I do different?
Well if I could... I would make the dynamic events a bit more dynamic than the same 2-3 triggered near the same point of interest. But given the scale of the game, I understand why that would probably double the cost of it's development.
Agreed completely about GW2. You don't feel forced at all, and due to how resurection works, people are generally not bothered to help out those around them. Especially to fight a common goal, like a huge ass demon spawning in the middle of a creepy swamp, or a just random group of people all teaming up to take on a badass Wasp Queen.
I spent the beta weekend playing with my ex and one of our friends and it was awesome and tons of fun. Seeing 20-30 people just come together to finish a epic dynamic group quest, upon finishing it, every player gets rewarded with a giant chest with loot in it for levels far beyond what we were at. (lvl 30 gear enchantments while we were around lvl 14 or so) and everyone who participated got loot, not just 1 or 2 people with a lucky dice roll or whatever.
That's how you do it.
I'm sure they could add more dynamic events as the game goes along, I agree, it's something I'd also like to see. But to their credit, it's the most polished beta I've ever played and feels launch ready. Looking forward to GW2's release very much.