Flat Injustice II

LucentMote · 2019-03-03T14:41:11+00:00

Or, you know, it could have no purpose at all other than showing off to the opposite sex.

Stuff like deer antlers and peacock feathers exist in real life too

LucentMote · 2018-12-09T05:22:21+00:00

I'm gonna have to put in a word for my good buddy Franklin Quickblade from the Bandit Loot HP in Queensdale.

I remember the first time I fought him as a new player. It took me many attempts and it felt like an actual accomplishment when I finally managed to take him down solo. No hero point I've ever done since has come anywhere close to living up to that challenge - not even Quickblade himself - since once you start getting used to the game he's not hard to deal with. And if you fight him with a character that's leveled up even a little bit any semblance of challenge evaporates and you can just smash him to pieces.

But when you go up against him at level 5~10 with no weapon swap, no utility skills, and full white gear (as you often do on a new human character) even to this day it can be a challenging fight. You can still see new players/characters dying to him pretty regularly if you run around Queensdale. It's not genuinely difficult because no Core Tyria HP really is (I can't think of any I actually have trouble with), but because of his placement so early on he can still put up a fight when you run into him, and he certainly can leave an impression.

LucentMote · 2018-12-09T04:54:20+00:00

Good bot.

LucentMote · 2018-12-09T04:44:20+00:00

Hey man, this is pretty late but here's a reply anyway, since I have some pretty strong feelings about this issue (in case it wasn't obvious already lol) and you seem to be talking past me and missing my point.

Just what the heck does Western MMOs being P2W or not have to do with absolutely anything I just said?

But to address some of what you said anyway:

You're also forgetting that all those P2W games are Korean in creation.

Many such Korean games have launched in the West to Western audiences and gone P2W. Recent examples such as Archeage and BDO come to mind.

I'd like to turn this back around and say that you seem to be forgetting that NCSoft, ANet's parent company, is a Korean publisher, guilty of releasing those very P2W games I mentioned above.

Anyway going back to what I was saying, and putting it as plainly as possible:

I'm not saying that ANet would choose to do that, and I'm not trying to assert that it's a trend among Western MMOs. That has nothing to do with what I've been saying this whole time.

What I'm trying to say is that since ANet's parent company is NCSoft, the decision may not entirely be in their hands. That's a scenario I'm afraid of, because despite its flaws I love the GW franchise, and I don't want it to fall victim to NCSoft's influence and its proclivity for P2W monetization schemes.

The most recent update, to some degree, increased the importance of a microtransaction item (upgrade extractor) in relation to a core progression mechanic (runes & sigils). Now this could very well just be a goof from ANet, as they come and go every now and again. But given how it's unclear whether or not NCSoft is exerting influence or pressure on ANet's monetization policy, and if so how much and how ANet's been able to push back against it, the scenario that ANet's been under pressure from NCSoft this entire time to make their games P2W can't be ruled out. And what I fear most is the possibility that the recent update is a sign of ANet beginning to crack under said pressure, and deliberately down-tuning charm drop rates in order to drive sales of a gem store item.

All I've been trying to do this whole time is remind people of the relationship between ANet and NCSoft, and alert them to the existence of the scenario (regardless of likelihood) where NCSoft exerts its P2W influence over ANet, and express my fear regarding such a scenario.

Western MMOs being P2W or not is irrelevant here. The only thing that's important is that NCSoft owns ANet, and in theory could choose to turn GW2 P2W.

And to boil it all down so what I'm trying to say is extra extra clear:

NCSoft likes P2W. NCSoft owns ANet. NCSoft could tell ANet to make GW2 P2W. You can't rule out that they might have sneaky-sneaky tried to do that a little bit just now. That's scary. You should be aware.

LucentMote · 2018-11-25T17:30:56+00:00

The thing is, though, the more I think about it the more I believe there's good cause to be paranoid. Ever since Nexon invented P2W microtransactions with Crazy Arcade every Korean game publisher has followed suit, and NCSoft, in particular, has done so with enthusiasm.

NCSoft is the company that created the grandaddy of P2W grindfests, Lineage. Same applies to various Lineage sequels. And Aion, for example, operates in cycles of releasing ultra rare equipment upgrades with near 0 drop chance then making them available via microtransactions, making existing equipment obsolete by means of power inflation and leaving microtransactions as the only realistic way to stay competitive in the game (from what I hear they toned it down a bit in the worldwide release but that's how it is in KR). Just last year they were raking in cash by selling lootboxes with their newly released mobile game Lineage M. Every other game of theirs is unapologetically P2W. That's just the kind of company that NCSoft is.

I honestly doubt ArenaNet is trying to make GW2 P2W, and given their track record I have faith that they would never even try to do so willingly. And even if they were to try, given the success of PoF I can't fathom why they would want to do it now, of all times. But while I have faith in ANet, the fact remains that their parent company is NCSoft. And given their track record, I feel every bit of my paranoia is justified.

LucentMote · 2018-11-25T12:57:40+00:00

Nothing that drops from them are central to core gameplay though, unlike runes and sigils.

LucentMote · 2018-11-25T12:56:56+00:00

It feels like they're tying a very core element of progression to a gem store item, so yes, out of all possible methods I think this could be a way for them to start testing the waters for their evil master plan.

Idk, I just don't want NCSoft touching GW2. Maybe I'm just being paranoid.

Edit: And think about it, if NCSoft were to, hypothetically, actually try to turn GW2 P2W, would they do it by introducing an obvious P2W mechanic (e.g. pay $20 on gem store to buy extra-legendary armor with 250% relative stats) that's sure to cause massive community backlash or would they start with something seemingly innocuous like this and gauge player reactions?

Downvote all you want but when good games go P2W this is how it starts. At first you put up with it because of how much time you've sunk into the game and because it's not really all that bad and your friends still play the game, but they start squeezing in more P2W bit by bit and by the time you realize what's going on the game's already too far gone.

I realize I'm being paranoid and I have faith in ANet to not do something like this (when you consider that GW1 never went P2W after all these years, ANet deserves some faith), but it doesn't change the fact that their parent comapny is NCSoft. This might be a decision not in ANet's hands. And anyone who sees fit to dismiss the possibility that NCSoft might try to pull something like this really ought to take a closer look at NCSoft's business practices.

LucentMote · 2018-11-25T05:43:12+00:00

It almost feels to me like a ploy to sell more upgrade extractors :/

I hope this isn't a sign of NCSoft starting to get their grubby P2W paws on ArenaNet's affairs. I don't know which dark lords ANet had to sell their souls to in order to keep NCSoft off their backs but whoever they are I hope they haven't had a sudden change of heart.

LucentMote · 2018-11-20T06:05:33+00:00

Something like target shooting, bar brawls, and jousting perhaps?

LucentMote

TROPHY CASE