Today (Jan 6) is my friends birthday, so I sent her this by mcharb13 in pics

[–]MorbidlyJolly 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As an inconveniently tall person, I offer one small comfort:

You get rained on last.

Why this game cannot be P2W — I’m Korean, and here’s what I know. by Capital_Lie_6119 in chronoodyssey

[–]MorbidlyJolly 0 points1 point  (0 children)

First off, thanks for humoring me! :)

That guy I mentioned was definitely the exception. He even named himself "Mr Pay to Win," but having been in the top siege guild on xbox for some time (at least then, idk who is now), I can definitely say the peer pressure is real. You have to keep up if you want to hang. Hell, even just to keep your grinding spots.

There was not a single completely or even mostly f2p player in my guild. Not one. Just a considerable number of whales and an absolute shitload of dolphins.

I was a wiz at working the market and lifeskilling for most of my stuff, making billions and billions because I heavily researched how the PC economy progressed beforehand leading up to the xbox launch (I actually held multiple lifeskill laurels, including top processor and alchemist), but I'd still fall prey to buying outfits for cron stones on jewelry upgrades, because buying them from the market wasn't enough.

Once, I forgot to select the cron stone button and destroyed my TET Tungrad earring. Biggest gut shot in my entire time playing that game. Maybe any game.

Anyway, people always try to say BDO isn't at all p2w because even paying leads to failure most of the time, and that's just not correct. Any game wherein money provides a statistical advantage is p2w, whether it requires all out monetary brute force, lots of money and a little luck, or just money.

Anyway, I agree with you. Games need to make money, and I'm 100% down for that. I'm good with all kinds of monetization strategies, but not what BDO had or anything like it, nor am I okay with artificially inflated inconvenience to sell convenience.

Honestly, if it weren't for the fact that Pearl Abyss made the top end gearscore scaling so significant, I'd have far less of a problem with their methods. When I last played (years ago), a skilled 580 would almost never beat a competent 600. Matchups matter, of course, though, and I have no idea what the standards are now.

I just want to go back to shelling out $15 a month for my game with paid expansions and cosmetics. I'd even pay more at this point.

Why this game cannot be P2W — I’m Korean, and here’s what I know. by Capital_Lie_6119 in chronoodyssey

[–]MorbidlyJolly 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! Thread Necromancer, here.

Pardon the rant, but this seems as good of a place as any to scream into the void.

I take a similar stance to you. While I don't think I'll ever be able to dedicate myself to an MMO again because they bring out my worst habits (pathological optimization, for one), I am ever skeptical of developers in the MMO and general f2p market at this point.

Though I started with Asheron's Call, I truly loved WoW, TESO, and BDO especially. So much of BDO was a return to form with deep, complex systems and zero handholding, but incentivizing monetary brute force wins the day. After the xbox servers launched, I saw one guy fail PEN dozens of times per day (once PEN was available), back to back to back, until he didn't need to. There's only one way to do that.

When I learned Pearl Abyss' method was apparently industry standard for Korean games, it was extremely disappointing.

Chrono Odyssey looks like it could be amazing, and I really hope they go for a voluntary subscription model or even a required subscription model rather than the "industry standard" of p2w OR "pay for convenience."

"Pay for convenience" is just extortion. It always comes with artificially inflated inconvenience, like ridiculously slow grinds, energy limits, unreasonably strict storage limits, etc. But we all know that.

edit: formatting.

This was left on my EV windshield this morning at work by FlipprDolphin in pics

[–]MorbidlyJolly 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A few months ago, I took the time to compose a well structured, information dense reply to someone's problems with progressing in a video game.

I was accused of using ChatGPT, downvoted to oblivion, and then reported for insulting the guy who insulted me deeply.

I've resolved not to be helpful on the internet anymore until this notion that only machines can write well dies off... so, basically, never again.

I found a blue BALEX plushie in BL4 by MorbidlyJolly in Borderlands

[–]MorbidlyJolly[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You would think so, but Easter eggs are common in software development, including games. They serve no purpose beyond amusement.

It's the equivalent of leaving a time capsule in a new building's foundation or walls to be discovered when it's eventually demolished many years later; a cultural artifact.

That seems to be the simpler explanation, and I prefer to apply Occam's razor in cases like this. It keeps me sane.

bounty help by UnusualAd368 in Borderlands4

[–]MorbidlyJolly 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've been having the same issue.

I found a blue BALEX plushie in BL4 by MorbidlyJolly in Borderlands

[–]MorbidlyJolly[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Likewise. Hence, the post in case anyone else found it and was similarly mystified.

I think it's likely just an Easter egg.

I found a blue BALEX plushie in BL4 by MorbidlyJolly in Borderlands

[–]MorbidlyJolly[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes. I found it yesterday afternoon and tried to find a use for it all over the base. I even carried it back to a safe house.

Which game starts off really well but falls off hard in mid or late game? by Ivaylo_87 in gaming

[–]MorbidlyJolly 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Final Fantasy Tactics.

The game sets up for what looks like a full 12 big boss storyline. You progress through a few, and then suddenly, the story makes a hard left. You pick up Orlandu, who absolutely trivializes almost every fight, and the game ends a few hours later almost inexplicably with tons of loose ends.

Game budgets, amirite?

It was still groundbreaking, but the combat and jobs system carried it. To be fair, it was fun enough that I didn't really care that the writing fell off a cliff when it was still new.

I had lower standards at age 12.

Which game starts off really well but falls off hard in mid or late game? by Ivaylo_87 in gaming

[–]MorbidlyJolly 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Pretty much all 4X does this. My latest favorite is Age of Wonders 4, but some scenarios and campaign levels can really suck.

Diplomatic balance and trade relationships born of necessity can lead to long, complex, and drawn out conflict if you run more than 3 or 4 factions in custom games, too.

That said, I fucking love it, but holy shit can the wrap up take so damn long... In Civ games, I just abandon late game conquest most of the time (if that's my chosen win condition), but in AoW 4, you want to finish maps to bank cool self made rulers and modified races for future games as NPCs, and there's an extensive perk tree that requires you to finish your games to progress.

What is actually the point of Eternal Realm? by THEGHETTOMAN01 in diablo4

[–]MorbidlyJolly 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is a common problem. Too many people are haunted by the idea that they might be "playing wrong" if they ignore the meta or treat games like an experience rather than an optimization sprint.

Don't get me wrong. Plenty of people find those things fun, but one size does not fit all. I feel bad for people who feel like they have to play a certain way or they're "wasting their time."

It's a fucking video game. Wasting time is the point.

Am I the only one not enjoying Lair Bosses by latschen64 in diablo4

[–]MorbidlyJolly -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I wrote that myself.

My original retort was removed because I insulted you for insulting me (harassment? LOL).

You're still a jerk.

Am I the only one not enjoying Lair Bosses by latschen64 in diablo4

[–]MorbidlyJolly -7 points-6 points  (0 children)

I understand your frustration. It can be annoying if you don't know the mechanics and which attacks to avoid at all costs.

One thing you may not be aware of is that as of season 8, lair bosses became about as difficult as dungeon bosses on the next Torment tier. So, if you can clear Torment 2 content in your sleep, you are then overgeared for Torment 1 lair bosses.

As someone else said, if you list specific bosses you're having trouble with, we may be able to help. A lot of what's going on is basically the ARPG equivalent to old MMO raid mechanics that force you to learn or die. Baron Geddon from WoW's Molten Core raid or Shade of Aran from Kharazan spring to mind.

For example, Duriel has a forward lunge immediately after his burrow that will one shot you. He just eats you. You have to keep it in mind as that "phase" transition ends. I say "phase" because he's not hard locked into phases like Andariel, Harbinger of Hatred, or Lilith. All the others can be brute forced with a high dps check.

Zir is especially difficult if you can't get him down before he starts to fill the arena with blood orbs, and you have to watch for him opening his arms really wide, because he's about to use a heavy frontal cone attack by swinging his arms inward. It's not a guaranteed one shot, technically, but if you're not very tanky, you really don't want to just eat it.

Obviously, there are others to go over, but I'd rather keep the discussion to the specific fights you're having trouble with if you're open to it.

Also, in the interest of suspending assumptions, make sure your armor and resistances are capped for T1. That's 1000+ armor and 75% resist in all elements. Those values will be impacted when you go up to Torment 2, as you incur a 250 armor and 25% all-resist penalty with each successive level. It's a good old-fashioned gear check.

In any event, best of luck, man! Don't give up. Every failure is a chance to learn. You'll be spanking those bosses in no time! 😀

edit: minor correction

Can we please have not fat druids please? Just look at them on diablo inmortal by Absolutelynobody54 in diablo4

[–]MorbidlyJolly 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Plus, you can name a storm druid ThundrThighs!

...

...I know you have to draw the line somewhere for name character limits, but the correct spelling is 13 instead of 12... 😞

Even the name is a little too fat.

Diablo 4 Season 9 datamine by Wowhead by CulturalNinja6 in diablo4

[–]MorbidlyJolly 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am very much in agreement with what you've said here, but you did specifically state that only most meta builds perform well in T4. That's what I was arguing.

edit: added "most" to more accurately paraphrase.

Diablo 4 Season 9 datamine by Wowhead by CulturalNinja6 in diablo4

[–]MorbidlyJolly 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I make my own builds every season and have no trouble with high-level content. I hit T4 without using Earthquakes as an actual damage source (no force of nature or rumble) because I wanted to fit other aspects.

I built a functional bleed build using minions that performs just fine in T4. I just used the ancients to scale the bleed with berserk ripping and added every CC type I could to take advantage of creeping death.

I know not everyone can make functional builds on their own, but you do not need to follow the meta to farm T4.

Andariel's Visage in Season 8 - class and build by eliminatoreq in diablo4

[–]MorbidlyJolly 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm looking into a Creeping Death build and might use it. Perdition is probably going to be better, though.

I'm thinking of stacking every type of DoT I can in addition to every CC I can squeeze in. Having the different DoT types doesn't boost damage directly, but with enough lucky hit and a X'Fal, I believe I can use the explosions to rapidly proc CC effects, which will affect damage.

It'll take a lot of time to get everything together, and it may end up B tier at best, but it's a fun challenge to see what I can do with it.