Game destroyer

[DanitaLass]

Fantastic new maps, RL, Sharn, Salt, and very nice return to standard crafting limits and gear power creep fix in the latest patches. Revamping the old "epic " gear, like Chronoscope sets, etc was a decision I greatly appreciate, as a 15 year vet of the game. But trying to get new friends interested in the game hits a brick wall the moment a reaper 60 player joins my R1 group with my noob friends. What was a challenging struggle with the maximum reaper point player in the group was 12, instantly became a joke, an insult, a pathetic waste of time that was no fun at all, and said player quickly decides they don't have time for the game. What an insult it was to see this one high reaper player destroy everything in a single move, and destroy the boss before we even got to the room. How did you let this happen? This is clear power leveling, a complete exploit. Why not limit Reaper 1 dungeon setting to only allow tier 1 reaper skills? DDO, even 15 years ago, always fought power leveling because the devs clearly understood; that destroys games quickly, leading to boredom and players quickly moving on. Now, I have to avoid 90% of all groups posted if I want any fun at all, because its a reaper 50+ player running R1 over and over in neck break speed. I suggest people and devs alike ask themselves ; WHY DO YOU PLAY GAMES? I play for challenge and danger that doesn't hurt me in real life. A scary fantasy I can share with friends. This game has the potential to guarantee that to all players simply by enforcing the "no power leveling " morality the game had from the start.
1) Limit Reaper 1 and 2 game setting to tier 1 reaper skills only , just like you do in heroic low levels.
2) Limit Reaper 3 game settings to only tier 2 reaper skill tree.
3) Limit Reaper 4 game setting to only tier 3 ,, etc.. etc...

Maybe then , I can get my friends to come back and try the game again, knowing it won't be a pathetic joke.

[Hobgoblin]

translation please

[Pandjed]

translation please

I'll try. I guess a lot of raw emotion here.

• There have been many improvements to the game lately, especially gear-wise
• I brought friends into the game, playing with them on R1, which was a fun struggle
• Then someone with ~60 Reaper Points joined and zerged the quest (when being 12th level)
• This was really disheartening, having one player crush the boss while we haven't even arrived at the boss room
• My friends quit the game due to this experience
• I'm lamenting about how this could happen, call it an exploit, question ppl about why they even play the game, etc.
• I bring the suggestion to make Reaper tiers apply by skulls, instead of being gated by level

First, I agree, having tiers apply by skulls than by level makes more sense, and could bring some more players to run heroics at r3 regularly, and r4+ with a group (though as long as the rxp-reward isn't upped, it may be unlikely). Would need a big balance test, however, as the power curve of characters and the reaper curve are out of balance, as starting in reaper makes you retreat back to elite without enough points and a lack of a (good) party.


However:

Now, I have to avoid 90% of all groups posted if I want any fun at all, because its a reaper 50+ player running R1 over and over in neck break speed. I suggest people and devs alike ask themselves ; WHY DO YOU PLAY GAMES? I play for challenge and danger that doesn't hurt me in real life. A scary fantasy I can share with friends. This game has the potential to guarantee that to all players simply by enforcing the "no power leveling " morality the game had from the start.

What is wrong with looking how you can run a quest fast and efficient? Getting better at what you do and reap speed and momentum as a reward? With what right do you berate my (and many other player's) kind of fun?






For a short-term solution: Next time, when you lead a group of new players, just write it in the lfm or say so in the chat, that you do some teaching and grooming. Maybe that person wasn't aware, wanted some company, and thought to do your group a favor by doing the heavy lifting? Most players I meet in the game a very helpful and are able to communicate.

[rabidfox]

Posting "New players, no zerg, slow rolling/flower sniffing" in a LFM is the way to go; you'll get a different type of player to join up. If you don't tell people what you want then they'll join & play their way.

Now, I have to avoid 90% of all groups posted if I want any fun at all, because its a reaper 50+ player running R1 over and over in neck break speed.

This is a common misconception about reaper points and zergs. I can zerg fast and melt things in r1's on my low rxp alts as they're built solid and I know the instances. Tiering/locking reapers won't keep zergers away.

[cdbd3rd]

I have one more alternate suggestion for the OP's situation.

If you have a static group of folks/friends with similar play-styles and you're enjoying the play - don't invite in strangers. Issue completely avoided.

[Xgya]

Several issues here.

First and foremost, the amount of Reaper points shouldn't matter that much on R1.
Past the first 10-20 points, everything else is basically gravy, unnecessary.

However, if that player had fitted gear, full sets and a planned character on a class they've already mastered, THAT can change things.


Not counting actual game knowledge, character power variation comes from gear first and foremost.
Tomes and past lives come next.
Reaper points very last.

How well-equipped was your group? What level was it at? What class did the new character play?
All of these will factor a LOT more than Reaper points.

[SoVeryBelgian]

Several issues here.

First and foremost, the amount of Reaper points shouldn't matter that much on R1.
Past the first 10-20 points, everything else is basically gravy, unnecessary.

However, if that player had fitted gear, full sets and a planned character on a class they've already mastered, THAT can change things.


Not counting actual game knowledge, character power variation comes from gear first and foremost.
Tomes and past lives come next.
Reaper points very last.

How well-equipped was your group? What level was it at? What class did the new character play?
All of these will factor a LOT more than Reaper points.

I mean, +3 Weapon Power? On R1? It's nice but sub 10 I can't see that being an issue and since Reaper scales... You're right in that it's mostly Equips and PLs.

But I also agree with other posters.

Either post LFM w/ Flower Sniffer tag, play with friends exclusively or play at non-reaper difficulties to discourage zergers.

[Annex]

It makes me very sad when a person who wants to lead public groups for new and less time invested players, who wants to connect to other players seeking the same sort of experience through the Looking for Group Panel, who wants to make new friends, is told the best way to have fun is to not post public groups. That, right there, should be a RED ALERT, all hands on deck, for everyone at Standing Stone Games.

[noinfo]

It makes me very sad when a person who wants to lead public groups for new and less time invested players, who wants to connect to other players seeking the same sort of experience through the Looking for Group Panel, who wants to make new friends, is told the best way to have fun is to not post public groups. That, right there, should be a RED ALERT, all hands on deck, for everyone at Standing Stone Games.

No the best thing is to be clear in posting your lfms. People will respect it.

[noinfo]

Fantastic new maps, RL, Sharn, Salt, and very nice return to standard crafting limits and gear power creep fix in the latest patches. Revamping the old "epic " gear, like Chronoscope sets, etc was a decision I greatly appreciate, as a 15 year vet of the game. But trying to get new friends interested in the game hits a brick wall the moment a reaper 60 player joins my R1 group with my noob friends. What was a challenging struggle with the maximum reaper point player in the group was 12, instantly became a joke, an insult, a pathetic waste of time that was no fun at all, and said player quickly decides they don't have time for the game. What an insult it was to see this one high reaper player destroy everything in a single move, and destroy the boss before we even got to the room. How did you let this happen? This is clear power leveling, a complete exploit. Why not limit Reaper 1 dungeon setting to only allow tier 1 reaper skills? DDO, even 15 years ago, always fought power leveling because the devs clearly understood; that destroys games quickly, leading to boredom and players quickly moving on. Now, I have to avoid 90% of all groups posted if I want any fun at all, because its a reaper 50+ player running R1 over and over in neck break speed. I suggest people and devs alike ask themselves ; WHY DO YOU PLAY GAMES? I play for challenge and danger that doesn't hurt me in real life. A scary fantasy I can share with friends. This game has the potential to guarantee that to all players simply by enforcing the "no power leveling " morality the game had from the start.
1) Limit Reaper 1 and 2 game setting to tier 1 reaper skills only , just like you do in heroic low levels.
2) Limit Reaper 3 game settings to only tier 2 reaper skill tree.
3) Limit Reaper 4 game setting to only tier 3 ,, etc.. etc...

Maybe then , I can get my friends to come back and try the game again, knowing it won't be a pathetic joke.

They were geared and knew how to play their build, I would probably have done the same on a 0 point build. Its ok to not be a power house etc, just let them know before hand in your lfm what you would like to do.

[erethizon]

Posting "New players, no zerg, slow rolling/flower sniffing" in a LFM is the way to go; you'll get a different type of player to join up.

This is really the advice you are looking for. All you have to do to eliminate 99.9% of this problem is put "no zerging", or any of the other things rabidfox suggested, in your LFM and this behavior will stop. With so many past lives DDO is heavily occupied by people that just want to breeze through the quests with no effort. They are not looking to be challenged nor to take their time. They want to accumulate past lives and reaper points as quickly as possible. With that in mind, they are more than happy to avoid groups that don't want them. Most of them are not jerks looking to ruin your fun, they are just used to playing with other people that also want to run through quests at top speed with little effort.

[Alrik_Fassbauer]

translation please

Lower level chars got their game killed by one über-power player char.

Posting "New players, no zerg, slow rolling/flower sniffing" in a LFM is the way to go; you'll get a different type of player to join up.

I agree there.