Giving up on 5k

[jskinner937]

7000 total favor on live? You get Fairy Wings. Boom, problem solved. Just make them a different color from the Hardcore ones. Or unlocks per character instead of per account like Hardcore. Or unlocks, but you have to buy each life like Reaper wings.

This probably makes more sense tbh. I suggested the fairy wings on hardcore should be broken and bloody once they were announced. It just doesn’t fit as a reward. +1

[GeneralDiomedes]

Something more along the lines of the aasimar evil wings would have been cooler

[Hipparan]

I don't have the patience for the Hardcore server. I'm glad some people like it, and I think most of the cosmetics are pretty cool, but I've never been a fan of the Roman numerals on them. The fairy wings are amazing, but it's nowhere near worth the anguish I would have trying to get them. I tried just getting the level 20 cloak one season and got burned by an unfair trap (I know this sounds like whining because the Hardcore server isn't necessarily supposed to be fair, but a sunburst trap shouldn't one shot a non-undead character on normal difficulty). I've been salty ever since that and I refuse to play Hardcore anymore. I play DDO to have fun, and Hardcore does nothing but stress me out.

With that in mind, putting a cosmetic that unique at such a high tier in Hardcore makes me very sad. I'm a casual player, and the fairy wings are unattainable for me. It would be nice if there were different colored wings added to the DDO store or something.

[Oxarhamar]

This probably makes more sense tbh. I suggested the fairy wings on hardcore should be broken and bloody once they were announced. It just doesn’t fit as a reward. +1

the season is feywild themed

[Aelonwy]

the season is feywild themed

I suggested something like this for the store... they are smaller, colored slightly differently and transparent.


From what I've been hearing/reading on HC and here something like this:


But probably smaller would have been much more appreciated by the target audience of a season with reaper-like mobs on all difficulties.

[Caarb]

I got mine yesterday. I had to do it 100% solo due to the anti-afk mechanics. I hated every single minute of it. Will probably take an extended break from the game as I am burned out.

[Oxarhamar]

I suggested something like this for the store... they are smaller, colored slightly differently and transparent.


From what I've been hearing/reading on HC and here something like this:


But probably smaller would have been much more appreciated by the target audience of a season with reaper-like mobs on all difficulties.

I understand that sentiment but the theme is Feywild

Those are really cool would have been better for the reaper points rewards

[DAVIDARC]

I suggested something like this for the store... they are smaller, colored slightly differently and transparent.


From what I've been hearing/reading on HC and here something like this:


But probably smaller would have been much more appreciated by the target audience of a season with reaper-like mobs on all difficulties.

If dragon fly wings were available, I just might be able to get my wife to try this game.

[slarden]

I already used Fury's favor spreadsheet and we were cutting it pretty close as it was skipping raids and challenges because we're not particularly familiar with them and skipping or dropping down to hard on most beholder content which is notorious for insta-death gotchas.

As far as beholders the 75 DDO point lesser beholder crystals work against all the eye beam types except perhaps instakill (need deathblock).

Don't buy the 50 DDO point version.

It's a ridiculous thing - I get it- but if you really want the wings and are willing to purchase from the store, it's worth it for beholder encounters as rolling 1 on grotkin's disintegrate can even kill you on normal and I have video evidence of that.

[Matuse]

The last character I plan on making for HCL died, and so now I'm just going to log in for daily dice. I got what I wanted out of the league: Some bonus favor store points and a max capacity storage mule.

I hated this league. Hated is really not even an adequate term for it. Every second I was logged into HCL was the least fun I have ever conceived of having in DDO in nearly 17 years. I never lost a character to a Hound, but the Hounds overshadow everything else and completely and utterly drain every trace of joy that might possibly be had from the game.

Do not ever do this again.

[Mofus]

Don't give up, you still have 6 weeks or more to go. Put up lfms or use hirelings on aggressive. Full groups wipe the dogs quickly. You can do it. That being said, this is the worst HC season yet. Please SSG no more gimmicks. Go back to season 1 rules before people stop wanting to play the cash cow that is HCL.

[Aelonwy]

The fairy wings are amazing, but it's nowhere near worth the anguish I would have trying to get them.

This^

Will probably take an extended break from the game as I am burned out.

This^

Hated is really not even an adequate term for it. Every second I was logged into HCL was the least fun I have ever conceived of having in DDO in nearly 17 years. I never lost a character to a Hound, but the Hounds overshadow everything else and completely and utterly drain every trace of joy that might possibly be had from the game.

This^ guy gets it.

Don't give up, you still have 6 weeks or more to go. Put up lfms or use hirelings on aggressive. Full groups wipe the dogs quickly. You can do it. That being said, this is the worst HC season yet.

Hubby, son and I, 3 hirelings all on active. We were 10 trying to run Threnal chain elite. Threnal IS ALL OUT OF FREAKING ORDER. Has been forever. Its not like they didn't know about it. +2 level limit, Hounds (again champion red name reaper-like mobs) get massive power bump in content above 10 - mix ingredients, put in oven to bake, serve stress and misery to your casual players.

As far as beholders the 75 DDO point lesser beholder crystals work against all the eye beam types except perhaps instakill (need deathblock).
Don't buy the 50 DDO point version.
It's a ridiculous thing - I get it- but if you really want the wings and are willing to purchase from the store, it's worth it for beholder encounters as rolling 1 on grotkin's disintegrate can even kill you on normal and I have video evidence of that.

*sigh* This is not on you slarden, I appreciate your advice really I do... but I don't even know how to articulate this... Some people see HC as a competition and that's fine but how can they be okay with OBVIOUS, BLATANT, P2WIN circumventions of game mechanics in the store like this^ and NOT okay with putting similar but not the exact same cosmetics in the store for people like me that do NOT want this degree of dread and stress in their leisure activity.

I think I have more than made it clear to the devs that I'm willing to purchase cosmetics from the store that appeal to me. I have in fact purchased a great deal of cosmetics from the store. But instead of putting wings like these in the store and opening the door to a tremendous variety of wings they could put in the store... no instead they made them something some players will DEMAND be exclusive Epeen badges by putting them behind a massive grindwall under heavy restrictions and what is to me miserable playing conditions. Virtually guaranteeing that NOT only will I NOT enjoy myself they have actually opened my eyes to seeing that its NOT WORTH IT. Not just the wings but the game. They don't seem to want players like me anymore or why reaper-like mobs everywhere, ALL levels, ALL difficulties, this season?

I might try to get to 20 still with 10 levels to go but the consolation prizes of the hunt pup and 20 cloak? Idk. I never wanted them. I only wanted the wings, that was the only reason I made myself suffer trying to play this tripe of a season. But then again this season has been so awful, I've lost even the desire to play the regular game let alone trying to finish out here.

You cannot have a more obvious misstep than to convince people that your game is an unpleasant chore not meant to be played but endured.

[slarden]

Hubby, son and I, 3 hirelings all on active. We were 10 trying to run Threnal chain elite. Threnal IS ALL OUT OF FREAKING ORDER. Has been forever. Its not like they didn't know about it. +2 level limit, Hounds (again champion red name reaper-like mobs) get massive power bump in content above 10 - mix ingredients, put in oven to bake, serve stress and misery to your casual players.
.

As far as threnal, 2 options to avoid running the 9s and 10s on E @ level 10.

1) If you don't care about the end rewards run the 8s on E and save the other quests for level 11
2) If you are trying to get an item like ratcatcher run the two 8s on E and finish the chain on casual. If you don't get the item repeat chain again on casual. Once you have your item or on 3rd run - run only the first 2 8s on casual and then finish the chain @ 11 on E. You are guaranteed a full list of items after your third run.

*sigh* This is not on you slarden, I appreciate your advice really I do... but I don't even know how to articulate this... Some people see HC as a competition and that's fine but how can they be okay with OBVIOUS, BLATANT, P2WIN circumventions of game mechanics in the store like this^ and NOT okay with putting similar but not the exact same cosmetics in the store for people like me that do NOT want this degree of dread and stress in their leisure activity.

I think I have more than made it clear to the devs that I'm willing to purchase cosmetics from the store that appeal to me. I have in fact purchased a great deal of cosmetics from the store. But instead of putting wings like these in the store and opening the door to a tremendous variety of wings they could put in the store... no instead they made them something some players will DEMAND be exclusive Epeen badges by putting them behind a massive grindwall under heavy restrictions and what is to me miserable playing conditions. Virtually guaranteeing that NOT only will I NOT enjoy myself they have actually opened my eyes to seeing that its NOT WORTH IT. Not just the wings but the game. They don't seem to want players like me anymore or why reaper-like mobs everywhere, ALL levels, ALL difficulties, this season?

I might try to get to 20 still with 10 levels to go but the consolation prizes of the hunt pup and 20 cloak? Idk. I never wanted them. I only wanted the wings, that was the only reason I made myself suffer trying to play this tripe of a season. But then again this season has been so awful, I've lost even the desire to play the regular game let alone trying to finish out here.

You cannot have a more obvious misstep than to convince people that your game is an unpleasant chore not meant to be played but endured.

I don't disagree with you at all. I suspect based on the poor reception to the hounds they will repeat the wings in a future season with a different mechanic. Having different looking cosmetic wings in the store makes sense to me. I mean you can earn mounts or buy different styles for points. So why not the same thing with wings?

As for the beholder crystal, the way I look at it you get 850 points for your first 2k favor. So spending 75 on the beholder crystal is still a net win on points.

It's unfortunate you dislike the season so much you aren't going to give the 5k another try, but I completely understand.

[IntrepidBear]

sending hugs, Aelonwy, sorry you are having difficult time.
Hardcore can really cause burnout to many players due to the stresses and griefs of it.
I know some people got so burned out in the past, they did not play DDO for months after.
Give yourself a time out for a bit.

I'm still plugging away there, as I too can only play for short time spans, not full 12 hours of zerg runs daily. I have 3 active toons running, one for the favor, another for just leveling getting to cap, another to help people in my group sometimes, yes we died now and then, get frustrated, take a couple days break and then keep going.

I kind of don't mind the hounds, we are prepared for them, but it's the dang traps that have given us a grief moment twice, and ya, it can be pretty stressful with the limits to quests level.

As for the rewards, I like the sash, cloak, hound, horse,
as for the wings, they are cute, but the design is a bit large with them being not transparent. They block your view in some quests and if you have a giant half orc in front of you, you cannot see what is going on in tunnels etc. I have not gotten them yet, but not too overly wanting them, as I would only use them on say a halfling or deep gnome, when hopping around town, not in quests as they are kind of annoying in the visual.

I give a +1 on store purchase. I would totally spend a good amount for say, pink footprints, or transparent Dragonfly wingies !!!! Or, why not in 100 rare gold rolls?? hmmm??? hint hint to the devs?????

[IntrepidBear]

I don't disagree with you at all. I suspect based on the poor reception to the hounds they will repeat the wings in a future season with a different mechanic. Having different looking cosmetic wings in the store makes sense to me. I mean you can earn mounts or buy different styles for points. So why not the same thing with wings?

.

Agree !! +1
Some of us have limited play time, so offer
varied wings, different type of footprints !! ftw
or even add to gold roll rares???
it would totally boost purchases lol

[Bunker]

As far as threnal, 2 options to avoid running the 9s and 10s on E @ level 10.

1) If you don't care about the end rewards run the 8s on E and save the other quests for level 11
2) If you are trying to get an item like ratcatcher run the two 8s on E and finish the chain on casual. If you don't get the item repeat chain again on casual. Once you have your item or on 3rd run - run only the first 2 8s on casual and then finish the chain @ 11 on E. You are guaranteed a full list of items after your third run.



I don't disagree with you at all. I suspect based on the poor reception to the hounds they will repeat the wings in a future season with a different mechanic. Having different looking cosmetic wings in the store makes sense to me. I mean you can earn mounts or buy different styles for points. So why not the same thing with wings?

As for the beholder crystal, the way I look at it you get 850 points for your first 2k favor. So spending 75 on the beholder crystal is still a net win on points.

It's unfortunate you dislike the season so much you aren't going to give the 5k another try, but I completely understand.

End quest rewards for some of the old content, like threnal is great to run quick casuals. Much like getting goggles from tangleroot. Definitely agree.

I will say that over the past 5 seasons, there has always been more that a few players that have requested an increase in difficulty. I think power gamers and casuals alike have mentioned, that season 6 has been much more of a challenge.

A case can be made that each season has been tough, or easy, and that difficulty adjustments in either direction was called for. It just really depends on the player and thier opinion.

How could SSG make it so players from both ends of the spectrum can find enjoyment and reward equal in a single season of HC.

If you make it too easy, than players will be upset because there isn't rewards that set them apart from others. If you make it too tough, then you get responses like this thread. These of course are just 3 rough examples.

So what can happen to obtain that unreachable thing called balance???

On the subject of cosmetics. Everyone likes cosmetics, even the powergamers. As far as reward go, they should always remain only achieved by result. That doesn't mean they cannot release more wings, helms, foot prints in the future. However, having something very few other have IS part of the reason we fight to reach those goals. Or else put all items, raid, regular, cosmetic in the store and buy to your bank account is empty.

[Bunker]

Winter fest is coming up. Put wings, footprints, new ice dragon pet......and everything else you can think of in that event.

This is just 1 example. Everyone can go down the slide, and nobody is left out. SSG can always introduce something like that.

[Mindos]

Some people see HC as a competition and that's fine but how can they be okay with OBVIOUS, BLATANT, P2WIN circumventions of game mechanics in the store like this^ and NOT okay with putting similar but not the exact same cosmetics in the store for people like me that do NOT want this degree of dread and stress in their leisure activity.


You cannot have a more obvious misstep than to convince people that your game is an unpleasant chore not meant to be played but endured.

A case can be made that each season has been tough, or easy, and that difficulty adjustments in either direction was called for. It just really depends on the player and thier opinion.
How could SSG make it so players from both ends of the spectrum can find enjoyment and reward equal in a single season of HC.
If you make it too easy, than players will be upset because there isn't rewards that set them apart from others. If you make it too tough, then you get responses like this thread. These of course are just 3 rough examples.
So what can happen to obtain that unreachable thing called balance???

When myself (and some others) were trying out the two different Beholder prevention crystals in the store, we joked around that it didn't really do anything but give you the courage to face the beholder. Over and over we would see no charges removed from the crystal but one only. We would all echo after each encounter that we still had 49 charges left (or whatever it was/is). We starting thinking that it really was just a placebo.

In regards to "hard" or too "easy" seasons, isn't this the balance as best it could? Not every Hardcore season needs to be a cakewalk, and conversely not every needs to be difficult. The same goes for similarity: Not every Hardcore season need have the same challenge or reward (at same tiers as well).

What is one players bane could well be another's joy. While this season may not be for everyone, there will be more Hardcore seasons and hopefully the reward gods will align with the fun gods for everyone.

[Coffey]

There should be a separate reward for playing on reaper difficulty while collecting 5K favor for people who want more challenge.

Im not saying its easy to go to endgame and farm gear to then gain 20 Reaper points but it is a lot harder to attain during Heroics.

Might make it harder to get into an appropriate party though especially as the season winds down.

Wolves are easy enough to deal with but only slow players down. I dont have a lot of time to play like a lot of other people as well.

[marinersfan]

The last character I plan on making for HCL died, and so now I'm just going to log in for daily dice. I got what I wanted out of the league: Some bonus favor store points and a max capacity storage mule.

I gave it 1 go, died questionably in a trap with 3000+ favor. Once I got used to the hounds, I decided similarly - take the store points and spacious storage and call it a season whenever I died. Still logging in daily for my gold rolls as well. Unlike others here, I didn't "hate" this season, but I also didn't find it very fun. I skipped season 5 and was excited to give it a fresh go, but that enthusiasm waned quickly.

I respect their decision to flavor this season "extra tough", but the early level overtuned hounds and buggy behaviors that caused early cheese deaths didn't pass the smell test for me. Additionally, (sorry Aelonwy) in my opinion, the butterfly wings didn't seem like a fitting reward for an extra tough run to 5k. As you've kind of alluded, many folks interested in the wings maybe aren't the type to enjoy reaper difficulty mobs as much. I definitely feel badly for those who really wanted these wings and feel they are out of reach. How disappointing. Personally, I would have preferred a giant hound mount or some sort of wolf pelt armor cosmetic to symbolize our dominance over them.

I was looking forward to getting back to work with my main toon. My HC character died about 10 days before U56...then BAM U56 wrecked my main toon...a spellsinger bard. Now I'm barely playing on either server. Boo