I have two topics to discuss:
1. Functionality issues (and bugs) exist in the inventory and stash menu.
A prominent bug affected by most players is the inability to store or take all items in one category from inventory to stash and vice versa.
The search functionality is often inadequate when searching for gear in the inventory or stash. Intimate understanding of attribute mod nomenclature (of the Priest for instance for Con+Int), are things that has to be done externally to properly look for gear which I feel isn’t something that should be necessary for users. Other perks (Luck for instance) can’t be filtered, and there should be more ways to specify search parameters. Because there are multiple categories and a wide variety of items in the game, an increase in the functionality of the search bar would most likely result in a big quality of life improvement.
2. Direction of some recent patch changes are making it unintentionally difficult for smaller groups and solo players to play the game as intended.
High player and community interaction is generally good for the game and recent patch changes seem to have this in mind. While this is welcome, many of the changes have indirectly had a negative impact on smaller groups of players and solo players which are a large part of the community.
Smaller companies, small groups of friends, and solo players face multiple barriers in both smaller and larger population servers alike. These groups generally can’t participate in Wars, and invasions (they aren’t picked) which are key components of the game. As well as this, there are economic barriers:
A. Significantly higher tax expenses for trading post usage and leveling trade skills.
(They will never belong to the company that owns the territory. They can join the large companies, which would mean they are no longer a small group or solo, or they can forego most of the trade skills and rely on the market at a higher net cost)
B. Higher usage of Azoth with sub-optional means of production.
(They cannot participate in Wars, and Invasions. Higher level corrupted portals and breaches can only be done when joining large companies. These large companies decide the time and frequency.)
C. Extra costs for dungeon participation.
(Most smaller companies don’t have access to the same quantity of keys, or meet the tradeskill requirements for dungeons which requires paying fees to key owners for joining dungeons.)
D. Restricted access to Elite Zones and Expertise upgrades.
(While Elite Zones are a challenge for small groups, they are not impossible and very rewarding. The issue with these zones are that they are usually restricted to large groups. Smaller groups and solo players are usually at the mercy of large numbers of opposing faction companies which restricts access)
These are some of the main barriers that significantly slows progression for smaller groups and solo players. The most direct solution to this for this group is to join the majority faction, and/or join the large companies but eventually this would eliminate small groups in a server or even a whole faction (two faction servers aren’t uncommon). I feel that consideration for small groups or even solo players should be explored so that deciding to play this way doesn’t only have unintended demerits.
Ending thoughts:
While the negative reception by some of the community in earlier updates to changes in drop rates of repeatable, solo-able named monsters for Expertise upgrades were most likely misplaced, I feel that the core issue they found with the changes were the lack of options available to play in small groups or solo. Most people playing and developing the game probably do not want things like elite chest looting (Scorched Mines), and repeatedly farming the same monster (Fay, Last Protector) to be a main feature or activity of the game. But the reason why these things are a main activity despite efforts to change that is because there are no other options to progress the game for smaller groups otherwise. Until this this changed, it is one of the only ways for small group/solo players to progress in the game. The most recent patch changes in 1.1 and 1.2 to chest locations and increase of monsters gave a confusing message to small/solo group players like myself. On one hand the changes increased the difficulty to the point where less experienced players could no longer solo certain chests which seemed to indicate that solo chest looting was off limits (Imperial Palace Princess and Daisy the Dancing Bear), while on the other hand for experienced solo players, it increased the time and difficulty but clearly seemed to indicate that it was still allowed since the chests were not locked. Maybe these changes are a stopgap measure until a better solution is available, but just to make sure, I am posting this for consideration by staff since I feel like it is an issue that is widespread, but most likely under reported.
I have given this topic a lot of thought from both my perspective as a player and from the developer’s side and have some solutions which if inquired for would gladly provide in a separate post or privately.
Thank you.
