Comments for Sheep The Diamond

Comment on Crutches by Thander

Thander — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:10:17 +0000

I quit WoW because I got tired of the forced daily quests and even raid lockouts. Being a subscription game, maybe it’s something they have to do, but I can’t stand being forced to login each day to do dailies lest I get left behind friends and guildies. My free time is sporadic. Some days I can put a huge chunk of time in while others I can’t play at all, but I’m punished because dailies have to be done on a day to day basis. I’m fine with it taking 100 hours to get a rep to Exalted, but let me split up those 100 hours however I like. Don’t force me to do 2 hours a day. Let me skip 3 days and do 6 hours all in one day.

I think I’m just turned off the whole thing now. I don’t play any MMOs anymore. I just feel there are so many good non-MMO games, both single player and online, I don’t feel the need to play MMOs anymore. I’m always on the look out for new MMOs though, just in case a new one comes out with less artifical stuff like this. I’m not sure if my preferences would be profitable with any business model though.

Comment on A Lazy Weekend Apart by Stubborn

Stubborn — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:45:38 +0000

I assumed it was just a coincidence – but now that you put it that way, it seems MORE fishy, not less! (;

Regardless, I look forward to relating the many tales of us killing one another in Magicka. Thanks again!

Comment on Fabrics and Metaphors by Stubborn

Stubborn — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:39:19 +0000

Yes, I completely agree that playing with friends is more important than any kind of progression tiers. I’ve run into that problem again and again when trying to level with groups of friends. Games like Diablo and Torchlight have no system at all for dealing with this problem, and WoW and the like only offer repetition of content (rolling another character) or complete steamrolling of content to deal with it.

I completely agree that what GW2 did was a major improvement on the old model, and I hope to see more of that. I wish I had developed the interest in CoH to see the sidekicking system; I’ve heard a lot of good things about it.

Thanks for the comment!

Comment on Inching Back In by Stubborn

Stubborn — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:34:52 +0000

I think if I had the social group necessary to start a small venture like what you describe, I would do so, but unfortunately with just my wife and I, there’s not much point. We play when we want, and don’t when we don’t. I really wish I could get back to that idyllic environment of fun and friendship that WoW initially offered, but I think I’m just saddled with so much baggage now that it may be done for. Time will tell.

Regardless, thank you for your kind words, and don’t worry, the blog will live on!

Thanks for the comment!

Comment on Fabrics and Metaphors by Stubborn

Stubborn — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:32:45 +0000

Yes, I agree that there’s a huge subset of players who are fine with parallel play, but who, if they find themselves in a group, don’t mind and might even appreciate the help. Rift events are a great example of an MMO structure designed to do just that, as are old Everquest bosses where everyone just sort of showed up and piled up (if they weren’t under control by a certain guild).

I think WoW went in the wrong direction from there; instead of promoting all types of play while encouraging group play through the ease at which it could be done. Instead, we ended up with LFD, the “other people are disposal” grouping mechanism and LFR, the “let’s make content mindlessly easy” grouping mechanism.

Thanks for the comment, and getting the ball rolling on this conversation to start with!

Comment on Impotence and Love Lost by Stubborn

Stubborn — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:24:48 +0000

I completely agree. My goal was to have a relatively consistent team of 5, subbing in a person or two from time to time. Instead, I’m often alone or only with my wife, meaning that no matter how well we do, if one or two other people are terrible, we’re stuck.

Thanks for the comment!

Comment on Impotence and Love Lost by Stubborn

Stubborn — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:23:38 +0000

I really appreciate this comment. It helped me think in different terms about what I was doing. I get so frustrated during some of those games that I feel like I can’t trust my own communications, so afterwards I was perhaps being too hard on myself. I do try to keep things at least decent if not nice, so I guess when framed in that way, I am trying hard to get the team to win.

I handle my class so differently, though; I never lose my temper, never run out of patience, and so forth. It’s my job, of course, and I feel frustrated with my students some times, but I never let on; I always keep the message positive, because with these at-risk kids, any negativity can translate into a permanent disconnect. I don’t have it in me to be the same in a game, where I hope to meet people with similar goals (to win) and have fun.

At any rate, thanks for the comment!

Comment on Impotence and Love Lost by Stubborn

Stubborn — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:09:18 +0000

I know exactly what you mean. Deaths may not be due to any specific repeated failure as much as just an excellent opponent or a terrible match up. I can almost always destroy middle laners are an AP Teemo, but that doesn’t mean they’re bad. At the same time, I have SUCH a hard time against Lux, but I’m the same player who can go 30/3 in the previous game.

With my game, I can certainly understand the issue of people mistakenly calling or not calling too many of a certain position. Still, if it’s clear there’s a problem, just ADAPT! That’s what frustrated me so much; their complete refusal to adapt to a bad situation. It was foolish and juvenile, and it made me want to just drop – something I’ve sometimes FELT like doing but never really considered.

As for my jungling incapability, I just don’t get it. I can understand support sacrfice; I’m quite good at it. In fact, in the last game I played – my first live pvp since this post – I played Taric and helped a decent team carry a win with my good tanking, healing, and CCing. I just don’t get jungle. I can follow the path, use my CDs and pots, etc etc, and still end up too low a level. I just don’t get it or like it.

Thanks for the comment!

Comment on A Lazy Weekend Apart by Jeromai

Jeromai — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:06:19 +0000

Well, you mentioned Torchlight as something both of them could tolerate playing and Magicka was the other fun action RPG with similar camera perspective that came to mind.

And the hilarious delight of teamkilling each other in Magicka was too good to pass up suggesting since you expressed a sorta kinda “frustration” with their pickiness.

The coincident timing of the Steam sale was totally just that. I neither mind read or work for Steam. Really. Honest.

Comment on Shared Awe and Community Building by Stubborn

Stubborn — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:02:50 +0000

I agree with your cycle comment except for the “shorter intervals” part. I think the experience of awe is rare and wonderful enough that it’s hard to become acclimated to it. The shorter parts of the cycle are the “re-awe-ing” of each new game to come into the genre that awed you in the first place, like how for many how each subsequent MMO they play lasts a little less in their interest. To be fair, though, I really don’t know; this is only my 2nd or 3rd trip around the awe-wheel (RPGs, FPS, MMOs), and the cycle runs so long, it’s hard for me to measure. It’s certainly something to watch the next time around.

I completely agree with the rest of your argument. Both older gamers and slicker (I’d call it sleazier) marketing has really changed the nature of the games, and you’re certainly right that it’s easier to sell better stuff in the same setting than something wholly new. Hopefully, though, someone will be willing to take the risk.

Thanks for the comment!