The graphics look on par with Cryptic's Neverwinter and it will probably me monetized just as brutally. I'm not holding out much hope, but I've got my eye on it nonetheless.
SOE monetizes extremely well. They dont offer anything that could give a major advantage over another, or anything that cant be gotten by simply playing the game.
Interesting article. I understand your concerns on the AI of NPCs/mobs, I too was wondering how that would work with 1000's of players involved.
I agree soe needs to cheat in some way. I had an idea while reading the article.
Do all the mob have to use AI? couldn't you have random mobs the wonder and respawn as needed that don't use AI really. Think Noobie log, Nekulos Forest, EQ1. Skilies, bears, black wolves all wondered by and were killed when mana and health was full.
They could still have mobs like this and use the "story book" AI in different parts of the game: "quest givers" and other mobs needed for large scale stories.
Also they could do things to prevent non stop farming of mobs by having a "chief" or whatever that would come out to protect their kind. Think Mummy at skellie camp in Nek Forest. Or maybe even Much higher "level" mob if needed. Think Sand Giant in East Commons while killing at the lev 6 orc camp. If that one is killed, have an even higher lev mob spawn and patrol the area for Players trying to farm his minions/comrades/etc.
Using the example above where it was tried before. Have a "shepard" patrol to disrupt constant farming, and a high level dragon patrol to watch over her children.
Of course eventually when most of the server is high level themselves and could come kill the high level mob so the "noobies" could continue in slaughter of the lambs, I am not sure what to do at that point. I am sure SOE will think of something.
Maybe have the higher level mob require a group of 5 or 6 or better to defeat, which would make it harder for players to "disable" the patrol for other players. Of course have it where this "boss" would not patrol 24/7 just when he feels too many of his people have died. etc.
?Hopefully that all came out right and is easy to understand. Its way past bedtime.
Comments
Interesting article. I understand your concerns on the AI of NPCs/mobs, I too was wondering how that would work with 1000's of players involved.
I agree soe needs to cheat in some way. I had an idea while reading the article.
Do all the mob have to use AI? couldn't you have random mobs the wonder and respawn as needed that don't use AI really. Think Noobie log, Nekulos Forest, EQ1. Skilies, bears, black wolves all wondered by and were killed when mana and health was full.
They could still have mobs like this and use the "story book" AI in different parts of the game: "quest givers" and other mobs needed for large scale stories.
Also they could do things to prevent non stop farming of mobs by having a "chief" or whatever that would come out to protect their kind. Think Mummy at skellie camp in Nek Forest. Or maybe even Much higher "level" mob if needed. Think Sand Giant in East Commons while killing at the lev 6 orc camp. If that one is killed, have an even higher lev mob spawn and patrol the area for Players trying to farm his minions/comrades/etc.
Using the example above where it was tried before. Have a "shepard" patrol to disrupt constant farming, and a high level dragon patrol to watch over her children.
Of course eventually when most of the server is high level themselves and could come kill the high level mob so the "noobies" could continue in slaughter of the lambs, I am not sure what to do at that point. I am sure SOE will think of something.
Maybe have the higher level mob require a group of 5 or 6 or better to defeat, which would make it harder for players to "disable" the patrol for other players. Of course have it where this "boss" would not patrol 24/7 just when he feels too many of his people have died. etc.
?Hopefully that all came out right and is easy to understand. Its way past bedtime.