A casual players reflections

[Valten21]

Well said, often when we are raiding people are claiming we are taking enjoyment in ruining other peoples fun, but for me.. to not be raiding... well.. that's not fun. There's a lot of tactics invovled, especially when you are adding a few more people to your party, and always the risk of losing some heavy invesetments - your characters, make for the most exciting combat I've experienced in a game. Anyone who is playing the game casually and happens to get in rendering distance is at risk of losing everything, and that's pretty tough for someone who is not willing to commit to the style of play where he might defend himself, but enjoys other aspects of the game. I'm not sure how Jorb and Loftar feel about this, but I fear changes being made.

[GanjaGuardian]

My thoughts is, if you want to hermit you should learn everything. Every aspect of the game should be comfortable to you including combat, hunting, mining, whatever. There are ways around this like trade (who needs to learn mining if you have a good ally supplying you with metal). Also there are ways to opt out of combat if you don't want to learn it like having powerful allies who will track and fight for you.
However the easiest way to opt out of combat is to join a large village, then you can specialise in one or two areas while making more progress as you would as a hermit.

[TeckXKnight]

But, since combat is so essential if you actually want to do more than play Farmville, making it this quirky and inaccessible combined with its lack of balance weeds out more than the not so stubborn players.

I agree entirely that it's too complicated as is. There is no way to perfectly balance a system though, as older more experienced players will always have an advantage.

[Valten21]

Ah, actualyl.. one thing, I hate how the UI is split up, with CD's coins, and moves on the bottom, and advantage/attack/defense/intensity on the top of the screen.. put them together!

[sabinati]

But, since combat is so essential if you actually want to do more than play Farmville, making it this quirky and inaccessible combined with its lack of balance weeds out more than the not so stubborn players.

I agree entirely that it's too complicated as is. There is no way to perfectly balance a system though, as older more experienced players will always have an advantage.

well, of course, people with more experience should have some advantage

[Joorin]

Well said, often when we are raiding people are claiming we are taking enjoyment in ruining other peoples fun, but for me.. to not be raiding... well.. that's not fun. There's a lot of tactics invovled, especially when you are adding a few more people to your party, and always the risk of losing some heavy invesetments - your characters, make for the most exciting combat I've experienced in a game.

If I were to guess, most of the "You're just trolls!11!!" comments stem from the fights where you actually didn't risk anything. There is no risk in steam rolling a n00b into the ground, asking for his pants and then killing him unless it's done to try to provoke some more powerful player that's "protecting" the n00b.

I have no idea about how common the latter case is, but to the n00b it's pretty uninteresting since he still has to start over.

And if I underestimate the dangers in n00b crushing, please write that up to ignorance on my part. So far I've seen close to zero retalitary actions of this kind but perhaps I'm just looking in the wrong places.

Anyone who is playing the game casually and happens to get in rendering distance is at risk of losing everything, and that's pretty tough for someone who is not willing to commit to the style of play where he might defend himself, but enjoys other aspects of the game.

Very true. I got into this game with my eyes at least partly open. I read one of the n00b guides and followed it almost to the letter, took the time to read up on almost every step on the wiki and used it extensively as soon as I needed to know something about the game. It still couldn't prepare me for combat and definitely not for hostile players and since I don't have the time to go hard core and grind the five to ten alts to gain combat experience, I kind of had to give up on that part.

I'm not sure how Jorb and Loftar feel about this, but I fear changes being made.

From the handful of comments I've seen, they seem to operate under the notion of "If you get into the game, be prepared to suffer the consequences." so any changes soon seem unlikely.

[rozn]

You could always join a village if you want to play casual =P

[Potjeh]

Combat is *supposed* to be about player skill. The interface really is user hostile, though.

[toshirohayate]

Combat is *supposed* to be about player skill. The interface really is user hostile, though.

It's really not THAT bad. Though I did find it odd that it was split across the screen.

[Eemerald]

I dont really use the combat system, It doesnt interest me, even though i still build up my UA, MC and get black skills, because at the very least if i was attacked id have some chance, even if likely chances are id be dead since i suck at the combat system. this however, doesnt deter from every other aspect of the game.

to me my own weakness with the combat system, means i need to work on my defence and security and that of the villagers who play with me. so we palisade, we brickwall, we avoid too much contact with players when outside, we take our precautions, we ensure we all have armour when out and so on.
We craft, we farm, we bake, we work silk, and we improve quality. We did that all world 5, without leaving scents, which are one way in which raiders will track people to kill randomly.

We have been killed, and raided, and have everything we worked for destroyed during that time. and each time it made us realize wht our security issues were and we solved them. brickwall, double brickwalls, prevent snipers, and so on. we managed to survive much of world 5 with good charachters and good produce. but one of the most enjoyable aspects of this game is working with a group of people, i have made some good friends, we work and support each other in game and for me, the villagers themselves and the social aspect of the game is enjoyable if u can pick the right people and they work well together.

so it is doable, but casual players work best inside a village, if theyre after some one who doesnt play too often.