Please consider changing the role of normal mode Alexander in future patches

Why not just add Savage first and then normal a few weeks later?

Only problem is SE would need to bring more new content to keep non-hardcore-raiders busy.

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Originally Posted by Nadirah

Still haven't answered that question.

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You still haven't read my original post and comprehended my points. Also, I can tell you're not a progression raider, because your view points on how gearing works contradicts that of a progression raider. If you simply "wait to get eso gear" you're not bringing your all to the team. I'm not saying this opinion is wrong, or that it's bad, but it's just not an option for those of us who ARE pushing progression.

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Originally Posted by OmegaStrongtan

Why not just add Savage first and then normal a few weeks later?

Only problem is SE would need to bring more new content to keep non-hardcore-raiders busy.

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This is what I proposed, in part. I don't see how releasing it a mere two weeks earlier would change anything though in terms of keeping people busy.

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Originally Posted by Colorful

My suggestion is to make them share lockouts, and make it so gear from NM Alexander isn't required to beat Savage Alex along with whatever the next tomestone gear is. That way they can't complain about having to do Alex normal, and if they did it's just because they aren't skilled enough to beat it without the extra gear.

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No thanks. I don't agree with this at all. Some of us like to play more than one class and shared lockouts really screw that over. I'm fine with the Esoterics gear as it is as long as I have alternatives to get reasonably good gear. Hive weapons, upgraded Law gear, and Alexander Normal gear fit the bill just fine for the time being.

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Originally Posted by OmegaStrongtan

Why not just add Savage first and then normal a few weeks later?

Only problem is SE would need to bring more new content to keep non-hardcore-raiders busy.

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I honestly think that in part it could quite possibly be a PR move. Releasing the Savage version first (the one that many less people will be able to successfully clear) just isn't going to sit as well with the majority of people. They mayaswell be saying: hey, here's this great raid... but most of you suck too bad to clear it so here have this watered down version a couple of weeks later just so you guys will get out of our hair for awhile. Release Normal first (or even at the same time) and it changes things. I dunno, maybe it's just me. Either way, I'm fine with the way it is now. I still farm my Normal every week, as does the rest of my static and most of my other friends.

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Originally Posted by Airget

Snip.

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I understand what you're saying, but any serious raid group is going to look for anything and everything that will give them an edge on new content. If that edge is farming more gear from various raids, raid difficulties and instances, then that's the way it goes. Mileage and the amount of gear will vary from one group to another as it will also depend on how long a group will spend on any given part of content, but it would be outright foolish to not milk any upper hand you have.

I can sympathize with the OP and others in that situation, but I also agree on the existence of a normal mode (if only it were harder). That said, I have come from a background of various levels of difficulty per tier, and a number of raids to do at various points (WoW). Having done that in the past, I can probably say my burnout threshold is pretty damn high considering how many times on various difficulties and roster sizes I ran during that time, but it really helped when there was more than one raid to do at a given time.

A question to keep in mind is whether normal mode would flourish without the gear incentive. If I may ask, would it be better if the layout and challenges in Savage mode were sufficiently (but then what is "sufficient?") different from Normal? Perhaps side stories, a different path, etc? Maybe if it dropped other things alongside of gear? Or, one of the things I feel as being a major suspect, what if there were two raids instead of one?

I understand you're not particularly happy with the current model, but what proposals would you have to keep the community happy where many will now expect a normal mode? I'm not being facetious or snarky mind you, I'm just bringing up some thoughts.

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Originally Posted by Nadirah

blah blah

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Do you want any more salt with that post? SE tuned Faust with the 190 Alexander Normal gear in mind, I like all of the assumptions you just made about me in that one post though, those dirty casuals don't deserve a normal mode right?

One thing I do expect is to be able to go into the serious raid the day it's released, I already waited months for it as it is. Also I don't care about world or sever firsts, I like playing hard fights but I also have a 9-5 career.

Oh and I don't have any problem with Alexander NM either, I would rather I didn't have to do NM before Savage but it's how SE built the game, I'll just get on with it without crying about it.

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Originally Posted by Renault

And that's totally cool, everyone has their own opinion! So as someone who is fine with the way it is, and enjoys the normal mode content: would you be okay with it coming our later than savage, or not rewarding high level gear, so that those that want a challenge are not forced to farm the normal mode first?

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Sorry. But those who want a challenge are outnumbered by those who just wants to see the story.

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Originally Posted by KaijinRhada

A question to keep in mind is whether normal mode would flourish without the gear incentive. If I may ask, would it be better if the layout and challenges in Savage mode were sufficiently (but then what is "sufficient?") different from Normal? Perhaps side stories, a different path, etc? Maybe if it dropped other things alongside of gear? Or, one of the things I feel as being a major suspect, what if there were two raids instead of one?

I understand you're not particularly happy with the current model, but what proposals would you have to keep the community happy where many will now expect a normal mode? I'm not being facetious or snarky mind you, I'm just bringing up some thoughts.

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Good questions, which I have my opinionated answers to! First, I think normal mode should be renamed "story mode" in it's current form. I have two opinions on this, so here goes:

1: OPTIMALLY, I would see the normal mode Alexander floors added to a story mode roulette along with the research facility and singularity reactor. It's only slightly more difficult than those two, and IMO on par with the chrysalis. It rewards no gear, except maybe a ring or pet or something at the end as your "reward" for completing the story. It's released the same time as savage, but savage raiders do not have to farm it in order to get gear.

2: Alternatively: The raid rewards gear, but it is on par with gear levels already obtained (Imagine if the current tier of normal alexander rewarded i180 gear instead) Then the non-savage-raiders would still have their glamour, their story, and their content, while savage raiders would STILL not have to farm the content.

I want the main takeaway here to be (and not so much for you, for everyone reading, since you seem to understand where I'm coming from) that I don't want to deny the less-dedicated players anything at all, I just (and I feel like I've repeated myself a bunch saying this) do not want to be forced to farm it prior to savage.

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Originally Posted by hagare

Sorry. But those who want a challenge are outnumbered by those who just wants to see the story.

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...Did you even read what I wrote? Nowhere did I say, or even imply, that I did not want those who just want to story, to have the story.

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Originally Posted by Ashkendor

I honestly think that in part it could quite possibly be a PR move. Releasing the Savage version first (the one that many less people will be able to successfully clear) just isn't going to sit as well with the majority of people. They mayaswell be saying: hey, here's this great raid... but most of you suck too bad to clear it so here have this watered down version a couple of weeks later just so you guys will get out of our hair for awhile.

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SE doesn't have a problem with cutting difficulty
(Steps of Faith, T6-8, ever-increasing Echo...etc.)