Advice to Yoshi-P: Dungeons/Raids are NOT the be-all-end-all of content.

[SilvertearRen]

Yoshi-P,

My advice to you right now is to avoid falling into the trap of thinking that dungeons are the be-all-end-all of content for MMOs. The reality is, they aren't.

What I expect to see is more open-ended content, and if we are to use FFXI as an example, I would recommend the Campaign system from Wings of the Goddess, with hamlet defense and other activities.

Another piece of advice is to consider implementing scaling difficulties that can be adjusted by the party. Here's how it would play out for dungeons and other content:

5 Stars: Drops +3 Gear
4 Stars: Drops +2 Gear
3 Stars: Drops +1 Gear
2 Stars: Drops NG Gear
1 Stars: Conventional Drops

This way, players who want to participate in dungeons like Dzemael Darkhold without having to be stressed about battle, do not have to end up suffering an anxiety attack (yes, there are people out there who have this condition) whenever a party member gets incapacitated.

The rule of having content like this is to give players the CHOICE to adjust the difficulty to their preference, rather than offering two dumb-arse retarded options like Rank 50 and Rank 30 dungeon options that offer completely different content experiences.

Many upcoming MMORPGs such as Guild Wars 2 and Star Wars: The Old Republic offer "scaling content", which is content whose difficulties can be scaled to the player's preference.

Want insanely-hard bosses? Max it out to "I want to die". Want to have an easy time, not get stressed out and still get the drop you're after? Set the encounter to "Average".

Plain and simple as that. Just copy+paste the GuildLeve Difficulty Star system to Dungeons and you have a solution for the players that don't handle stress very well.

And to those who would feel inclined to torch my suggestions: From a business standpoint, the goal of an MMO is to be inclusive, not exclusive. Being exclusive drives away users.

[Loony_BoB]

I can't help but feel that people who get anxiety attacks when playing an MMO should not play an MMO anymore.

[Murugan]

I once had a sorcerer in my raid group who suffered from vertigo and asked us if we could please not move around during boss fights as it triggered her condition.

Can we please make an option for all movement to be restricted during gameplay. I like playing games and all, but it is not worth someone becoming ill.

[Oscillate_Wildly]

I can't help but feel that people who get anxiety attacks when playing an MMO should not play an MMO anymore.

I get this with regular video games, I usually just go lay down with a book and rethink my life choices.

[SilvertearRen]

You guys are being very insensitive. What if those people who have such conditions, love to play MMOs?

They shouldn't be prevented, or discouraged from doing what they enjoy. The point of this thread is to encourage content that can be scaled up and down to the player's preference.

[Murugan]

You guys are being very insensitive. What if those people who have such conditions, love to play MMOs?

They shouldn't be prevented, or discouraged from doing what they enjoy.

A lot of diabetics really love candy....

[Gath_Iroku]

I personally like the idea of scaling difficulties, Not as extreme as 1-5, but easier for people that want the experience of it (with crap drops), normal and hard(for an HQ drop). Could make corresponding achievements for each as well.

[SilvertearRen]

I personally like the idea of scaling difficulties, Not as extreme as 1-5, but easier for people that want the experience of it (with crap drops), normal and hard(for an HQ drop). Could make corresponding achievements for each as well.

Thank you for listening to the REAL purpose of the thread, instead of being a jackass like posters #2, 3 and 6.

[Xatsh]

I am fine with scaling if there is a drastic difference with the drops. Meaning those choosing easy mode literally get crap (20-25% weaker then hard mode reward) for rewards those choosing 5 star or (hardmode) get really good stuff.

A mmo should never give large rewards for nothing, and easy mode is as close to nothing in a mmo you can get.

Challenge is not restricting, time is. People who argue that being challenging limits their play need to simply get better at the game.

[Eekiki]

That's why the beastmen strongholds are going to be instanced dungeons.

Wait...what?