So, how is Pagos?

[EdwinLi]

ESO, LotRO, SWtOR... I loved collectables in Rift and EQ2, things like that. I like finding random odds-and-ends. Even back in WoW where you could find quest stuff, chests, rare mobs, that sort of thing.

Don't forget Guild Wars 2.

Yes it is a massive "Fate" fest on the maps for that game but it is a active massive "Fate" fest where people always find something to do both solo and as a group. In fact, many players tend to use the map chat very often because every event contributes towards something that all players on the map will gain from so it is not a competition to who gets what first but how can each player on the map help each other to gain exp. Not to mention daily "hearts" for players who only want to do quests daily, Hunt marks for players who want a group target boss, and Meta events for when at certain point everyone on the map will swarm to as it is a event designed for everyone on the map (both solo and group) to work together to beat.

[Souljacker]

That being said can't see how they sould implement an actual PTS without having massive leaks about the story and dungeons/features way before release.
This is why they will never do a PTS.

The same way all the other games on the PLANET do it?

Meaning, the reception of their product is far more important than the bit of a spoiler that might come down because of testing. Besides that, have you ever even been part of any beta testing? You don't get to play the story or the entirety of the content. You get to play very specific bits so that mechanics can be tested and verified as viable. Blizzard has had a PTR for as long as I can remember and somehow, that game has maintained at least ten times the subscribers as this one despite the spoiler or two coming out. The paranoia about spoilers is really out of control in this community.

And, you always have the option of like, not going and looking for information before a patch.

It's just not a good enough reason.

[InkstainedGwyn]

Don't forget Guild Wars 2.

Never played it, but I've heard good things. I did enjoy GW1 quite a bit, although I never was able to complete the story because I didn't have enough people to play with. I do agree. I remember finding little things sitting around that would end up influencing your gameplay later, little bits for quests and stuff. It was a lot of fun.

I think SE could really benefit from adding little unique things to discover and enjoy. Even if they make everything server-side, like nodes are. I just miss that sort of variability.

[Claviusnex]

I've thought about that quite a bit, I think it comes down to "competition" - the only real competition you have in this game is for loot, housing, & in PVP. Maybe hunts, but even those are on a predictable timer - and as long as you contribute, you get the gains. They've really gotten rid of a lot of the griefing in the game by removing anything that you could fight another character over. There's no racing each other to the khorium node that just spawned or the rare mob that spawns on an erratic timer and only gives loot to the first person to tag it.

It's unfortunately a sad trade for a more peaceful situation - I remember vanilla wow, BC days, and the playerbase was one of the reasons I quit. Not all of that was because of competition, of course, and we still have unpleasant people here, but you're not going to have someone screaming obscenities at you because you got to a treasure chest before they did. Of course, I'm good with my blacklist, so I don't know if it's a choice I would have made - I really do love those random exploring items. But I see what they were going for.

At least, though, they could give us lore nodes like SWtOR has. Those aren't competition, and it's at least some reward for exploring. Especially in, as Theodric said, a game that is known for it's lore and is incredibly story-based.

I'd like to see some public instances like ESO. I also liked the treasure chests that they had in Diadem along with some rare crafting material nodes. Anything to break up the monotony of killing mobs and being able to explore a bit. One disappointment to me is the MSQ areas for Stormblood have shrunk from what they were in previous xpacs in order to give us Erueka. I would have rather have seen SE increase the size of the main lands so you can't see from one end to the other and have expanded instanced content.

[Leloa]

As much as I got used to the grinding and waiting in Anemos, this is even worse. Mostly wait like an hour for one fate to pop but I guess when some people are lvl 35 the full train can take action and move us little guys around.

[Pyro2hell3]

well here's the thing the last phase of your weapon needs 500 of the nm fate crystals so even with all of there anti train stuff thrown in we'll have to make a train anyways to finish
so they have accomplished nothing

[Riardon]

well here's the thing the last phase of your weapon needs 500 of the nm fate crystals so even with all of there anti train stuff thrown in we'll have to make a train anyways to finish
so they have accomplished nothing

Keep people busy for longer = more subs

[Claviusnex]

Keep people busy for longer = more subs

Or people just say the legendary will only be good for a month anyway so the heck with all and drop their sub for another game.

[ToniRomo]

Keep people busy for longer = more subs

September and October are packed with new games. I may just drop my sub for the first time in years.

[Bourne_Endeavor]

That being said can't see how they sould implement an actual PTS without having massive leaks about the story and dungeons/features way before release.
This is why they will never do a PTS.

A PTS is usually an entirely separate test server where things like story and whatnot have been purposely removed so they aren't spoiled. Mechanics can be tested through placeholder bosses since again, nothing has to "make sense" per se, it just needs to work from a gameplay perspective. Had they play tested Eureka, people could easily point out the boring grind, lack of progression and that NMs should be the highlight. Instead, we got the assumption this is what people wanted.