No one logged in today because of Lost Ark

[SturmChurro]

So earlier in this thread I posted some pretty negative first impressions of Lost Ark, then recanted them after trying it, now I must go back to my original thoughts. The moment to moment gameplay is great but the game is suffering from MASSIVE systems bloat. Ive played mmo's for 20 years and I am overwhelmed and only level 30.

On top of that, the pay to win aspect is rearing its ugly head. Pay to win in Lost Ark isn't just skip some levels or optional power progression. It is HUGE, feels very mandatory, is very expensive and could quickly end up in thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars. This game will be dead in a month in the west, if they do not change their monetization. Uninstalled last night, cause eff that.

What pay to win was looming at level 30?

[Equitable_Remedy]

I still logged into FF14, so I don't know what to tell you ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Xaruko_Nexume]

What was pay to win at level 30?

Oh nothing really at that level. But I've seen several guides and videos about what is waiting at max level. Its days vs months in terms of how much paying money can net you. And the level up/story process so far is not enough to keep me interesting. The voice acting is awful, the zones and story very forgettable. I just want endless hordes of monsters to slay like Diablo but in an MMO format, and then to log off. Ive spent far more time having the game teach me systems than actually killing anything and I dont find it fun. If others do thats fantastic Im happy for them.

[SturmChurro]

Oh nothing really at that level. But I've seen several guides and videos about what is waiting at max level. Its days vs months in terms of how much paying money can net you. And the level up/story process so far is not enough to keep me interesting. The voice acting is awful, the zones and story very forgettable. I just want endless hordes of monsters to slay like Diablo but in an MMO format, and then to log off. Ive spent far more time having the game teach me systems than actually killing anything and I dont find it fun. If others do thats fantastic Im happy for them.

I don't know I thought it got pretty good, around 30 - I can't remember exactly where that is in the story, and I was always overlevel. Frankly, the story's set pieces, and it's dungeons are very memorable. The zones are varied, and interesting. Boss fights are very fun, and enemies are also varied and fun to combat. Voice acting is pretty all over the place, a lot of it pretty bad, for sure though. This has probably been the smoothest leveling experience of any korean mmorpg I have ever tried. I don't really feel forced to spend anything - and I haven't spent anything. I suppose the systems can feel overwhelming at first, but it's not really that convoluted. A lot of the 'pay to win' seems to have been fear mongering. I doubt you have to pay to log in and kill hordes of monsters, but I haven't actually gotten to proper endgame yet, so I can't really comment.

It has been a quite enjoyable experience after Endwalker content lull, even if the pay to win actually was horrifying and blocks all progress (which I don't think it does), I will have gotten a good 100 hours out of it at the very least - without spending anything.

[Xaruko_Nexume]

I don't know I thought it got pretty good, around 30 - I can't remember exactly where that is in the story, and I was always overlevel. Frankly, the story's set pieces, and it's dungeons are very memorable. The zones are varied, and interesting. Boss fights are very fun, and enemies are also varied and fun to combat. Voice acting is pretty all over the place, a lot of it pretty bad, for sure though. This has probably been the smoothest leveling experience of any korean mmorpg I have ever tried. I don't really feel forced to spend anything - and I haven't spent anything. I suppose the systems can feel overwhelming at first, but it's not really that convoluted. A lot of the 'pay to win' seems to have been fear mongering. I doubt you have to pay to log in and kill hordes of monsters, but I haven't actually gotten to proper endgame yet, so I can't really comment.

It has been a quite enjoyable experience after Endwalker content lull, even if the pay to win actually was horrifying and blocks all progress (which I don't think it does), I will have gotten a good 100 hours out of it at the very least - without spending anything.

I feel like its been a long time since I encountered a dungeon. Too long. I want dungeons. If you care about end game progression at all, I assure you the pay to win is not fear mongering. And its not just pay a little either, its pay a lot. At least, thats what I choose to believe from very many sources. I think they should have waited until end game to introduce many if not most of the systems. It really does just feel like an overblown mobile game to me with all the research, and waiting, and crafting and soooo many currencies I dont know whats what anymore.

That said, Im glad you and others are enjoying it. I will be super interested to see how its doing in a month, or three.

[SturmChurro]

I feel like its been a long time since I encountered a dungeon. Too long. I want dungeons. If you care about end game progression at all, I assure you the pay to win is not fear mongering. And its not just pay a little either, its pay a lot. At least, thats what I choose to believe from very many sources. I think they should have waited until end game to introduce many if not most of the systems. It really does just feel like an overblown mobile game to me with all the research, and waiting, and crafting and soooo many currencies I dont know whats what anymore.

That said, Im glad you and others are enjoying it. I will be super interested to see how its doing in a month, or three.

The dungeons can get pretty crazy later on actually. The way they utilize set pieces, and scale is really well done in them and the story.

I think a lot of it is - for clicks, I mean. Some of the misinformation, and general nonsensical criticism I've seen, pretty clearly tells me many actually haven't tried the game to a point, rather they have no idea what they are talking about. As far as I am aware, yes, I do think progression is halted until you meet certain gear requirements, for sure, for several months. I don't disagree 'pay to win' is a valid criticism, I did bring it up previously as well.

I don't see why they should overwhelm a player with everything at endgame, when a player can get started with these systems during their adventure. You mean the stronghold? In ESO, for example, it takes MONTHS to level up mount stamina, your crafting, etc. I have heard they added boosts or skips to the cash shop now as well on there. In Lost Ark, it can all be done passively on the side, it's not even bad. The dispatch missions sort of remind me of STO, and sending your crew and fleet out periodically.

[Tlamila]

I feel like its been a long time since I encountered a dungeon. Too long.

Mh that's pretty weird, I'm 29 and I did last dungeon not too long ago. If anything I feel I've been doing too many, in fact I matchmaked the last one instead of soloing as usual to get it done quicker. And it was in the area right before the siege. I've also skipped various for sure cause I haven't been doing the treasure maps anymore, so no secret ones, plus I've seen multiple incomplete in the log thingy.

But yeah, dungeons in LA are really cool, made me wish ffxiv didn't just have the same boring corridor over and over with just different scenary and boss fight. But then people would complain about having to pull levers and stuff, people even skip the puzzles in Quarn now.
I also wish they'd take example witht he interactive events, they feel so much more like living events than ffxiv's solo duties.

[Skiros]

The dungeons can get pretty crazy later on actually. The way they utilize set pieces, and scale is really well done in them and the story.

I think a lot of it is - for clicks, I mean. Some of the misinformation, and general nonsensical criticism I've seen, pretty clearly tells me many actually haven't tried the game to a point, rather they have no idea what they are talking about. As far as I am aware, yes, I do think progression is halted until you meet certain gear requirements, for sure, for several months. I don't disagree 'pay to win' is a valid criticism, I did bring it up previously as well.

I don't see why they should overwhelm a player with everything at endgame, when a player can get started with these systems during their adventure. You mean the stronghold? In ESO, for example, it takes MONTHS to level up mount stamina, your crafting, etc. I have heard they added boosts or skips to the cash shop now as well on there. In Lost Ark, it can all be done passively on the side, it's not even bad. The dispatch missions sort of remind me of STO, and sending your crew and fleet out periodically.

Phantom Palace is hands-down the best dungeon I've ever done in an MMO. It's kinda far into the MSQ and is gated by half a week of gearing/honing (if you're casual about it). I honestly don't think the dungeons in FF14 can match what Lost Ark has.

[Katt_Felista]

Lost Ark is part of the same trend as New World. They are a new Quick money scheme trend of mmos.

The disposable mmo made of recyclable paper to suck your money dry then disappear in less then a year as a recyclable material whose engines are going to be used for the next scam. You have to understand how these are built not to last now, they know you will hit the proverbial MTX wall and become extremely agressive with mtx in 6 months to make do for player loss and become unbearable for most normal players.

I will stay with well built, well established and solid systems mmo like this one. No thank you.

[Tlamila]

Lost Ark is part of the same trend as New World. They are a new Quick money scheme trend of mmos.

The disposable mmo made of recyclable paper to suck your money dry then disappear in less then a year as a recyclable material whose engines are going to be used for the next scam. You have to understand how these are built not to last now, they know you will hit the proverbial MTX wall and become extremely agressive with mtx in 6 months to make do for player loss and become unbearable for most normal players.

I will stay with well built, well established and solid systems mmo like this one. No thank you.

Mh you're talking about a mmo that's been out for years, so you sound very confused. You'd have to go back in time to have it last months.