Talk to the Team: Vendor Equipment side discussion

[Thicklesip]

Hey look! There's an awesome thread discussing NPC vendor gear changes, you should go read the thread and then weigh in if you have an opinion on Amon's latest question. It's great, go do that.

However, since that thread is touching on a very narrow portion of a bunch of interrelated topics, I thought I'd pop up another thread to discuss peoples' opinions on these other subjects. Since everyone seemed so interested! So if you have something to say after reading that thread BUT it's not directly on-topic, post it here so we can have our discussions without cluttering up that other thread!

Annnnd... go!

[Daulnay]

OK, thanks Thicklesip.

The game has 5 real draws, compared to other games:

1) Dragons! You can be one, and fly! Woohooo!
This draw is easily available to new players.

2) The crafting of stuff. In particular, the customizability of gear and spells in useful ways, using techs. This is something that new players do not immediately get, and perhaps don't understand for a long while (like maybe when they ask the question "why am I having such a hard time leveling in my 30s?"). The customization is one of the nifty things in the game, in my opinion. It's hard for new players to do much, because techs are rare, and finding the right tech bits as drops is very hard for a new player. The crafting boons are a good step in the right direction for crafters, but it'd be nice to get something like those for adventuring (lesser, broader bonus that does not require an ooky bit from some creature). Another way to make this more accessible is a beginner quest that gives a reward (say, eight tier 1 wild card bits) that can in turn be exchanged to Nadia in Bristugo (or some new NPC like her in New Trismus).

3) Crafting community structures, or your own home plot. Players don't get to this 'till their 30s or so, and it's one of the most distinctive parts of the game. Please, please do something to make this wonderful thing something new players can participate in, at least a little! Perhaps you can add a 'town council' plot to each of the newbie towns with structures that new players can improve. Add a new structure to the plot as the old ones get built. (A clock tower would be nice, there's no way to tell what time it is now besides looking at the sun or a clock in someone's private plot.)

4) The multischooling available to Naka. Most MMO games have very rigid classes, and the flexibility that Istaria bipeds get from multischooling is wonderful freedom! However, it's complex and poorly documented. It's hard to figure out what will work well, and what will simply make your character bog down. It's easy to make mistakes, like abandoning the Cleric school while planning to keep Druid. Or adding so many classes that you grow at a snail's pace.

New players probably find multischooling pretty daunting. I don't really have ideas for fixes, here.

5) The community. Small but very kind and helpful. Hard to see new players missing out on this one, really.

[Phillip]

Stuff new players should know, just IMO:

Dragon
Good: You can play as a dragon - easy to level -best single school in game x10 - questbased stuff - only race with flight - versatile soloist - just awesome.
Bad: One dimensional - extreme high powercurve DPS by development hindered advancement in other areas.

Crafting
Good: You can multiclass crafting schools. All in one single toon, pretty sweet.
Bad: None really depending - crafting is fun if you like it, this is it - if you think crafting boring, this is also it.

Adventurer
Good: You can multiclass adventure schools and learn to play effectively - high, high & high learning curve by design - not for the meek. Most MC players fall flat on their faces complaining. Things have been made easier with guides and wilkis and revamps and it's still pretty tough. You have been warned.

Bad: Extremely tedious - heavy on XP penalty - often perceived falsely & negatively by certain type players and development due to lack of knowledge and understanding - constantly under revisions and fixes. Pures are a dying breed.

Itemization
Good: 99% player made items - craft dependant - some epics available.
Bad: 99% player made items - craft dependant - only some epics available.

Housing/Structures
Good: Just awesome
Bad: None, unless you like doors.

Community
Good: Friendly, helpful, well mannered.
Bad: Very small due to low population, and very scattered due to playstyle & lack of reason to join up.