Is Balance Really the Main Problem?

[Rishat]

I've been reading discussions about balance, subscriptions, and the declining player population. These issues are important, but I think we're overlooking other problems.

1. Why not make Haven free to play?

The developers need to make money too, and that's completely understandable. But why not allow new players to download the game for free, learn the basics, and try it out in Haven? They would then need to pay for a subscription to enter the main world.

This would allow newcomers to find out whether they enjoy the game before spending any money. It could attract people who aren't currently willing to pay for a game they haven't had a chance to experience yet.

2. Balance alone won't bring players back.

We discuss balance a lot, and it really is important. But let's ask ourselves a question: if all the balance issues were fixed, would the player population return to its previous level?

If the actual game content isn't interesting, players will still leave. And those who have already quit won't necessarily return just because balance changes have been made.

Players need more activities, meaningful exploration, a greater variety of creatures and resources, and more reasons to spend time in the world. Balance is only part of the problem.

3. What about solo players?

I think the developers pay too little attention to those who prefer playing solo.

I've already created a separate thread about this issue. Solo players need more varied activities, meaningful exploration, and opportunities to make progress through their own efforts. I'm not suggesting removing PvP or taking away the advantages guilds have. But solo players should also have reasons to keep playing.

To conclude:

Perhaps we're focusing too much on balance and not enough on the gameplay itself, making the game accessible to new players, and player retention.

What do you think would actually help bring players back to Mortal Online 2 and give them reasons to stay long-term?

One more question: does Star Vault actually read and take player feedback on the forums into consideration, or are these discussions largely being ignored? It would be good to know whether our feedback can make a difference.

 

[Iloros]

I've been reading discussions about balance, subscriptions, and the declining player population. These issues are important, but I think we're overlooking other problems.

1. Why not make Haven free to play?

The developers need to make money too, and that's completely understandable. But why not allow new players to download the game for free, learn the basics, and try it out in Haven? They would then need to pay for a subscription to enter the main world.

This would allow newcomers to find out whether they enjoy the game before spending any money. It could attract people who aren't currently willing to pay for a game they haven't had a chance to experience yet.

2. Balance alone won't bring players back.

We discuss balance a lot, and it really is important. But let's ask ourselves a question: if all the balance issues were fixed, would the player population return to its previous level?

If the actual game content isn't interesting, players will still leave. And those who have already quit won't necessarily return just because balance changes have been made.

Players need more activities, meaningful exploration, a greater variety of creatures and resources, and more reasons to spend time in the world. Balance is only part of the problem.

3. What about solo players?

I think the developers pay too little attention to those who prefer playing solo.

I've already created a separate thread about this issue. Solo players need more varied activities, meaningful exploration, and opportunities to make progress through their own efforts. I'm not suggesting removing PvP or taking away the advantages guilds have. But solo players should also have reasons to keep playing.

To conclude:

Perhaps we're focusing too much on balance and not enough on the gameplay itself, making the game accessible to new players, and player retention.

What do you think would actually help bring players back to Mortal Online 2 and give them reasons to stay long-term?

One more question: does Star Vault actually read and take player feedback on the forums into consideration, or are these discussions largely being ignored? It would be good to know whether our feedback can make a difference.

Balance is fairness of encounters, which includes solo gameplay buffs.

The main argument for balance is not really theory based rather its evidence based.

Every top tier game no matter the genre spams balance patches while there is NO game with as bad balance as mortal had that is even heard of (probably because its also in the 100s pop) balance matters for everyone and one misconception is

People think new players are mentally ill or something, they on average realize pretry quickly if rheir build or playstyle in general is weak they feel it and they leave.

If I went to Dark and Darker and hear me out I mean this 100% if I went to Dark and Darkwr, tried borh Barbarian and Knight and both were weak I WOULD 100% HAVE NEVER PLAYED THE GAME.

Especially if by weak we go to non Alvarin levels of weak and incompetent. Which is quite literally unplayable unless you are versing a horrible player.

Like game has been dead for so long and every non Akvarin kinda always plays with a group many people dont rralize.

A stout Veela with just 100 archery not even pierce rings can just kite and kill you with 0 counterplay without you hitting them a singular time and you donr even need high skill. If you pull out a bow - THEY OUTTRADE YOU WITH ARMOR PIERCE AND SMALLER HITBOX!

All this said balance more so drains players than brings them back especially if you dont do a trailer or anything I think they really messed up Sarducca by letting MAs and Alvarins ruin us all but hey I think balance and gameplay beinf more fun due to it will eventually just keep bumping playercount up especially id they do monthly patches. And it will bring some ppl back to try out new builds its content.

 

[Jackdstripper]

I've been reading discussions about balance, subscriptions, and the declining player population. These issues are important, but I think we're overlooking other problems.

1. Why not make Haven free to play?

The developers need to make money too, and that's completely understandable. But why not allow new players to download the game for free, learn the basics, and try it out in Haven? They would then need to pay for a subscription to enter the main world.

This would allow newcomers to find out whether they enjoy the game before spending any money. It could attract people who aren't currently willing to pay for a game they haven't had a chance to experience yet.

2. Balance alone won't bring players back.

We discuss balance a lot, and it really is important. But let's ask ourselves a question: if all the balance issues were fixed, would the player population return to its previous level?

If the actual game content isn't interesting, players will still leave. And those who have already quit won't necessarily return just because balance changes have been made.

Players need more activities, meaningful exploration, a greater variety of creatures and resources, and more reasons to spend time in the world. Balance is only part of the problem.

3. What about solo players?

I think the developers pay too little attention to those who prefer playing solo.

I've already created a separate thread about this issue. Solo players need more varied activities, meaningful exploration, and opportunities to make progress through their own efforts. I'm not suggesting removing PvP or taking away the advantages guilds have. But solo players should also have reasons to keep playing.

To conclude:

Perhaps we're focusing too much on balance and not enough on the gameplay itself, making the game accessible to new players, and player retention.

What do you think would actually help bring players back to Mortal Online 2 and give them reasons to stay long-term?

One more question: does Star Vault actually read and take player feedback on the forums into consideration, or are these discussions largely being ignored? It would be good to know whether our feedback can make a difference.

Ever since SV made the official discord server they have largely abandoned these forums. Havent seen an official SV comment on here in years now, when they used to do quite regularly.
They much prefer discord as its a one way communication avenue, with no space for critical or negative feedback. The only people SV seems to actually listen to is a very selective few streamers that Henrik has decided can do no wrong. This is highly divisive in the community as these streamers are havily biased towards their own guilds, which turns into blatant favouritism.

As for balance bringing players back, i think you are right, it wont bring many back. Those screaming about it are largely a vocal minority of elitist vets that dont like the status quo.

The simple truth is that the game is too hard core and greefer friendly for majority of players. On top of that its too buggy and SV doesnt police cheaters and gold buyers ( where there are buyers rhere will always be sellers). For a premium subscription game thats just not acceptable. Too much trust has been lost over the years.

 

[ElPerro]

Balance is fairness of encounters, which includes solo gameplay buffs.

The main argument for balance is not really theory based rather its evidence based.

Every top tier game no matter the genre spams balance patches while there is NO game with as bad balance as mortal had that is even heard of (probably because its also in the 100s pop) balance matters for everyone and one misconception is

People think new players are mentally ill or something, they on average realize pretry quickly if rheir build or playstyle in general is weak they feel it and they leave.

If I went to Dark and Darker and hear me out I mean this 100% if I went to Dark and Darkwr, tried borh Barbarian and Knight and both were weak I WOULD 100% HAVE NEVER PLAYED THE GAME.

Especially if by weak we go to non Alvarin levels of weak and incompetent. Which is quite literally unplayable unless you are versing a horrible player.

Like game has been dead for so long and every non Akvarin kinda always plays with a group many people dont rralize.

A stout Veela with just 100 archery not even pierce rings can just kite and kill you with 0 counterplay without you hitting them a singular time and you donr even need high skill. If you pull out a bow - THEY OUTTRADE YOU WITH ARMOR PIERCE AND SMALLER HITBOX!

All this said balance more so drains players than brings them back especially if you dont do a trailer or anything I think they really messed up Sarducca by letting MAs and Alvarins ruin us all but hey I think balance and gameplay beinf more fun due to it will eventually just keep bumping playercount up especially id they do monthly patches. And it will bring some ppl back to try out new builds its content.

lol bullshit, u cant kite with longbows even with alvarin it drains all ur stam

 

[Jaygrae]

Its not just the balance. Its the fact that this game is a JOB. A work-simulator.

Ask around, you are gonna quickly find out the people who kept this game afloat ran MULTIPLE ACCOUNTS, did NOT work/job OR were disabled/retired. So many vets- and thats fine. But the casual player who picks up a game does not want to do this below TO PLAY A GAME.

1. Log in, check armor/weapons durability, reagents, check if mount is still alive, check charges on jewelery, check health/food limits.

2. Set off on journey- (check 30 seconds of riding for griefers CAMPING the towns to pick you off even though you have NO LOOT yet.

3. Find a dungeon or hunting spot after 10-35 MINUTES ON AVERAGE travel time. (this excludes trash camps that nobody cares about)

4. Farm same 4-directional combat PVE over and over and over. Change weapons/reagents, trash broken ones, and continue till weight/bag is filled.

5. Ride back to town. Hope you dont get ganked, and rinse repeat.

Wow...so fun. You just experienced the game....Yes. THIS IS THE GAME. So what do we have left now at 200 players?

1. Cant even call the town gankers PvPers, GRIEFERS, TOXIC GRIEFERS. They turn the detail down to low/low resolution and play the game as if its counter-strike. ALL the pvers have left/quit the game, NOT BECAUSE THEY DID'NT LIKE IT, its because there was ZERO chance for them to actually PLAY the game.

2. The idiot gankers (yes the couple left on twitch) sit there staring at the screen wondering "i dont understand where's all the players..." Well lets see here Einstein, You literally could'nt hack it against REAL PVPERs, griefed all the noobs, literally trashed their gear ON STREAM, and then wonder why they never log back in....wow brilliant. You really should take a Pulitzer Prize for Intelligence for literally being that damn stupid.

3. SV ENCOURAGES this playstyle. So I really cant even point a finger directly at the smooth brain no job griefers who do this. Why? Because THIS IS WHAT ACTUALLY PAYS!!! Why are they going to go do something else when THIS IS GIVING THEM PROFIT AND ACTUAL PVP/GRIEFING.

This is such a clown show at this point on HOW NOT TO RUN A BUSINESS OR GAME FOR THAT MATTER.

1. WHY WAS TOXAI AND TINDREM NEVER UTLIZIED INTO PVE ZONES FOR NOOBS TO PLAY THERE "LITTLE MAKE-BELIEVE HOUSE WORLD?"

2. WHY DID IT TAKE YOU UP TILL THIS LAST PATCH TO INTRODUCE ROAD GUARDS???

3. WHY WAS SIEGING SUCH A PAIN AND NOT PROFITABLE FOR ANY GUILD TO DO SO? YOU LITERALLY LET ENEMY GUILDS/PLAYERS JUST SLAP HOUSES UP NEXT TO OTHER GUILDS AND THEN STAND BACK GOING "YAAAAA THIS MAKES TOTAL SENSE"...

4. HOW ABOUT PETS! YEA THAT SOUNDS LIKE FUN, LETS SPEND 2-4 HOURS ON ONE PET, THAT IS GOOFY CONTROLLED MASTERPIECE OF TRASH, JUST TO WATCH IT EITHER DIE TO GRIEFING OR BAD MECHANICS OF IT BUGGING OUT ON MOBS.


I mean at this point I'm just watching this game burn. You had chicks who actually PLAYED the game, because it was an experience, they enjoy the cosmetics, the RP, it was a community of players trying to enjoy the actual world. And yes, CHICKS BRING DUDES..sorry its business and its true.

This is just sad. I would have loved to see this game take off and really move forward. But SV cant figure out that people have an hour here and there to play a game. Should be able to PORT TO KEEPS, REZZ YOU BUDDIES IN COMBAT, and get them back into FIGHTING without going through hell and a 10 sec cast timer.

Literally STOP AND THINK ABOUT THIS. The so called keeps are soo ill-thought out and stupid place holders, THAT THE COMMUNITY HAD TO TURN MEDULI INTO SHORE WARS. why!! WHY!!! DO YOU NOT REALIZE THEY BUILT AROUND MEDULI SO THEY COULD HAVE HOURS OF CONSTANT BACK AND FORTH FIGHTING.

But instead of CAPITALZING ON WHAT PLAYERS HAD TO CREATE, and then adjusting your keeps, and siege mechanics, you did nothing. No keep activity, no reason to constanlty have PvP there, NO REASON TO NOT JUST FARM NOOBS. I mean you didnt cater to the PvPers, and you did'nt cater to the PVERS....so what you had was RATS. Cockroach infested RATS using ONE race to utilize busted mechanics including seeing through walls, ninja speed runners, and COMPLETELY destroying dungeons due to a 30+% aggro reduction. (which negates any depth of dungeon farming, dont even get me started on running from one side to another with ZERO risk)

At this point, honestly just make HAVEN F2P, get new blood in the game. Turn Myrland into a PVE WONDERLAND WITH CERTAIN AREAS FOR PVP or EXTREMELY harsh penalties for murders, open the bridge, and make Sarducca 100% PvP with the best drops in the game.


So as I said, its not a game. Its a JOB- WORK SIMULATOR. aka WHY RMTing was rampant. So. damn. sad.

 

[Iloros]

lol bullshit, u cant kite with longbows even with alvarin it drains all ur stam

you can because abilities exist