Developer Blog entry from August, 14th

Mercenary Center Developer Blog
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Yes, because “permanent customization” takes more than an hour to set up.

 

bigger issue. t3+ don’t have color options, just saying. they might be looking at it as a whole… or not… :slight_smile:

 

Because graphic changes to crosshair visibility take more than 20mins to make.

 

mmm, more like 20 hours, but still within the realm of possibilities ;p

 

Because making Corps appealing, game-wise, considering everything seems ready, is a bad thing.

 

to make corps appealing, the game needs to be more ‘competitive’. less imbalances, and less easy-button disables/instagibs…

 

more focus on solid core gameplay and less on gear grinding. if i wanted gear grind i would play an mmo, with an avatar *cough*… maybe one day being able to buy a virtual dog to take with me on long space journeys…

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LMFAO - very subtle HAHAHHAHA

I have to be subtle. I’m still gonna earn that warning, though. It’s a 1-week vacation for me, so idc cause I’m also going on vacation for a week, so it’s perfect timing.

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On the Iridium front… I’ve not seen any in my loot for a long time. Anyone else noticed this?

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i get 1 every couple of days so thats … 1 in 140 matches ?

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i’ve not seen any experimentals, but i’ve seen tons of artifacts… 2 or 3 in one day alone? in fact i’ve gotten 6-7 in that last few days compared to only 1 in my first 2-3 weeks? :dntknw:

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i think experimentals *might* be tied to ship rank ??

 

i’ve been leveling R7’s this last week.

 

ZERO purple drops.

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R8-R9 ships, I missed 10 experimental this week. and won only 1

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Been an active player for a while and had my ups and downs with the different development changes in the last few months, but this change is the first that grabbed me for comment.

 

The only things that I want from a game, and I would think that a majority of the long term players would feel similarly, is a game system that rewards hard work and encourages teamwork and cooperation to be successful. Having played nightly since April, I am proud of where I am now, the ships I worked for and the ability to hold my own in most fights from the experience I’ve gained and the modules I worked hard with teamwork to acquire. Within the Liberty corporation, there are a few players I’ve played with from the beginning and we have valued eachother’s camaraderie, knowledge and teamwork to build what we have together. It’s been a lot of grinding but we’re happy we have something to show for it and it gives us purpose to still have goals to work for that are long off. Teamwork is a must have in any successful multiplayer game. Hard work must be rewarded in any game that wants players to stick around not just play for a month and move on. If you take away the necessity to work hard, spend time and band together as a team to do well, you take away, as I see it, the real motivation for long term players to stick around. Squads [should] have an advantage over single players. I’ve never once complained about going up against 6 NASA guys in one match. I look at it as something to strive for - getting our corporation to that level. My personal feeling is that, with recent changes, such as the minimizing of the squad size, the game is trying to appease those who want instant gratification - who want to win the moment they step ingame, and insodoing, the changes are destroying the purpose behind making friends, the purpose behind joining a corporation and the purpose behind the grind period - if we don’t have to give an effort to be successful, why stick around at all?

 

Again, been playing a while and don’t plan on quitting. But the recent changes are definitely going to make me spend a little less time in the game and more time on the forum voicing support or protest for changes I think will benefit or hurt what I feel was and is still a great game.

 

-Lib

Building off of what Lib wrote, many of these issues discussed at length on the forums are not just rooted in statistics and raw numerical data. The squad size reduction is understandable if you only look at the situation from a numbers perspective. Yes, a good squad of four has an incredible amount of firepower and their sphere of influence is far greater than that any single player could achieve. This is due to the fact that a well-coordinated team essentially pools the resources of all players and counts it as one body. The 8km sensor range of a Recon becomes the 8km sensor range of a friendly LRF. You do not have to be in a squad to receive such benefits.

 

What makes squads so powerful is not any special bonuses they receive within the game, but rather that a squad is like a contract stating that this group of players has made the decision to work together. Nothing prevents solo-pilots from making actions that benefit their team. It is not the squad that enables players better teamwork, however it is better teamwork that leads to these strong squads.

 

One of the issues related to the perception that squads are the primary deciding factor in matches and that this is a negative point of the game is the culture fostered by the first few tiers of the game. This is a whole new topic that I will not go into here, but suffice to say when individuals are shown the power of solo-play, the team-oriented T3+ is a shock. These individual pilots meet some of the most experienced players in these higher tiers who have learned that the optimal way of securing victory is through teamwork. Through countless hours of effort, of discovering strategies and tactics, of practicing each move until it becomes a science, I agree with Lib that individuals who have reached this level deserve credit for what they can and have accomplished.

 

In appeasing those who cannot be bothered to learn how to work as a team, there is a risk that the proposed solutions end up alienating members of the community who are pushing to keep the competitive team-based nature of the game that kept their attention for so long. One does not get to five thousand games played because he enjoys the grind. What keeps the same game modes from becoming stale is the meta-game, the strategies and tactics that I mentioned earlier.

 

I will reserve my opinion of the patch until I play. Until then, I encourage that the community-side, not just the data-side, of arguments be considered when discussing such changes that impact the interaction of players.

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In appeasing those who cannot be bothered to learn how to work as a team, there is a risk that the proposed solutions end up alienating members of the community who are pushing to keep the competitive team-based nature of the game that kept their attention for so long. One does not get to five thousand games played because he enjoys the grind. What keeps the same game modes from becoming stale is the meta-game, the strategies and tactics that I mentioned earlier.

 

I will reserve my opinion of the patch until I play. Until then, I encourage that the community-side, not just the data-side, of arguments be considered when discussing such changes that impact the interaction of players.

 

If I could up-vote your post a thousand times, I would.

 

The change to squad size very specifically targets the segment of the community which actively makes and holds this community together. Casual and solo players come and go, their retention rate is a few months on average. Why would they wish to alienate those players who stay here for much longer and have spend countless hours building friendships, communities and spend many days of their leisure time in helping to support this game, both through monetary and time-effort related actions?

 

This decision utterly baffles me.

190

One of the issues related to the perception that squads are the primary deciding factor in matches and that this is a negative point of the game is the culture fostered by the first few tiers of the game.This is a whole new topic that I will not go into here

 

convenient. allow me to get into it though. squads are the deciding factor because they have gear, they’re usually established players. only difference. the skill cap and learning curve in this game aren’t as high as you probably believe they are.

but suffice to say when individuals are shown the power of solo-play, the team-oriented T3+ is a shock.

 

no, the spam in T3 is a shock. ECM disables especially. this isn’t teamwork… it’s an easy-button… especially abusable when used in squads to coordinate ‘stunlocks’.

These individual pilots meet some of the most experienced players in these higher tiers who have learned that the optimal way of securing victory is through teamwork. Through countless hours of effort,

 

through countless hours of grinding experimental and mk3 gear - fixed. one again, the skill cap isn’t that high…

In appeasing those who cannot be bothered to learn how to work as a team

 

don’t get me wrong, but you seem to have some sort of elitist complex. you can get into squads, and still not be able to beat THE SQUADS that people are complaining about… the ones with experimental/ml3 loadouts stomping on randoms… give the randoms a fair chance… until then, there is no credibility to your statements.

One does not get to five thousand games played because he enjoys the grind.

 

no, they enjoy the company and the recognition if affords them. i wrote an entire article on this issue for BBC. still, the game has its up sides… but the down sides are weighing mighty heavily at this moment…

191

Seriously: Dont take better gear as an excuse. 

192

excuse? how is it an excuse? lmao… people levelling a tier have 1 less active, less mod slots, less passives, access to less possible weapons.

 

furthermore, MK1 compared to experimental are a 75% difference, to Mk3 they are 60%. Mk2 to exp are 55% difference, Mk2 to Mk3 are 40%. Mil to exp are 35%.

 

that is a huge difference in ship performance. and guns have 15% difference in DPS. not to mention better ammunition, implants and in some cases more missiles.

 

is gear not a problem? LOL

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convenient. allow me to get into it though. squads are the deciding factor because they have gear, they’re usually established players. only difference. the skill cap and learning curve in this game aren’t as high as you probably believe they are.

You’re preaching to a player with a few hundred times your experience and understanding of this game. You might want to consider this before lecturing half the community as this is growing a tad tiresome. You need to respect that there are people vastly more experienced than you, who have a much better understanding of what’s going on at higher tiers than you do.

I can easily find a quote where you state that you prefer flying tier-1 because “there is more skill involved”. That statement alone will tell anyone reading what you have to say that you have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.

through countless hours of grinding experimental and mk3 gear - fixed. one again, the skill cap isn’t that high…

Oh please. Equipment alone doesn’t win matches, a degree of player skill is required. If you wish a demonstration of this - let us organise a custom match and I’m happy to demonstrate. Bring your mk3 and purples, I’ll come in mk1 equipment. I can state in advance it’s not going to help you whatsoever, and I’m not even that good a pilot.

don’t get me wrong, but you seem to have some sort of elitist complex. you can get into squads, and still not be able to beat THE SQUADS that people are complaining about… the ones with experimental/ml3 loadouts stomping on randoms… give the randoms a fair chance… until then, there is no credibility to your statements.

They are beating you because they know what they’re doing. Why don’t you bring a squad to a custom match and we’ll demonstrate. Hell, once again - you can have the equipment advantage. Until then, please try and post something that’s a tad less ill-informed.

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excuse? how is it an excuse? lmao… people levelling a tier have 1 less active, less mod slots, less passives, access to less possible weapons.

 

furthermore, MK1 compared to experimental are a 75% difference, to Mk3 they are 60%. Mk2 to exp are 55% difference, Mk2 to Mk3 are 40%. Mil to exp are 35%.

 

that is a huge difference in ship performance. and guns have 15% difference in DPS. not to mention better ammunition, implants and in some cases more missiles.

 

is gear not a problem? LOL

 

Nope, it isnt. 

Being part of a “Killsquad” myself in T5, i use MK II atm. Next week I might be able to have my first blue weapons. 

Purple Items: Ion Beam, Weapon overcharge (LRF-Thingy). Do I use them? Nope. 

 

I tied the Silent Fox a few days ago: worked fine, due to nice bonuses btw. 

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You’re preaching to a player with a few hundred times your experience and understanding of this game. You might want to consider this before lecturing half the community as this is growing a tad tiresome. You need to respect that there are people vastly more experienced than you, who have a much better understanding of what’s going on at higher tiers than you do.

 

wait… im preaching to him? i thought he was the one telling US what WE think, and i quote - “One of the issues related to the perception”, “negative point of the game is the culture fostered by the first few tiers”, “In appeasing those who cannot be bothered to learn how to work as a team”.

 

as if WE don’t know what we’re talking about… laughable.

 

I can easily find a quote where you state that you prefer flying tier-1 because “there is more skill involved”. That statement alone will tell anyone reading what you have to say that you have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.

 

wait, so being able to chain-disable ships requires ‘skill’?

 

infinite loadout of missiles, reloaded on spawn - ‘skills’ (not related to this specific case, but the game in general)

 

spamming nukes at beacons in detonation and capture? what about abusing ecm in the same regard, to cap beacons?

 

what about suiciding the bomb carrier and captain over and over?

 

having better gear requires skill: you mean months of grind and couple thousand GS, correct?

 

am i missing anything here?

 

the only thing that distinguishes top squads from randoms is the fact that they abuse these mechanics more than anyone else in a coordinated way.

 

fix the game… don’t attempt to fix the ‘broken players’ at the bottom, which you most obviously look down upon.

 

Oh please. Equipment alone doesn’t win matches, a degree of player skill is required. If you wish a demonstration of this - let us organise a custom match and I’m happy to demonstrate.

 

Bring your mk3 and purples, I’ll come in mk1 equipment. I can state in advance it’s not going to help you whatsoever, and I’m not even that good a pilot.

 

oh please, a 50-100% equipment advantage doesn’t win matches…

 

and since when do i have Mk3 purples? that will take months… or years literally lmao… care to play the lottery with me?

 

furthermore, what sort of match are you talking about? one in which we both use the same loadout, or one in which we can play rock-paper-scissors with our toys?

 

They are beating you because they know what they’re doing. Why don’t you bring a squad to a custom match and we’ll demonstrate. Hell, once again - you can have the equipment advantage. Until then, please try and post something that’s a tad less ill-informed.

 

so now you’re saying, we’ll still beat you, but only 60% of the time instead of 90% of the time with equipment… GREAT, wonderful… how else can you prove your point to me?

 

one thing i cannot understand for the life of me is this:

 

how can players who have played this for 6 months still not know what a 50-100% gear advantage can do.

 

are they blind? are they ignorant? complacent? maybe one of them shall enlighten us.

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Being part of a “Killsquad” myself in T5, i use MK II atm. Next week I might be able to have my first blue weapons. 

Purple Items: Ion Beam, Weapon overcharge (LRF-Thingy). Do I use them? Nope.

 

anyone can be part of a squad… i’m in a corp… big deal… we kill other squads all the time… i even massacre some corp squads i see solo… i can’t even count how many… people out trying to make a name for themselves…

 

there’s a difference between just random corp squads and THE SQUADS people are complaining about.

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there’s a difference between just random corp squads and THE SQUADS people are complaining about.

 

Then I think, we havent met  :Dwop

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Then I think, we havent met  :Dwop

 

there’s a lot of people i haven’t met. but when we cross paths they usually remember my name: the outlaw, gene starwind.

 

btw, i’ve thought of an excellent slogan for this game, what do you think?:

 

star conflict: disregard skill - acquire items. :good:

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there’s a lot of people i haven’t met. but when we cross paths they usually remember my name: the outlaw, gene starwind.

 

btw, i’ve thought of an excellent slogan for this game, what do you think?:

 

star conflict: disregard skill - acquire items. :good:

 

I will. See you T3+

 

Nah, I think: SC: Limiting Choices! 

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wait… im preaching to him? i thought he was the one telling US what WE think, and i quote - “One of the issues related to the perception”, “negative point of the game is the culture fostered by the first few tiers”, “In appeasing those who cannot be bothered to learn how to work as a team”.

 

as if WE don’t know what we’re talking about… laughable.

 

There is no “we” here in this argument, I was referring to YOU specifically as an individual.

 

And ZEIK is 100% correct - there are people who don’t wish to learn how to work as a team, they’re looking for a cheap thrill and instant gratification experience. Our dismay is with the fact that the game slowly but steadily starts to cater for these people - and it’s not why we decided to play this game in the first place.

 

 

 

so now you’re saying, we’ll still beat you, but only 60% of the time instead of 90% of the time with equipment… GREAT, wonderful… how else can you prove your point to me?

I’m confused as to where you acquired this magic number of 60%. My point was that if, to use an example of users who are countering your arguments, Zap, ZEIK and myself would form a squad against you specifically and your friends - we’d beat you comfortably and consistently with equal or even lower levels of equipment.

 

Why? Because we have more experience and know how to use teamwork. And that’s a squad which hasn’t even flown together before.

 

This has nothing to do with being elitist or cocky - it’s the cold hard truth and a counter to your argument that the only reason you are losing is better equipped squads. Don’t blame your tools, blame your current attitude towards teamwork and the current game mechanics.