[thoughts] Lack of incentive will kill this game within a few months after it...

[inox_ionizer]

And then you have fun.

 

[Mabons]

I agree with OP.

Not necessarily(Totally failed spelling...) unlocks, but at least the ability to gain levels.

 

[Yoshi Murasaki]

I agree with OP.

Not necessarily(Totally failed spelling...) unlocks, but at least the ability to gain levels.

Yes, when French knights encountered english longbowmen, they went like:

"Filthy lvl5 english peasants! Let's pwn them, we are lvl24 knights."


And medieval tournaments were also like:

"Sir John, lvl26 chevalier, will meet in combat sir Galant, lvl20 chevalier".



No, just no. Levels have their purpose. The purpose of levels in most games is to serve as an indication of progress. Without levels, there would be no difference in player skill. However, in skill based games levels are not only pointless but also harmless. That's why Guild Wars PvP doesn't have levels, that's why counter-strike doesn't have levels, that's why Curse of Monkey Island doesn't have levels, and that's why Warband PvP should not have levels.

I don't want a grinder without skill to be better than me just because he played all day long and ground levels. If he's really better than me, he will defeat me. I don't want lvl64 nord footman to survive 24 xbow hits because his health is very high and blabla.



There's Age of Conan, for those who want to beat others simply because they are higher level and have better equipment.

 

[Berserker Pride]

I don't think Teala meant that the levels gave you any benefit.  They would just be there for show and bragging rights.  No unlocks no bonuses.  At most an unlockable special armor that was the same stats as the standard would be the most I would want to see.  And the level per se wouldn't necessarily be called level 1 2 3 etc.  You could be ranked medieval style kinda how you are on the forum.  On that note who wouldn't rather be a sergeant knight instead of a veteran. 
It isn't a big deal to me either but as long as it doesn't confer an advantage why not have ranks; some people really like that ****.

 

[Ursca]

'OK so you sign onto a server against a handful of players on a big field...OK...then what?'

This describes most FPSes. Hell, it describes most multiplayer games full stop.

The incentive to play the game is to have fun playing the game. It isn't as if no one plays chess any more because of the lack of incentives.

 

[Wild Bill Kelso]

Unlocks could be something intersting, if they are used under the current money system.  Every player would start the round with base weapons, though players with unlocks could eventually buy the unlocked weapons/armour if they can get enough gold.  Something like this would include the incentive system as suggested in the OP as well as retain a skill element.  If you suck and only care about unlocks you will never be able to use them as you would never have the gold to purchase them.

Just some random thoughts feel free to shoot them down without mercy

 

[olo]

teala has been complaining rather than anytihng else since she got into beta, and she complains a huge deal during the game itself aswell. olo beleives that we should listen to her to some degree, because when the game Does get released, some people may be very discontent with it. there are bound to be more people like her and olo isnt sure if she speaks for the majority, but her opinion does reflect many probably.  olo personaly loves it, but sure, some things can and should be added to keep people playing.

that said, we should focus on adding somthing to the game that doesnt totaly destroy the curent super fast paced amazingly balanced combat game we have here.  while very fun and incredibly addictive, a lot of mmo themes would ruin the game as it currently is.

idea 1: a rated option for people to play against other rated people only.  this system will keep track of your wins, losses, and battle wins and factor them into some global server number that is posted somwhere on the game for everyone to see.

idea 2: some people have suggested unlocakble weapons, dunno if thats a great idea, but people might like it.  but maybe ONLY if they were NOT better than the standard ones only more and very unique. like the 'strange sword' from native that was a katana if you recall it.  these unlockables should ONLY be available to people that win somthing thats not yet added: tournaments.  that brings olo to his next suggestion.

idea 3:  tournaments really need to get added to the game. single duel tournaments, as well as a totaly separate team tournament.  the first one would be a series of 1v1 duels would be controlled by the game (not by people) and after everytime a person slays someone, their stats and gear is fully restored and they face their next opponent.  the team tourney would be somthing like you see in native, except without making the teams get smaller and smaller, you could have really totaly BAD ASS things such as 4v4v4v4s.  now olo will say from the bottom of his heart, hed  LOOOVE to play that and olo KNOWS others would too! 

 

[Tibertus]

The option I would like to see is a way to link characters from single player campaign, and their parties, to have a 1 on 1 battle with their armies. Of course, it'd be a ***** to get rid of cheaters. Players could be matched up by game days played.

 

[silentdawn]

The option I would like to see is a way to link characters from single player campaign, and their parties, to have a 1 on 1 battle with their armies. Of course, it'd be a ***** to get rid of cheaters. Players could be matched up by game days played.

Or instead you could have it so you just pick and chose your stats with allotted amount of points, then equipment and army with an allotted amount of gold. you Would be able to chose different restrictions on level, gold allotted number of bots and players.

 

[Skyrage]

Anyone who ever mentions unlockables or some such should have his medieval throat cut off and his balls hung up a string for the dogs to feed on. I'm all for incentives which will keep players playing but for the love of god, don't even think about unlockables.

 

[Teala]

teala has been complaining rather than anytihng else since she got into beta, and she complains a huge deal during the game itself aswell. olo beleives that we should listen to her to some degree, because when the game Does get released, some people may be very discontent with it. there are bound to be more people like her and olo isnt sure if she speaks for the majority, but her opinion does reflect many probably.  olo personaly loves it, but sure, some things can and should be added to keep people playing.

Wow...no words.  I complain a lot.  Compared to some I am quiet on these boards.  I voice my concerns as a beta testers just as anyone else has.  If that makes me a bad person than will the rest of you please line up because I can point fingers just as well.  Don't think any of you are angels on this board and many are very quick to jump to judgement and have a holier than thou attitude.  Which is a sad shame seeing that we all wish this game to be a good game. 

Hmmm...weird, I don't recall talking much in game.  I am quiet most of the time, unless it is to say something in regards to a fight that was a good one between two opponents.  I have mentioned that two handers are a little over used, but everyone does that from time to time, other than that I pretty much keep to myself and just test different things and weapons.

If I am a bad beta tester - put it to a vote and if you vote that I am not worthy.  Fine I'll accept your decision and will be gone.

 

[olo]

actualy teala, you missed olos point,but no worries. we need people like you as testers.  the testers need to be diverse in their views so the game can appeal to the largest audience possible, thats all olo was trying to say, sorry if you were offended, olo wasnt trying to.

 

[olo]

The option I would like to see is a way to link characters from single player campaign, and their parties, to have a 1 on 1 battle with their armies. Of course, it'd be a ***** to get rid of cheaters. Players could be matched up by game days played.

Or instead you could have it so you just pick and chose your stats with allotted amount of points, then equipment and army with an allotted amount of gold. you Would be able to chose different restrictions on level, gold allotted number of bots and players.

if you want singleplayer combat in multiplayer, there needs to be a seperate warband server that acts exactly like SP but is NOT stored on singleplayer.  it would act somwhat like an mmo except theres a big map and people can ride around killing stuff and can see OTHER players traveling around on the world map.  to make it work properly though, each person would only be able to have like say, 5 bot companions, otherwise the game would get overwhelemed. 

perhaps a co-op could be included in that where multiple groups of people team up against others in epic showdowns to take castles or somthing.

 

[Ethan109]

Here's a splendid idea.  Why not have unlockables in the game?  Here's how it could work.  At the beginning of the match, everyone starts with an equal amount of 'gold'.  You can buy stuff with it.  When you prove you are worthy (by killing people) you get more of said gold to 'unlock' better equipment.  I think it could work!

 

[Timothy the Knight]

Here's a splendid idea.  Why not have unlockables in the game?  Here's how it could work.  At the beginning of the match, everyone starts with an equal amount of 'gold'.  You can buy stuff with it.  When you prove you are worthy (by killing people) you get more of said gold to 'unlock' better equipment.  I think it could work!

That would just skewer the scales in favour of the better team even more. That would effectively eliminate the ability for a team to make an effective comeback after getting their asses handed to them for a few rounds. It already tends to be that the team that loses the first few rounds will lose the entire match, Do we really want to have one team live (and die shortly) in misery by default?

 

[Ethan109]

Timothy, I was being sarcastic, apologies for the confusion.  In other words, I like how the system is now.

 

[Timothy the Knight]

Ah, sorry then. I must be getting tired. But still, I don't think unlocks or anything grindy would improve the game.

 

[silentdawn]

Here's a splendid idea.  Why not have unlockables in the game?  Here's how it could work.  At the beginning of the match, everyone starts with an equal amount of 'gold'.  You can buy stuff with it.  When you prove you are worthy (by killing people) you get more of said gold to 'unlock' better equipment.  I think it could work!

 

[Moss]

Brilliantly said Ethan.

Only a small portion of games contain unlockable content and there's a reason for this. Most games in the same genre as M&B don't, infact I should point out that most successful action games don't.

Here's a list of some of the most successful and long lasting FPS multiplayer games:
Unreal Tournament series (UT2004 still has an active community)
Half-Life series (Counter Strike as well as many other incredibly popular mods)
Battlefield series (Unlocks were added, gained, then ignored as people went on to play mods that didn't include them)
Quake series (Quake III being a tournament staple for several years)

What made these games so successful?
A. Well balanced, enjoyable and polished gameplay.
B. Mods. User made content and tonnes of it, which gives the players new environments, new rules and new ways to play.

Unlockable content in action games has never been a big deal, or a big attraction. What hooks the community is usually the mods or competitive tournament game play. Mount & Blade is perfectly suited for both. MMORPG's need grinding because they can't have user made content to keep them fresh and because their combat is as a rule not very interactive in order to keep server load low. Mount&Blade is not a mmorpg, it has a wealth of opportunity for user made mods and we're already seeing clan matches and rivalry starting up, I think it's safe to assume it won't become stale anytime soon.

To drive the point home, did you play Native until you'd earned yourself a Tempered Sword of War, Masterwork War Bow, Reinforced Great Helm, Reinforced Plate Armour, Reinforced Gauntlets, Reinforced boots and a Champion Charger? Of course not, you went and installed some mods way before that, because grinding, for the sake of grinding, just ain't fun.

 

[pennywise83]

..  Many players have played Native single players for years. Even though MnB Native gets a bit repetitive after a while. With the large amount of cool new features in the single player, I'm sure the game will live for years ...

i'm one of those addicteds... i'm sure Warband will be a milestone like counterstrike...

they got 2 common starting points.. who developed counterstrike, was a modder (Moongoose was his nickname) and developed it for fun purposes... that's what i suppose Armagan did when thinked about MnB.

i'm sure warband will stand up years against grinding games and korean kinda mmo (real-coins=buffed-items).

i still play CS... and played it since beta 0.7... are like 10 years since i tried it, did lots of clan tournaments, there was a peak about 1million players back in 2001-2002.
now thereare still thousand of players and it was a damn MOD of halflife lol...

i'm pretty sure that Moongoose and Armagan could shared their thoughts talkin for weeks.

- CS was graphically poor, was buggy... no vehicles, little maps...
so why CS was so addicting? the answers are.. GAMEPLAY, incredibly realistic weapon ballistics, the thrill of surviving the round one against often a half enemy team, the depth of TEAMPLAY, the path to master a weapon type (like ak47... damn lot of recoil but lot of damage... that lead me to be a mid to long range counter-sniper) and the PREDOMINANT SKILL FACTOR.

see guys, CS was in the beta 0.7 really close to what was CS in the 1.0 and 1.2, 1.6... they keep'd it simple as it was... when i was a kid and got plenty of time to practice CS, the only goal was be the best killing machine and to learn the awarness of danger with experience... someonelse was pointing to be the best sniper out there, some others to be the best rushers... cause all that was thrillin.

what i expect from WARBAND...

- limitless combat mechanics (like lots of way to win a battle and lots of situations to trigger the brain to elaborate a tactics) = FUN
- survival situations (like trying to survive a handful of fighters... not meaning to aim to win... just to try and do the best)
- WHOA situations (like there are chargin cavalry.. ahh ill try to throw that mounted a throwin axe in the face.. damn i got him! ahahahh take this!! whahah)
- teamplay situations (like im a 1h/shield infantry... i MUST protect my archer behind me at all costs because i trust him.. if he is well shielded, he picks the targets, i intercept incoming blows and arrows...)
- skill based duels and fighting (ok you just owned me... i deserved that, you did better than me.)
- obviously must be a gold achievement to buy equip factor... through kills and through round wins. (in CS if you lose the pistol round, will be tough win the second and the third with almost no damn equip... so you must master the pistols path to be effective the whole maptime.)

in the end, if all will be like all i saw here in the forums and on youtube, i'll definitively buy also warband, ill buy it one for my girlfriend, i'll suggest it to like all players i know...
im sure the devs got a great support from betatesters like you all... and you all got a great support from em.

i just damn hate when some kids go cry nerf here and there but it's ok... 

uh really in the end.. what M&B gave me to make me playin it from like 3 years? the simple but fantastic combat mode first... the freedom to do it my way second... the ability to build my named companions... ALAYEN with a great-axe FTW.

keep it complex but simple... no painstaking button combos... just good phisycs, little trickies, no FTW classes, good netcode.

uhhh EDIT: the best innovative thing of M&B is the speed attacking factor btw... eheh. maybe we just cry to have more but damn... just look what you got! the base is incredible.. just do little steps to improve but don't rewrite it... it works!