TU3 and the massive overhaul

[genedjr]

I am very confused.  In TD1 the last 4 or so updates really made the game great.  It seems that Massive and UBI have completely forgotten what elevated TD1 to greatness.

What "I" wanted was TD1 to the next level in DC.  The Alpha, Closed Beta, Open Beta seemed to be headed in the right direction.  And to be sure the 1-30 march is really fun stuff.  Then we have the end-game.  And it sucks.

There are a whole lot of reasons, but the bottom line is the game veered in  to foul territory (come on, its baseball season!).  None of the things that made the end-game in TD1 great seem to be retained.   I think this is better explained in bullets (pun intended).

• good: the bullet spongy NPCs now show armor breaking off at a higher rate (really cool mechanic)
  
• bad: the bullet spongy NPCs (purple/gold) are wildly different in the amount of damage they take
  
• bad: when soloing, even at high levels, gear is not appropriate for the risk
  
• bad: clearing back areas does not count, NPCs can surround you anytime
  
• bad: being ambushed - this is not often - but hey, I got a computer with all intel and satellites, being surprised by NPCs is BS
  
• bad: for solo, scaling is not working.  While I can easily clear a threat 2 control point, I cannot clear a threat level 3 control point without many deaths.
  
• bad: in groups of 3/4 - nothing other than heroic drops GS500 - that is we get not a single GS500 drop from a 4 (or 2) team challenging. 
  
• bad: agro - still (I mean OMG still) retaining argo after all NPCs are dead - 2-3 minutes
  

I was going to make this bad, but...
NYC had huge indoor exploration - DC has almost none.  I mean WT...  DC is the most documented place on earth - why cant we get inside.

and there are hundreds of other nits, but I am mostly done until the drop.

...gene

 

[quinch1199]

• good: the bullet spongy NPCs now show armor breaking off at a higher rate (really cool mechanic) - It's what made 1-30 so enjoyable!! Its a trick they missed and haven't been able to replicate past level 30 though.
  
• bad: the bullet spongy NPCs (purple/gold) are wildly different in the amount of damage they take - Totally agree, they seem to be ignoring this issue. Perhaps tehy've not got a solution?
  
• bad: when soloing, even at high levels, gear is not appropriate for the risk - Seems they're looking at this, with some positive changes coming in the next major update
  
• bad: clearing back areas does not count, NPCs can surround you anytime - Not sure, more solo play issue perhaps?  There are side allys, buildings all around, I tend to always expect to be surrounded, best way to combat this is being aggressive. 
  
• bad: being ambushed - this is not often - but hey, I got a computer with all intel and satellites, being surprised by NPCs is BS - Its on your HUD, on your map...you sometimes even get a vocal warning...your tech is doing its job. Are you?
  
• bad: for solo, scaling is not working.  While I can easily clear a threat 2 control point, I cannot clear a threat level 3 control point without many deaths. - Solo, I manage level 3 but I dont even try  level 4 as they're "broken". Changes to friendly NPC's and in particular the leaders getting body armour and revive ability will help. 
  
• bad: in groups of 3/4 - nothing other than heroic drops GS500 - that is we get not a single GS500 drop from a 4 (or 2) team challenging. - all being changed. Next update ENSURES that if your average GS is 500, ONLY 500 items will drop. 
  
• bad: agro - still (I mean OMG still) retaining argo after all NPCs are dead - 2-3 minutes - You mean in control points for the NPC's? I don't see this as an issue...they're Civilians with guns...little to no training. If you'd been in a fire fight over the past 20mins, would you suddenly calm down and go back to normal business? I see it as "emersive", I know its a game but I think it adds to the game...personal opinion perhaps but nothing stopping you going off and clearning another CP and coming back to resupply the one you've just done later.
  

 

[RimBlock]

Next update ENSURES that if your average GS is 500, ONLY 500 items will drop. 

From what I have seen only some things will drop GS500.  Heroic, bosses, Lvl 4 control points.  For other things the lower GS drop rate has been reduced but it is still possible to get lower GS items.

Of course the chance to get GS500 items is also higher in the DZ....  :43_slight_frown:

 

[Disneyadventure]

I get plenty of GS 500 drops but honestly GS isn't that important, what you really want are the attributes and talents on gear to create your build. 

People whining about not getting GS 500 drops are completely missing the point. 

 

[genedjr]

People whining about not getting GS 500 drops are completely missing the point. 

OK, I was going to leave this alone, but WTH - why the sarcastic, derogatory tone?  I like min/maxing my toons for my play style.  I like having a 'visible' maxed GS.  This is fun for me.  And after all this is a game.  Part of this game, for me, is maxing out.

While not the only part - this is one aspect from TD1 I wish had crossed over.  As noted in another post - having that 'max' GS is boasting - and hey - that is also fun.  I still see plenty of toons with a GS lower than 500.  This hidden recalibration score just does not provide the bragging rights that I enjoy.

Don't get me wrong, talents and attributes are extremely important to the play of TD2 - your attitude is what I call into question.

...gene

 

[RimBlock]

I would agree that GS is a poor indicator in the current setup due to the wild variations of attributes and their scores on items regardless of GS.

I have items at GS 496 that I have not found better replacements for but I have also heard people suggesting that the GS it more important and being GS500 is what you need to do even if the items that make that GS are worse than others you have.  This view I do not agree with and is not the view, from the posts made here, that I think @genedjr subscribes too.

Maxing out is the goal of most but the difficulty in doing so with this game for the reasons stated above (higher variations then TD1 now) is just going to make it so hard.

Personally I also like building low GS Agents that blow away the GS 500 ones.  No doubt there will be crys of cheating etc but then it is just about knowing what is good and what is not to fit the build you like to play with.

TBH I feel the YouTube build guides etc are really not helping with the build diversity.  With two or three awesome builds out there the majority flock to them.  For us 'exceptions'  who try to go our own way and build something a little more unique a lot of the time it is very hard to compete, so adds no real reward for being diverse.  This is one problem I really see no solution for though.  YouTube gotta YouTube and there is not suggestion or expectation for them to stop, why should they...

 

[genedjr]

I would agree that GS is a poor indicator in the current setup 

Absolutely agree.  It's not about actual play, its about bragging rights.

Maxing out is the goal of most but the difficulty in doing so with this game for the reasons stated above (higher variations then TD1 now) is just going to make it so hard.

Yeah - its more about the satisfaction of a max build that works.  In TD1 this was pretty obvious and I had several different gear sets with a couple of max builds that worked well.

Personally I also like building low GS Agents that blow away the GS 500 ones.  No doubt there will be crys of cheating etc but then it is just about knowing what is good and what is not to fit the build you like to play with.

I like that approach, but as I really don't PvP...  And in the DZ GS is not shown, or is it?

...gene

 

[Disneyadventure]

I don't need some number to get bragging rights, I get that when my team sees my skill build clear out an entire room on challenging by myself in 5 seconds and they don't have to fire a shot.