[VG] Producer's Letter

[Bobleclair]

It is the raiding zone in sands of sorrow, used for raid testing atm not populated (likely will be next step after APW), i think it is like an alternate plane but not sure, GMs summon you there so no idea how you enter.

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by Laerazi

What's with the burning/swirling sky in the first screenshot? Is that an alternate plane?

ITs just a testing area underneath the world basically. Its just Rahz Inkur unpopulated.

[Vatoreus]

Here's hoping that the character model redos dump unibody for uniqueness and better customizations like there was in beta.

[ismaris]

We'll have to see action first as their words mean jack and shit. When I see ACTUAL content, AA's, model improvement (models are fine, the models and graphics in VG are the best part of the game), and obviously APW, then that's when I'll say "hey, that's cool."

[Lyrical]

Originally Posted by ismaris

We'll have to see action first as their words mean jack and shit. When I see ACTUAL content, AA's, model improvement (models are fine, the models and graphics in VG are the best part of the game), and obviously APW, then that's when I'll say "hey, that's cool."

/agree. I think I will play this game casually in those moments when I get bored of EQ2.

[Dreven]

Originally Posted by kcxiv

ITs just a testing area underneath the world basically. Its just Rahz Inkur unpopulated.

Have they developed a scripting tool for the game yet, or are they still screwing around in the game code to get raid mobs to be interesting?

[UnchainedAcolyte]

Originally Posted by ismaris

We'll have to see action first as their words mean jack and shit. When I see ACTUAL content, AA's, model improvement (models are fine, the models and graphics in VG are the best part of the game), and obviously APW, then that's when I'll say "hey, that's cool."

I'd like to really get behind the changes they've got slated. Thom seems like a decent, down-to-earth guy, and I don't hear any Brad-like promises set in stone, so that helps. That, and a player's forum for input/communication is good. Will help to keep the faithful and recruit others who want their input to be heard/read.

Personally I'm still miffed over letting Aruspex go, but if they can at least begin to show the potential the game has, and WoW-ify it in a variety of ways, as well as by adding SOME SEMI-COHERENT LORE I might go back.



Ironically, I canceled my VG sub for the time being, and took up a friend's offer of playing WoW casually (didn't really have time to get into an MMO heavily due to a new job), and seeing what the fuss is all about. So far, I'm impressed.

[GaliemVaelant]

I like that he words things in such a way as to make the playerbase feel involved, valued, and that their input is important. That spirit in Vanguard's development is what made me a fan of it early on, and I think it's an important thing to preserve -- perhaps THE most important thing, since it was squashed when SoE took over. In fact, I would wager that this spirit is what made Vanguard fanbois exist much more than who comprised the staff at Sigil. Many people in the Vanguard community felt alienated and disillusioned by developers, and during development, it was nice to be in a community led by developers who listened to peoples' ideas.

The fact that such ideas were heard is what makes me still have hope for Vanguard. It has been a rough road, and still will be, but somewhere along the line it will get right.

Thom, if you read this, note that the world is empty. There are huge sections that have nothing at all. Sprinkling some camps composed of opposed factions so as to create small wars in the wilderness is a quick and easy fix for that, although it's only a partial answer. Making some act like PvE battlefields that are somehow tracked in a software journal a'la TES, server stats, or any sort of record at all would make that a valid form of content that might fill out the world a bit. The key would be to make players' contributions to the battles be visible to others somehow, that way they have a reason to participate. I only suggest this because it seems to be one of the quickest ways to make a bulk ammount of content with minimal production costs, and that empty world needs to be filled like a nympho who has been isolated for years.

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by Dreven

Have they developed a scripting tool for the game yet, or are they still screwing around in the game code to get raid mobs to be interesting?

I dont know if they have. I dont think so, but raid mobs are just not tank and spank. They all have tricks to them and certain things you have to do in order to win.

[Hateyou]

Originally Posted by GaliemVaelant

Many people in the Vanguard community felt alienated and disillusioned by developers, and during development, it was nice to be in a community led by developers who listened to peoples' ideas.

The fact that such ideas were heard is what makes me still have hope for Vanguard. It has been a rough road, and still will be, but somewhere along the line it will get right.

Lol? They never listened to shit. I remember tons of posts and ideas by myself and many other people on public and beta forums where Brad responded with "Perhaps this game is not for you."

The only reason people liked Brad so much is he would talk to you like an every day buddy, which you rarely see a CEO, president, dev, or whatever do.

The fact is, he was a stubborn asshole and only changed things when he realized fanboy-ism alone wasn't going to make his game float. It's too bad he changed things way too late, instead of listenening to good ideas. We can all see what it did to his reputation.

[tad10]

Originally Posted by Dreven

Have they developed a scripting tool for the game yet, or are they still screwing around in the game code to get raid mobs to be interesting?

This was discussed a while ago -- pretty much the first thing the SOE team did was build tools for development.

* * *

I'm becoming very meh on the letter -- I think the clear message is that the guy thinks that wowifying the game is going to bring in new people. It won't. Instead it'll be the SWG NGE all over again -- the people who have stuck it out will head out for other games.

Moreover, the game seems to be adding subs (albeit slowly) so if they just keep doing what they're doing instead of making drastic changes they'll be fine.

[Gnome Eater]

Originally Posted by Hateyou

Lol? They never listened to shit. I remember tons of posts and ideas by myself and many other people on public and beta forums where Brad responded with "Perhaps this game is not for you."

The only saving grace of the game is that they ignored all the posts on the boards, since the community that centered itself around vanguard was in many ways much worst than the game.

Besides, if you knew anything or even just followed these boards, you should know that Brad had almost absolutely nothing to do with gameplay decisions, and basically was out trying to raise cash or doing ceo buisness whenever he wasn't posting on the message boards. His failure can be blamed on who to appoint to certain positions way up high, and on lack of supervision, but you cannot blame him for fucking up the gameplay.

[Broham]

I'm waiting for a free trial, anyone else? Let's start a poll.

[Laerazi]

Originally Posted by Broham

I'm waiting for a free trial, anyone else? Let's start a poll.

Waiting for the game to be quality, then a trial.

[Shinrai]

The fanaticism of the existing userbase of vanguard has always been one of the less attractive features of the game. They have their ego's so deeply attached to the game. Over at the official forums they're having a massive weepy fit, and threatening to quit, over the possibility of any change to the XP curve or the awesome thrill that is hours of riding over empty and useless terrain.