The new Astral

by Terenas

Back to Common Grounds.

Terenas2005-12-07 20:50:47
So after a few days of enjoying the new Astral and getting over the complains of insanity and no gold, I've talked a little with some bashers and some have considered that Astral is way too good in terms of experience and karma right now. An uber mob can give almost 1% karma per offer, any decent basher can easily keep up 2 blessings right now (Kaervas claims he can even keep 4, maybe even 5 if he really tried). Also, looking at the current rankings, people are shooting through it like crazy, Diamante, Daevos, Gregori, etc. Nejii was able to gain 7% bashing in 20 minutes up there in a group of 3 people at level 77.

If any of you guys have looked at Achaea lately, they have 30+ dragons running around pretty much owning anyone, nothing is as bad as having 2 dragons hunting you as well. I sincerely don't want to see within several RL months that Lusternia will turn into another Achaea, where we have 10+ Titans or Demigods just decimating everything and everyone. If you think Celest or Glomdoring is just getting trashed right now, just think what will happen when Magnagora or Celest gets 3-4 fighting Titans.
Unknown2005-12-07 21:00:03
Yeah Astral is better, yeah you can make a lot more exp in a shorter time now than you could before, tell me something new. wink.gif

EDIT: Yeah people are shooting through the rankings and yes, as soon as Daevos and co get Demigod they'll chase everyone off from playing Lusternia by being even more of a raiding annoyance. Again, tell me something new. tongue.gif
Terenas2005-12-07 21:03:00
Well, how about petitioning to reduce the karma and experience output of Astral? Like I said, I don't want to see 30+ Titans running around in about a year or so. Considering the inherent conflicts in Lusty, I don't see it being very helpful for Lusty as a whole.
Unknown2005-12-07 21:07:28
QUOTE(terenas @ Dec 7 2005, 10:03 PM)
Well, how about petitioning to reduce the karma and experience output of Astral? Like I said, I don't want to see 30+ Titans running around in about a year or so. Considering the inherent conflicts in Lusty, I don't see it being very helpful for Lusty as a whole.
234192



Eventually it will happen no matter what. Eventually one org (most likely Magnagora) will own the Basin and all combat will be reduced to fire/clap/clap. I don't think it matters anymore if it happens in one RL month or in 12.
Ashteru2005-12-07 21:08:50
Make astral as difficult as it was before? ninja.gif I wouldn't even mind that they don't drop gold anymore, too... ninja.gif
Rauros2005-12-07 21:25:35
QUOTE
Eventually it will happen no matter what. Eventually one org (most likely Magnagora) will own the Basin and all combat will be reduced to fire/clap/clap. I don't think it matters anymore if it happens in one RL month or in 12.


My thoughts exactly. I stopped caring about experience a long time ago. I still hate dying though. angry.gif
Kharvik2005-12-07 23:20:40
QUOTE(shadow @ Dec 7 2005, 04:07 PM)
Eventually one org (most likely Magnagora) will own the Basin and all combat will be reduced to fire/clap/clap.
234194



And is that your idea of fun? That is going to ruin the game, and you dont care if it happens next month? I think they need to make astral mobs even harder and lessen the exp as well as change Titan/Demigod's thunderclap skill.
Shiri2005-12-08 00:21:04
Probably true. As Terenas said, yes, because Terenas and Vhri AND Shinza and I were hopping on and off Cancer via the Pool and Pisces I went from like 94% to 3% level 78 (the last bit was in the cats and Shallach though.) Which is insane considering none of us died except when Terenas decided to be a huge silly and linked five times at once. (And then lagged out.)
Richter2005-12-08 00:26:37
The idea was raised that we should have most of the l337 skills for avatars only, and to have one avatar per god. Just one possible solution...
Verithrax2005-12-08 00:45:19
So... You whine endlessly when Astral gets 'nerfed', and now you whine because it's too strong? MAKE UP YOUR DAMN MINDS! tongue.gif

Just kidding. Seriously, my solution would be to make Astral critters weaker, and make them give less exp, so they're hunting fodder for level 65+. This way it'll take people a LONG time to get demigod. Also, drastically increase the exp loss for dying as a demigod, so demigods go back to 98 and 1% when killed. That way, they have to be paranoid about dying. Of course, it doesn't work unless the game is balanced enough so that a substantial part of the population has a shot at killing a demigod, if they're good fighters.
Unknown2005-12-08 00:50:24
Don't Level Limits have their own self-limits.

In other words, usually if you end up maxing out, doesn't the player usually quit after a while, because there's no challenge--or end up cutting back on his time, starting an alt, or doing more RP stuff than PK stuff?
Hajamin2005-12-08 00:52:33
QUOTE(Phred @ Dec 8 2005, 09:50 AM)
Don't Level Limits have their own self-limits.

In other words, usually if you end up maxing out, doesn't the player usually quit after a while, because there's no challenge--or end up cutting back on his time, starting an alt, or doing more RP stuff than PK stuff?
234277



Normally that is true, but not with our system. We solved that trend due to the fact that Demigod is just a new begining.
Cwin2005-12-08 01:09:41
Edited due to Hajamin's comment:

! Demigods are just the beginning?! That makes me think that we should all be pushing for Demi and THEN the competition begins.

I've seen setups like that. It can work.. though once Demis become common we'll need ALOT of good exp-gaining capabilities so that the new people can quickly catch up and join the fight.
Narsrim2005-12-08 01:15:06
I think it is worth noting that if at some point there becomes a lot of titans/demigods, the issues that are relevant will likely be addressed.

Specifically, I'd much rather the "problems" be fixed than just slowing down the problems. If two back-to-back thunderclaps, for example, become a problem, well then what stops something like thunderclap being reduced to once per room per 5 minutes or something so double claps aren't possible, etc? We have already seen how certain skills work with Divine Fire and that's being handled too.

I have faith that the problem not the speed at which it becomes a problem will be what is addressed.
Unknown2005-12-08 01:50:49
So, in other words, we have a built-in "Epic Level" or "Immortals" game, I guess.

Hmm...
Verithrax2005-12-08 01:57:42
QUOTE(Phred @ Dec 7 2005, 10:50 PM)
So, in other words, we have a built-in "Epic Level" or "Immortals" game, I guess.

Hmm...
234311


Except that the high level people can constantly own the low level people, turning the game into an exclusive club for those that have the patience to endure being dirt until level 90.
Unknown2005-12-08 02:08:39
And then ofcourse we'll have Vernals to add to the fun biggrin.gif
Gero2005-12-08 02:39:27
well if theres going to be Demi-gods Running around like novices what about the actual novices who wouldnt ever stand a chance unless they became Titian or demi-god themselfs
Gregori2005-12-08 08:35:44
QUOTE(terenas @ Dec 7 2005, 02:50 PM)
So after a few days of enjoying the new Astral and getting over the complains of insanity and no gold, I've talked a little with some bashers and some have considered that Astral is way too good in terms of experience and karma right now.  An uber mob can give almost 1% karma per offer, any decent basher can easily keep up 2 blessings right now (Kaervas claims he can even keep 4, maybe even 5 if he really tried). Also, looking at the current rankings, people are shooting through it like crazy, Diamante, Daevos, Gregori, etc. Nejii was able to gain 7% bashing in 20 minutes up there in a group of 3 people at level 77.

If any of you guys have looked at Achaea lately, they have 30+ dragons running around pretty much owning anyone, nothing is as bad as having 2 dragons hunting you as well. I sincerely don't want to see within several RL months that Lusternia will turn into another Achaea, where we have 10+ Titans or Demigods just decimating everything and everyone. If you think Celest or Glomdoring is just getting trashed right now, just think what will happen when Magnagora or Celest gets 3-4 fighting Titans.
234187




I would just like to point out that the reason I shot up in rankings, was not because Astral is to good. It is because I went from bashing very little, to bashing for 15+ hours a day for 3 weeks. Only the last week of that being on Astral.

EDIT::

Just to add, that since Astral has changed, I can stay up there for no more than an hour at a time. In which I make 2%, 3% if I am lucky enough to have Autumn. Then I hunt Prime while being Neurotic, and make another 6%. Astral is fine the way it is. My only problem with it is there is no gold earned there from links, which is a situation that was not needed to be added once Insanity was put in. Insanity is the control for people not hunting hours at a time there. No gold just makes it a problem for everyone, people who hunt there and people who do not.

EDIT::

Missed the Karma comment. I could keep up three blessings, before I ever went to Astral. People complaining need to do more research before pointing fingers at an unlikely suspect.
Serrin2005-12-08 11:46:58
New beginning? ::perk:: Oh you mean even more goals past reaching demi-god?

Serrin excited, Serrin very excited. Serrin bash more now.