103 replies to this topic

[Achilles]

I don't think this was supposed to be a "Vote for staff poll" but if I had to vote, my list would be..

#1 Crane - Gareth (If he would actually want to take the job.)
Reason - Scan the forums and look at Tirantek.

#2 Raylen - Alan
Reason - Knowledge, Unbiased, Friendly, and Scan the forums.

#3 Ryuku - Alex
Reason - Unbiased, Friendly, Knowledge, and Was staff on another text based game.

#4 Tietsu - Alec
Reason - Knowledge and Creative. If you would work on some of your people skills Alec you might be higher (Not a bash)

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Ftw

[ice_cold]

lol, i vote me! ive had 4 areas okayed to go in but staff have always left before they were finished. plus im on the oppisite side of the world, so i get to see those players that most staff wouldnt see.

[Raylen]

As another note: I would possibly support Gareth but obviously he has already been staff and has left.

I would actually support IceCold in some way as well, provided he isn't about to quit for 4 years again. He is creative and unbiased, and has a good sense of humour.



I have found the responses from current staff very interesting.

[Foxie]

So much work went into 1a on my behalf and the staff team I worked with, it was released on what appeared to be a whim to save nightmist from the gutters. The interest in the server achieved this for only a very short period, when characters reached levels and players developed ranking people immediatly began to notice the unbalance, most of it lies within the functions of class/race settings and terrain settings set on vast areas of the grid which cannot be edited by staff (besides removing all class/race bonus' from the terrain setting). The grid (game which was implimented) wasn't designed for 1alts and this is the problem.

When 1a was brought out there was no indication as to how players would use different classes to their advantage and over time, things have changed following minor changes brought about by staff. I personally would have capped the game at level 30 to really encourage people to use multiple characters (i know this has happened anyway) but characters leveling past 30 caused extra unnecessary problems which needed to be urgently addressed for player satisfaction when core problems to the game were bypassed.

It is a shame 1a wasn't given the thought multi was following the reset back in the day, but that reflects partly on the staff teams the game has had over a number of many years. You, as players, can't expect current staff to wave a wand or, by the suggestion of this post, for new staff to be able to fix 1a. Its not a shame I left when I did, I was fed up with the most of you however much I enjoy and miss bulding areas and designing quests. There were several people I would have persued working with if I was to continue with staff and several staff members are aware of who these were.

The game is on its way out, it would be nice to see it finish on a small positive and if new staff can bring that turn (before jlh finally says "it's time to go" which for 1a should have been the week after it came out) it'll be nice to see.

Edited by Foxie, 25 April 2009 - 09:36 AM.

[Throwback]

Robbie wouldn't waste his time but he could come back now if he wanted and play. He has experience developing (two beta version game releases), has a long history with the game (pre-reset), and unbiased. He most definitely if convinced would devote time out of this day to build/play, but as the current staff team feels this is not going to happen, and the player base seems to want someone to care, which is obvious that no current staff member does *repeated notions of closing the server, smack players in the head, blah blah* i doubt anything will happen

It's obvious a reset would involve at least a couple months of maintenance on the server, and for that reason alone giving someone the chance to develope would give them a chance to have a product in production, specifically in place by the time enough people reach high enough level to challenge it (assuming it's a new area, or a "tough" area")

I could care either way, but I know enough people have spent years on 1a grinding their way to high level that a reset may not keep them loyal. However if they play now they probably would stay, so reset away !

[Tietsu]

I would be more inclined to play if my 17-18 Million gold account was reset into something balanced moreso than I've been playing an unfair war against overpowered assassins. (Sorry if you feel your assassin isn't OP'd)

I also could somewhat agree with Foxie. A level 30 cap would certainly seem a good cause, yet I like to see expansion.


People Skills: I recognize this as a problem. I can be arrogant towards some of the enemy playerbase. But I remember a quote from someone saying, "I'd be willing to set aside all differences for the better of the game."

Edited by Tietsu, 25 April 2009 - 12:22 PM.

[Cadabra]

All the 1-alt server need imo is Thieves toning down a bit and Fighters/Pallies new Abillities.



Edit: RULES also need to start being used in the propper way.

Edited by Cadabra, 25 April 2009 - 12:24 PM.

[Wind]

This really made me giggle lol... I just wanna know why Pandilex is really trying to save 1alt because in my option it aint really worth saving. Like people have said many and many times before it just split the playerbase and it really couldnt be split anymore, YES 1alt may of got some old people to come back and play it, but if main had new addition's made to it then we could of had some of the old people back to that without having to create the 1alt server.

Also 1alt is why to inbalanced I played for a couple of week. I noticed without a thief you really aint going to do much on it well as fast anyways. If the 1alt server got a reset and made playable without some classes/race's been overpowered so much, I might sit down and play the game, but I cant see this happening anytime soon as JLH wouldnt do this due to some people's disagreement.

I would just like to add that any new staff members that 1alt gets they wont stay long because all that 1alt player's do is cry about everything.

No offence to anyone..

Just wanted to get my point across!

[«¤ºxXl3úÐXxº¤»]

Yes, the only way this ever happens is if Simon and JLH sit down and have a heart to heart, and both decide to fix the game. Via the old way it was done. Staff adding, and correction, JLH coding, and Simon having the final checks and balances on everything. Even then... if all that happened, you're going to have some upset players. And "I'm not saying, I'm just saying." Possibly some very upset staff members that should be kept happy. All depends on how it gone about though i guess.

[Sausage]

Simon knows what he's doing. Quit hating.

I believe the 1a staff should be focused on class balancing. And possibly the implementation of a couple sexy new items.

I also believe that Simon should have posted his post then locked this whole thing. Glad I got to hear that Mark could give two mooses less about the server he's been handed tho.

Have faith.

[Yggdrasill]

This is obviously an elaborate plan for Pandilex to steal the little Nightmist talent there is for the GRAND OPENING of Opal Spheres! (Sarcasm)

[Walt]

I would like to point out that this has nothing to do with main. So why are people comparing main and 1A? You have area developers on main, and if they are not meeting with your standards, then you should contact them, and keep this on topic.

TY.

[Isolated]

obviously to show how main is somewhat balanced, and how 1a isn't walt.

[Walt]

obviously to show how main is somewhat balanced, and how 1a isn't walt.

If it is an exact copy from main to 1A, then how can one server be balanced, and the other one be so greatly unbalanced? This is what I do not get. The only difference between the servers is on 1A you get different stamina gains at different levels. You also have to pay an exorbitant amount of gold to level up past 30. If there is something else I am missing, please let me know.

[Isolated]

obviously to show how main is somewhat balanced, and how 1a isn't walt.

If it is an exact copy from main to 1A, then how can one server be balanced, and the other one be so greatly unbalanced? This is what I do not get. The only difference between the servers is on 1A you get different stamina gains at different levels. You also have to pay an exorbitant amount of gold to level up past 30. If there is something else I am missing, please let me know.

The fact that EVERY single class has a chance against another class thieves arent like zerks without berserk, Paladins and Fighters can win events.

[«¤ºxXl3úÐXxº¤»]

On top of what josh said, may i add balancing flaws are WAY more apparent when you're only on 1 alt as opposed to 20, or 3 even.

[ice_cold]

All the 1-alt server need imo is Thieves toning down a bit and Fighters/Pallies new Abillities.



Edit: RULES also need to start being used in the propper way.

i use a pally. i can beat thieves 3 levels higher then me. fighters are fine but overly boring, cant heal so potions get used often, and never have been amazing pvp. could fighters be changed... probably, though i doubt people will still use them. you have 3 powerful classes in 1a right now, thieves druids and mages.

youve got to look at the powerful abilities that's beneficial in 1a since you cant protect yourself with other characters
1. Healing, main thing
2. Invisibility to not get attacked or to have first attack
3. The ability to ignore armor
4. The ability to hit more or get hit less
5. The ability to 'click' someone or something which keeps someone from healing themselves

now break down what classes have on a rating scale of 5 for how good they are

Thieves: Dagger of the Winds a cheap weapon that allows thieves to easily heal them selves when attacking; Covert, allows them to move to areas unseen and kill people before they have a chance to defend themselves; Assassinate which is an obvious help against people and ignores armor, a thief can click fast spawners and wait for them to come back without ever being attacked; Covert helps with number 4, not so much though only in group battles when a lot of thieves are covert, which pandemonium does (not hating, they just use the game to theyre advantage, you could say theyre just smart for doing it), Assassinate again, clicks enough said.
Rating 4 1/2
Arch+ Characters: 58 (1st)

Druids: Able to slightly heal themselves with the spell heal and morph (fairly unusable after lower levels); Camo again making them able to travel unseen, avoid monsters, have upper hand in attacking; Stormwrath, ignores armor and at the low level they recieve makes them very easy to train, only at lower levels; Spells to increase armor, greatly to have little damage done to them.
Rating: 3 1/2
Arch+ Characters: 29 (2nd)

Mages: Invisibility spell to travel to places unattacked and to have upper hand to attack other characters; their spells ignore armor and at higher levels deal a large ammount of unblocked damage; armor giving spells giving heavy ammounts of armor making damage nearly non-existant, but at a high price
Rating: 3
Arch+ Characters: 12 (4th)

Clerics: Healing spells across the board, able to heal for over 100; Spells to make them hit more often, to heal for more against undead, and to help them not get hit as much
Rating: 2
Arch+ Characters: 19 (3rd)

Berserkers: Smite, ignores armor; Smite/Berserk able to 'click' monsters and players
Rating: 2
Arch+ Characters: 10 (5th)

Paladins: Aid heals for about 60's making them self reliable; Holy Speed makes them get hit less, doesn't work very well but does help
Rating: 2
Arch+ Characters: 6 (7th)

Rangers: Hypno, allows them not to get attacked/attacked less by monsters and players; Rapid Fire can click but isn't as effective alone as other clickable abilities
Rating: 2
Arch+ Characters: 5 (8th)

Fighters: None
Rating: 0
Arch+ Characters: 8 (6th)

From this list, you can see why thieves are used the most, they have the most useable abilities that 1a requires. By themselves they can easily be trained, in roups theyre almost unstoppable, destroying the competition before they know whats happening

Edited by ice_cold, 26 April 2009 - 06:36 AM.

[Thunderja]

I'd support Alan (Raylen), JP (Sublime) and Alex (something emo probably).

Nice proactive topic and approach Pandilex. Nothing can get done just sitting in suspended animation. I'd highly recommend the above people. Not only are they great players and contributors, they will make a good team. All are very open and sociable to the playerbase.

[Pandilex]

Also, if anyone fancies tackling the problem of our craptastic website, let me know.

[Raylen]

Just delete the main site bit and direct everything to the textmenu

[Angelus]

Also, if anyone fancies tackling the problem of our craptastic website, let me know.

I wouldn't mind helping out, but there are a lot of things to consider, is it going to need a CMS, new features, old features redone, is it going to be slick and clean or is it going to need a design filled with creatures and mythical beings (then you're gonna need an artist as well). Also the look should fit the game, so maybe the site doesn't need updating at all

[Achilles]

Like people have said many and many times before it just split the playerbase and it really couldnt be split anymore, YES 1alt may of got some old people to come back and play it, but if main had new addition's made to it then we could of had some of the old people back to that without having to create the 1alt server.

Entirely untrue. I know for a fact i would have never came back to play main, and the same goes for jono, cody, and aaron for however long he played. Pretty sure im not the only person that will never play main again... 3alt server, maybe, 20 alt server, gay.

[Achilles]

I would like to point out that this has nothing to do with main. So why are people comparing main and 1A? You have area developers on main, and if they are not meeting with your standards, then you should contact them, and keep this on topic.

TY.

/nod

obviously to show how main is somewhat balanced, and how 1a isn't walt.

If it is an exact copy from main to 1A, then how can one server be balanced, and the other one be so greatly unbalanced? This is what I do not get. The only difference between the servers is on 1A you get different stamina gains at different levels. You also have to pay an exorbitant amount of gold to level up past 30. If there is something else I am missing, please let me know.

/nod

On top of what josh said, may i add balancing flaws are WAY more apparent when you're only on 1 alt as opposed to 20, or 3 even.

Key word, apparent. Just because something isn't showing doesnt mean it is not there. Besides, everyone knows what are the most "overpowered" combination on main are+ the fact that if 1alt didnt have random stamina gains and to much hp then it might not be so drastically unbalanced. Which I have faith in Pandilex/JLH in hiring a few new staffers along with the old and things will start to happen. For the better of course.

[Raylen]

i won't really ever go back to play 20 alts. i am deffo going to pay gareth to train my mage (yes mine, kieran) to 40 though. then get it transferd to 1a and keel you all

3 i would consider. 20 is just too much effort to log all the things on.

[ice_cold]

Like people have said many and many times before it just split the playerbase and it really couldnt be split anymore, YES 1alt may of got some old people to come back and play it, but if main had new addition's made to it then we could of had some of the old people back to that without having to create the 1alt server.

Entirely untrue. I know for a fact i would have never came back to play main, and the same goes for jono, cody, and aaron for however long he played. Pretty sure im not the only person that will never play main again... 3alt server, maybe, 20 alt server, gay.

thats just really what it comes down to. it isnt how you want to play main, its what everyone else is doing, to keep up, you need to use 20 alts at a time, i wont do it, and i really dont want to sit on 4 lvl 30's and get pk'd by 20 lvl 40's

[Raylen]

I decided that since this is a Talent Pool, I would put on my trunks and give you all a little showcase

What if?


You are aboard a small sailing boat. The wind is picking up, and waves are starting to break against your vessel. There are no seabirds visible - a sure sign of the impending storm.
[click]
You pull in the sail and tie it down, preparing to ride out the storm.
The storm breaks with full fury on your small boat. Rain lashes down; the winds blow with formidable power; waves crash onto the deck.
[click]
You sit down in the bottom of the boat with a small bucket, bailing the water over the side.
A wave catches you off balance, and you fall, hitting your head hard on the deck, causing 20 points of damage and knocking you unconscious.
When you wake, all is calm. Your head throbs from the fall; but you are alive. You get to your feet and survey the scene. Ropes lie strewn across the deck, although the mast is intact. You start to set about repairing the boat, when you hear a shout from above you. "Good morning! I am most pleased to find you have survived - I could use a good strong slave to work some oars." Two men jump down from the slave ship with vicious-looking scimitars. You are forced on board the ship.
[click]
You are chained to a large oar below decks.
You are fairly well treated in terms of your health - no-one will buy a half-dead slave, although you feel the sting of the quartermaster's whip on more than one occasion. [lose 50hp]
You look round at the other slaves. There are perhaps fifty of you down here, toiling in the unnatural light of several oil lamps. Sweat and urine mingle with the salt water to produce an acrid stench. A solemn pace is kept on the drums, punctuated occasionally by the singing lash of the quartermaster. Day turns to night, and back to day as you lose track of time.
[click]
You hear shouting from above, and the quartermaster is given instructions by the captain.
You are directed to row in a kind of pattern - you must be docking. Sure enough, the boat is guided to a standstill. You rest for no more than a minute before you are pulled to your feet. Along with the fifty other slaves, you trudge onto the deck in a line, shackled hand and foot. You blink as your eyes see daylight for the first time in a week, but you are soon leaving the ship via the gangplank, and stepping onto the shore. What you see now will stay with you, for it is your first sighting of Taelu, the capital city of Hahan.
[click]
You follow the rest of the slaves from the docks of Taelu, walking slowly through the city.
You realise that the sheer scale of this place far exceeds anything you have ever encoutered before. Houses, some as high as five storeys, line the stone-paved streets. There is noise at every turn - the pale-skinned people of Taelu ignore you entirely, and go about the business of the day. You turn a corner, and are greeted by the hustle and bustle of your imminent destiny - the slave market.



This then of course allows for you to escape from your life as a slave, and explore the city "normally".

You went North.
Electric Lakes: Flickering blue and purple lightnings flash across the surfaces of these strange lakes. The waters are perfectly still however, undisturbed by the chaos that life brings; only magic can exist in this place. The sky seems to hang merely a few feet above your head, almost close enough to touch, yet its golden hues shy away from your hand.

You went North.
The Source: You have reached the point of infinity. Light mingles intermittently with the very ground on which you stand, disorientating you horribly. Magic flows freely from this one point, weaving in and through the fabric of the universe, pervading your body and soul. You feel warped, pulled this way and that; yet somehow safe, held by the very thing that controls you.
An Auditor of Magic is here with you.

Auditor of Magic: You cannot be here.
The Auditor of Magic is a small, dark being, enveloped in robes of night. No face bears its countenance, yet its ire is somewhat unmistakeable; its voice echoes from everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Shadows form the edges of its robes instead of hands and feet; whilst the golden skies above it glow with a rich heartbeat. The power of the universe is in the command of the Auditor of Magic - your presence here is causing a magical imbalance, and must therefore cease.

You gave an Auditor of Magic: Elven Long Bow, Leather Bands
An Auditor of Magic gave you: Celestial Bow

Original posts are here and here.

NB. Celestial Bow for illustration purposes only. Actual bow may vary.

[Gaddy]

Like people have said many and many times before it just split the playerbase and it really couldnt be split anymore, YES 1alt may of got some old people to come back and play it, but if main had new addition's made to it then we could of had some of the old people back to that without having to create the 1alt server.

Entirely untrue. I know for a fact i would have never came back to play main, and the same goes for jono, cody, and aaron for however long he played. Pretty sure im not the only person that will never play main again... 3alt server, maybe, 20 alt server, gay.

thats just really what it comes down to. it isnt how you want to play main, its what everyone else is doing, to keep up, you need to use 20 alts at a time, i wont do it, and i really dont want to sit on 4 lvl 30's and get pk'd by 20 lvl 40's

There are plenty of people who play with non-maximum parties. You don't have to "keep up with other players"---the game is just about having your own fun. And PKing is pretty rare now-a-days.

If you want to play 3-5 alts, you can still kill most of the bosses in-game. It just takes a lot longer, but not as long as NM-Solo, and you don't have to wait around trying to beg other people to come help.


However, that's just my opinion. I don't think it's entirely about competition; to me, it's about enjoying the game. That is why I play Main instead of 1-Alt. I enjoy Main, when I play. I find 1-Alt frustrating.

[Walt]

Like people have said many and many times before it just split the playerbase and it really couldnt be split anymore, YES 1alt may of got some old people to come back and play it, but if main had new addition's made to it then we could of had some of the old people back to that without having to create the 1alt server.

Entirely untrue. I know for a fact i would have never came back to play main, and the same goes for jono, cody, and aaron for however long he played. Pretty sure im not the only person that will never play main again... 3alt server, maybe, 20 alt server, gay.

I happened to want to check out the forums to see if there was anything funny to read up on, and noticed this brand new thing called 1 alt. This is the only reason I ever decided to come back. Then Manda noticed I was having fun and had to interject herself on the game. Otherwise we would have not even thought about reinstalling NM to our computer at the time. No brand new areas would have brought us back, so there is 6 older players who would not have come back.

And funny thing you brought up this 3 alt thingy.........But this is for another topic.

There are plenty of people who play with non-maximum parties. You don't have to "keep up with other players"---the game is just about having your own fun. And PKing is pretty rare now-a-days.

If you want to play 3-5 alts, you can still kill most of the bosses in-game. It just takes a lot longer, but not as long as NM-Solo, and you don't have to wait around trying to beg other people to come help.


However, that's just my opinion. I don't think it's entirely about competition; to me, it's about enjoying the game. That is why I play Main instead of 1-Alt. I enjoy Main, when I play. I find 1-Alt frustrating.

The same can be said for the 1A server as well. Most of the "regular" bosses can be killed with parties of 3-5. There is no begging for help as long as the numbers are on, which is most of the time. And if there are fewer then 5 players on, better gold can be gotten training in more obvious places then doing a boss.(Gold is alot better then exp imo on 1A server)

Main going no-pk had a big affect as to why there is not much pking on that server now imo. Could it be most of the prevelant pkers sold their main stuff for 1A? Who knows. Maybe going nopk killed that competition that once was there.

The only begging that happens really is trying to get a party together to level up past 30. You can not blame that on the player base though.

[Crane]

Just to support Gaddy's point, a lot of the time I only play on 10 crits (although sometimes I'll add a second Cleric to make 11 if I'm fighting the Roc Hatchling), and when I go after the standalone bosses, my parties are even smaller, and in some cases I just use a single non-Pacifist crit, normally Crane. I only usually use my full party of 20 if I am going after the Crystal Giant (due to the time it takes) or one of the harder bosses in the game. Why? Not only is it less strenuous and more enjoyable to use fewer crits, but I find that in the desert, my crits get a far better spread of experience in a party of 10 than in a party of 20, where the last few crits barely get any experience at all because the monsters are killed off by the time it is their turn.

On the multi-alt server it is much more feasible to play the game the way you want to and still earn a steady income of gold, whereas on 1-alt, you generally have to be part of a large clan or have good contacts to really gain even a bit of experience, and for those who just want some time to themselves, 1-alt does not accommodate for that at all.

[Autek]

Yeah, 1a is definately for social people. . . Main is more of a loner server.