Comments on: The Problem, In a Nutshell

By: The Controller | Kill Ten Rats

The Controller | Kill Ten Rats — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 05:04:38 +0000

[...] of tank-and-spank MMO heroism, usually based around fighting one thing at a time. Because the hero’s journey goes from one pig to one slightly larger pig. In City of Heroes, if you can still see your [...]

By: Vajarra

Vajarra — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:23:13 +0000

Fergle, surely not the only person to have done it, but one guy did:

http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?sid=1&topicId=10972023744&ST=US-1588625-dtDZBZqXwYMAVdfnQqI3u6tQHtv5jEm5pYT

This fellow leveled to 70 only by killing boars.

By: Fergle F Fergleson

Fergle F Fergleson — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:11:46 +0000

I’m now horribly tempted to start an alt and see just how far I can go just killing one kind of mob. I’m sick.

By: warcabbit

warcabbit — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:41:09 +0000

At least City of Heroes doesn’t do that.

By: Shane

Shane — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:58:02 +0000

For some reason, I never really noticed the grind in DAoC. I know it was there, but it just seemed to breeze by. I think it’s because the quest system was less meaty, wasn’t constantly being reminded of how many more Bandit Ears I needed.

By: Stuart

Stuart — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:25:10 +0000

It’s just part of the problem with level based games, there is only so much they can do without repeating the same thing. Skill based MMO’s like UO and SWG are able to have unique creatures with different challenge ratings but even they can fall into the same trap over time.

By: Hess

Hess — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 16:53:47 +0000

65+ = zombie ninja vampires from space, lightning powered dragons that roar snakes…

By: Jezebeau

Jezebeau — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 06:44:10 +0000

60-65 = dire saber-tooth hellboar, orcish pretender gods, ancestral spirit-bears. :P

By: Hess

Hess — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 19:25:29 +0000

For those not familiar with how titles work in LotRO: The repeated killing of X type of mob gains you a title. Killing Y more of that mob gives you what they call virtues, which you can swap in and out of your character to change up your build. You could survive without them maxed out but most people I played with expected that you’d have your classes “core” virtues maxed out for end-game content. 600+ trolls, 400+ worms, 600+ wargs…it was a just a time sink. I like the virtues as a customization system but no one should have to grind out that many kills just for the ability to tweak their character as they like.

It’s been a LONG time but I don’t recall ever having to kill rats in Everquest more than a handful of times and at very low levels.

I don’t expect any MMO to just drop everyone into a den of dragons at/near max level but a little logic in the development and level progression of mobs doesn’t seem like a whole lot to ask.

lvl 1-5 = rats, bats, fish, snails…what have you

5-10 = small wolves, carnivorous birds, boars, etc

10-15 = big wolves, weakling orcs/thugs/etc, small bears, etc

That sort of thing.

By: Yeebo

Yeebo — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 17:40:58 +0000

I remember when I stepped through that portal when the Burning Crusade launched. I was so excited. Sure enough there was a big ass army fighting with giant demons. “Wow, sweet!” I thought. After a few false starts finally found my way to the first quest hub. And what do they ask me to do for my first ever quest in this new awesome expansion?

Run outside and kill boars.