07-23-2009, 08:46 AM
Quote:Combat which is more strategic/tactical and less twitchy
This seems to be a given for most MMOGs anyway -- I think we prefer battles that last a decent amount of time and involves some good individual tactics as well as opportunities for group movement and strategy. POTBS PvP battles may be the best type of combat I've ever experienced in an MMOG. Lots of negatives about that game but when you actually got a good 6v6 rolling, that was good stuff -- all about tactics and maneuvers and not just who can hit their "kill" button the fastest.
This is the one area that I think you have to strike balance. Once again I go back to EQ1. The time to death was long enough that there was strategy in the actions you chose to perform. However, it still had a tremendous level of twitch aspects to its gameplay. EVE as I understand it, is mostly won by your ship's buildout vs. your opponent's - what you do in the course of combat is much less important (basically don't be retarded). I actually have an issue with this type of set up because I believe strongly in providing a player time to shine. I believe "twitch" play is where the rubber meets the road, and it separates skilled players from not-so-skilled players. (by the way one of WAR's problems is that it's lack of individual contribution diminishes a large portion of the community interaction - there HAS to be those moments when you go, "Oh shit so-and-so just arrived, time to put your A-game on", and WAR doesn't really deliver on this). On the flip side, twitch-play at it's extremes ... ala "BOOMHEADSHOTMUTHAFOCHER!" doesn't lend itself to the strategy component, which I totally agree needs to be there.
I also think the MUST be communications between factions. Problems with trash talking, collusion, etc. are completely outweighed by the community/competition that cross faction communication fosters. EVE actually has it right, where you can attack anyone. Even in EQ, the break down of 4 team got a little closer to the type of dynamic that EVE has set up. Even though EVE didn't totally stick with me, there are so many elements that have been handled so damn well.
In fact I think if you were able to cross EVE and EQ (vallon zek of course), you might have the perfect game.
Gameless (for now)