[zenith]

Got this from a player who has been with us awhile. I was wondering what everyone's thoughts were on this...

Quote:hey Zen,

Just thought I'd drop a quick mail about some concerns which you may or may not be aware of. Over the past few weeks, myself and a few others have noticed a growing trend of high scale donators basically dominating the game.

Now he's an anomaly, since he's donated way more than anyone to my knowledge. [They] have the power to basically make the game their playground through donating. I'm not saying this in anyway to slight them- if you've got the money to donate like that, great.

The problem is, there is no physical way for non-donators to keep up. I'm currently paying off a large loan for a course, and saving for a new course starting this year. I've got insurance on car to pay out, tax+MOT, not to mention house bills. All this on a not so great wage. Much as I wish I could donate like they do, donating anymore than $10 a month is simply not an option. And I know there's people in worse situations than me.

I'm not asking to take donator benefits away- but what would be nice is a way of evening the playing field a little so non-donators DO have some light. My main idea would be to give levels more worth again- level ups provide a stat increase for crimes and attacking, so if you're hitting 5/10 levels above or below- there's a serious penalty or boost. Levels can still be achieved quicker through donating and using energy refreshes, but infinitely slower than training- an active non-donator stands a decent chance against a donating energy refresher. If all the emphasis is on stats, a non-donator has literally no chance- since without at least lv 15 on endurance, you can't compete. And buying that much using game cash is practically not an option- it's doable, but means you have to forsake everything else you need, travel expenses, stim packs, surgery now (which donators can pay for far easier) and houses. Everything at the moment is geared towards stats, which is something only donators can train at great speed.

The other option, which will obviously be less preferable to you, is setting a limit on donations- say $100 a month. To me, that is still a great deal, but it'd stop the crazy $500 in one go, or whatever people do, which is totally tipping the game over the edge.

I wasn't sure how much you know about people's opinions here, but I know that I'm gradually getting turned away from the game, because donators are literally taking it over. Without a little balance, people will still play- but very rarely, and only those that can afford to donate $100 a month or more will remain.

[Guest]

I can understand this player's concern. However, many of us have devoted a LOT of online time to training and not leveling since the new combat code was introduced, and I think that it's unfair to alter it again now.

[Guest]

mtngti Wrote:I can understand this player's concern. However, many of us have devoted a LOT of online time to training and not leveling since the new combat code was introduced, and I think that it's unfair to alter it again now.

If it was fair to alter it in the first place, it is fair to alter it back. there are plenty of us who leveled like crazy before the change because that was what we found to be the best strategy and then our efforts were totally reversed by the change.

[Guest]

Honestly, make whatever change you feel is necessary, we have adapted before and we can adapt again.

That said, I don't know if changing combat is going to change how much people donate. I remember a fella named CASANOVA who donated way more than anyone else and used it on energy refreshes to level up quickly. If people want to buy their way to the top they're gonna buy their way to the top.

[Guest]

matt5250 Wrote:If it was fair to alter it in the first place, it is fair to alter it back. there are plenty of us who leveled like crazy before the change because that was what we found to be the best strategy and then our efforts were totally reversed by the change.

There is already a bonus for leveling. Your energy and action is capped higher, and refreshes at a higher rate.

[Guest]

Chris Mangano Wrote:That said, I don't know if changing combat is going to change how much people donate. I remember a fella named CASANOVA who donated way more than anyone else and used it on energy refreshes to level up quickly. If people want to buy their way to the top they're gonna buy their way to the top.

I definitely agree with that. I havent worked it out but i think it my be harder to do using energy refreshes, especially at higher levels.

[Guest]

mtngti Wrote:

matt5250 Wrote:If it was fair to alter it in the first place, it is fair to alter it back. there are plenty of us who leveled like crazy before the change because that was what we found to be the best strategy and then our efforts were totally reversed by the change.

There is already a bonus for leveling. Your energy and action is capped higher, and refreshes at a higher rate.

how does that change anything, it is still fair to change it back to the way it was just like it was fair to change it to the way it is now.

[Guest]

matt5250 Wrote:it is still fair to change it back to the way it was

I disagree. Sorry.

[Guest]

And there is another point. Levelling isn´t borring like trainning. The old way was better, more fair, and more funny.
What I mean is: everybody is just trainning, and it is boring. I loved this game, but know it isn´t just the same. There is a lot of old players leaving.

[Guest]

yes, the difference is, energy refreshing becomes VERY expensive as you level up- the cost to attack increases, and therefore the cost to refresh increases, meaning you have to donate increasingly if you want to level.

To be honest, I don't see a problem with having levels and stats equal. Those who want to train rather than level, by maximising endurance, are quite welcome to do so still, and if they donate enough, will be incredibly effective. Those who can't donate can attack, and gain levels- let's face it, it's hard to gain levels quickly at high levels anyway, so it's not going to make a vast difference, those who donate will have the advantage still.