Aside from content, I'd really like to see performance upgrades for both server tech and the game engine. I know this is an obvious one, but it seems like it needs to be said as much as possible -- because an MMO really hinges on how smoothly everything plays. It's incredibly un-enjoyable to wade into an open RvR battle only to see a slide show of the action before dying because you didn't know what was going on.
Obviously the settings can be dropped during the largest encounters, but ideally the less often it has to be dropped, the better. The average player won't adhere to the conventional wisdom of turning things down in hectic PvP battles, so it's in Mythic's benefit to reduce the need for it.
Taverns and guild housing
I think it'd be best to take another look at guild taverns. Ideally, these should be a place for anyone to socialize in the game. As for guilds, I really like the approach City of Heroes takes when supergroup bases.
Enable guilds of a certain rank to have customizable bases, and with enough guild contribution they could hire their own personal flight masters that don't have any fee associated with them. On top of that, you could even get crafting areas setup within guild bases, as well as career trainers as well. This would make a guild house incredibly active, ripe for socializing and all that.
Taverns should be a place for all to socialize, and for guilds to recruit other players in-game. Plus, there could be some kind of interactive public board for guilds and players to advertise themselves. All these boards should also be connected to any other Captial cities, assuming they've been added to the game.
This is probably my biggest, most hardest request, but I'm going to make it in the hopes that it could someday be implemented. There are many ways to contribute to the war effort, but at the lower levels many players tend to find themselves alone in their endeavors.
First: Keep merging servers until their populations are nice and active.
Second: Consider a system that allows lower-level players to jump into higher-level content in order to assist their bigger, badder allies.
Let's say Mythic adds a system called "Minions and Squires" that allowed players level 20 and below the ability to pair up with a higher level and assist them in combat. They wouldn't get experience for this, but instead would receive useful items and gear. That way, when these players when back to the lower tiers, they would have an easier time of soloing.
The items and gear wouldn't shouldn't be so incredibly that nobody would bother trying for PQs or their own RvR, but it would be worthwhile to get a taste of the higher levels. If done right, it could be a very powerful carrot. Plus, it'd allow for friendships to form and grow between the paired players.
Live events
Finally, I just want to add that continuing to do new and interesting live events in the future is very smart. It gets a good buzz out there to potential returnees, as well as people who've never actually played the game before. And as someone who's currently playing the game here and there, it helps spice things up from time to time. Much like a special seasonal-only treat, live events are things we players crave. So keep them coming!
Do I expect all of these to actually happen?
No, not really. Although I do hope more content patches as big as these career ones are in WAR's future. Nothing says "PLAY ME!" like a huge content update.
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Mythic has announced the first expansion to Warhammer Online! Check out the announcement itself, the two brand-new classes coming to the game, and the enormous new dungeon/zone slated for a few months away! Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR! |
