Today brought a short emergency maintenance followed up by a small patch to Champions Online. It appears Cryptic held some discussion yesterday on what to do with the state of retcons for players affected by the much more significant launch day patch yesterday. Let's take a look at the results.
So here's the biggest improvement: Players can now Retcon as far back as they'd like regardless of level. There's been significant changes to the inner workings of the system, but for details on that we suggest you look for the official explanation.
Looking at the the cost of a full level 20 retcon, it still seems a little higher than it should be -- or is it? Unlike pretty much any other MMO, Champions Online doesn't restrict your ability selection based on a class. The problem Cryptic is facing is that if they allow for cheap 'n easy respecs, players may never want to roll a new character, which would kill the replay value of any MMO significantly coupled with the fact that you can also redesign your character as well. Retcon prices will probably still receive tweaks and changes, but when and to what extent is hard to say.
Reader Comments (29)
Posted: Sep 2nd 2009 3:46PM (Unverified) said
I like how this article addresses free retcon concerns as, "players won't want to make new characters and the replay value would be diminished" instead of "players won't want to make new characters, fill up the 8 character slots quickly and be forced to buy extras via the revolutionary Microtransactions feature, which allows you to not pay for what you don't want"
Posted: Sep 2nd 2009 3:48PM (Unverified) said
Also,
Sakura Park.
Sakura Park.
Posted: Sep 2nd 2009 4:39PM darthrizzo said
I'm having a blast play this game. Ignore the naysayers... the games has barely been up for 24 hours now I don't know where they are getting their frame of reference except from beta... which is a beta after all.
I, for one, am very happy to see them making adjustments. It means that Cryptic is engaged with the community and the game.
Retcon changes are nice, but a little expensive. I used to think that WoW's respec cost was ridiculous when I first started playing. Once I leveled up a bit and made some money it was a trivial cost. Even when you factor in the jump-start, this game isn't even a week old and it is as fun as hell.
I, for one, am very happy to see them making adjustments. It means that Cryptic is engaged with the community and the game.
Retcon changes are nice, but a little expensive. I used to think that WoW's respec cost was ridiculous when I first started playing. Once I leveled up a bit and made some money it was a trivial cost. Even when you factor in the jump-start, this game isn't even a week old and it is as fun as hell.
Posted: Sep 2nd 2009 4:23PM Satoraum said
Can we look at this from another angle real quickly?
We are completely ignoring the response time from Cryptic over the past few days. I have never, ever, ever played a game in which I felt like issues were being addressed immediately. It's always wait, wait, wait for the next patch to have critical issues be addressed. At least they are trying. Give them some slack guys. You never know the full extent of your decisions until they play out in game. This allows you to learn. I kind of like being part of this experience. I feel much more involved in the game rather than just someone who's paying for a service, I'm part of an experience. You don't have to feel the same way at all, but I'm actually really impressed. People make mistakes, but rarely do people do it often enough to learn and react quickly and actually make a difference.
So, here's me saying, keep it up cryptic. At least you are doing something. Thanks for caring.
Cheers
We are completely ignoring the response time from Cryptic over the past few days. I have never, ever, ever played a game in which I felt like issues were being addressed immediately. It's always wait, wait, wait for the next patch to have critical issues be addressed. At least they are trying. Give them some slack guys. You never know the full extent of your decisions until they play out in game. This allows you to learn. I kind of like being part of this experience. I feel much more involved in the game rather than just someone who's paying for a service, I'm part of an experience. You don't have to feel the same way at all, but I'm actually really impressed. People make mistakes, but rarely do people do it often enough to learn and react quickly and actually make a difference.
So, here's me saying, keep it up cryptic. At least you are doing something. Thanks for caring.
Cheers
Posted: Sep 2nd 2009 5:07PM (Unverified) said
What other launch has experienced two huge shitstorms in as many weeks? You'd better believe they're going to listen. The extent to which they have responded after putting their player base through such a mess leaves me wondering why people are so interested in cutting cryptic such slack when WAR and AoC are still reeling from bad launches.
Reply
Posted: Sep 2nd 2009 5:37PM Satoraum said
Yeah, but did they respond this quickly? A game will only fail if the consumers don't give them a chance. Sure, maybe we shouldn't "have" to. Products should be finished when they are released, but developers are in such a catch 22...
Anyways, I have a feeling if ya stick with it, things will be good. Maybe even better than good.
Reply
Anyways, I have a feeling if ya stick with it, things will be good. Maybe even better than good.
Posted: Sep 2nd 2009 8:18PM (Unverified) said
By the time you earn the money to respec, you'll have leveled a utter ton and thus you will have to have far more money for the respec then when you started trying to earn money for a respec.
I just don't understand what the big deal is. All they have to do is lower respec costs and hand out a single free respec and BANG everyone would be happy and this negetive story would die.
It isn't doing Cryptic any good to be playing this heavy handed. The games had a solid launch and almost all bad press is a from purely human PR mistakes on Cryptic's part.
From what I hear the PVP gear, you can earn it or buy it with MC but earning it will take you freaking forever. Right now you can respec but earning the money will take you freaking forever....
Maybe some genius figured they could sell respec's for MC if they priced them high enough in game?
I just don't understand what the big deal is. All they have to do is lower respec costs and hand out a single free respec and BANG everyone would be happy and this negetive story would die.
It isn't doing Cryptic any good to be playing this heavy handed. The games had a solid launch and almost all bad press is a from purely human PR mistakes on Cryptic's part.
From what I hear the PVP gear, you can earn it or buy it with MC but earning it will take you freaking forever. Right now you can respec but earning the money will take you freaking forever....
Maybe some genius figured they could sell respec's for MC if they priced them high enough in game?
Posted: Sep 3rd 2009 2:47AM (Unverified) said
This game sounds impressive, monthly fee and micro transactions. They undoubtedly will make a fortune off this game even if they don't keep everyone happy. The brains behind this idea should be getting a hefty raise ;D







