Sundance
Member
|
Good evening again my fellow Epic Duel colleagues,
I would first like to begin by expressing my gratitude for the kind comments you all are leaving in your posts. It was most encouraging for me to read your thoughtful words over the Christmas break. I’m writing a second post simply to clarify some points, and to express some new thoughts that came to mind as I read your comments.
The Comparison of Today’s economy and Epic Duel.
I’ve seen a few people both on the forums and in-game compare the current state of Epic Duel to be similar to that of the American public today. That is, where a seemingly small portion of the population control a large percent of the net wealth of the nation as a whole.
Regardless of my own political view, or the view of any other individual, I think the comparison of Epic Duel to a complex economic and social system like a government seems is a bit of an extreme view. Granted, there are certain similarities which if asked I could mention. However, there are fundamental differences that are very hard to ignore. In our own economy, we have a limited net worth; that net worth is dependent upon or fiscal stability. A multitude of factors affect this net worth, things like the quarterly deficient, the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and such things affect the wealth of a nation. All statistics and data can be found here: http://www.usdebtclock.org/ for those that are inclined to raw numbers. It is easy to see that I’m making very broad statements on a very difficult subject. However, the objective here is not to write a lecture on business, but to provide enough of an understanding to the average reader for my comparison.
Without much effort, an individual can discover that governments do not have an unlimited supply of wealth and physical capital. They more the government produces, the less the capital is worth, the term that a business student would be saying I’m trying to describe is the term, economic inflation (more information can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflation for those individuals like myself that are really into that sort of thing).
Very similar to stat inflation, which we have all experienced, an increase in a good thing can create a positive result. An example would be: a new must have sword is released with the latest and greatest stats. Everyone with the funds purchases the weapon; we’ve created a better equipped population.
However, for the sake of argument, let’s say there happens to be a large amount of support, or some luck RNG based stat which causes a stat imbalance in the game itself. That is, basically, what inflation and hyperinflation is in very primitive terms.
Let’s take what we just learned and apply it to varium within Epic Duel. Without too much effort, the main difference becomes apparent. While governments and societies have to deal with a limited supply of net wealth, the supply of varium is effectively limitless. As long as there are people willing to pay, there will be varium available. That’s precisely what many people seem to miss when arguments about varium arise. It is popular belief that varium is part of a social status that only certain players are allowed to enjoy. When in actuality, there is literally an infinite amount of varium ready for the taking –if people are willing to pay. Therein lays the difference.
Hierarchy: Non Varium and Varium players.
One comment I found very concerning was this idea of a hierarchy in the game. Every game has its own hierarchy, but this particular game tends to be separated between varium and non varium players. Within these two groups, there are other subgroups. Although, because I’m still just returning to Epic Duel, I do not have the knowledge of knowing all these separate divisions.
There is so much turmoil about non variums versus varium players that I do not know how to accurately justify my own views without openly disappointing certain people.
Generally, my opinion runs as the following: Varium players support the game by paying money for the game to continue. There would be no paychecks for the developers, no new weapons or designs for weapons for either non varium or varium players. In short, without a paying player base there is no Epic Duel. Period. Because of the large sums people pay to support the game they should be rewarded with benefits that aid in their enjoyment of the game.
Notice, I did not say they should be getting a handout for freebie wins and have the ability to just run over all non varium players. People that pay have a right to be superior, it would be a very poor business decision if you could be just as successful as a non varium as the top tier varium players.
There is a clear difference, between all non varium players getting abused, and just some. As cutthroat is that sounds, to be a successful non varium player you need to have put in immensely more physical work (not physical dollars) into your character. Titan and Nightwraith have done an excellent job it making hard working people get extra benefits.
Basically my thoughts are this: If you are a well-educated well geared varium player, most non varium players will only pose a threat if some ill-fated luck happens to the varium player. If you are an undereducated varium player, most non varium players will pose a threat, and some are downright challenge to beat. My parents said something to me when I first started pursuing my academic career as an engineer. They told me: Son, hard work beats talent every time. If you’re struggling to beat non varium players, it’s not that varium players are getting overpowered, it’s because you’ve received a reality check from a very, very hard working person.
Today, I fought a Non Varium TLM named Droupe Lion, I don’t know him, or have ever even spoken with him. In an 8 turn battle he ended up winning with less than ten HP left. Was I frustrated? Yes! Was I frustrated at Droupe? No! I knew then that the build I had made wasn’t going to be able to compete, and I knew that I didn’t in that particular battle, preform to the best of my ability. In other words, I took my loss, and tried to learn from it.
You need to learn from your losses, not just complain about them.
My win record isn’t the greatest, currently I have over 20000 wins and approaching 7000 losses (although rather slowly). I attribute a lot of my losses to simply having spent a large portion of my time as a non varium player. That being said, I know I learned more about my class as a non varium than I ever did as a varium member.
I was trying to compete as a non varium when mages had healooping with 170 HP, and mercs had well over 128 support. I knew, and other non variums at the time new, that in order to compete we needed to make a build that was so unique, so fine-tuned that as soon as a varium player slipped up, we could catch them. I understood that I would never be quite as good my “father merc” idols of the time: G00ny (who I hadn’t chatted with yet, just wrote down his builds), Wiseman108, and many others. I knew that although I couldn’t be as good as them, I could fashion similar things. A master craftsman can get the same job done with inferior tools. Again, it’s the player not the parts.
So, to wrap up that non varium versus varium portion of the post. Consider non varium battles to be reality checks, not a free kill. Be aware that if you slip up, make a wrong move, RNG hates on you, whatever, some non varium players will be right there knocking on your door for the win.
If you’re a non varium player, realize that they world isn’t going to be handed to you, you’re not going to be able to get all the benefits a varium player has. But also realize that with hard work and effort you can come up with a creative enough build that will surprise varium players.
Social Status: In Gaming.
The social dynamic of Epic Duel has been gradually changing; to better understand what is going on with Epic Duel in particular it’s best to provide some examples. Again, because this is a very competitive game, it attracts competitive people. People that usually have something to prove to themselves or to others. Because of this, and with the age group playing the game in general, many “clicks” or social groups form.
What Epic Duel is experiencing is the transition from a small group gameplay, to a large group gameplay. I’ll provide an example to make the concept clear:
If you go to a small church, you know everyone’s name. You know their business, they know yours. Basically, everyone knows everyone and simply because of the size of the congregation, there is a universal feeling of fellowship. For some people, this sort of environment causes anxiety and fear.
Similarly, if you attend a large church, there is never an opportunity to get to know everyone. You end up hanging out with and fellowshipping with individuals that share similar habits. For some individuals, this atmosphere seems to be very impersonal and unappealing.
This idea can be extrapolated to Epic Duel’s evolution as a game. From the time of early beta, the player base was relatively small. Smaller still was the elite varium base and because of this people really got to know each other. Because of human nature, when old players talk of that part of beta, it’s often romanticized. The “old days” were great days for some, and hard days for others, it just depends on who you speak with.
Today, Epic Duel is quickly growing; very soon the social network of the players will have to adapt for fit the “big gaming” model. Some people can likely claim through factions that this idea of the game breaking up into groups is already happened. Regardless, what is certain is that as the player base continues to grow the game will feel less and less personal. Many business understand this and try to combat its sometimes negative affects by providing ways people can “connect” with the business itself. The Epic Duel staff, through YouTube videos, seminars and live stream videos (found here: http://forums2.battleon.com/f/tm.asp?m=20351701) are attempting to keep in touch with its players. As I mentioned in my earlier post, the Epic Duel staff are making very good business decisions and I am hoping that they reap the rewards for the efforts.
We as players need to adapt to getting used to getting beaten by faceless people we will likely never see again. However, regardless of whatever size Epic Duel becomes, one thing is certain: if you have a positive attitude that breeds good humor and camaraderie people generally won’t give you a hard time. If you maintain some fashion of a superior or elitist attitude, you’re likely to be ill-received.
Just how many builds can be successful?
As an engineer, this idea really intrigued me. I don’t know how many builds can be deemed *successful* but here are some fun numbers I threw together just to give someone and idea.
(Note, these number do not include stats given from weapons, the combinations are only based on what you character would have without special bonuses.)
Number of possible skill tree combinations (per class) ----- 432 possible combinations.
6 classes, so there are a total of 2592 different skill tree combinations in total.
A level 35 character has a base of 136 stat points to be distributed among 6 e different classifications therefor there are a total of 816 possible combinations that one person in one class, could do.
So just how many different builds can be successful? With Stat modifiers added in as well, and the random number generator program to manipulate, there are endless possible builds. What can actually be deemed as “successful” largely depends on what the majority of players are at the time. If you want to be successful, it’s more than just pouring a bunch of modifiers into one stat and saying: “Holy Mary I hope this works”. You need to take things like Rabblefroth’s statistics into account. If the majority of players thing Bounty Hunters are the most effective and interesting class (second places was artichokes so… anyone know how to counter them?). Then you better be coming up with a build to counter massacre and smoke screen. That, and have a world class food processor.
Epic Duel: The Prices.
Sometimes, the prices do seem unfair. I get my personal funds for Epic Duel at my place of work; I tutor at the local community college. However, not everyone that plays and pays to play Epic Duel has a stable income. Many of them are dealing with begging their parents to give them fifty dollars to spend on Epic Duel. I think it is reasonable to expect that their parents are not expecting to have to pay another fifty dollars the following month, because, for example, the seasonal rares came out.
On an individual level these prices can sometimes be seen as costly. As I said in my previous post, most individuals want their money to go farther. However, it is not the staff’s job to make sure their players are fiscally responsible. It’s the parent’s job; it’s the children’s job. They need to make the decision to choose if they want to work to make 50000 credits to enhance that item, or pay 1/10 of their varium to upgrade the item then and there. They have complete freedom on how much, and how often they spend their money.
One important thing I think I left out of my previous post is how Epic Duel has some more to offer than the typical pay to play game. For example, I am an active member in another game that I have to pay a monthly subscription. Every time I pay that I have to ask myself, will I have time to play this game? Is my money well spent here? How is this decision helping me develop as a person? You might feel absolutely ridiculous asking yourself these questions whenever you’re faced with a gaming bill, but I can promise you that asking yourself serious questions on what your about to purchase before your purchase the item, is a good idea.
Ultimately, Epic Duel has to make a profit; it needs to find stable balance of keeping people engaged and most importantly, spending money. Their mission is “to make ends meat”. Every time you purchase varium, and when you choose to spend the varium you purchased, you need to be critical, you need to make sure you’re not getting caught in the rush of the moment.
While writing this, a duel came to mind from last night. I fought for old time’s sake an old friend named Epic (previously known as Epicness). He’s an old player from alpha and a great friend to fool around with. Anyway, he had on founder armor, beta gear, and Frostbite Claws. I had on a decent build, I knew what I was doing, but he mixed up the usual strength bounty routine and ended up beating me be a hair.
Here is the way I see it: He’s an extremely experienced player who didn’t spend any money on items for the last twelve months, and he beat me. If you’re smart enough, you don’t all the bells and whistles. You just need to know your tools, and how to use them.
This isn’t a message to discourage individuals to stop purchasing varium; it’s simply a message reminding folks that you’re not being forced to spend your money. You’re given an opportunity to spend your money, and you have to make a decision whether or not making a purchase will improve your gameplay. In addition, you also need to decide if the improved gameplay is worth the cost. You have complete dominion over your money.
I was talking with my sister about the developers of Epic Duel today. She raised and interesting question that made me feel incredibly guilty. She asked: “If you like Epic Duel so much, have you ever stopped to thank them?” Although I am very grateful to all of the Epic Duel staff for providing me with such wonderful entertainment— from a senior on High School to currently a junior in college, I have never once publicly thanked them.
So, thank you Titan, NightWraith, Charfade, Developing team, Moderators, staff members and volunteers for all the fun that you have through your hard work provided for me over the years. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday season to you and your families!
Live for the Lord,
Sundance
|
Printable Version
Icon Legend
New Messages
No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages
Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages
Locked w/o New Messages
Post New Thread
