Let me get a few things straight: I am not trying to rile anyone up for any kind of cause, as in nerfing, buffing, changing or adding things, neither am I looking for sympathy or counter-feedback.
I am creating this topic because the page with support tickets suggested I’d rather do this than occupy space with more pressing submissions, but I would’ve rather sent a private ticket quietly.
The purpose of this message is to just make my voice heard, let you know that there are people like me and, of course, considering I am probably not alone, add another grain of sand to that minority, without regards to how small the impact would be to the shift of your priorities. And, of course, to lay several things off my chest.
I’ll try to stay on course and get to the point, but pardon me an occasional sidetrack.
Let’s begin with context and start with who I am and what I got from the game, and what I wanted from it.
I am very fond of this genre of games, having sunk a lot of time into games like Left 4 Dead and Killing Floor. I simply enjoy jollly cooperation as much as the next person. I came for the paladin boy Kruber and stayed for buildcrafting and trying things out.
Climbing the power and hero levels I came to slowly grasp the mechanics of the game. It never got old, from replaying the same 4 maps during Beta to… Replaying the same 13 maps after release. Being the kind of player I am I usually enjoy playing healer characters or tanks, something focused on cooperation. Rushing in to save your buddy, getting in to create breathing room, generally watch out for each other and whatnot. Overcoming overwhelming odds together, because you felt like you needed others around you for the task ahead.
I still remember people not being used to ambushes (a little skitter-skitter before dung hits the fan), people would quickly scatter to search for a secure position. And generally hold together and scrape by for any supplies you could find along the way, since, once again, you needed them.
Fastforward a bit and some fancy things like more cosmetics and reds rolled out. You were happy to complete a level and get a shiny for your favorite boy/girl just for the sake of it.
When I got those dozens of red trinkets and baubles I started branching out to try various other careers and builds ready at hand.
At that point the game already had an established meta, so it was always interesting to dance around it. Another draw of the game, as I never was a guide or a breakpoint guy, so trying to make something work was alluring.
Fastforward to now, I know all the maps, I already have all the main cosmetics and reds I need, I have tried dozens of various builds I found comfortable and inventive, the main allure now is just gameplay, atmosphere and characters of the game.
And… Now for something completely different. I’ve felt this way for a long time, but putting it into words sounds like a confession. This game changed me dramatically and looking at it from a perspective is somewhat eye-opening for me.
I want my teammates to die. Yes, you’ve read that correctly. Whenever I see certain careers somewhere deep inside I feel disgusted that (as I imagine) players have the satisfaction of feeling useful and skillfull just by erasing the challenge in a couple of clicks. I would stop marking supplies, watch someone fall and occupy myself with more menial tasks in hopes they don’t survive. Just to do something, feel that rush of facing overwhelming odds and not steamrolling them.
Half the time I would just go do my thing like they do, half the time I would just follow the party and literally not do anything unless things really went south.
And I am being honest by saying this: I rarely see this divine punishment people always talk about when someone dares to forsake teamwork and everything is suddenly ruined. Majority of the games are still won, either regardless of my presence or with me just clicking things on my own. Yes, on Legendary, with full books and grimoires, just so we’re clear on this.
From the game turning into a first person shooter, separation of waves, specials and bosses to the point where the components are way lesser than their sum and to the abundance of supplies where you throw most of the potions away and drink draughts just to top off, or live entirely on temporary health, this is no longer a game for four people to combine their efforts to achieve a common goal, this is a game for four people to make their own fun. Not mentioning numerous individual nerfs to bosses, specials and patrols and all the playerside buffs.
In conclusion I want to say several things.
No, I do not want to do deeds or to use mods, I don’t want some quirky challenges, I just really like the vanilla experience and I wanted it to live up to the finely crafted challenge and potential it could have had (yes, I am speaking for myself and strictly my own point of view, obviously). Besides I always play with random people, I don’t have a group or friends to establish such an arrangement. Nor do I see why should have to require a group just to play the game it deserves to be played (yes, again, this is just my opinion). I do not claim to be godlike or even really good at this game, if anything I am a bit masochistic in difficulty sense as I enjoy a challenge. But the whole point of this is the fact I just finally realized wishing for my teammates to fail or compete with them for a slice of fun instead of helping each other while actually trying to give it my all is not what I want to experience.
And, obviously, I wouldn’t write all of this if I didn’t care for the game. It is past midnight and I am just having a minor breakthrough, since I rarely post on forums or whatnot. Just wanted my couple of cents out there, not because it’s something new (it is not), but because every cent counts.
I am departing with utmost love for the game, it being pretty much my go-to way to spend free time for the last several months, I hope it grows to be better, regardless whether it goes my way or the opposite, and yes, I do understand that in development not everything is easy, there are other things you need to do despite tweaking numbers seeming like such an easy thing at a first glance. I am just personally opting out for now.
Big thank for read.
TL;DR Geam too ez lol xDDDDD
) is a consequence of it all and just stems from my human nature, it is not something I am proud of, but it is there for all the wrong reasons.