I'm doing one better. All content with rare items doesn't exist. They stopped releasing content at Vecna and the last 2 quest packs plus MD don't exist. Hopefully they will one day start releasing new content again but currently the plan appears to be to never release anything ever again (since rare loot/content doesn't exist).
At the very least rare loot needs to stop being rare when better gear comes out. When the next expansion drops all rare loot from MD and the latest quest packs needs to become common. There is no reason for gear that isn't the best to be rare.Math never solved anything
But yeah, I agree. Chaser items like Jibbers is fine. Upgrades to items that don't lock you out from building a gearset without that one specific item is fine (though why we need more than mythic/reaper/cards I don't know).
But when the mean-time-to-acquire means you won't get the item for half a year... or even several years... then despression sets in. I'm sick and tired of Voices, and though my best alt could use the ring, I just can't bother. No, his vecna + isle set isn't quite as good as one with more MD stuff in it. But I can't be bothered to ransack that quest for several more months to get one again.
With new ("mini")-expansions coming out every year, a fair amount of people won't even get what they are looking for until a new xpack drops and the grind starts all over again. At the very least, there needs to be some kind of pity mechanism. With these drop rates, some unlucky (censored) might not see a specific drop they want until 2030.
Yes, this is why I have always avoided loot farming in all games. Loot is a temporary bonus. The bonus goes away as soon as you replace the item with a better item. The best way to get the best loot is to take a 10 year break and come back when better gear comes out. Time spent getting the best loot each year is time completely wasted. This game has kept me entirely because of past lives that give permanent bonuses that stack with everything else.
still cheaper than shards rerolls
Never saw any polls, but even if SSG says they are making improvements for the upcoming expansion I will be skeptical and assume the worst when deciding whether to purchase it. I am strongly leaning towards not buying the xpac for the first time.
Where?
Not SSG, I was refering to poll loving forumite who was complaining about this thread.
You must be rich from being able to apply your wildly good luck to the lottery and casinos.
DDO is not a golden goose. It's a tiny decade old game within a bigger portfolio.
Puhlease! How do you explain the 2.5 year investment that has been ongoing for 64-bit servers and the bug fixing that resulted from the Cormyr trials. If that counts as "no investment" then what exactly does count as Investment?
I have to say I think you're presenting a lot of personal conjecture here as "fact". You're most certainly entitled to your opinion, but FWIW I'm not entirely convinced it's correct.
I was told that SSG was sued in part through the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) in regards to their policies that affected disabled players. I don't know if that is accurate, but it explains their hands-off attitude to 'boxing'. They sure as hell wouldn't pass up an opportunity to ban players otherwise. And remember, it is making them money. It also makes the game look healthier than it is, if the average player logged looks like multiple players logged-in.
I got both of these last night. I've wanted that weapon since MD launched; specifically for a build since the raid came out for the upgrade (and wanted the trinket for my warlock). But I didn't feel any excitement and joy from finally getting them, it was just the feeling of being put of my misery of trying to get them. And at this point I'm not even going to waste toolkits trying to use them, the next expansion is coming soon, which will mess with tetris all over again.
I can't recall a single gaming developer where it's focus in shareholder value was actually good for the long-term success of the game. If anything, players feel the changes long before the shareholders and walk long before the quarterly results are posted.