I really hope that adding people to your Friends List is made less annoying some day. A ton of people I don't know and don't want on my list, are free to plague me constantly with requests. While adding the people I want on my list is this huge outside of game coordination plan. This is the first game I've played where you actually have to be able to select the person and them confirm the addition, before someone can be added to your list. What about holding the confirmation until the next time they log in or something like Windows Instant Messenger? I know that would be code heavy so maybe some unique key that I can give someone that would allow them to add me without requiring me to be present? I don't know but something other than this having to use blogs and emails to coordinate when and where to hook-up just to exchange Friends Lists.
I can understand the confirm part - to a small degree. I'm sure it's there to protect children but you could have a control to flat-out disable them from exchanging lists if their parents are concerned. And honestly, I don't think it's protecting anyone. Kids are running around spamming strangers with Friends List invites all day long anyway.
Anywho, Winged Nazgul aka Warrender aka Ronan and I, met up in game the other night to exchange lists. We're not leveling in the same zone but much like when I first hooked up with Capn John, it's just nice to have another adult to IM with occasionally while questing. Hopefully, we can coordinate a Sunken City run soon. It's one of the few instances that absolutely can't be soloed. Maybe at the new level cap it can but even that might not be possible. Tipa came to help me do it. Capn John hasn't seen it yet either so we'll need to find a mutually convenient time.
I laughed inside when I saw Ronan. Having played WAR with him, I know that he's a great in game companion and considerate player. I've heard him on vent too where he is very unassuming. I was surprised to see him turn up looking all evil-emo. I know this game won't be for everyone but it's so cute and refreshingly fun - as in drama free fun. Kiddie game or not the mostly drama-free part really hit the spot.
Evil emo?
It was the shoes, wasn't it? Good thing I got some new gear shortly afterwards including a new pair of shoes.
Posted by: Winged Nazgul | January 23, 2009 at 07:15 AM
Since names aren't unique, you can't identify a character by their name. And if not their name, how else could you choose them? That's why you can only befriend the people you can click on.
Posted by: Tipa | January 23, 2009 at 02:32 PM
Well if there is any chance I can come to Sunken City with you guys I would be grateful.
I have attempted it twice, and both times it consisted of people running out of mana and simply Fleeing and not coming back.
I'm level 20 now, so I should be 'good enough'.
I leave it up to you.
Posted by: *vlad* | January 23, 2009 at 04:05 PM
20 is fine. Tried to solo it at 29 yesterday after I got my fire minion. For my fire minion quest, I had to solo 2 bosses at once and they had 1000 and 2000 HP respectively. So I was full of gumption after that success.
I didn't even make it past the first trio of mobs before I gave up to go back to leveling. :(
Posted by: Winged Nazgul | January 23, 2009 at 04:27 PM
@Tipa - They could give us a unique code like the True Friend that does the enabling of text chat on a menu-chat restricted character. Then I could send the code to friends. There is a unique value or something stored for each character that's how the game knows who you are and stores your information correctly. They could just expose that value so we can hand it off to people.
@Winged - I made it as far as defeating 3 in a 5 v 1 but you just can't make it thru that place solo. I can't do it this weekend but could during next week. Shall I post a particular thread and people respond with best times we can all see then decide who & when?
Posted by: Lauren Bryant | January 23, 2009 at 05:32 PM
@Winged - It was the sour-puss face with the twinkle-toe shoes. LOL
Posted by: Lauren Bryant | January 23, 2009 at 05:34 PM
Being that I'm a Westie, I'd need a time that's probably later than comfortable for you East Coasties, especially if we schedule it for a week night.
A good run at Sunken City would probably take an hour & a half. The main problem being (IIRC) that some fights are unavoidable. Even sticking to the inside edge of the sidewalk you still find yourself getting pulled into some battles, particularly in the first section. Once you get through the first gate I believe sidewalks are more Player Friendly.
The second problem is there's a 5-floor (IIRC) Tower near the end that has to be completed, because you need a drop from the Boss at the top in order to get to the final boss.
I Pugged it on my Life Wizard the first time around and it took a while. Second time I Duo'd it with my son, and it still took a looong time. My Death Wizard hasn't done it yet. It's just such a chore.
Posted by: Capn John | January 24, 2009 at 07:02 AM
@John - Yep, SC is a pain in the booty. :-) With Tipa and I alone it took a while and I started feeling guilty for consuming so much of her time. However, with 3 or 4 players it would have to go much faster. It's just the timing of the thing.
They so need to had some sort of group friend chat, guilds or something to help people facilitate in game communication around planning events. As it stands now it's 100% reliant on outside tools - blogs, email, external chat client, etc. When doing the more challenging content is that extra little spice that is great for more mature players. But man the game makes communication so damned hard.
Posted by: Lauren Bryant | January 24, 2009 at 08:09 PM
If it takes too much co-ordination (as I am probably 10 hours ahead of Capn John), I can give it a miss, though it would be nice to get that quest out of my book.
Posted by: *vlad* | January 26, 2009 at 04:20 PM
@Vlad - the first hurdle is just getting on each other's friends list. Once that's done then it's easy to just do it when we notice each other online.
Last night Capn and I joined Ronin in finishing his last two instances to unlock Mooshu. It wasn't pre-arranged just chatting an realizing what he was doing and offered to help. If you're 10 head of John your 7 ahead of me. Email me and lets see if we can at least exchange friends list. I can always pop on real quick during a lunch hour to do it.
Posted by: Lauren Bryant | January 26, 2009 at 05:05 PM