Please Explain this Server Wars

5 posts · 2005-12-07 16:02:00 to 2005-12-09 18:19:00

#10800027879 12/07/2005 16:02 Re: Please Explain this Server Wars

Sure, why not.

The Matrix Online is anxiously awaiting a Combat Upgrade (CU) which will allow for the familiar Kung Fu / Martial Arts action of the Matrix movies to become more useful in the game. Currently, martial arts may only be used in a special form of "interlocked" combat, which is slow, buggy and ineffiecient (whereas all other forms of combat: knives, guns, pre-school colors, can be used at any time). The upgrade will allow for martial arts to be used at any time, to bring it up to the level of the others.

Any upgrade of this scale requires testing. Testing means a special "QA test server", which will come online for the use of all players. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for one simple reason.

Server competition. Since the game was launched, the lazy and friendly alike flocked to the relative safety of the "non-hostile" servers, where they could dance, talk, and roleplay in peace. The adventurous and bolder players chose a more lively path, playing in a hostile environment, where their existence was essentially a living hell - being ganked in elevators, during events, and in-some cases by their own faction turning red and leaving them behind.

This situation would not have become what it is today were it not for a few developments. Things such as the radio stations ignoring the hostile servers ("too rough for them"), and egomaniacal comments from the roleplaying servers (specifically, on how "evolved" their existence/morals are, compared to us "savages"). I believe it was in fact a player from a non-hostile server, feeling that his months of sitting and /dance4 equalled to our combat skill, who first proposed that the servers fight.

Thus, when the new server comes online, every player across all 3 servers will make a copy of their best character to it. Each of the 3 servers will choose a PvP affiliation organization on this merged environment (Vector has chosen: Machines), and we shall see who wields the true power of combat in the Matrix universe.

*salutes*

Message Edited by wwWizard2k on 12-07-2005 07:03 PM

#10800027888 12/07/2005 17:07 Re: Please Explain this Server Wars

No problem.

Oh, and while I agree in principle with the Birmingham, lets not forget the point of the combat upgrade. If you all look at the developer journal, they are not simply making free-fire melee - they are redesigning the essence of CT (so that many players working together can beat superior players).

So if you are level 30 and depressed from the ganks, do not just take youself out of the running for the QA server. If all the lowbies work together and help each other in Vector-Hostile (or team with 50's) then by all logical predictions, you WILL be able to hit and WIN, if you are skilled enough with the new system.

#10800028056 12/08/2005 11:15 Re: Please Explain this Server Wars

In fact, MxO CU and SWG-NGE are completely different directions of thinking.

SWG-NGE is an interesting twist to a general MMO, and an almsot fanatical push to make the game "easier". They removed the combat log (can't even see who hit who), they removed the rolls, they sped everything up, and essentially made CT meaningless (you hit him if you can see him, not if you outroll him). This takes a lot of the strategy away and make it more "point and shoot"

MxO CU is a refinement to an almost completely combat oriented game (at least on our servers). Frankly, it seems this will make the game harder, or, "more challenging" (thus more "fun"). Just looking at the new descriptions like "well speed attack is a medium defence, medium accuracy, compared to the normal accuracy of power attack yet neither affect contested (con-test-ed) rollout".... well, trust me. This ain't no SWG. This is pretty much gonna make strategy key.

This can actually create our own problems though - there is definitely a learning curve. I am also hopeful that overcomplicating MA won't lead to yet another "let's just play hacker - it's 2 buttons" migration.

(Yes, I know I often play hacker. But to be honest I'm genuinely decent at playing it. Either way, if I can loot, steal, or craft enough clothes to give me max VD, I'll prolly be permanent KungFu GM after CU).

#10800028058 12/08/2005 11:19 Re: Please Explain this Server Wars

I think a new hacker would actually be kinda cool. Like... to be honest, when the game was in beta (I did not get in for the test but did get in for pre-release), I thoguht "hacker" would be like the twins - like you'd be the same hand-to-hand/guns/knives as anyone else, but a "special" attack you'd have (instead of triple front kick or bulldog) would be to do ridiculous things in the Matrix, like phase out for a few rounds (let's say, take no damage, etc).

I was also hoping for awesome animations, according to my rationale above.

So, even though I kinda learned better....I hadn't reflected back on what my original expectations were... but anyway, that's what they were.

Message Edited by wwWizard2k on 12-08-2005 02:19 PM

#10800028532 12/09/2005 18:19 Re: Please Explain this Server Wars

To be honest, the only thing that matters in Zen Master is the VD. They want to balance it? Take out every effect from every ability in Zen master except for the +80 VD, and give it to us. Then they can take 3.7 years figuring out which of the (two) attacks to put back, and release it as an expansion.