Giga Tame

Jamoe · March 04, 2016, 12:09:56 PM

I'll be honest, I'm a bit peeved this has happened. Not for myself, I really didn't expect to take part in it. But more because we built up everyone else's expectations and then let it fall flat.

Am I wrong in thinking that the job of game admins is to ensure everyone else has an enjoyable gaming experience?

If we attempt to organise something we really should take a bit more time to ensure it keeps it's momentum. I'm as much to blame.

Perhaps my expectations are too high.

As for the taming exercise I don't see why it still can't happen but someone needs to step up and lead it. Hard to tell what's been happening as the post/spreadsheet hasn't been updated much.

Galatoni · March 04, 2016, 12:13:54 PM

I've gotta agree. I'm in the same boat as Jamoe though. Trying to step away from the keyboard a bit to get some real life done. I contributed some materials to the effort but failed to update the spreadsheet - so i'm as much to blame.

What happened exactly? Why wasn't a date ever fixed?

Penfold · March 04, 2016, 12:27:14 PM

Quote from: Jamoe;411166Am I wrong in thinking that the job of game admins is to ensure everyone else has an enjoyable gaming experience?

This.

Overall, I think the levels of support given to new players both by admins and other long-time players is fantastic. Also as is crisis management response when someone has had an accident needs help. Just so happens that some people invariably die when they go to help and need help themselves :whistling2:.

I guess that given my role within the community (and my frequency on the server) I get collared or questioned and I've had a couple of people complaining about a couple of things. One of which is that tribe resources are locked off from other players - primarily Sith's cave. However I did point out that as all Sith's stuff is in the cave it's not unreasonable but also that Sith will help people access the cave whenever asked and venture in with them and that was accepted. It's not 'unavailable' just only available when Sith is online. No one can fault his support or help with this.

The giga tame has upset some people and I don't think it was particularly well handled to be honest. As per my post in the relevant thread, please make sure future large events (bosses in particular) are open to the community, publicised and run as a community event).

Anyway, just thought this was an opportunity to place the feedback I've had.

Galatoni · March 04, 2016, 12:32:47 PM

QuoteOne of which is that tribe resources are locked off from other players - primarily Sith's cave.

To be fair, i'm pretty sure the door to the cave is left open.

Hmmm... even if its not though I think we should be 'locking' the doors open externally and having the interior door to the 'dangerous bit' left unlocked for toggle. This is off topic really though. But i see where this could cause problems.

OldBloke · March 04, 2016, 12:38:39 PM

Quote from: Jamoe;411166I'll be honest, I'm a bit peeved this has happened. Not for myself, I really didn't expect to take part in it. But more because we built up everyone else's expectations and then let it fall flat.

This ^^

I'm glad you started this thread because I've been holding off doing it myself on the off chance that I wouldn't need to.

Ben's post in the Ark section is, I believe, the only written expression of disappointment that the tame was done solo but you should all be aware that I have had some chatter directed towards me from others who also felt various levels of disappointment.

The amount of unsolicited help, guidance and free-gifting has been nothing short of brilliant. Teamwork at its best. But, IMHO, what's needed now (with everyone fairly comfortably placed in terms of experience and gear) is a bit of organised fun

Galatoni · March 04, 2016, 01:01:52 PM

Quote from: OldBloke;411170The amount of unsolicited help, guidance and free-gifting has been nothing short of brilliant. Teamwork at its best. But, IMHO, what's needed now (with everyone fairly comfortably placed in terms of experience and gear) is a bit of organised fun

I smell a friendly challenge - how's about we maybe do a pet pit fighting challenge or gladiator tournament? We could build a small arena and everything. HA! Maybe doing something like ship battles or something?

Jamoe · March 04, 2016, 01:16:24 PM

Quote from: Penfold;411168Overall, I think the levels of support given to new players both by admins and other long-time players is fantastic. Also as is crisis management response when someone has had an accident needs help. Just so happens that some people invariably die when they go to help and need help themselves :whistling2:.

Totally agree, and that's from all players as well not just admins.

Quote from: Penfold;411168I guess that given my role within the community (and my frequency on the server) I get collared or questioned and I've had a couple of people complaining about a couple of things. One of which is that tribe resources are locked off from other players - primarily Sith's cave. However I did point out that as all Sith's stuff is in the cave it's not unreasonable but also that Sith will help people access the cave whenever asked and venture in with them and that was accepted. It's not 'unavailable' just only available when Sith is online. No one can fault his support or help with this.

Not just Sith

that cave is also the home of myself and Galatoni. We discussed access to unique resources previously, see http://www.deadmen.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?42207-Ark-Unforgiving. Doesn't look like it got finalised?

Snokio · March 04, 2016, 02:15:38 PM

I personally don't see this as being an issue but I understand why some people may feel a little peved. However, Everest has been conquered for the first time doesn't make it any easier or less exciting, we can tame another giga of the opposite sex and have ourselves a giga baby! Will the parents go into beserk mode? Will it produce an Alpha instead, or maybe a dodo

Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk

Grimnar · March 04, 2016, 05:48:35 PM

Well first of all i knew some people wouldn't like what i have done.

But there are also some other things to consider and people might or might not see the point.

This Giga tame was first set up for a tribe event, things where needed etc. over the last few weeks i have been building that cage that is standing there at the moment out of my own supply of mats.
The only thing that has been noticed that others have been trying to collect is a fur armor set (which you need anyway if you want to do something in the snow area).
So yeah i felt somewhat like ok this is done so far by my own even after a few times of asking for help..

Also ever since i have been playing on this server i have been helping everyone who needed help if they asked for it or not. Spend a lot of game time to sort things out etc. which i don't mind and even like to do.
But with it all i out leveled everyone on the server, as for my point here: at this current time there isn't really anything for me to do at this level. The giga was my last test untill the summoned bosses that could have been a challenge.
As this has already been a thing in the past when most players just started playing this game while the veterans took of to do projects on their own, as they need a challenge to keep playing, this counts for myself aswell.
When i was the lower level on the server i couldn't really expect for the higher levels to just sit idle and wait for me to catch up.

As for the Giga tame gone for the tribe,

people are feeling left out because all of a sudden someone tamed a giga, well my answer to that is go and check out the snow area and please tell me if those giga's are able to be tamed solo?? I would say no not really.
mine was stuck in a real perfect place, hidden away from all other wildlife in the area, those alive now are in the middle of it.

well i think my little rant/defense is over, if people agree with it or not i will just play the game next time and stay away from stuff untill asked to help or step in i guess...

Penfold · March 04, 2016, 07:50:10 PM

I don't think anyone is actually aiming anything at you specifically Grim so I wouldn't take it as such. I think Jamoe is really saying that it was billed as a Community event which was then scuppered.

I can only reiterate what I said earlier and what Oldie echoed that I think the levels of support and camaraderie displayed on the server is outstanding. Not just by yourself, Sith, Snokio, Lib and other other admin/high rankers but the next tiers of people like myself (he says modestly), Oldie, Sulky etc going down to anyone who feels they can help. Wednesday was a good case in point. Duv shouted for help in the snow zone. I was at the Green Tower but immediately set off to help. Predictably I got into trouble as I wasn't prepared and Whitey and Lib came to help. No one can do enough to help others players and it is fantastic. I've certainly asked for help several times and in turn we all try to do the same.

Your post does bring up another point though and one which Sith mentioned and Lib and I briefly discussed. Once you reach a high level, there is little left to do to challenge yourself. For Sith it was fisticuffs with an Alpha Raptor, for you it was the giga.

Perhaps the admins need to see if somehow the game can be made more exciting for the high levels without making it too challenging for the lesser levels. I don't know enough about it to know what that may be or how it may be achieved but it's worth considering and perhaps unlocking higher level dinos may be the answer. I don't know and it's not my place to decide but perhaps you guys can have a think on it..

It's always going to be impossible to manage everyone's expectations but this has raised it head solely as it was an open post billed as a group venture. No one complained when you tamed the Meso for example.

Perhaps, as Oldie suggests, we try to organise some group-based fun. Similar to Wow perhaps we offer a 'raid' night for example for small groups to do cave exploration or a venture into the snow biome...... Not totally tooled and not mob handed but enough to make it a challenge.

All food for thought.

SithAfrikaan · March 04, 2016, 08:10:41 PM

Quote from: Penfold;411198Perhaps, as Oldie suggests, we try to organise some group-based fun. Similar to Wow perhaps we offer a 'raid' night for example for small groups to do cave exploration or a venture into the snow biome...... Not totally tooled and not mob handed but enough to make it a challenge.

All food for thought.

I'm all for it, but the main point you raise about about challenge is still the issue then, even a handful of people can walk all over any content we offer, I regularly post about ways we can up the ante, to the point that lib even makes fun of me sounding like a broken record. Not often, but more often than I'd like, I actually go get murdered on the official servers, just because it poses a challenge, and remains captivating.

Is raising the dino level enough? Who can say, but the whole of the team that plays right now banding together to take down a lvl 100 alpha raptor/rex/anything, deaths or challenge aside, is something that would REQUIRE everyone to come together and help, not like the present level of difficulty which is more along the lines of, accidental death, and needing help, or accidentally suffered the elements because we weren't paying attention, need help..etc

Before anyone says it, "making the current tames worthless" isn't an argument for why we shouldn't up the dino level, taming dino's isnt even what I personally think the game is about, hence why at the cave we only have the dino's we use, I enjoy the survival play, I enjoy being chalaneged by an untamed jungle/swamp/beach/frozen north.
And like Pen says, right now, I DO just march about seeing what I can kill hand to hand/sword...

I think I should stress though that I don't think raising the dino cap is necessarily the right way to go about it, but it IS the way the game measures challenge. I've posted about mods that add content that is MUCH more enjoyable for people who like the building/ crafting side of the game, Primitive+ which takes out the metal structures and fabricated suits etc, makes the game a serious survival game, personally, it's the mode im most interested in, because we are NOT pvp, we have no use for upwards of 40% of the content the devs are pushing atm, handcuffs (except maybe in libs dungeon) swat gear electric prods/ turrets etc completely useless in terms of our server and community...

TL:DR I think we should trail a reform of the server, in which dino levels are high and the game is running a mod that focus's on the survival aspect of the game.

Disclaimer, I'm in no way suggesting an action that would wipe what we have now, if it does and everyone says to hell with that idea that is FINE BY ME, but is it at all possible to trail a server running the mod? with the upped difficulty etc? I'm not sure on that side of things maybe you could clarify Oldie?

and for anyone interested: THE MOD

Galatoni · March 04, 2016, 10:37:32 PM

I'm for that. I've been playing survival games for years - sometimes its the bare bones that makes it fun and presents the most challenge. Perhaps making food/water a little easier, but making much of the other stuff harder, might be a good way to actually force us to work together to really get the most out of it.

The idea of removing black powder weapons, explosives and metal structures, might make us think outside the box when it comes to defending - it would also make larger tames harder later on.

While we are the mods, its also worth mentioning that the players should perhaps have a say in this too. I mean, I expect to die... lots... i'm fine with that. I suck at almost every game I play. But that isn't everyones cup of tea.

SithAfrikaan · March 05, 2016, 07:49:05 AM

Quote from: Galatoni;411204players should perhaps have a say in this too

Yeah of course, so what you think oldie? about trail server'ing it or something??

OldBloke · March 05, 2016, 09:16:36 AM

Quote from: SithAfrikaan;411208Yeah of course, so what you think oldie? about trail server'ing it or something??

What I think (at this stage) has no bearing on the discussion

All the games we play within the community are subject to the same set of top-level rules/guidelines ...

QuoteThe Game Leader (assisted and advised by his admin team) will ensure that the gaming experience offered to our members is the best we can provide. They will ensure that our ethos of Mature Attitude, Teamwork and Fair play is demonstrated at every opportunity.

So basically ... you guys call the shots. You make judgement calls on what's needed to keep your current players enthused and be attractive to potential new players. If you think a mod, second server, whatever is needed to facilitate that then that's when myself or Whitey need to be involved.

I would be careful about involving the players in the decision-making process. It's a minefield

As long as your discussions have duly considered their gaming experience then your decisions should be announced and implemented. You can engage them by then starting a feedback thread which will help you guys decide on the success or otherwise of the change.

Liberator · March 05, 2016, 01:33:21 PM

It's difficult, the mix of ages and play times we have also make some group events hard to organise. Sn00ks cave run yesterday sounded good once it started, but the likes of Little Ninj couldn't be around to do it because of the duration and the setup time. Cave runs need to be done in small numbers to allow for peril, yesterday sounded like a good number and had got them enough confidence to possibly go and get slaughtered in some of the less forgiving caves later on. If numbers had been low I might have had a crack at it as well, but it seemed right.

We have seen a few people come onboard and then never see them again when they find it requires time and patience to play the main game. Lot's of people legitimately only have time for the quick fix, it would be nice to draw them back without losing the current group.

Maybe a 2nd server which satisfies the blood lust without allowing people to get too established, so play time doesn't really make you go beyond the rest of the players. eg "Survival of the Fittest", which I've yet to play, which has a definite start and end time. That's the only one that gets mentioned a lot.

Upping the Dino levels is probably a short term solution.

A second server where the admins can play the game with various mods enabled and talk together about what is fun and decide on a path is probably a good idea. Then take the best ones and have a play off with the other members to see which they want to go with or rotating the mods every week.

Giganotosaurus seems to be a nuclear option on the server and so doesn't really add to the game play of the current main server, maybe get everyone the tame dossier and think about removing them from the server and bringing them back for organised take down events.

So "construction/survival" server and "fun" server. Maybe test the other survival mods and think about other maps as well, the island does seem to have got pretty well divided now. Maybe the best thing for the ARK team to do would be as other admins have suggested and do a full wipe on release of the end game.