Topic: Impressions of a returning vet - again.
So, I returned to the game this past week after a year+ hiatus and there have been many changes. Here is my opinion of the ones I've seen, read/heard about, and experienced:
The Good:
* Gamma is back in.
* Highways are everywhere so travel times are down a bit (though I still mostly autopilot myself so *shrug*, at least I have an option).
* The mission system has been redone - this one was sorely needed and I'm back to running transport missions where I started in 2011 because it's actually somewhat worth it now (although I still mourn the Golden Triangle).
* ICE is back in.
* Artifact hunting no longer requires a third party website/tool to be viable.
* Love the account upgrades. I have both on all but one of my accounts so far. It does stray close to the Pay2Win line but doesn't cross over because of it being limited to a 1 time purchase and not making it like $50 each or something and gives new players an option to be viable more quickly. I remember waiting around for months as a newbie for skills, especially just to get in to that new mech or whatever and it sucks.
The Bad:
* Spark teleport has been removed. I understand the issues and the highways help but I still can't help feel the loss of convenience especially for my industrial accounts. I would have preferred that everyone just receive the same amount and remove the skill say 2 or 3.
* Interzones have been nerfed to uselessness.
* Solo NPC farming has been nerfed to the point of uselessness thanks to the change in NPC aggro (which I knew was coming before I left last time but I'm still sad to see implemented) against support.
* Premium sub fee should be half what it is ($8/mo per account if you buy credits in $60 increments is high), I don't remember what it was before but I do remember getting year codes when the game was sub only that were like $5/mo.
* Nerf to all bot bonuses. This is pretty big (50% to 30% is a massive nerf) and it looks like it was somewhat compensated for by adding new extensions but not entirely. I'm not happy about this but at least it effects everyone equally.
The Ugly:
* The map layout is the worst thing I've ever seen in Perpetuum. Creating 2 choke points per color for Beta/Gamma, effectively walling off 1/3rd of the game each is just stupid. This, coupled with the nerf to interzones, highways to every entry, and the current probe mechanics it easily creates a situation worse than the spark teleports. The only reason this hasn't made PvP completely untenable is the lack of players.
One last thing. I've heard talk about RNG based "T5", I see the "requisition slips" in the Syndicate store. I do not like this trend towards gambling and RNG based stuff. It kills joy where ever it goes. I suggest you take a cold hard look at the wasteland of dead games who did not heed this. People don't like to work towards random they want a goal they can attain and be certain of the reward that follows.
**DISCLAIMER** As always, I speak only for myself; not my corp or any affiliates.
<GM Synapse> please don't abuse our fresh players before blowing them up. And for god sakes, don't do that after it!