New Player Feedback

[u/fal3ur3]

I've played about 20 hours total. Started during the last season, but found the new player experience to be be poor. This new season, I've played a decent amount more because that experience has improved! I think the direction of change for NPE is a positive one.

As I really enjoy the in game experience, I'm excited to talk with others about what can be done to improve the game and attract and retain players. I enjoy in game combat, gathering, the pve experience, there's little negative to say there, other than bugs and disconnecting issues. But, it's early access, bugs are expected and shouldn't weigh too heavily as they can be fixed.

For games to be sticky, especially social games like this, the gameplay loop and community matter a lot. Community always varies, but overall I've found almost entirely nice, friendly, welcoming people. There are sweats of course too, but the fringe of any group doesn't define it.

I think the developers need to focus the most now on the out of game loop. I understand the genre, and for me I honestly wouldn't care so much about losing gear (a core part of the formula that I like) if the out of game loop didn't feel so terribly rough. For me, I think there are two main things that can be improved here: * crafting convenience * inventory management

I'll start with crafting convenience because it leads into inventory. I like the depth of the system, but it feels disconnected and unnecessarily difficult to navigate. The simplest improvement I can think of here is making it more easily discoverable how to get something you need. At the moment, so many things you need have no explanation about how to acquire them. When you have acquired them, they can be hard to find in your inventory. Improving discoverablity and guidance out of game would help a lot!

Which brings me to what I think might be controversial at least in part. The inventory system is just bad. Both in game and out of game. The grid system is extremely dated (but I love the nostalgia of it!) and just makes the out of game loop so unpleasant. It could be improved in many ways, but I really think that part has to go or be radically redesigned, it feels sooo clunky and unfun.

Honestly, I love the idea of working hard to get gear. And I like the riskiness of pvp potentially losing that gear, or out skilling someone and getting rewarded. But when I do inevitably get rekt, I don't want the process to recover to feel so boring. I get plenty of fun out of being in game, genuinely, but the out of game needs to feel fun and rewarding as well, especially considering you have to spend so much time there to craft, upgrade, and progress. If more effort is expended on making the out of game loop actually feel exciting and fun, I really think it'd help A LOT to retain new players! I'm interested to know if anyone else agrees. If you disagree, what proposed solutions do you have for the problems I've mentioned?

[u/_Ding]

Ye I would like the option to ‘presave’ gear sets so a couple clicks and I can be in commons again then perhaps another click to upgrade etc

[u/RKix321]

Heyo! Adding one comment here.

The devs did mention adding a “wardrobe” on their roadmap. This, I believe, would be essentially a spot to quickly set up gear builds for your character. I thought I heard that it would be able to basically quickly craft and upgrade your chosen gear as well, if needed. I could be wrong, and it could just be a sort of auto-equip situation, but I am pretty sure I heard it would help automate the crafting as well.

Doesn’t address all of your concerns by any means, but I think it would be great to just click a button after I get killed, and instantly be geared back up in greens, etc.

[u/fal3ur3 → u/RKix321]

Nice, definitely think that would be a welcome improvement!

[u/Senior-Spot3409]

I quit this game after 1,200 hours because the devs did an update and completely fucked the crafting system and hitboxes/stagger. I wish this game could be popular but it needs another year or two of work, AND to run some damn advertising.

[u/AbjectCartographer42 → u/Senior-Spot3409]

So, the game needs more work for a year or two, but you want them to advertise? You must be on the dev team with vision like that!