Hidden character key to support unique character content
I have long thought that the inevitable "publishing" of secret recipes, locations, etc. was a serious problem in all MMOs. After all, game developers invest a great deal of effort coding "discovery systems" only to see them cracked and published in short order. The result is that only a few early (or super diehard) explorers experience these dynamic aspects of gameplay. Despite "Caution - Contains Spoilers" warnings, most players who follow will not want to be "disadvantaged" by researching for themself what can be easily read online. Instead they choose to keep up with their friends' progression, and not get bogged down rediscovering what is already known.
Admittedly not everyone likes to solve puzzles or to put in "extra" game play effort. I am not suggesting any radical changes in gameplay forcing all players into puzzle solving. Employing someone else's discovery should still give you a strong result. However, would it be so bad to give those willing to actually engage in puzzle solving some slight extra advantage or benefit?
I suggest the generation of a unique and hidden random key for each character upon creation. This hidden key is part of that character and is always available to slightly tweak the results of any "discoveries" they make in a consistent and repeatable way (at least for that character).
Thus, Jola's ultimate amps recipe could be slightly different from Olmo's. Any differences would be driven by the effects of their respective hidden keys. The incidence and degree of variation between character discoveries would be totally regulated by the developers. So they could strike whatever balance was desired between delivering unique character experiences and gaming environment consistency.
Olmo
~sigh~ So true.For every static system there will eventually either tool be made or result matrix found through trial and error. After all precraft window itself is half the "cheat". As long as there are finite number of possible combinations they will be discovered and ranked. Sure, maybe it'll take KC 2.0 10, 500 minutes more but it's not like you need to watch it juggle numbers. Then when a recipe is found you File/Save. There, done. For ever and ever. Plus, you can't get rid of information exchange. That recipe you found *will* make its way into other crafters' books. Urge to brag is part of human nature. Sure, select few will keep their jewels close to their chests, most will display them in full glory.
I have long thought that the inevitable "publishing" of secret recipes, locations, etc. was a serious problem in all MMOs. After all, game developers invest a great deal of effort coding "discovery systems" only to see them cracked and published in short order. The result is that only a few early (or super diehard) explorers experience these dynamic aspects of gameplay. Despite "Caution - Contains Spoilers" warnings, most players who follow will not want to be "disadvantaged" by researching for themself what can be easily read online. Instead they choose to keep up with their friends' progression, and not get bogged down rediscovering what is already known.
Admittedly not everyone likes to solve puzzles or to put in "extra" game play effort. I am not suggesting any radical changes in gameplay forcing all players into puzzle solving. Employing someone else's discovery should still give you a strong result. However, would it be so bad to give those willing to actually engage in puzzle solving some slight extra advantage or benefit?
I suggest the generation of a unique and hidden random key for each character upon creation. This hidden key is part of that character and is always available to slightly tweak the results of any "discoveries" they make in a consistent and repeatable way (at least for that character).
Thus, Jola's ultimate amps recipe could be slightly different from Olmo's. Any differences would be driven by the effects of their respective hidden keys. The incidence and degree of variation between character discoveries would be totally regulated by the developers. So they could strike whatever balance was desired between delivering unique character experiences and gaming environment consistency.
Jola(Arispotle) of the ARMAGEDDONS