Quote:I'll run Underground if you're running them, or a few other players, but otherwise at this point I would rather attempt to solo a Master of STF. To me, that's actually a better risk/reward activity than a random Underground. I mean that literally: that's next on my list after I figure out the right set of freemium filler/helpers for Barracuda. The ten hours I spent figuring out how to solo (more or less) a Master of ITF run was more entertaining than any Underground run I've been on so far, including the successful ones.
To put it bluntly, the Underground trial is the *only* content that I wouldn't run if it didn't have badges in it. I can't even say that about the shard task forces. I can't even say that about the original Positron's task force.

Sofaspud Wrote:It's a game.  Don't play it if it raises your blood pressure so much.  Simple as that.

Sofaspud Wrote:My biggest issue was that you just went and did it, without consulting anyone, and yes, I know, that's your job as Legendary base architect and my irritation is invalid.  I don't get a say in the base; that's not my hat, it's yours.

Quote:I'm... cynical, you could say.  That's as good a word as any.  And I have a strong distaste for what I consider Drama(tm).  Which is what I'd come to the conclusion you were all about, Logan.  I could list my reasons, but that'd be counterproductive at this point I think.

So in a fit of... internet rage, I suppose... I relinquished my grip on my tongue and said what I was really thinking.  With the unspoken assumption in my mind that you'd shrug it off and continue on your way as normal and I'd have another entry on my ignore list (so to speak).

Positron Wrote:(Original Post)
Hey everyone,



I want you all to be aware that the development team has really taken a
look at the latest change to the Incarnate System, the removal of
Empyrean Merits as a reward for completing BAF or Lambda the first time
that day, if you’ve unlocked your Lore or Destiny slots. We appreciate
the feedback you have given us in this beta test and the fact that you
all are so passionate about the Incarnate System as a whole.



I understand that many of you are upset by this and I agree that we were
probably too heavy handed in trying to encourage players to try out the
new content and storylines that we created. To that end: this change
will not be going live with Issue 21 Special Update: Media Blitz. Have no fear, your Empyreans for completing those trials will not be touched.



Now to give you some perspective on why such a change was proposed in
the first place, we simply were not seeing enough people completing the
newer developed content for the system. Players seemed to be content in
running BAFs and Lambdas to the exclusion of everything else. Our
metrics don’t tell us why this is the case, but you the players
have spoken about it. The first two trials are more fun and take a
shorter time to complete than Keyes or Underground. Even by increasing
the number of Emp Merits the longer Trials give, it still did not spur
the playerbase as a whole into running that content.



We definitely can and will make these trials easier, faster, and/or
reward better (and the changes to Keyes is a direct result of feedback
from players), however we remain concerned that the “mindset” has
already set in: run BAF, run Lambda, ignore everything else.



This left us with very few options, one of which was to add a NEW
currency that is superior to the Emp Merits, and put that on the newer
Trials. The other option was to remove the top tier currency from the
older trials. Adding a new currency was in the original design for the
Incarnate Trials, but many voices over the past several months have
complained that we have too many currencies to begin with and we tend to
agree, so we shifted gears and in the end we explored the latter
option. With every change we know we won’t have complete acceptance;
someone (or several someones) will be upset about it. This is par for
the course, but even though there were people who understood what we
were trying to do, several good points were made in the feedback thread
which warrants our decision in not pushing this change out to Live.



What can we do to ensure that players are encouraged to play through
Keyes and Underground, as well as anything else going forward?
Especially if you can get the stuff you are looking for out of running
the older, and therefore easier, content? We’ll definitely be making
some further passes on the difficulties and rewards of the later
Incarnate Trials, but this might not be enough. As we move into the
future, if we don’t see the needle move upwards on experienced
Incarnates completing Keyes, Underground, TPN, and MoM to numbers
comparable to BAF and Lambda then we will have to start looking at other
options for the trials that come after that. Will it be a new currency?
I’d love for it NOT to come to that, but you’ve made it clear that you
want to keep getting all the old currency out of the older content.



I’m pretty excited about the new Incarnate Trials coming with future
issues. With your help and feedback we hope that we can make these
exciting, epic, and fit within your playstyles while still presenting
you a challenge. As much as you players love to play them, I know the
designers love to design them. It’s one of the more enjoyable parts of
our jobs, designing these Incarnate Trials to see just what our players
are made of. What is too hard? What only appears to be too hard on the
surface? I hope that the lessons we’ve all learned from this can help us
create some awesome content.

Arbiter Hawk Wrote:(Original Post)
Hi all,

Adding to Positron’s post above, we’ve been following your concerns
regarding the gating of these new Incarnate trees and we ultimately
agree that it’s unfair to gate some characters’ concept powers while not
gating others. While we want to provide you with compelling options to
spend your Incarnate Merits on, the original design ran counter to our
desire to provide Incarnate abilities for all origins and concepts.
Because of these considerations, we’ve removed the unlock cost for
these trees in an upcoming build, and we look forward to seeing your
builds find new and clever uses for them. The Dev Team agrees that part
of the game’s strength has always been allowing characters of any
concept to be created and we want to support that strength with your
Incarnate Abilities.

That and Second Measure told me to take them out.

-Hawk

Terrenceknight Wrote:We will have concrete news about the Incarnate Solo Path at the Player Summit.

Boom.