Content Consumption Rates - Data Request

[Justg]

We'd very much like your help on analyzing content consumption rates for different areas.

It sounds like some of you have gotten pretty comfortable with the GCD changes. Now that you are cracking with it, how long did it take you pre and post-GDC?

The more examples of different instances the better, and thank you!

- g

[Plasticuproject]

Do you want specifics or just a general idea?

[Conradin]

Well gcd affects hogh lvls more than lower imo- i clear juat as fast as usual on my 10 and 20. Havent tried on my 55

[Junside]

I'm not entirely sure what you are asking for.

Well for PVE, I'm doing nothing but helping some lower level friends in AO and Balefort Stronghold. Did fairly well in both, considering I still had to teach some of them some tips, and having had some quitters in the party, more work for the remaining people. But best example I can give is Stronghold. I did about 10 runs since, and I seldom hear complaining about the GCD while we run. We all did our parts, sometimes, missing a bear, but nothing was impossible. We used our most essential skills like thorn wall, cruel shot, aoe skills, etc for mobs. For bosses, of course, we used more skills. Again, no one complained about the GCD. As if they forgot it exists. People adapt to it without even noticing.

PVP a totally different story. This is a sensitive subject, since it can be the most controversial area to cover. I'd still choose no GCD over any GCD any day. It just feels more intense, like you could die at any moment if you're not completely focused. But right now, it's a quiet, watered down fight. I could see it being something I'd get used to and maybe that spark for PVP will come back. I can say that PVP is a release for many players who are addicted to it. For whatever reasons I cannot fathom, but can assume a general idea. I don't feel that strong sense of victory anymore when I fight and win. I guess I'm crossing over to player experience instead of game mechanics.

But yeah, that pretty much summarizes my best examples to share.

[Apollo]

Before: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELi2F5eSG2M


Now: Barely under 5 Minutes. Keep in mind. This is with a professional team.

[Sigkill]

PVE is definitely much slower then before. However the New PVP requires more strategy then just button mashing, and this is coming from a person who was pretty good at button mashing. At least we don't have to worry about multi-touch-noobs

[braluk]

Gotten used to it and like it. Not sure what content consumption rate means exactly but I'll make a few pointers for pve
Me: 55 Bear
1) Booting rates are higher for even level appropriate players. "Low" is typically used- I used to run with people in groups who were 5 levels before me, but I don't see this much anymore.
2) Things are smoother. I get less choppiness. I use my skills as I see fit- when approaching a crowd, I'll triage my skills according to the situation. Evasion, Iron Blood, Taunt, Beckon, Stomp in that order as I approach a mob. A different skill combo for mini-bosses/bosses (namely attack combos). Teaches people how to use skills more efficiently. Bosses still get cleared relatively quickly.
3) M/S is essentially useless now. This hurts mages. I have 6 M/s and I never see my blue bar go down below 90% and I use all my skills. I can't imagine how this much sucks for mages who have a huge m/s number. I know for sure that I haven't used one blue pot since the update since I can no longer spam my mana away.

[Justg]

Before: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELi2F5eSG2M


Now: Barely under 5 Minutes. Keep in mind. This is with a professional team.

That is exactly what I am looking for here.

Hideout Before: 3:30
Hideout After: 5:00

Rough numbers are good, specific numbers are better.

And thank you!

[Mysticaldream]

I was in a team with Htiek and Mitsu, we got in a run at 4:10ish

Edit:

No pots other than xp

[Jespo]

Its almost like PvP evolved from seeing who is the faster tapper to who is more strategical with their skills. I prefer it this way because now everyone hast to come up with all types of new combos.

[Justg]

I was in a team with Htiek and Mitsu, we got in a run at 4:10ish

Edit:

No pots other than xp

Where? 4:10 Before or after? And what was your other time?

I am very specifically looking for analytical data here. Thanks

[WILLIAM cmy]

The average for the Hideout I did with random peoples:
(Usual path, kill the gold fever, 13 mobs left in the end)

Hideout Before: within 6 mins
Hideout After: around 5:00 + another 5:00 for killing the boss

I use xp pot so I can count the first 5 mins pretty accurate.

[spacehamster]

Pretty much same as above. Hideout runs prior to update were 4-4:30ish, xp pots generally ran out shortly after killing boss. Now same run averages 6-8 min depending upon our group getting in sync for combos.

[Physiologic]

Balefort Sewers
Average party pre-GCD: Lv 55/56, 2 to 3 birds, 1 to 2 mages, 1 to 2 bears
Party post-GCD: Lv 55/56, 4 birds, 1 mage
Party generally has gone through this campaign numerous times and essentially "mastered" it. Players generally have played with each other before (no PUGs).

Bandit Hideout average time to complete (in minutes:seconds format)
Pre-GCD: 3:30-4:00
Post-GCD: 4:45-5:30

Pre-GCD video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_qza65CO_A (finished 3:26)

Bandit Stronghold (very few enemies remaining)
Pre-GCD: 4:30-5:00
Post-GCD: 5:45-6:30

Catacombs (very few enemies remaining)
Pre-GCD: 3:45-4:00
Post-GCD: 4:30-4:45

Pre-GCD video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXpwubCFFa8 (finished 3:50)

Roach Motel (no toxic archers killed)
Pre-GCD: 2:45-3:00
Post-GCD: 3:15-3:30

Swill Pitz (if Goblin King killed before totem activates; ~17 enemies remaining)
Pre-GCD: 2:15-2:30
Post-GCD: 2:40-3:00

[krazii]

It sounds like some of you have gotten pretty comfortable with the GCD changes. Now that you are cracking with it, how long did it take you pre and post-GDC?
- g

It does? Are we reading the same threads? People overwhelmingly wanted GCD removed (some just wanted it reduced)! Does this mean your done with the GCD issue and have moved on? Is it here to stay the way it is?

Kraz

[Slush]

im afraid its here to stay. didnt play yesterday, but got on today and did a catacombs run, and a littlw bit of pvp. mages are not beating me at pvp now, and the catacombs run took 7 minutes... now i know why everyine is compalaining.

[Ellyidol]

They've said it will definitely stay, unfortunately for those that do not agree with it.

G, how would you want data in PvP terms? Since you can't really measure time/match. Or is this only for PvE?

[Physiologic]

Content is not really consumed in PvP matches although you could say something like

"Average lv 56 PvP match bird vs bear
Pre-GCD time
Post-GCD: time"

For future reference for players who aren't familiar with the term, "content consumption" is the rate at which content (going through a campaign, leveling up, getting equips) is consumed by a player. "Consumed" means that the player has finished a campaign, finished quests, leveled to a certain level, etc - basically accomplished something in the game. A vast majority of the time in most MMOs, content is consumed faster than developers can create it.

Developers mostly work to get around "fast content consumption" by either 1.) producing more content faster or 2.) reducing the rate of content consumption. In this case, GCD goes along with option 2.

[Ellyidol]

Thought about that, but wouldn't it vary on my opponent too? Unless I do a whole lot and average them? Gak, no time.

But yes, I agree GCD definitely slowed down content consumption, lucky for us who got to the end before it though

[Physiologic]

Yeah, there's real no surefire way to measure PvP times. PvE times aren't totally accurate as well but still a lot more accurate than PvP. And yeah, getting to 56 will be really tough to a sub-professional/PUG party...