This is it, I Promise

[burntoutdex]

Hi, I don't know how to intro this, lol. If you don't care to read it, just skip to the bottom.

This game is an MMORPG; a combination of two genres, if you like.

The goal of an RPG should be to create a simple to play, yet deeply complex system of mechanics (in this case, combat), which makes the game enjoyable for both the casual and competitive playerbases.

The goal of an MMO should be to create an enriching multiplayer experience for each and every unique individual who plays the game.

A combination of this? Well, the possibilities have proven to be endless.

This game USED to accomplish every single one of those goals (and so much more) in such a simple and charming way:

The messaging system is perfect for a mobile device, making it extremely easy to communicate with people from around the world - I've met some of my best friends because of this.

The game runs perfectly on so many devices. This is something I have never seen replicated on any other app or game. Ever.

The PvE USED to be complex and rewarding, for both the casual and the hardcore players.

The PvP USED to be what I and many others considered, and, perhaps in some ways will always consider to be, the most complex & balanced PvP experience of any game ever created.

All of this in a free mobile or PC game? Yeah... the potential really got thrown away.

I, along with many others, truly fell in love with this game and the old, vibrant, and beautiful community.

But now? Well. Lol. The game was ruined in two patches: Tradable vanities, and Enchantments/oVG Rings.

The former hurt so many veterans (including myself), whom spent hundreds of dollars to obtain the vanities and items that we owned. Having them accessible to everyone not only hurt us on a personal level, but it has done nothing more than create widespread toxicity and an even more rampant black market than we had beforehand. That is fact, don't argue; if you do, you're wrong. If you still disagree, just think about this: tradable Tournament Shields and GoA Shields? I can't even begin to explain the amount of drama this has caused over the years. What a joke.

But what about the Enchantments/oVG Rings? Well, it put the nail in the coffin for competitive PvP as a whole - which is the sole reason that the overwhelming majority of your playerbase plays this game. The PvEers and Merches are the minority, despite what some of you would like to think.

Funnily enough, in spite of all this, it is SO outrageously simple to fix the game, even from a coding and implementation aspect. A lot of these are PvP related because, like I said before, PvP is the sole reason your playerbase has stayed and supported you for so many years.

What are these fixes, you might ask? Well, here is, in my opinion, the top 10 things that need fixing:
Preface: This is in some places very blunt, I've tried being subtle many a time...

1. Listen to the community you created.

It is home to some of the smartest people I have ever met. They know what they are talking about. More so than you might think as a developer. If we say there is a problem, there likely is one. I know consideration is given to a lot of what is posted here, but when good ideas are blatantly ignored in favour of bad ideas, it is insulting, to say the least.

2. Implement the changes that we suggest.

This one's simple: fix the things that we prove need fixing.

3. Remove Damage Modifiers in PvP.

Damage Modifiers can not, and will never be able to fix blatant imbalances that have literally spread to every single level of PvP. Having this many damage modifiers across level ranges, to the point where they overlap and create inconsistencies in damage and armor is such an awful "fix" to the rampant imbalance created by gear and some core mechanics of the game. They should be removed in their entirety, forever.

4. Fix the blatant imbalance between sets both at Endgame and Twinking levels.

I know this cap was meant to have items that are 'worth grinding for,' but it is simply not healthy for the game to achieve this by making the Mythics so ridiculously overpowered that skill is literally not even a factor in fights anymore.

In lower levels, the best gear is just unfair, I don't know how else to put it. I can literally 1v3 fully enchanted Level 30 Mages in elites on a Level 27 bird. That should not be possible. The toxicity that this has created in every single level outside of endgame is abhorrent, and only adds insult to injury. Low-Level Elites need to be removed entirely, or made PvE only.

If you are not sure how to approach this, just ask the community. I promise the feedback you would receive would not only be flawless, it would also gain you a lot of respect as a company, something I think was in parts lost over this game's lifetime.

5. Remove speed boosting rings and amulets from PvP entirely.

This one's insultingly easy to implement. Why should a rooted str-bear be able to easily catch up to a dex-bird? It's just flawed logic, really. Not only that, but speed rings create large ping-related anomalies in which you can be hit across the map, behind trees, and in places where you should literally not be able die in (behind 2 walls, for example). Speed rings and amulets need to have their effects removed from PvP. Simple.

6. Remove Enchantments from PvP entirely.

Do I even need to explain this? Adding higher stats to already overpowered gear is not the solution to fixing PvP, like I assume it was intended to be.

7. Fix the inconsistencies in PvE.

Ebonthrax should not randomly one-hit entire parties behind gold. The Mana-Shielding bosses should not be able to stack shields infinitely, to the point where birds + barrels cannot kill them.

8. Add farmable, campaign-specific vanities.

This not only a brilliant idea for farmers and PvPers alike, it would help every single new/casual player level-up, meet new friends, learn about the game, and maybe even stick around for the journey. There is literally no reason not to add this - and it's really simple to do, too.

9. Fix the economy.

There's lots to say here, but I guess it relates mostly to things that have been touched on before: the rate of gold obtainability, the black market, and loot-crates.

The first one makes it impossible for new players to obtain enough wealth to get to endgame. Literally impossible. Pets are pretty much a requirement, and sell for 8-figures, if not more. Besides that, there is also far too much artificial inflation in the game. Gold Events are not healthy for this game, and only add to the stupidly fast rate of inflation. Add some desirable gold sinks: gold-purchasable vanity packs, for example.

The second will always be an unfixable problem, but I guess it's worth mentioning (again).

And finally, loot crates. lol. Pocket Legends does not have the playerbase to support this feature in a way that is healthy for the f2p and p2w players alike. Locking necessary gear behind a paywall is absurd, and just a blatant cash-grab. Please tear down the pay-wall so that everyone can enjoy the game. Thanks!

10. Do Something About the Toxicity.

This game was almost too toxic for me to open some days. The report chat button seems almost useless, and /report somehow does less. I could dig and find a multitude of screenshots of conversations that are too toxic to even put on this forum.

Tradable vanities, unbalanced PvP, and awful PvE have all in one way or another contributed to the large, unescapable wave of toxicity that seems to sit in this game now.

Don't get me wrong, I've met some absolutely wonderful people on this game. Recently, apart from my friends, it seems that all there is in PL is toxicity.

The simple fix is to make chat-bans more frequent, and add new abbreviations to the banned-words list (I can PM any Mod or Dev the most in-depth list of all the filter-avoiding slurs and strings I have seen. Upon request, of course :])

If any, or all of these are implemented, I could see good things for game going forward. Right now, it's in a pretty bad spot.

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Now that that is out of the way, I guess I can talk about my reasons for posting this.

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I am done with Pocket Legends. I have deleted all of my characters, and given everything away to friends.

It's been an almost decade-long journey, and I've cherished every minute of it. But it's just simply not the game and community that I fell in love with. So i thought I would give my pure, unadulterated feedback about the state the game is in. I've been active and heavily involved in this community for longer than 95% of those who remain - almost a decade - so I'd like to think that list was helpful, but I could be wrong.

This game was everything to me. I probably wouldn't be here if it wasn't for this game and community, so for that, from the depth of my heart, I just want to thank you all.

I've since found other things that make me as happy as this game used to, and I promised myself I would spend more of my time pursuing those interests instead.

To my friends that I spent years PvPing, farming, and chatting with (you know who you are), I just want to say thanks for everything you've done for me, as cliché as that is. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you all, and you've taught me a lot about myself in the process; I cannot thank you all enough. I know we'll keep in contact.

To the developers and mods: Though I may at times say some very rude and blunt things on the forum, just know it comes from a place of caring about the game and community that you created. You truly made the best MMORPG on the market and fostered a community the likes of which I've never seen before. The gameplay and PvP was flawless, and I mentioned it before, but I and many others literally think that PL PvP is the defining, and most balanced/complex MMORPG PvP experience. You should be proud of your accomplishments, for they are truly remarkable.

I wouldn't trade the friends and memories I've made on this game for the world. Y'all are the best, truly!

GG's,
Burningdex.
<3