onions wrote on Feb 2
nd, 2015 at 3:40pm:
After I got to know the copy machinery I finally could play DDO for the story sake. I could explore quests without being concerned about certain stuff. I could totally ignore grind! I can build characters now the way I want to and with the gear I want to and focus on some past lives only. And I sincerely hope I will come by new methods, because I fear the new way follows TF weapon standards and that's just ridiculous.
This can go two ways. The grind mechanic is there as a psychological hook to give you motivation to keep coming back to achieve the next thing or next power level etc.
But I think Turdbine get it wrong too - TF and collectible turn-ins.
The grind is not worth it unless you're a hardcore player.
But I'm with you Onion, the exploits changed my perception of the game.
I discovered exploits at the tail end of Dupapalooza1 and only managed to do crafting ingredients, but it got me into Cannith Crafting - prior to that the materials required were absurd for the benefits.
Since then, I have most of what I need and so I now play the game less worried about stuff and enjoy it more. I don't need to rerun content 400 times to get one item, so I don't burn out on that content.
I even ran the new Xoriat quests the other night, just for kicks, because I didn't care about the loot, I semi-enjoyed it. I can see how on EE with Champions it would a a laugh a minute (not) though.
The grind is a double edged sword. It keeps your hardcore players in the mouse wheel, but it also makes them jaded and bored if you don't stay ahead of the curve with new content and collecting systems.
You do need something to play for, so having hard to obtain items is a good thing (not everyone wants items, some want power, some just want to experience the content), but again I think Turdbne make the drop rates too low thinking it will extend the lifespan of content - in fact it does the opposite. People run it to death, hate it and never come back.
As a casual player, I find BTA loot is good in that you can get what you're after and move on. But it does means hardcore players don't rerun it.
BTCOE loot at least means hardcore players have a reason to rerun content to make some shards.
By way of an example, as I run mostly caster toon, I hate the double dragon raid.
Despite this, if guildies or friends ask, I will run it because I want to help out. I don't need the scales or phlogs, so happy to pass them. I actually enjoy helping others out, and without the grind aspect, I don't feel burned out on it. So duping has helped me to enjoy the game. For others I know, it ended the game for them.