Answindar
50
Entertainment value?
This is a game, right? It therefore falls under the general category of entertainment - something that we all all probably have a limited budget, and limited time for...
I have no issue with contributing time and money in the name of entertainment, even accepting that the daily grind for reputation, essences etc is a part of this entertainment (as with almost any MMO / RPG nowadays). I can accept this as the processes for the grind are interactive and offer some chance of greater reward.
Having just reached level 50, island protector quests have become available, and I have completed a couple. These took about 1 hour in total, and involved ~15 minutes of interactive action (fighting mobs), and 40+ minutes of staring at a picture of a boat (which would be longer if I encountered pirates). This is NOT entertainment!
I would suggest that this mechanic of sailing round the islands is quite possibly detrimental to your long term player retention.
I have no issue with contributing time and money in the name of entertainment, even accepting that the daily grind for reputation, essences etc is a part of this entertainment (as with almost any MMO / RPG nowadays). I can accept this as the processes for the grind are interactive and offer some chance of greater reward.
Having just reached level 50, island protector quests have become available, and I have completed a couple. These took about 1 hour in total, and involved ~15 minutes of interactive action (fighting mobs), and 40+ minutes of staring at a picture of a boat (which would be longer if I encountered pirates). This is NOT entertainment!
I would suggest that this mechanic of sailing round the islands is quite possibly detrimental to your long term player retention.
It strikes me as being a bad game mechanic in a very competitive market.
That's why we added "the mini-games" you can play while sailing. And by your logic Tournament of Honor, Sea Battle, Vortex and other battlegrounds should start every few minutes because hey waiting is bad!
The only things you can really do is AH, talk, or those games of chance on the ship...
When in battleground ques you can do normal trades, fight mobs, do quests, you just have to make sure you aren't doing anything when the que timer stops. you don't have that option while on the ship.
This makes a person more likely to go afk and leave the game or computer while sailing on the ship, which means people are going elsewhere to be entertained.
Already expected someone will mention quests/fighting, however i'd like to say it's minority of things you can't do do or 50/50. Aswindar being level 50 i doubt he's doing any "normal" quests/monsters anyway as we know people do like to to avoid unnecessary experience.
Then again, no need to buy reals while stare at a ship for 2 - 4 hours.
Thanks DE you save me money this way
It gets better at 3k clan rep when you'll be able to pay 1g to skip the Torlings. Consider it motivation to get there