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Are zones TOO big?


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Dumpiduke's Avatar


Dumpiduke
03.13.2012 , 01:11 PM | #1
There has been a lot of talk going around regarding server population and how the servers feel somewhat dead. Not only that, rarely do I run across players of the SAME faction while questing, let alone the opposing faction. Is part of this a result of zones being too large and spread out?

I understand that Bioware wants to give the impression that the worlds are massive, but it almost seems like they’re sacrificing community and environmental detail as a result. There seems to be too much open space and not enough substance in the zones. Is there a reason that I have to travel on my speeder for what feels like an eternity in zones like Balmora and Taris other than to provide a very boring timesink? It wouldn’t be so bad if I could potentially run into: a player from the opposing faction, rare monster spawns, open world events, a means to jump off of giant cliffs, unique scenery, traveling npc’s going about their business, critters, etc. I guess what it boils down to is that there just doesn’t seem to be enough variety throughout the zones, and the fact that they’re so large makes it even more apparent.

This, compounded with the fact that there is basically NO music to be heard while traveling, really leads to a long and boring trek between quest pickup and questing area. Just an observation that I thought I’d throw out there to get some other players’ opinions. Thoughts?

Yazule's Avatar


Yazule
03.13.2012 , 01:15 PM | #2
Quote: Originally Posted by Dumpiduke View Post
There has been a lot of talk going around regarding server population and how the servers feel somewhat dead. Not only that, rarely do I run across players of the SAME faction while questing, let alone the opposing faction. Is part of this a result of zones being too large and spread out?

I understand that Bioware wants to give the impression that the worlds are massive, but it almost seems like they’re sacrificing community and environmental detail as a result. There seems to be too much open space and not enough substance in the zones. Is there a reason that I have to travel on my speeder for what feels like an eternity in zones like Balmora and Taris other than to provide a very boring timesink? It wouldn’t be so bad if I could potentially run into: a player from the opposing faction, rare monster spawns, open world events, a means to jump off of giant cliffs, unique scenery, traveling npc’s going about their business, critters, etc. I guess what it boils down to is that there just doesn’t seem to be enough variety throughout the zones, and the fact that they’re so large makes it even more apparent.

This, compounded with the fact that there is basically NO music to be heard while traveling, really leads to a long and boring trek between quest pickup and questing area. Just an observation that I thought I’d throw out there to get some other players’ opinions. Thoughts?
1) no such thing as too big of zones
2) add in player housing if you want community
3) i run into opposing factions (i go to "their area) but i wish we had quests in the same area
4) i play my own music when soloing, metalica when blasting through belsavis looking for reps to kill is yummy


end of the day most people hang out in fleet or instances (pvp or fp) so whatever
Remember this: Noobs have the most fun, they gain joy from things you disdain. They find value in that you find worthless. At the end of the day they have more fun per hour than any elitist I have ever known.

Qoojo's Avatar


Qoojo
03.13.2012 , 01:17 PM | #3
Given the load times, I think they made them as big as they possibly could. To answer the question in the title, no, I don't think they are too big.


This post is Wookie approved and
IEEE 9000 Ewok tested

Khyler's Avatar


Khyler
03.13.2012 , 01:19 PM | #4
nope, zones are too small. I want to be able to run around the world, without having to fight something every 30 seconds.

flyersfan's Avatar


flyersfan
03.13.2012 , 01:21 PM | #5
Quote: Originally Posted by Yazule View Post
1) no such thing as too big of zones
2) add in player housing if you want community
3) i run into opposing factions (i go to "their area) but i wish we had quests in the same area
4) i play my own music when soloing, metalica when blasting through belsavis looking for reps to kill is yummy
  1. Yes, there most certainly is.

  2. Add in reasons to go to provided social spaces if you want community. Player housing can lead to people just hanging out in their houses by themselves or with a handful of people. Bring it out in the open.

  3. I agree. The factions need more interaction.

  4. I don't play my own music while blasting through any planet.

MaverickXIV's Avatar


MaverickXIV
03.13.2012 , 01:21 PM | #6
My only complaint with zone size is when I'm already levels ahead of the quests. When I get too much XP from PvP and just want to move on, and then I open yet another zone of Belsavis...

My current plan is to just skip them now and go back when I'm 50. That should also help with my "I'm finly going to look cool at 50 but I'll be out of new scenes to look cool in" concerns as well.

CeiLican's Avatar


CeiLican
03.13.2012 , 01:22 PM | #7
I feel scale is off in relation to our characters and that the planet zones are to small.

Stations and ships interior scale wise should be tighter, except for hanger bays and the interior of the Fleet station but even then that is far to cavernous.

Tatooine is a prime example of a sparse planet that should be just that, though something like Coruscant or a more Metropolis type zone should feel crowded/clustered, maybe even cramped.

I feel like a Jawa walking through some areas. yes some buildings should be grand and glorious but then there is to big.

In short:
Buildings/ships to character model scale , zones more expansive. Though I can't count how many Jedi I have seen holding sabers and the hilts look off scale in comparison to character height and side of hand.

Lastly WE NEED CANTINAs that are worth hanging out in, central locations, next to/near space ports that serve as social and mission critical hubs. (Player gets a tip from a Bartender) Entertaining NPCs/Player class. SWG was on to something with letting us have Entertainers. Interactive aspects of the Cantina/social focus location.

XaporKux's Avatar


XaporKux
03.13.2012 , 01:24 PM | #8
I think the fleet is the busiest i've seen. Every planet iv'e been on there's only a handful of players - 20-30 at the most. Alderaan had 4 on today!!

It would be nice to see more players about - player housing would do it.

Not sure what's going to happen when we can access email, GTN from our ships. The fleet will be empty.
"Be safe out there"
Est.Nov 2008

ChicksDigHarleys's Avatar


ChicksDigHarleys
03.13.2012 , 01:25 PM | #9
RE: are zones too big? NO. Making them smaller wouldn't change the fact that 20 people per planet isn't conducive to finding people to run Heroic-4s with. IMO planets are too small and linear...too many invisible walls. I hated that about AoC, and it irritates me here as well.
You are playing a frickin video game.
You are not hardcore by any reasonable definition.

DSPD's Avatar


DSPD
03.13.2012 , 01:30 PM | #10
The zones are not THAT big, the game is just THAT empty.
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