Jack O ramped up too much?
Posted: 28 Oct 2008, 07:08
A recent server restart was scheduled for, among other things, doubling Jack O's power from 100 max to 200.
Is this overdoing it?
It's certainly true that with all the extra time to level up, all the new equipment, and the opportunity to fend off things like mountain snakes, 100 damage isn't nearly as intimidating as it was last time around, lest the event be all "treat" and no "trick". Perhaps a small increase is in order, but all the way to 200? That's almost to the all-"trick" point on the spectrum. Someone who built their character to the point where even mountain snakes hit straight 1s, which is pretty much the point of diminishing returns prior to this event, can still take over 50 damage from the revised Jack O. Particularly for the archers, who aren't used to their targets being able to run fast enough to keep up, this is such a monstrous increase over anything else extant in the game, and even over the original Jack O design, as to shut many players out.
From what I've seen in the arena, gang attacks make them quite manageable among players taking 30-50 a hit, by distributing Jack O's attacks so no one takes lethal (such organization is theoretically possible in the other spots as well, but with only one appearance an hour now, the usefulness of such a gathering is quite limited). However, wasn't it mentioned elsewhere here that the spirit of Halloween wants to dictate a solo event? The new Jack O isn't feasible to solo at all without a large stock of healing items, or vitality around 70; additionally anyone below about level 50 will find it extremely difficult to participate in the event at all since even one hit they take as part of a gang will result in close to 100 damage, and be unsustainable for any serious length of time. Isn't Halloween in our world primarily enjoyed by the children? There's already a shortage of low-level partakings in the game, and now to have the temporary event simply be a high-level-only enemy...?
75-150, maybe. 100-160 (old+60), perhaps but even that's beginning to stretch it. 65-130 with the attack speed of a flower would be an interesting touch. 200 max damage is simply not suitable for a Halloween special enemy.
Is this overdoing it?
It's certainly true that with all the extra time to level up, all the new equipment, and the opportunity to fend off things like mountain snakes, 100 damage isn't nearly as intimidating as it was last time around, lest the event be all "treat" and no "trick". Perhaps a small increase is in order, but all the way to 200? That's almost to the all-"trick" point on the spectrum. Someone who built their character to the point where even mountain snakes hit straight 1s, which is pretty much the point of diminishing returns prior to this event, can still take over 50 damage from the revised Jack O. Particularly for the archers, who aren't used to their targets being able to run fast enough to keep up, this is such a monstrous increase over anything else extant in the game, and even over the original Jack O design, as to shut many players out.
From what I've seen in the arena, gang attacks make them quite manageable among players taking 30-50 a hit, by distributing Jack O's attacks so no one takes lethal (such organization is theoretically possible in the other spots as well, but with only one appearance an hour now, the usefulness of such a gathering is quite limited). However, wasn't it mentioned elsewhere here that the spirit of Halloween wants to dictate a solo event? The new Jack O isn't feasible to solo at all without a large stock of healing items, or vitality around 70; additionally anyone below about level 50 will find it extremely difficult to participate in the event at all since even one hit they take as part of a gang will result in close to 100 damage, and be unsustainable for any serious length of time. Isn't Halloween in our world primarily enjoyed by the children? There's already a shortage of low-level partakings in the game, and now to have the temporary event simply be a high-level-only enemy...?
75-150, maybe. 100-160 (old+60), perhaps but even that's beginning to stretch it. 65-130 with the attack speed of a flower would be an interesting touch. 200 max damage is simply not suitable for a Halloween special enemy.