-
Team Name: Queue3
-
Character Name: Queue
-
Class Build: SW3->HOP3->DRG3
-
CPU: i5-3570K 3.4GHz-4.00GHz
-
RAM: 12GB DDR3
-
Graphics Card: GTX-960
-
OS: Windows 10
-
Internet Connection Speed: Broadband 150Mbps (effective 100Mbps over MoCA)
-
Country/State: Canada
Territory Wars has the potential to be a great form of content. Already in its unrefined state it’s exciting, and personally it’s significantly less frustrating than TBL given class imbalances are somewhat mitigated by the scale and equipment, not to mention the intense team work required to excel.
That being said, there are major problems and improvements that should be made.
Mapping
Of the three maps, Inner 8 and Galeed Plateau are problematic, especially in the case of high occupancy. They both feature severe choke points, or limited spawning areas and routes. This can make them too difficult to take for the attackers, as it forces too many engagements outside of the Territory Tower.
I see two possible solutions, either creating Territory Wars versions of the maps, or using different maps altogether.
Genar Field is mostly fine.
Fixing Current Maps
Inner 8
This map may not be recoverable as it needs so many changes, but this is what I propose:
Red = Territory Tower
Green = Safety Barrier
Blue = Connections (Teleporters or Bridges)
Inner 8 has a bad problem of limited routes, spawn camping, and cramped fighting. My proposal would open up the two southern rooms for manoeuvring, allow the eastern spawn point to be useful, and expand the safety barriers to help cut back on the spawn camping, (especially on the Western side).
Preferably a total expansion of the map would be done, but if that’s not possible my alternative could be done to help alleviate the problems.
Galeed Plateau
Red = Territory Tower
Green = Safety Barrier
Blue = Connections (Teleporters or Bridges)
Galeed’s primary problem is the single attack point, which makes the Western and Eastern spawn points disadvantaged, and forces engagements to at the choke point, meaning a large amount of assaults run into each other before even having a chance to battle for the Tower. This allows all the spawn points to be equal, allows for alternative routes, all while maintaining a reasonable run time to the centre.
Additionally, the Connections could be opened by destroying the Amplifiers as was @Nekorin’s idea in his thread:
If the Connections will not be added than Galeed should be removed and swapped out for another map.
Alternative Maps
Others have pointed out good ideas for alternative maps and I support their ideas and will likely reiterate them here. Inner 8 especially is a candidate to be removed, along with Galeed if major changes aren’t made.
Septyni Glen
Red = Territory Tower
Green = Safety Barrier
Blue = Connections (Teleporters or Bridges)
The Connection is optional but recommended. There are four spawn points, and two major engagement points outside of the Tower radius, (three with the Connection). This could certainly be a candidate and there is plenty of room for a Boss spawn, it would also put one of the Territory War maps in the West of the world.
Baron Allerno
Red = Territory Tower
Green = Safety Barrier
This is another option. Three spawn points, three entrances that all lead to the immediate centre and concentrate the fighting. The problem would primarily be the narrow points of access, but the location where they lead and with how many points of access there is helps mitigate the problem. And again, it’s in the West of the world.
Aqueduct Bridge Area
@Csiko brought up an alternative system that would utilize the map, either way I think it’s a good candidate.
My suggestion:
Red = Territory Tower
Green = Safety Barrier
Multiple spawns, multiple entrances, room for the boss it’s a good alternative. While there are choke points the amount of spawns and entrances to the Tower help minimise the effects.
Creation of a Territory Wars Map
I like the idea of keeping maps based off the normal world, and if they Devs are willing to adjust them they should. However, if they decide against wanting to change the maps then they should consider making new ones altogether to allow for more balanced and engaging game play. Still though, I recommend adjusting the current ones if possible.
Technical Problems
The technical problems are severe and make the game play unplayable for many, and noncompetitive. This must be a priority. There are performance drops, connection problems, crashes, and plenty of bugs (invisible skills, animation glitches, companions not working) and more. While these problems are unique to Territory Wars they do affect it greatly.
I know the Devs are watching and I know there are improvements on the way including optimisation, but I really can’t emphasize this enough.
Features and Mechanics
Safety Barriers
Size:
As you can see in my Map section, I recommend increasing the size of Safety Barriers to help prevent spawn camping, increase space for guild organisation, and help with opening routes for guilds to move. This idea should be expanded to all maps current and future and should be taken into consideration. Too small, or limited Safety Barriers force conflict early and can be abused due to jumping in and out to fight people. Fighting directly around the Barriers should be minimized.
Safety Buff:
Potentially giving a few seconds of invincibility upon leaving the barrier could help prevent camping, but this buff should not be renewable, upon leaving the Barrier and reentering, you will not receive the buff when you leave again. This is to cut down on people trying to snipe guilds as they leave. (You would still be invincible inside the barrier though.)
Problems:
- Bosses walk inside
- Summons fight within the barrier
- Dispellers and Charms are used up within the barrier
Territory Tower
Defenders should be given an option to spawn at the Tower, with the restriction of there being a minute a respawn time to do so. This would allow defending guilds to rejoin the action instead of being forced to push through the battlefield, often on their own, and actually reach the Tower in time to continue the defence. This seems even more necessary, with map changes like the ones I proposed.
Rewards
Guild Shop
As the Guild System improves and is expanded (hopefully majorly) there will be more to work with. But for now I recommend a Guild shop system that could be expanded upon in the future.
Introducing a separate guild currency instead of just “Guild Funds” makes sense to really mark the difference. This feature could even be expanded in the future with additional or current content.
For adding Silver, increasing Guild EXP with Talt, and most importantly seizing a Territory, a guild would be granted currency. This currency can be spent on multiple things like:
- Guild EXP
- Quest Tickets
- Guild Improvements (basically expanding attributes)
- Reward Cubes with their own loot table (Materials, cosmetics, and more)
- Guild Cosmetics (Hangout cosmetics, Guild Tower Cosmetics, even Territory Tower cosmetics)
Individual Players
Individual players should also receive rewards based on how well they perform inside, how much they contribute, and how much they participate.
-
New achievements should be created including, killing a certain amount of players, winning a certain amount of times, participating a certain amount of times, taking the Tower and contributing points and more. Rewards should include new Titles to go along with it and non-resetting Adventure Points.
-
Everyone who fully participates (can be decided by some kind of contribution like killing a player, dying, helping take the Tower, attacking a Boss, damaging the Amplifier etc.) should be rewarded with a participation cube. These cubes would have their own loot tables including cosmetics, Guild Contributions, more Premium items like Resets or Multipliers, and more.
-
Adventure Point contributions, for the monthly total could include the same criteria of: killing players, bosses, amplifiers, and taking the Tower.
There is also the possibility of future expansion here with equipment and more, or potentially making a shop like TBL too.
Balance
The focus of the Territory Wars test is on format and the technical, but Balance should still be brought up. The issues that exist in PVE and PVP still continue and prevent a truly competitive environment.
- CC System
- Class Imbalances
- Premium Consumables
- Equipment Imbalances
- Stat Imbalances
The list includes the standard TBL gripes, and those need to be worked on but the two that are particularly relevant to Territory Wars is Equipment and Consumables since they differ.
Equipment Balance
I actually see equipment playing a part in Territory Wars, just heavily toned down and more equalized. Scale stats towards a present number as this would allow some variance, encourage investment, and give all players an opportunity to participate while still offering some form of advantage to those who worked for what they achieved. Example formulas could include simple power factors, or bracket systems but whichever is chosen should find a good balance between the best players and average players.
Equalizing all equipment would be fine too, but I believe there are some advantages to keeping equipment a little relevant, either way I’m fine.
Premium Consumables
These should be banned. They are much too powerful and the percentage scaling makes high HP builds even more powerful.
Addons
Zoomy and Rader especially (among others) need to be closed, at least in Territory Wars. They give an incredibly unfair advantage to those who have them. If this requires preventing them from being usable at all then so be it.
(Maybe look into integrating some of them, Zoomy, into the game just prevent its use).
Information and UI
Implement better information and UI’s. Create view able leaderboards with who killed the most, and other stats. See the top ranked players and guilds, make it interesting. Make sure to include a better information page with the specific restrictions and differences too.
Additional Feedback
- Put numbers beside guild emblems to allow for easy, non-cluttered identification, works on both your own and hostile guilds