tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post1406341043199019616..comments2024-03-29T05:19:30.673-04:00Comments on The Grumpy Elf: Do We Need Flashy Spell Effects?TheGrumpyElfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-26647756278547352212014-02-06T14:20:35.494-05:002014-02-06T14:20:35.494-05:00That is sad, but I believe you are right. They wi...That is sad, but I believe you are right. They will never go full out and do it the way it should be done.<br /><br />True, there would at least need to be some sort of showing. Your sliders are a lot more possible than mine doing it full on would be. I can see them adding something like you with a simple dimmer for others spell effects.TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-9228047302803852912014-02-06T12:20:14.281-05:002014-02-06T12:20:14.281-05:00That's the thing, there's no way they'...That's the thing, there's no way they'll make it that granular... I'm not sure if they'll even go as complex as offering TWO sliders like I mentioned. Until and unless add-ons can impact things like graphics (and that likely won't happen), that's a wish that'll go unfulfilled.<br /><br />And note that my sliders don't go down to zero, you'd still get basic graphics and animations for other players, they'd just be significantly muted. It's an MMO, part of the immersion factor is that other people have an impact on your gameplay experience, pro or con... you won't be able to toggle that off.Rnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-36926014108030816102014-02-05T14:03:34.881-05:002014-02-05T14:03:34.881-05:00There would have to be more settings that just tha...There would have to be more settings that just that. While I might not want to do the frost DKs D&D it might be pretty useful to see the blood DKs D&D.<br /><br />There would have to be various settings. Or just a dimmer switch if it is going to be blanker for everything.TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-27126209966785433452014-02-05T12:55:02.691-05:002014-02-05T12:55:02.691-05:00Well, sounds to me like there's a simple enoug...Well, sounds to me like there's a simple enough solution that should work for pretty much everyone then. There have been previous discussions about a way to minimize the clutter from other players' effects:<br /><br />Other Players' Action Visibility<br />o----------------------------------------O<br /><br />Add another:<br /><br />My Action Visibility<br />o------------------------O<br /><br />Make each a sliding scale and you're done. You can put both on the low end, those like me can tone down others' but keeping our own high and those who like the current game can go all max, all the time.<br /><br />Ultimately, as long as I can pick myself out of a crowd most of the time and can see bad effects on the ground, I'll be fine.Rnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-22603731006141505042014-02-04T17:11:11.352-05:002014-02-04T17:11:11.352-05:00That is the cobra shot effect you are talking abou...That is the cobra shot effect you are talking about. It is minimal, and that is how I like it. It does look cool, do not get me wrong, but it does not need to be bigger and flashier, in my opinion.<br /><br />We love you Roo, all there or not. ;)TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-87150607865057432172014-02-04T17:07:50.054-05:002014-02-04T17:07:50.054-05:00They are different issues, but they do cross into ...They are different issues, but they do cross into each other. Like James said, he likes to see his abilities. That is engagement. But me seeing some of them is screen bloat. While as a healer I might have use to see some, or as a damage dealer I might like to know where his ground AoE is so I can run through it to get a mob off me, other things, standard things, mean nothing but cluttering my screen. Let him see them, so he can feel engaged, let me ignore them, so I do not get blinded by the light.<br /><br />They might be two different topics, but they sort of go together somewhat in some ways.<br /><br />Rogues I put in the same set as hunters for this example, because they are not flashy, and they shouldn't be.<br /><br />As I said, even more so as melee. It is the visuals of other DPS that bothers me, not really my own so much. That is why I can not play melee, there is just too much shit going on there. I do not need to see any of that.<br /><br />I understand where you are going however. For every hunter like me that likes me arrow being just an arrow there are 100s that would love it to be this massive projectile of death leaving a trail of flames because it makes them feel better about using it.<br /><br />Like I said, I am just not wired that way. I admit I am different.TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-71943532562880906282014-02-04T17:03:51.561-05:002014-02-04T17:03:51.561-05:00sure hunters have visuals and they are crappy. wh...sure hunters have visuals and they are crappy. what what happens when you fire a rifle or a bow? - something "clever" comes out - all sparkly and what not and does some kind of a dippsy doodle before hitting the target. Guess what. Arrows or bullets don't do doodles and will pretty much go straight and if missing the target follows the curve of the earth until it impacts something. That needs to go bye-bye. <br /><br /> I play a rogue - 2 of them. Outside of blood drops when I hit with my swords, why would I need more? But you should see when my inscription or is enchant - Colossus, on my sword goes off - I get enclassed in a protection bubble. Now that I like. <br /><br />Icey is my frost mage - now there I would like sparklys and flashes and all other sorts of matters of visuals. But I would also want to be able to turn it off as certain things can cause a seizure at the most in opportune time. <br /><br />Also, give me a damned BROOM mount that is pernament. And give me a button to turn of dueling. <br /><br />other than that, I must say, a lot of your readers are pretty much good thinkers, folks like "R", James, Delirium, etc. Hi folks! I do like your ability to put your thoughts out there on a blog. <br /><br />Mucho always appreciate the help. GE will tell you, sometimes I am not all here. <br /><br />-roo "it's snowing outside and I get to go home early!"-abhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14899567485973250660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-4437962962284182592014-02-04T17:00:22.205-05:002014-02-04T17:00:22.205-05:00I would really like an option to turn off spell ef...I would really like an option to turn off spell effects that to not effect me. Healing effects can stay, tank cooldowns can stay, hero/lust effect can stay, etc. But to see a locks big flame or melee animation that does not mean anything to me is just a bit to much as I see it. I do not want my abilities turning into them on my hunter. I deal with arrows or bullets, they are not flashy, just effective.TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-13735117763180074932014-02-04T16:57:26.610-05:002014-02-04T16:57:26.610-05:00I am not saying I dislike it all, but like you sai...I am not saying I dislike it all, but like you said, I do not think it should turn into a big flashy mess.<br /><br />I like my simple hunter. No flash, just results.TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-67970289392768636422014-02-04T11:56:40.103-05:002014-02-04T11:56:40.103-05:00There are two different discussions being merged h...There are two different discussions being merged here, spell effects is only one of them. Class engagement for the player is the other and while there's some overlap, it's a different issue.<br /><br />Imagine any ranged class standing by himself at a target dummy doing a rotation... you'd know within about 3 seconds what class the toon is and probably what spec. You'd probably be able to diagnose major rotational issues, just from watching, no logs required.<br /><br />Ranged toons, even in a pack, are still generally identifiable.<br /><br />Melee's a different story. If you see a monk working up a target dummy, you'll probably realize pretty quickly that it's a monk... things like Rising Sun Kick, Fists of Fury, Xuen, Spinning Crane Kick, they're all unique and noticeable. It's relatively easy to track your own location in a melee pack as a monk.<br /><br />It's not too difficult to identify a paladin, DK or warrior, either... they have some relatively unique animations. Kitties, obviously no issue there although their attacks are generally pretty plain. Enh shammies are in there casting spells, they aren't hard to pick out.<br /><br />Rogues? Aside from Mutilate's double stab (which you wouldn't notice in a pack but MIGHT on a target dummy), do you even know what their primary abilities look like visually? Does Slice 'n' Dice even have a visual? Rupture? I'm not sure they do and I was a rogue main for half an expansion. Tricks didn't used to but does now, thankfully, although it's not easy to see. I think Eviscerate has a visual but not sure what it is, nor whether the one for Envenom is the same or different. Sap, I think (?), does a bit of a swirly above the mob's head... contrast that to a mob encased in a block of ice, or with a bunch of pink spines coming out of it.<br /><br />Sure, you could argue that this models the rogue playstyle and I'm sure that's Blizzard's intent... stealthy, not flashy, they want to avoid attention, not get it. Problem is, a lot of players don't like hitting buttons and getting no visual feedback when it happens. I never thought I cared either, until I went from my rogue to my monk... I wouldn't have put "visuals" on the list of reasons I prefer my monk but you know what? That's a factor, probably a significant one. I feel engaged on my monk in a way that I don't feel on my rogue. I don't just put up big numbers when attacks land, it feels like I *should* be putting up big numbers. If my rogue inherited identical animations for his abilities that my monk has for hers, my rogue would absolutely be more fun to play, I have no doubt of it.<br /><br />So, that's what people are talking about in this case, not splashy spell effects, those do need to be toned down overall, but just attack animations in general and for rogues most of all.<br /><br />And I'll say it, I've been a fan of the look of mage Frostfire Bolt since the first moment I ever got it... while in general I'm indifferent to the look of spells, I'd hate to lose that one.Rnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-6501637673234345092014-02-04T11:49:45.738-05:002014-02-04T11:49:45.738-05:00I had no idea people were pushing for flashier spe...I had no idea people were pushing for flashier spells. I've only really heard people complaining about too much of that recently... Though I do recall an interview with one of the devs talking about it at blizcon, but it was sort of both; wanting it to be more exciting, and wanting them to not get in the way of seeing. <br /><br />Anyhow, I couldn't really care less about whether or not they put more in. Though I tend to agree with you that it's a waste of developer's time. One addendum to that, however, would be if they became important to game play. Off the top of my head, that could affect game play in two major ways. First, the flashier the spell, the more aggro you gain from it. I don't see this happening, because blizz has emphasized that they find active mitigation more compelling gameplay than aggro management, but still, I could imagine some spells that you have to time with taunts, otherwise they'd rip agro. Which to me at least, would be fun (would make lfr even more hellish, though). The second, which is crazy, is that rogues no longer have energy, they have a stealth bar. Each ability takes away stealth, depending on how flashy it is. They would have to manage their stealth to keep max dps by being able to use all of their abilities. To keep them balanced, in pvp, fully unstealthed they would take some obscene amount of increased damage, which would make them slow down.<br /><br />Anyhow, those are not going to happen, and I'm not trying to say that they should happen, but to make having more spell effects be worthwhile, I'd want spell effects to affect gameplay. <br /><br />~DeliriumAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-55621740656958681442014-02-04T11:40:14.995-05:002014-02-04T11:40:14.995-05:00I agree, I do like the way the game looks but I do...I agree, I do like the way the game looks but I do not want it to turn into one big flashy mess. I tried guild wars recently and that's what I felt and stopped.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-60880094415833686292014-02-04T10:48:29.055-05:002014-02-04T10:48:29.055-05:00That is where my issue is. Huge bunches of flashi...That is where my issue is. Huge bunches of flashing lights for no real reason except to look pretty. When at range it does not bother me but when in melee I can't make out the difference between boss effects and other player effects. Might be, in part, because I am color blind and a lot of things blend together.<br /><br />While I agree visual clues are important and I use them often when playing to decide what to do and when to do it I do wish there were a way to turn off, or dim, the visual effects we do not need. As for the example I used. Steady shot does not need to add flash to it, adding it, in my opinion, would just add to screen clutter.TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-2037204915782956542014-02-04T10:45:46.507-05:002014-02-04T10:45:46.507-05:00Hunters have no real visuals and I guess that is p...Hunters have no real visuals and I guess that is partly why I am used to playing without them. I understand the visual clues and it is important to see them often when in a group setting. I just fine some of them over bearing. More so the DPS ones when in melee. All I see is a clutter of lights and it messes me up all the time. Most likely do to not doing it often. Perhaps if I played as melee more often I would not mind it as much.TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-30003589410556855002014-02-04T10:21:34.353-05:002014-02-04T10:21:34.353-05:00I do care about what things look like, but I agree...I <i>do</i> care about what things look like, but I agree that WoW's spell effects are increasingly becoming flashier than needed. Like James said above, there is something to be said for having visual cues for important abilities, so enemies and allies can immediately see what's going on. The problem is when <i>everything</i> becomes flashy, every combat just becomes a big mess of flashing lights and you get the opposite effect - it becomes such a visual mess that people <i>can't</i> tell what's going on anymore. Balance is the key in my opinion.Shintarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16758343475446510635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-13365966264365134332014-02-04T10:11:28.662-05:002014-02-04T10:11:28.662-05:00I played Rift. My cleric has like two spell effect...I played Rift. My cleric has like two spell effects. Most of her abilities are close to a paladin's, yet without the visual effects it's really really boring to play. I get a new ability, try it out, some yellow spark like before... meh...<br />I love all the flashy effects on my paladin, the seals, the hammers, the guardian, the bubbles, the wings, my, the wings. It speaks to me as a holy warrior, wielding light. I LOVE it.<br /><br />On a more serious note, visual queues help a lot. When Ardent Defender activated back in Wrath, it would create a pillar of light, a very visible queue for myself and my healers. When I had wings up dps knew what to do. With guardian I can see when it ends without a tracker. Same with execution sentance. With hammer down, even a blind dps can see where to stand. Bright as sun bubble helps the other side in pvp. <br /><br />Sounds and visual effects makes me not like, but love my class.<br /><br />Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18173436197557929355noreply@blogger.com