I finally spent some time wandering around the lands in Clan Lord the other night. I stumbled into the new areas of East Forest while simply trying to get to the passes. I am all for new areas and all, but am I the only person who finds new areas appearing in the midst of old ones jarring and irritating? We play the game for months and months, and we gradually learn our way around. Instead of having new areas developed extending what we already know, we find what we already know is no longer valid at all. It feels very disrespectful to me, and to the spirit of the game. If you are going to dramatic shift the existing, known world around, come up with a reason for it.

To the area crafting GMs, these maps may just be chunks of data and arbitrary levels, but to us, it's our world. Any chance of a sense of immersion in the game depends on continuity and a sense of flow.

Along those lines, is it possible to actually find ways to have new areas gradually accessible after an update? For instance, if a new region is available, don't open it up the night of the update. Have it timed so that at first a path is available a few days after the update, and then a few days later, have a "rock slide" or some other in-game premise turn the pass into a regular passage. It would make the new area seem a lot more special if it didn't just appear after the update. Having the world reshuffled every two weeks makes everything in the game feel so arbitrary.


In looking at my little poll, it seems the general consensus is the site is a little Clan Lord heavy. I'll try to shift my blathering a bit. My thanks to the people who bothered to vote. And, speaking of vote, I did my duty yesterday.

And, though I know little insider remarks are very annoying, grant me this one indulgence: to my gentle muse, thank you for Monday night.
posted 10:17 AM | link |