Imagineer_Tech
Always And Forever ~ illusionistic
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2007
I actually started logging in daily again and actually playing. Once everything comes out of the stage it's in now everyone will jump back in.
Hi Everyone
I know there are a lot of you concerned about the fact that we will be resetting SmallWorlds before we launch in October. I know that this sounds unfair, and possibly unnecessary to some of you, so I wanted to explain why we have to do this. I also wanted to let you know how we will try and make it up to you all.
As you know, SmallWorlds is currently in beta. The beta gives us the opportunity to test out all the various features of SmallWorlds, and to add new ones based on feedback from the community. During the beta we have to compress the time it takes to achieve things in the world, including buying items and levelling up. To achieve this we have made items cheaper than they would normally be, and made missions and other activities give out more XP than they would normally. Within weeks, many people have spaces packed with items, and have hit the top levels in all the XP paths. Normally this would take several months to achieve.
In the next release, we are introducing wearable and consumable items, and the ability to purchase new spaces (including outdoor zones, islands etc). Many of these items would normally be quite expensive, but we have made them cheaper in order to get more people testing them out during the next phase of the beta process.
If we didnt reset, then most people in the beta would essentially be at the end game, while anyone new coming into the would take months to get to the same level. This would create a huge imbalance in the worlds economy, demoralizing anyone new coming into the world, as everyone will have cool stuff except them.
So, unfortunately, a reset is inevitable. To make it up to you all, in recognition of the time and effort you have put into SmallWorlds already, we will be doing the following for beta users when we reset:
All qualifying beta accounts will:
* Receive 2000 tokens to help them set up their spaces.
* Start at level 20 for all XP paths (Social, Gamer, Artist and Explorer).
* Receive a one-time-only wearable beta item. This item will NEVER be available in the world, and so will become increasingly valuable over time (if you ever choose to sell it).
* Get a special Founding Citizen title (visible when people click on you).
* Receive a 50% discount on premium account fees for 6 months.
* Receive a 50% discount on gold purchases up to 20,000.
We will also be allowing the owners of the top 100 spaces to keep their inventory and their spaces. The selection of the top 100 spaces will be based on ratings and popularity over the period leading up to our launch.
Some additional notes:
* To qualify for the beta bonuses you must be at least level 40 in at least one of the XP Paths (Social, Gamer, Artist or Explorer). With the new user created missions, there will be plenty of ways to get XP up for all of the Paths.
* The top 100 space owners will also qualify for the other beta tester bonuses.
* All beta accounts will be able to repeat the original missions.
I hope this helps explains things more clearly. Please feel free to post questions related to the reset below.
Cheers
And to think we were complaining that everything was too expensive and it it took forever to properly furnish a space!During the beta we have to compress the time it takes to achieve things in the world, including buying items and levelling up. To achieve this we have made items cheaper than they would normally be, and made missions and other activities give out more XP than they would normally. Within weeks, many people have spaces packed with items, and have hit the top levels in all the XP paths. Normally this would take several months to achieve.
The only mission I have is the Swarm one which I have not been able to complete and this is part of the reason I stopped playing SW, that and Wizard 101. I will not be a "qualifying" beta member because I can't get to 40 XP and I won't be able to receive the beta bonuses. If I can't get my one-time only wearable item and my Founding Citizen title, then I don't want to play. -stomps away to go pout in corner-
And to think we were complaining that everything was too expensive and it it took forever to properly furnish a space!
I don't know; it doesn't sound like they're planning to increase the number of missions, and even if they did, it might not have the effect we were expecting.
I've completed all the missions and I'm currently at:
Social: 22
Artist: 20
Explorer: 20
Gamer: 23
So I have no more missions and I'm not even close to L40 in any area. Are the user created missions available? I'm not seeing where to find them or how to create them. Any advice on leveling would be appreciated.
Here comes the popularity thing again; one thing I don't enjoy about SmallWorlds. Guess it goes with the territory for a social game, though.We will also be allowing the owners of the top 100 spaces to keep their inventory and their spaces. The selection of the top 100 spaces will be based on ratings and popularity over the period leading up to our launch.
Here comes the popularity thing again; one thing I don't enjoy about SmallWorlds. Guess it goes with the territory for a social game, though.
Well it's good to see everyone posting with such... passion!
I will try to explain things a little more clearly:
Level 40 XP Requirement:
In the release due out this week, players will be able to create missions for each other. These missions will pay out both XP and tokens, and can be set up to give XP for any one of the XP Paths (Social, Gamer, Artist, Explorer). The tokens do not come out of the player's pocket (who set the mission up), it is paid out by the system. You should be able to get one of the XP Paths up to 40 fairly quickly (and have fun doing it), especially if you already have some around lvl 20.
The reason why we created this restriction is that it would be very easy for a person to create several beta accounts, and get the 2000 tokens from each account, and gift them to their main avatar. Rest assured that we will monitor the progress of players over the coming months, and adjust the yardstick if it is too high. We just want to ensure people aren't able to "game" the beta bonuses (and to get everyone to help us test the new mission system).
Don't worry, no matter what we will ensure that all of you who have been active in SmallWorlds over the past 2-3 months will qualify.
2000 Token Reward:
This value was based on what people would have earned by completing the missions. We may revise it upwards to match any price rebalancing we may do when we launch. We are trying to compensate you back to a level that you would have been at if you were playing the post-beta version (and a little bit more).
Top 100 Spaces:
This will be mainly based on popularity - the number of people visiting your room. The rating itself is not so important, only that people tend to rate it favourably (i.e. you don't trick lots of people to visit your space by misrepresentation).
We are trying to stoke up a bit of competition, encouraging you to come up with ways to get people to come to your space often (hint: having an interesting and popular mission will do this as people will be wanting to earn XP and/or tokens to get their space set up and into the popularity list).
These are the final 4-6 weeks of testing, and we want to encourage as much activity as we can to make sure everything works, and get feedback so we can make final tweaks and improvements.
Good Point.. Where is our Dancing Inferno Magic?Yeah, yeah, whatever. Where are my spells?