Play more - Grind less! If you feel to need to grind you are doing something wrong.

[Shaamaan]

Its sad you cant seem to understand the point of the thread.

If you read my posts you will see that I "fathom" very well why people think its a grind. But I just say - stop doing it or take breaks.

NOTHING IS FORCING YOU.

People are clearly saying they are not having fun so... why the fork (an instrument of eating) are they doing it?

So, you're NOT putting blame on the players then? Wait, even this reply seems to suggest that you do. I'm confused.

As to your last question, its actually quite simple. They keep hoping that the fun bit is just around the corner, after they get that next ship / module. Why do they complain? Perhaps it's because they care. I know if I didn't care I'd just uninstall the game and fork off. That's exactly what happened with another space-sim I bought on Steam. It was so bad, it hardly even worked. But I didn't care. I forgot about it (these days I'd ask for a refund, but those weren't available at that point).

 

[CMDR M Kozak]

So, you're NOT putting blame on the players then? Wait, even this reply seems to suggest that you do. I'm confused.

I AM putting the blame on the player...

Its up to the players to USE the variety available. If they ONLY do RES sites, or ONLY trade paladium then its bound to get dull.

So, for the record:

If you feel you only log on to grind - you are doing something wrong.
If you are tired of Grinding - its up to you to either stop or do something else.

As one example even powerplay gives you different ways and methods to support your power.

Everything becomes a grind if the player abuses it.

 

[Shaamaan]

I AM putting the blame on the player...

Its up to the players to USE the variety available. If they ONLY do RES sites, or ONLY trade paladium then its bound to get dull.

And people keep telling you that said alternatives are also boring. In theory, you could finish Elite if you:
- mine an asteroid
- explore a star system
- kill a wanted NPC
- pirate a clean NPC
- trade for a bit

These are the core aspects of the game. And really, if you stop and think about it for a second, that really is IT. Can you negotiate with an NPC when trading? Can you demand cargo when pirating NPCs? Can you affect supply and demand via piracy? Heck, does the supply and demand actually WORK beyond the simplistic "from - to" price range model? Can you actually leave a mark and "blaze your own trail"? At the moment the biggest mark you can leave is via exploration - you leave a small tag on a stellar body for everyone to see, and it's far more than you can leave behind doing anything else.

While the general suggestion of "do something else to break the monotony" is a valid one, the problem is that in ED almost all (if not ALL) actions become monotonous very quickly. This is a problem. Mile wide, inch deep, and that whole jazz.

I know it's a completely different game, but you should check out the Witcher 3, and compare how loaded with content that game is compared with ED. And you can identify repeating tasks in that game as well, except that game goes above and beyond to make sure these tasks aren't boring.

In general, it's up to the game designer(s) to make the game as fun as possible, and take into account what players might want to do. It's NOT the players fault. In essence, your suggestion is a workaround to a problem. It's not "the fix", and subsequently you shouldn't shift the blame onto the players, because it's not their fault.

 

[Marshall...]

I regularly "wing up" with newer players to go bounty hunting or messing about doing some sparring, which I find good fun. We get decent credits (if we go bounty hunting), they, hopefully, learn a thing or two and I get that warm glowing feeling that I have helped a fellow CMDR.

I've had more "fun" the last two weeks doing this and trying to protect other players from CMDR pirates at CGs, than I have in ages.

 

[Sire]

Grinding*fun=K that means that if you raise the value of one of the two factors the other lowers proportionally. It's up to every player's choice to decide whether to prioritize grindig or fun.

 

[CMDR M Kozak]

And people keep telling you that said alternatives are also boring. In theory, you could finish Elite if you:
- mine an asteroid
- explore a star system
- kill a wanted NPC
- pirate a clean NPC
- trade for a bit

These are the core aspects of the game. And really, if you stop and think about it for a second, that really is IT. Can you negotiate with an NPC when trading? Can you demand cargo when pirating NPCs? Can you actually leave a mark and "blaze your own trail"? At the moment the biggest mark you can leave is via exploration - you leave a small tag on a stellar body for everyone to see, and it's far more than you can leave behind doing anything else.

While the general suggestion of "do something else to break the monotony" is a valid one, the problem is that in ED almost all (if not ALL) actions become monotonous very quickly. This is a problem. Mile wide, inch deep, and that whole jazz.

I know it's a completely different game, but you should check out the Witcher 3, and compare how loaded with content that game is compared with ED. And you can identify repeating tasks in that game as well, except that game goes above and beyond to make sure these tasks aren't boring.

Witcher 3 is not my type of game - im a space dude. So I have no basis to talk about it on.
But as far as I understand Witcher 3 is a game with endings. Its linear and scripted even though you have options - they are scripted. ED is very different but could benefit from such story arcs.

That aside, I disagree with you that "in ED almost all (if not all) actions become monotonous very quickly".
Any discussion kinda ends there because you are burned out and Im not.
I dont think we can find common ground.

Could ED benefit from even more variety or scripted content or... or..? Sure. I agree with you there 100%.

 

[Shaamaan]

Witcher 3 is not my type of game - im a space dude. So I have no basis to talk about it on.

But as far as I understand Witcher 3 is a game with endings. Its linear and scripted even though you have options - they are scripted. ED is very different but could benefit from such story arcs.

Fair enough. I suggested the Witcher 3 merely as an example of a game filled to the brim with content. It's also true that the game has an ending, but it's also a sandbox game.

That aside, I disagree with you that "in ED almost all (if not all) actions become monotonous very quickly".
Any discussion kinda ends there because you are burned out and Im not.
I dont think we can find common ground.

I've postulated before that grind itself isn't bad nor good. It's how it's perceived by players. While we, as in specifically you and me, might not agree, it kind of doesn't matter. What matters, is that more and more players begin to feel that the game is too grindy. And only FDev can make sure this changes for the better - NOT the players.

Could ED benefit from even more variety or scripted content or... or..? Sure. I agree with you there 100%.

I think it's not only a case of "could benefit from"... this game NEEDS more content. Notice that most of the content being currently added is text-based. Text-based content in a space-sim game, one with such stellar graphics no less - it's really easy to ignore it! And even if you don't ignore it there's little OF that content. Just as an example: complete a mission, and what do you get? A few progress bars. There's no continuity, no meaningful end-result.

Basically, everything about ED which isn't an audio-visual aspect could be massively improved.

 

[mbar]

My advice to a new player would be to work your way up to a Viper or Cobra and then you're pretty much set to do what ever you want in the game. The game balance is such that you should not feel the need to "Get that next ship." Only go for a ship you like and fits your play style then upgrade it as you make more credits.

 

[Samosa]

The game measures progress by filling buckets with the result of repetition. That is the nature of the game. If people can look at a horse and see a unicorn, well, that's lovely - but it is what it is.

FD knows this and are in the process of adding depth, and that's wonderful!