Nord Invasion about to fizzle out.

[Noidenous]

[quote author=Noidenous link=topic=45644.msg239946#msg239946 date=1440160572]
I don't care how the kiting is prevented (players marginally slower than the AI seems best), but this mod will most certainly die unless the gameplay is opened up to allow for freeform battle once more. The AI is too stupid to deal with 'tactical' (I say tactical, but really, it's a single cheap tactic) play, but in a swarm on open ground, it offers a challenge that is difficult to overcome when the force balance is 4:1.

I think you're romanticizing that era. If you recall, there was a time period where developers were actively removing barricade and potential base locations from maps. The result was a huge blow to the active population. Here was the public outcry. Face facts, most people want ease in their leisure activities. This current situation of the removal of kite paths is a straight analogy to the issues of removing cade spots discussed in the thread I linked, and we're literally repeating history.
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I believe the problem at the time was a lack of mappers and, by extension, quality maps, despite the nature of said public outcry.

Instead of having more elaborate maps that allowed for progressive difficulty -- rather than the smack in the face that Hard Mode was at the time -- barricading became so much the norm that it was absolutely required and had to be catered for. This was especially the case when proximal looting was introduced.

I'd be more inclined to play some of the maps included now if the necessity for walling/cading was reduced and the different modes were reworked accordingly.

Sure, grouping together in that manner would still work, thus making legendary and material drops easier to come by, but I personally don't need a legendary chance to enjoy myself. The draw for me used to be that a Commando or Archer could solo up to level 8 on normal and help newbies progress if they'd put in the time necessary, yet be easily overcome on later waves without experienced assistance.

Watching someone take on all the remaining Zweihanders used to add a level of fun that naturally built a level of freeform teamwork and gave the scrubs something to work towards. Hard Mode was simply too hard and removed all enjoyment garnered in such a way.

The overall design process had some serious flaws and with each patch, another band-aid was applied in ignorance/spite of the underlying problem.