I was asked on behalf of my Alliance and several others to write this letter. If you agree with its contents, we ask that you sign your player name and server below to show the scale of opinion.
Dear Producer,
Earlier today, Riders of Icarus community staff conveyed a letter on your behalf. In it, you described a list of problems with current PVP content, specifically relating to Manastone Wars and inter-Alliance cooperation. You described working on possible solutions to these problems, and rather than attempting any of them, disbanding every Alliance in the game.
On behalf of every Alliance on every server, I'd like to request that you reconsider. As evidenced by the overwhelmingly negative feedback from players, it's quite obvious that this decision will serve to frustrate and alienate. Alliances offer robust communities and chats that enliven players and encourage cooperation. They are fertile soil for activity and friendships which would be placed at odds if stripped from us, even temporarily. When it concerns these friendships, loyalties, and cooperation, understand that Alliances are now no different than Guilds. Within the theater of contested content, cooperation and competition are inevitable regardless of how big the player groups are. Disbanding our Alliances will simply hinder our cooperation; not prevent it.
It is widely considered that this action would be a continuation of a disturbing pattern wherein changes to the core mechanics cater to casual players at the expense of dedicated ones-- passing out free marks, increasing rates of heroic tames, giving out collection rewards like Golden Laiku, increasing rates of world bosses, distributing boss loot to all participants, and now breaking apart the largest Manastone War competitors-- these changes may serve to appease casual players, but cheapen and disrespect the time, money, hard work and skill this game's most active players have dedicated towards achieving success.
Moreover, they discourage us from dedicating any further resources in future content. Why collect every tame if you'll give the reward away free? Why work to beat every boss if you pass out their rewards for free? If you'll increase their frequency, and devalue the rewards by distributing them to all participants? Why work hard together to build a powerful Alliance capable of winning Manastone Wars if you'll disband us, just to give more casual players a win?
These changes betray a lack of regard for the beating heart of every multi-player game; competition.
When the community backlash reached a fever pitch in the official Discord earlier, many potential fixes were proposed-- I'm sure several of which you've already considered. For instance, placing a cool down on Alliances who win a Manastone, to prevent them from participating in subsequent Wars for a set period would open the content to other guilds and Alliances. Regardless, the point is that players would universally prefer any fix to disbanding Alliances and forcing friends to fight each other.
This community does not believe you are incapable of finding a better way to approach these imbalances.
On a final note, I'd like speak on behalf of the Alliance I am in... the only Alliance in Riders of Icarus who've already experienced being disbanded. Understand that when our contact with each other was cut off, when the Alliance name and symbol we'd made together and fought for together no longer appeared above our names, it did not turn us against each other as expected; it turned us against you.
There are few things in a game players covet or take ownership of as passionately as the banner they share with their friends, and today you proposed stripping all of us of them.
For our sake, for your sake, for the future of this game's sake... don't.
Not for a day, not for a week, not ever.
With regards,
Iron - Baellas
Dear Producer,
Earlier today, Riders of Icarus community staff conveyed a letter on your behalf. In it, you described a list of problems with current PVP content, specifically relating to Manastone Wars and inter-Alliance cooperation. You described working on possible solutions to these problems, and rather than attempting any of them, disbanding every Alliance in the game.
On behalf of every Alliance on every server, I'd like to request that you reconsider. As evidenced by the overwhelmingly negative feedback from players, it's quite obvious that this decision will serve to frustrate and alienate. Alliances offer robust communities and chats that enliven players and encourage cooperation. They are fertile soil for activity and friendships which would be placed at odds if stripped from us, even temporarily. When it concerns these friendships, loyalties, and cooperation, understand that Alliances are now no different than Guilds. Within the theater of contested content, cooperation and competition are inevitable regardless of how big the player groups are. Disbanding our Alliances will simply hinder our cooperation; not prevent it.
It is widely considered that this action would be a continuation of a disturbing pattern wherein changes to the core mechanics cater to casual players at the expense of dedicated ones-- passing out free marks, increasing rates of heroic tames, giving out collection rewards like Golden Laiku, increasing rates of world bosses, distributing boss loot to all participants, and now breaking apart the largest Manastone War competitors-- these changes may serve to appease casual players, but cheapen and disrespect the time, money, hard work and skill this game's most active players have dedicated towards achieving success.
Moreover, they discourage us from dedicating any further resources in future content. Why collect every tame if you'll give the reward away free? Why work to beat every boss if you pass out their rewards for free? If you'll increase their frequency, and devalue the rewards by distributing them to all participants? Why work hard together to build a powerful Alliance capable of winning Manastone Wars if you'll disband us, just to give more casual players a win?
These changes betray a lack of regard for the beating heart of every multi-player game; competition.
When the community backlash reached a fever pitch in the official Discord earlier, many potential fixes were proposed-- I'm sure several of which you've already considered. For instance, placing a cool down on Alliances who win a Manastone, to prevent them from participating in subsequent Wars for a set period would open the content to other guilds and Alliances. Regardless, the point is that players would universally prefer any fix to disbanding Alliances and forcing friends to fight each other.
This community does not believe you are incapable of finding a better way to approach these imbalances.
On a final note, I'd like speak on behalf of the Alliance I am in... the only Alliance in Riders of Icarus who've already experienced being disbanded. Understand that when our contact with each other was cut off, when the Alliance name and symbol we'd made together and fought for together no longer appeared above our names, it did not turn us against each other as expected; it turned us against you.
There are few things in a game players covet or take ownership of as passionately as the banner they share with their friends, and today you proposed stripping all of us of them.
For our sake, for your sake, for the future of this game's sake... don't.
Not for a day, not for a week, not ever.
With regards,
Iron - Baellas