Why I love Pit of War and what is amazing about the game
Spent some time reading the other thread about what is "wrong" with the game and was going to comment on it. Instead I decided not to because I didn't agree with the tone and how most of it was being said. I also didn't particularly agree with much of the subject matter. I sat in front of my computer and started to compile my own list of items that I thought could be improved upon and then compiled a list of items that I thought were great with the game. The list of items I love about the game was much longer and much easier to create. When looking back at my list of things I think needed improving upon it looked small and inconsequential.
Nate, I'm going to first start off by saying thank you for making such an amazing game. Pit of War has provided me with years of enjoyment and your dedication to the community and to the game is unparalleled in my opinion. I am looking forward to many more years of fun. I am a small business owner myself and know the trial and tribulations we go through on daily basis and the difficulties of balancing the needs of everything we are responsible for. I think you have done a fantastic job and even though nobody around here says it very often I think most of them agree and appreciate your efforts.
Here is my list of things I love about the game in no particular order.
1. The amazing depth of play. I haven't encountered very many games with the the depth of play PoW has. It is truly mind blowing when I think about all the possible permutations of builds, gear, strategies, race selection and so on.
2. Your unbelievable customer service. I can't remember the number of times I've sent you a PM and you responded within 10 or 20 minutes and helped fix whatever was the issue.
3. Gorgeous artwork. When I first saw the art in PoW it floored me. Many years on and I still find myself pausing from time to time to admire it.
4. The attention to detail in the fight engine. I noticed that when a spite is fighting a trug many of the spite's attacks hit the trug's legs and rarely do they hit the head. Makes sense given their height difference. The same holds true when a glad is on the ground attacking the standing glad.
5. The incredible level of thought you put into even the smallest things. When the gauntlet was released I noticed that each race had a logical pattern for their name. Some of them were hard to pronounce but it was clear that you were thinking about the culture of that race and that they probably had their own language and hence their own pattern of naming their offspring.
6. The backstory and lore of the great realm. In a handful of paragraphs and web pages you have managed to create a more compelling and better backdrop and mythology than many books I have read and movies I've watched. I was showing PoW to some friends of mine and one of them said that if this was a d20 series he'd love to GM a campaign for it. My other friend said he'd love to see a movie in the great realm. I believe the words he used was Conan meets Gladiator produced by legendary pictures and directed by Ridley Scott. :)
7. Game balance. In a PvP game with thousands and thousands of permutations for characters the game has always been incredibly balanced. It has never been perfect but it has always been within the spectrum of acceptability. I played World of Warcraft for many years and their team of dedicated employees who were tasked with balancing the arena didn't do a better job than you have as one person.
8. Your availability to the community. I am able to directly speak with you on the forum or through a PM and you always make time and listen. I can't say that for most of the games I play. Most you can not reach the actual developers and others you have to go through levels of gate keepers and still you'll never reach the developers. Even when players write the "if you don't meet my demands I'm going to quit" posts you are still incredibly diplomatic and try and find a solution. Those were always fun posts to read on the WoW forums. I think I saw them officially replied to a total number of 0 times.
9. The flexibly and freedom built into the game giving me the ability to decide how to play the game. For the better part of 3 years I have only managed 1 or 2 glads at a time. Sometimes I'm asked why. It is because for me that is what I have time for. When I got more time in the past I went as high as 3 glads. Many games don't have this sort of option. If I want to play PoW more casually yet do everything and be competitive I can with only 1 or 2 glads. If I want to be hardcore and spend all day playing I can also do that. I don't ever see myself being able to manage multiple teams but I think it is cool that for players who do want to do that they can.
10. I appreciate how when you add new features to the game they are usually optional. If I want to just play the core game loop I can. For example the current topic of gearing. If I want to gear fast I can spend time running the gauntlet and doing conquests. If I don't care how fast I gear I can stick to the arena and blood games. For me I'm not bothered by it as I'm here for the long haul.
11. As the owner of the oldest glad in the game and from an era where starting glads had very low attribute scores I still feel competitive at the top level of the game even though Thunder Lips is not a HoL slave and is not kitted out in the best gear yet. The old girl usually hovers around the middle of the pack in blood gods surrounded by giants and often she takes the top glads down who are HoL slaved and kitted out. I'd like to think part of that has to do with my skill. I also think it has a lot to do with fine tuning on your part to make sure a good balance is still present.
12. You are always trying to make everyone happy. Personally I think this is a mistake and will only cause you stress. I salute you for your efforts though.
13. Over the years the game has been made more and more accessible to everyone. It is now at a point where a new player can join the game and reach the end, acquire the best gear without ever paying a dime and be competitive. In the beginning it wasn't like that. I remember when purples could only be bought with trophies. It will take longer of course but that is just how these types of games work. I can't tell you how many games I stopped playing because a paywall was slammed down. I should also add I've never felt pressured to spend money and you've never been slimy or deceptive like Zynga. Every time I buy trophies I do so willingly and happily knowing I'm supporting a hobby I enjoy.
14. Despite being a team of one Pit of War looks and feels like an entire team is behind it. I still don't understand how you do it.
15. The level of detail in the fight engine is amazing. I have learned more about the game by reading my fights and other player's fights. After all these years I still read many of my fights and find them exciting. I think Narol once said the best graphics engine is your imagination and I agree!
16. Being able to be apart of the game. I have sent you countless messages about PoW. When a new features is introduced that I messaged you about it feels great to know I had a small part in it. The blood games was one such idea I threw your way and it is one of my favorite parts of the game. I don't think I've even gotten a reply from the other games I play other than the typical canned copy and paste message.
I'm sure I could come up with more but this is what I have after a short brainstorming session. I've gone back and reread the other thread and tried to pierce through the bitching and distill it down to the core issues some are having. I have sent you a PM detailing what I think may be the cause and some possible ways to address them.
