Tutorial-Runner Event Results ...
Posted: 03 Sep 2011 07:03
The Tutorial-Runner event was a complete success! Behold, the stats:
Contest start time : 20:07
Contest end time : 22:46
Contest duration : 2h 39m
Number of participants : 22
Number who competed throughout : 18
Number who finished before the end : 8
3rd Place Finalist : Castaneda (21:46 - 99 minutes)
2nd Place Finalist : Seren (21:27 - 80 minutes)
1st Place Winner : Pharaxes (20:59 - 52 minutes!!)
Henhouse Deathmatch Winner (extra!) : Logg (vs. 8 opponents)
In the end, there was a very distinct difference between the winners.
Clearly, Pharaxes had done his homework, having created no less than 14
test-newbies over the last 5 days to figure out the most streamlined
approach to tutorial mastery - a brilliant plan, that did not fail! Seren
was far ahead of the pack as well. Castaneda had to hustle by beating
out a few others who were hot on his tail when he finally struck down the
Vampire and earned his 3rd place finish. The event ended with a real nail-
biter as Herenya managed to finally earn the kill and finish the quest
with only 2 minutes left to go. A very satisfying conclusion!
Following the fun, the remaining participants were inclined to join me
in Farmer Brown's henhouse for a last-man-standing newbie deathmatch. After
a few fierce minutes, Castaneda and Logg were the last two remaining, and
both at good health. But in the end, there could be only one, and Lavellan,
myself, and the ghosts of many chickens clucked wildly as Logg brutally
ripped the life from his opponent. A glorious victory, and the prize was
a set of midnight black fullplate from the Orc Captain.
The participants really did a great job with this event, and not only did
they have fun in the competition, but they helped the game by illuminating
weaknesses in the tutorial area that require attention so that we are as
ready as we can be for promotion. We were delighted to see that the
instancing worked flawlessly, but there emerged some choke-point issues
from other aspects of the design. In the end, this is what we came to learn.
When many players are trying to solve the tutorial at once:
- Faster respawn of the bunnies is needed so players can earn the money
needed to train their swimming and awareness skills.
- Faster respawn of the wolves is needed so players can easily find
the necessary number of intestines to make the rope.
- More backpacks need to be available for purchase in the general store.
- Faster respawn of the lions is needed so players can find the necessary
number of claws to make the grappling hook.
- Faster regrowth of the clove herbs in the forest are needed so players
can find them without having to wait an obnoxiously long time.
- More torches need to be available for purchase in the general store.
Excellent knowledge, this! (and not too hard to fix.)
All in all, a fantastic success. My thanks to all who participated in the
event! I will be putting together your rewards of stones, herbs, nullstones,
and items. For those of you who won glowing weapons and armours, I am
happy to wait until after the next Armageddon to give them to you, if that
is what you would prefer. I will be somewhat busy between now and next
Tuesday, due to the Memorial Weekend holiday in America. But I will have
everyone's rewards to them ASAP!
Gratefully,
G.
Contest start time : 20:07
Contest end time : 22:46
Contest duration : 2h 39m
Number of participants : 22
Number who competed throughout : 18
Number who finished before the end : 8
3rd Place Finalist : Castaneda (21:46 - 99 minutes)
2nd Place Finalist : Seren (21:27 - 80 minutes)
1st Place Winner : Pharaxes (20:59 - 52 minutes!!)
Henhouse Deathmatch Winner (extra!) : Logg (vs. 8 opponents)
In the end, there was a very distinct difference between the winners.
Clearly, Pharaxes had done his homework, having created no less than 14
test-newbies over the last 5 days to figure out the most streamlined
approach to tutorial mastery - a brilliant plan, that did not fail! Seren
was far ahead of the pack as well. Castaneda had to hustle by beating
out a few others who were hot on his tail when he finally struck down the
Vampire and earned his 3rd place finish. The event ended with a real nail-
biter as Herenya managed to finally earn the kill and finish the quest
with only 2 minutes left to go. A very satisfying conclusion!
Following the fun, the remaining participants were inclined to join me
in Farmer Brown's henhouse for a last-man-standing newbie deathmatch. After
a few fierce minutes, Castaneda and Logg were the last two remaining, and
both at good health. But in the end, there could be only one, and Lavellan,
myself, and the ghosts of many chickens clucked wildly as Logg brutally
ripped the life from his opponent. A glorious victory, and the prize was
a set of midnight black fullplate from the Orc Captain.
The participants really did a great job with this event, and not only did
they have fun in the competition, but they helped the game by illuminating
weaknesses in the tutorial area that require attention so that we are as
ready as we can be for promotion. We were delighted to see that the
instancing worked flawlessly, but there emerged some choke-point issues
from other aspects of the design. In the end, this is what we came to learn.
When many players are trying to solve the tutorial at once:
- Faster respawn of the bunnies is needed so players can earn the money
needed to train their swimming and awareness skills.
- Faster respawn of the wolves is needed so players can easily find
the necessary number of intestines to make the rope.
- More backpacks need to be available for purchase in the general store.
- Faster respawn of the lions is needed so players can find the necessary
number of claws to make the grappling hook.
- Faster regrowth of the clove herbs in the forest are needed so players
can find them without having to wait an obnoxiously long time.
- More torches need to be available for purchase in the general store.
Excellent knowledge, this! (and not too hard to fix.)
All in all, a fantastic success. My thanks to all who participated in the
event! I will be putting together your rewards of stones, herbs, nullstones,
and items. For those of you who won glowing weapons and armours, I am
happy to wait until after the next Armageddon to give them to you, if that
is what you would prefer. I will be somewhat busy between now and next
Tuesday, due to the Memorial Weekend holiday in America. But I will have
everyone's rewards to them ASAP!
Gratefully,
G.
