CoX recently introduced Issue 16. With this change, CoX pioneered something that is completely new, but seemingly had a little ripple in the MMO community. By allowing players to be able to team together with no level restrictions, NCSoft has breathed new life into CoX.
Now that this change is live, I believe its the right time for the development team to focus on something it has neglected for quite a long time: teaming. This is something thats ignored in nearly every MMO to date. Development teams neglect to insure that the players can actually
find other players and communicate
effectively while teaming with them.
Im not sure whats possible with the CoX engine, but Id like to introduce some teaming changes that Id think would greatly improve the game. CoX shines in a team environment and it should focus on solidifying that experience so that it can continue to be a viable MMO.
The suggestions would include:
Ready Check, Team Inspiration Bar, Status Balloons, Leadership Options, Group Queuing, and Searchable Groups.
Ready Check
This is self explanatory. Its something helpful after a large amount of your group goes Away-From-Keyboard after a mission or in between huge fights so you have some clue that the team is truly ready.
Team Inspiration Bar
The idea behind this would be a much faster delivery system for those that have inspirations and want to get them to archetypes that could make the most use of it. Instead of right clicking, selecting a player name, and getting in range of said player, the team inspiration bar would be a dumping point for these inspirations. No longer would people have to spend inordinate amounts of time asking:
Does anyone have an Awaken? Or the ever classic:
I have a yellow, and two blues... How about you?
This feature could be abused by players and be a point of argument if people get a little too liberal with how often then dip into it, but the overall effect should be a better team experience.
Status Balloons
When youre thick in the middle of the fight healers do not notice those tiny icons that indicate whats wrong with a player. Making a key that allows a player to call out whats wrong with their character could mean the difference between a team wipe and surviving an encounter. Ensuring that the players can see the Status Balloons even if theyre not facing the affected player is also something that should be considered.
Leadership Options
CoX should have something for those that actually want to lead a group. Consistent leaders mean reliable groups for players to join. You could even make a leadership experience and have leadership levels that give you more leadership options such as:
Leadership Level 1: Team Recall Much like the Veteran Reward of the same name. However, since this must be earned through play I would hope that it could have a considerable reduction in recharge time.
Leadership Level 2: Team Broadcast Has your team split? Do you see them getting destroyed by Tsoo Sorcerers, or Sappers because theyre neglecting to target them? Tell them with Team Broadcast. The Team Broadcast should have priority over all other dialog boxes and messages.
Leadership Level 3: Select Mob(s) For those times when you need some real strategy. Highlight specific mobs that you want the team to focus on.
Leadership Level 4: Command Calls Similar to Select Mobs, except you use it on players for times when you want the team to buff, heal, or protect a specific player.
Leadership Level 5: Team Resurrect Self Explanatory. Give it a high recharge. Its purpose is to be available for those times when you need everyone up right then and there, like during a Rikti or Hamidon Raid. This shouldnt trivialize too much content and it will give players another option since there is not always going to be a Dark Miasma - Howling Twilight and Trick Arrow Oil Slick combo to save everyones butt.
Group Queuing: Allow solo players to apply to groups.
Reason:
Searching from zone to zone with the current options is cumbersome: You can spend upwards of 15 minutes (at a minimum) trying to gather a full group on off hours. I use the search function extensively when Im building a team. However, other than prime time, building a full group is a complete and utter pain. Its not because there arent people; Players can be in missions, dialog screens, or currently zoning into a new area which causes team leaders to miss Looking-For-Group broadcasts. Even when you form the team, you still have to worry about team attrition.
If people leave in the middle of a mission due to real life emergencies, or rage quit because they died, and that player is a lynchpin class (such as healer or a tank) it can leave your team in a bind.
While some will say:
You dont need a Tank/Brute! or
You dont need a Healer! After leading many Pick-Up-Groups Ive come to only one conclusion: Yes you do, unless a large majority of your team is experienced.
By allowing players to queue up to groups, team leaders will be able to keep the action rolling along.
Searchable Groups
Let leaders levels be visible in group listings along with the classes that are currently in the group (L-1 through L-5 represents the leader levels)
Players should know what theyre getting into when they group up. They should be able to see what kind of leader they have and what classes theyll be fighting with.