submitted by lifebane on Jun 5th, 2007
Tags: lifebane, phathom, project manager, soe, thom
Greetings fellow practitioners of the darker arts of Telon. The powers that be over at the Vanguard Players Site released a news article or two in the last couple days that deserved a bit of a reply. Let's start off with this:
"Article on Vanguard Players called Introduction to PhAtHoM Hey all!
My name is Thom Terrazas and I just recently joined the Vanguard Team in full capacity. I haven't played Vanguard as much as I should but I am about to change that and this is where you come into play if you don't mind helping a newbie out?
I've usually chosen the path of a Paladin in previous games and have played a few levels of various characters on Vanguard so far but I haven't made up my mind on which to play solely. I'm thinking about going back to my roots to start a new Paladin again but thought I would check with the community about what you thought would be the best character to play and why?
I like the melee action but sometimes it seems a bit laboring and boring (without all the bells and whistles of a caster) and I have started to lean more towards versatility, like say with a Druid. So what's the most powerful class to play? and/or a better question, what is the most fun to play? ...and do you have any tips on that type of character with complimentary crafting skills?
Thanks in advance for the insight and see you in game!
Thom Terrazas
Project Manager
Sony Online Entertainment"
Hrmm.... my inner cynic can not help but pick this apart... can ... not... resist...temptation...too..great...arrgh!! Why fight it I know... here we go:
How to introduce yourself as the new project Manager:
Step 1: Establish credibility - Reassure all parties involved that you are knowledgable in the project's subject matter and able to jump right in and get things on the right track!
"I haven't played Vanguard as much as I should... "
Haven't played it as much as you should, yet you are going to run a project and in essence control the flow and fun of the game with your seal of approval.
Step 2: Show a broad range of knowledge - Ensure that people are aware of your diverse knowledge as it relates to the project. Make sure they see how you have approached the project from various angles and that you are capable of seeing multiple sides of an issue.
"I'm thinking about going back to my roots to start a new Paladin again... "
Go for what you know! no need to understand how the other classes perceive the game hehe. I am guessing those goody goody Palys will be getting buffed soon hehe.
Step 3: Show that you are ready to focus on what is important - Let those involved see how you are immediately leaping into the project to fix what needs fixing and get things on the right track. Establish goals and deadlines as able. "thought I would check with the community about what you thought would be the best character to play and why?... "
Okay, I guess you actually playing the game some and getting a clue what the problems are would be nice. Although, giving an idea of what you are in fact MANAGING and what the immediate plans are as well as priorities are would be a pretty good idea.
Step 4: Reinforce the overall goal of the project - Ensure that all parties involved see that you are focused on making the project stay true to its original concept... The fun massively MMO game that Sigil had envisioned (Go Brad!) "So what's the most powerful class to play? and/or a better question, what is the most fun to play?... "
Well now, why is the more important question not the first one to roll off those typing fingers? Most powerful seemed fairly important hehe. Or perhaps he knows more about the game than we may initially think and he already realizes that fun is hard to find currently so he went straight to the powerful. And besides, just run the stats on server population and note which class has the highest percentage of people playing it, ta-da! there ya go, most powerful hehe. See! I didn't say Death Clerics! bwahaha!
Step 5: Ensure that communication is key - Make sure that all team members understand the importance of clear communication channels. Nothing worse than a project effort being led with poor communication between the project members and the project manager..
"Thanks in advance for the insight ... "
Well Thom, why I think you would benefit greatly from my insight, it would be a tad easier to dispense such insight to you IF you gave a method of posting it or emailing it to you. Why would you post something like this asking for player feedback yet not give them a channel by which to respond via. I know, I know.. you are being a nitpick y necromancer Lifebane! But these things need be said now and then to keep us all honest and well, pop a clue in for those in need of one!
Bugger.. I had meant to also reply a bit to the "Double EXP on test" news item as well, but fortunately for them, they have fixed the problems already so I am unable to poke any fun at it. bleh. Suffice it to say that Proofreading is not optional when posting things on a corporate website.
Good luck PhAtHoM and enjoy the Paladin (Did I neglect to mention the lack of professionalism with being introduced by a handle rather than your actual name and title?!)
Lifebane
vgnecro.com
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by jonaphin 108 weeks ago
SOE: for future reference, run it by LIFEBANE before posting, especially on an official website.
He is a Campaign Analyst / Number Cruncher / *censored* in Real Life for a reason... Just a little advice, RUN IT BY HIM! Seriously.
by elgarr 108 weeks ago
by dread 108 weeks ago
Necros are fine, top priority for me would be to fix the bugs associated with them and maybe give them a few more boosts like a minion over-haul, and more graft dynamics so that we can really specialize with our pets; Because as it stands right now grafts are under utilized in my opinion as far as switching grafts out for encounters.
-Vulpecula
Flamehammer Server
by virulence 108 weeks ago
by deusex 108 weeks ago
In all seriousness, our project manager knows NOTHING about Vanguard?!?!? This is another instance of a brash, poorly-thought out SOE move. Another thing, he's going to be "enlightened" on the official forums? You mean those same forums that are chalk full of whiny morons who would only promote bad decisions that would unbalance the game (i.e. Clerics aren't powerful enough! Huh, what affinities?).
by lifebane 108 weeks ago
http://forums.station.sony.com/vg/posts/list.m?topic_id=10712
by zebaoth 108 weeks ago
Who said something about chimp employees coding Vanguard? He must be the Leader or something is wrong out there...
by sulien 108 weeks ago
by lumpyloaf 108 weeks ago
No matter if he was right or wrong; I think he was trying out his own strategy to communicate with the community. His post is coming across as more of an attempt to introduce himself in a friendly and personable role, rather than a corporate project management role. He may be trying to allow a bond to develop between himself and the community.
I think a lot (not all) of people in the community are more receptive to someone trying to relate to their game and understand it, rather than have someone come in and pretend to understand it and begin making a lot of needless changes. Of course he could look up logs and find out hard numbers on the game (most likely already has). However, this post seems to cater to individuals who may not be as well versed in corporate critical writing/thinking. It is directed, more likely, to those who want to feel someone is there to help them and take a sincere interest in the game.
by lifebane 108 weeks ago
At this point in time, the best way to make players think you are on their side and there to help is to come out with something helpful. For starters, what DO YOU do in this new position? What changes are coming? time tables? etc.
I hope he has a positive impact on the game in this new position of his, but based solely on that initial post... I was not left in any way reassured that good things are to come. Thom, oh lover of palys, prove me wrong please :P
by abrag 108 weeks ago
+ create raid places so pepole arent dependent on spawn rates,
its the purity of the classes that makes VG special.
imagine that you took over a game:
are you satisfied with the mele classes vs caster?
do they need more dept?
if you dont do damage with you weapon can you buff with spell and kill?,
is that more fun or better?,
to advanced? for most new player or even younger players?
i think the big change will be to see what is being done to the classes, i think there going to get a class profiling going.
compared to other online VG has pure classes, that arent forced into balance by pvp rules to please players.(in my opinion were wow went worng)
casters are soposed to be usless as mele fighters even against low level mob,
other games just gives the classes spells that work equaly well despite there not cast by a caster class.
in VG this are called abilites and are racial or class specific.
comparing VG to WOW:
(its bad but pepole was doin it the second VG came out even if WOW stole alot from GW and the EQ games.)
but imagine this the caracter is dear to you but its getting hard to play it,
in WOW you can kill alot by going minus levels and using a ability that is makeup to make god mode possibole for pepole that want a break.
but sometimes you go into "im not payin more money" mode:
you think you picked wrong class? hmm but i dont want to re roll.
no re roll = you stop to play,
re roll is more money for SOE but you not satisfied with the game anymore,
a bad but possibole solution by soe:
lets make the classes better and give them more "action"
lets do what WOW did by giving mages pets,
lets give the sorcerer a form and a magick bird,
that way we can play magical ranger or fake a druid for a night thats fun right!?,
no re roll. just non stop action and no hardcore RPG attitude is needed?
as it is now:
in VG you can still have a problem if its a mele mob as a caster.
you got buffs but pure logic says that cloth dont protect as good as plate against a club in the head,
spells and bells and lights going off may change this simple fact.
lets hope that the classes remain pure and not are being turned into xbox 4 button esayer to play classes, just to sell the game to pepole.
Blizzard did this and added 2 races + more things that moved, That was called burning crusade.
VG biggest strength is that you play what you picked as a class, and mix that with a race and you dont have a duplicate of "you".
other online games are limited in this way, thank god for ad&D 3.5 attribute system and that you can not raid a cave and get a complete set of gear,
i may be worring for nothing, but when i stopt playing WOW the swedish translation dident say the interface was made to be esay to use even from the age of 12, it does now.
wow is what evry company is looking to as being the biggest winner when it comes to money.
lets hope its hets better.
(i spell bad so use patiense when reading my text,)
by jonaphin 108 weeks ago
by supernaught 108 weeks ago
Oh and paladins don't need love *cough Vulpecula* so long as they have a group. Take it from a guy who runs both a cleric ( on occasion ) and a pally.
by lifebane 108 weeks ago