[MUD-Dev] Community? (Level Grind)

[Brian Thyer]

Sean Howard wrote:
> "Erik Bethke" <erikbethke at gmail.com> wrote:

>> I for one am tired of the level grind.

> No arguments there.... from anybody. Nobody likes the grind, but
> it is a convenient and overly effect gameplay pattern that works,
> even when it is poorly implemented. Unfortunately, that's more
> common than not.

Actually, that's not entirely true.  There are plenty of players out
there who *do* like the level grind.  They may complain about it
with the others, but they enjoy the time and process involved with
grinding out level after level fighting the same monster over and
over for a small amount of exp each time.  They enjoy the mindless
dull over and over work.  It's a way to relaxing, spacing out,
escaping the world they live in and simply "veg" out.

> I'm only tired of the grind in that it is the SAME grind, game
> after game after game. Playing something like Disgaea, which has a
> unique grind (but still a grind), is a wonderful experience. Let's
> leave our AD&D roots behind and forge a new path towards a new
> grind to get tired of!

I don't want to imply that I'm not all for this, or that I think it
wouldn't be successful because I am and I do.  But in an MMO setting
how do you achieve a unique grind experience?  Do you give exp
bonuses/penalties for staying in one place vs moving?  Do you
instance the entire games so you're simply moving from instanced
zone to instance zone?

I hate to over simply, but maybe Everquest has it right.  If you
want, playing EQ, you can dungeon crawl.  Not only with the LDON
expansion but in any dungeon really, you can go in and crawl through
killing mob after mob working your way deeper.  Or you can sit in
one corner, pull to yourself, and kill the same monster over and
over again.  Most people see that latter one (the typical "grind")
as the only option a.) due to over crowding of popular areas and b.)
because a lot of people like to do it.  If the majority of people
are sitting and grinding the majority of people *will* sit and
grind.  Circular maybe?

I'm almost tempted to say the problem isn't the games, it isn't the
setting and what's available, it's an interpersonal problem between
designers, players, and bored players.  Designers want to see
something new and different, they want to take the genre to the next
level, see it expand and grow and evolve.  Bored players want to see
something new.  They next big thing, the next game, bored players
supply the demand for new MMOs.  Players, just regular average Joe
players, don't want new and different.  Regular players want the
same old thing, the level grind, the same boring hack and slash.

- Brian
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