The update is good. The reflow well done. I started a new character just to see what the experience was like and can say that it is much improved with the two new collectors in Uriah to give newbs a couple pieces of good clothing to start. The reflow simply makes sense. And giving newbs tactic buffed clothes to start is a great way to introduce them to the existence and importance of tactics.

Almost all the loot from both the collectors and hideout bosses in Richland and Westview has been upgraded. I’ve lost lots of items to the accelerated decay but have had no incident of accelerated decay on any items that came from outside these two districts. That includes my Sakura Ninja Bandana, Direwolf Coat, Troll’s Hide, Dragonskin Wrap, Lancetr, Bedlam, Clamor and anything else I can’t think of off the top of my head.

Considering that the new loot is better and that most peeps who have been playing for a long time got rare drops during the great era of the respawn bug, I can’t sympathize with complaints about the decay. If the decay weren’t there, peeps would still be going after the new loot because it is better. Indeed, the decay makes perfect sense too as it phases out old lesser items (which has been done before BTW) and, without the respawn bug in the hideouts, makes ‘rare’ items more realistically rare. It also gives one more thing to do as a level 50 (which of course is the other thing so often complained about, nothing to do at level 50…blah blah blah)

As far as being level 50 and not being able to get rare drops from the lower hideout bosses…blah blah blah. I can go farm with a low level or raise info to buy the rare items from those who take the time to farm. Good for the economy and gives value to being a low level player or starting alternate characters. In many cases, the new standard drop is better than the old rare drop anyway…so the old rapidly decaying item can be easily replaced with a better one that doesn’t require a rare drop. Knowing that, why would I want to hold on to old weak stuff when new better stuff is easy to get? That’s not the case with every item but since it applies to the majority, I see no problem with the accelerated decay unless it’s affecting items not on the list (which I have not experienced).

Email is a welcome upgrade too though there have been some problems smoothing that out so I am waiting before using it heavily to move items. As far as the email format, the biggest issue is only being able to send one item at a time. That’s too inefficient as it’s still faster to transfer multiple goods using a third party.

So all in all, it’s a well thought out change that I’m happy to see. New mob boss locations and new and improved loot means new things to explore and get.

YAY! Something new and worthwhile to do.

The crashes are bad though. I’m running as good of a system as anyone and I’m getting CTD’s in missions all the time where they never happened before. Stability is a huge concern as it violates the immersion in the rudest way and often destroys a lot of good work so far accomplished.

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Villemar wrote:

Can I have you Widow's Moor lenses, then, since you're so dammed happy to be rid of them and other unique items?  I might get a little mileage out of them before they decay.

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