Death Penalty Adjustment Discussion

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Char1983 wrote:

OK, I did not read the entire enourmous wall of text above me, but I thought a bit about the argument that the death penalty is required because this is is a competitive game. I will give an experience from someone who just happens to sit on a connection that is not very stable. Now, please do not tell me to get a better connection, because getting a reliably stable connection is pretty much impossible where I live (South America / Chile).

So yesterday, I tried to level my witch a bit. I was level 81 and tried to get to level 82 for a few hours (!). It did not work. Why not?

I died to a sudden lag spike in a channel map when I had 99% experience. I had died a few times before, so I was playing careful, but nothing saves you when there is a >3 second lag spike. Since it is possible to level in Dried Lake when you are level 81 (it is just slow), I went there. Everything there is super easy. I also adjusted to playing very defensively and slow, and also practically as a ranger (Faster Projectiles + projectile speed from gear and passives, 20% quality Incinerate). I went up to 97% and died again. Not to Voll. To some random white mobs.

Now you can of course say that maybe I am just not skilled enough or that I am too squishy. I actually thought at that point that my character was squishy. She has 3800 HP, Lightning Coil and Taste of Hate.

I died a few more times and got frustrated, so I went on to read a book.

Later that night, I went back online. Connection stabilized (stable 150ms latency). The gaming experience was entirely different. With the same character, same gear, leveling was a breeze. I got to level 84 (gained 3 levels) pretty quickly, did not die even once. And I did not do lame stuff like Dried Lake or level 70 maps, but ran a bunch of 75 maps, one with 170% IIQ or so and the mods you would expect on such a map. I also ran Acton's Nightmare and Poorjoy's Asylum, twice each, in a group. Especially Poorjoy's is pretty punishing. Both party members (both higher level) died several times, I didn't. Also learned that Flame Dash actually is a really nice skill if you are synched correctly. I do not think my character is squishy any more.


So here is my question to all those that think that death penalty is required because of this game being competitive: Shouldn't everyone have the same chances in a competitive game? On a bad connection, you already have a disadvantage. The death penalty makes it just impossible to play competitively at all. I am not saying it should be removed, but please, when you comment, think about the circumstances others are in, too. And please also don't give me the stupid "special snowflake" comment again, I am pretty sure I am not the only one playing in South America. Or generally on a bad connection.

Anyways, in conclusion, if you want the game to be competitive and fair, you should be against the death penalty, not supporting it. Unless of course you are on a good connection and want to have an advantage.

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goetzjam wrote:

You really should have read the whole wall of text above you [...]

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goetzjam wrote:

Are you using predictive mode or lockstep?

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goetzjam wrote:

In either case, your connection is just that, your responsibility.

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goetzjam wrote:

Do I have an "advantage" playing on one that rarely has issues, sure but just like anything else in life some people have different things, just because you have a shitter connection why should the game CHANGE to cater to you?

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goetzjam wrote:

You have more "gear" then my level 92 iron will caster and you are complaining about deaths?

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goetzjam wrote:

I am playing in the HC league

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goetzjam wrote:

I honestly don't care how many times you die it doesn't affect me, but the general statement that you think the game is "unfair" because I have a good connection and you have a bad one just is far fetched, an external element should play no part in the internal design, like XP penalty, not only that you are complaining about levels you vastly negated by doing content that your character should be doing.

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goetzjam wrote:

Not only that the fact you die to WHITE mobs in act 4 is a further indication that something else is wrong with your build.

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goetzjam wrote:

The life is substantially low for one, but if I had to guess you rely on your ToH in order to mitigate the "crapyness" of the defenses you have on that character. Furthermore it actually helps my case by you posting here as you give a prime example as to WHY the penalty shouldn't be changed.

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goetzjam wrote:

Not only that, the "competitive" argument is crap. At your level we know for a fact there is 15,000 people higher on the ladder then you, you aren't trying to be competitive so don't use that as an argument.

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EzBreesy wrote:

Exp penalty in standard servers is a minimal and necessary loss for when you die.

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Char1983 wrote:

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EzBreesy wrote:

Exp penalty in standard servers is a minimal and necessary loss for when you die.

Necessary? Why necessary?

BTW the experience penalty is zero when you have just leveled / are at 0% anyways.

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EzBreesy wrote:

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Char1983 wrote:

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EzBreesy wrote:

Exp penalty in standard servers is a minimal and necessary loss for when you die.

Necessary? Why necessary?

BTW the experience penalty is zero when you have just leveled / are at 0% anyways.

Necessary for the game balance.

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Char1983 wrote:

Please elaborate. How would the game be unbalanced if there was no death penalty?

Besides, what is your comment on lag-deaths?

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goetzjam wrote:

There would be 0 downside to deing, which means everyone will eventually level up, making higher level maps worthless and unrewarding and further affecting the amount of time people spend mapping.

If no penalty what is going to stop you from caring to die, just map portals? Just push your defenses only as far as is needed so you dont rip all the portals before the map is done.

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goetzjam wrote:

Lag deaths, well that is YOUR CONNECTION, how about you try to figure out how to improve your situation then make statements like, "why doesn't GGG cater to me or people like me"