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| 0s | um i do personally feel that |
|---|---|
| 3s | the staff of armadill |
| 5s | went too far |
| 6s | okay um |
| 8s | you know but there is likelihood that it |
| 10s | will |
| 11s | get looked at when we're not idiots like |
| 13s | um |
| 14s | we're aware when things are are super |
| 16s | strong |
| 18s | and sometimes it's okay to just say hey |
| 20s | let's let's see where we're yeah |
| 22s | essentially let's see where it settles |
| 23s | and this kind of thing |
| 25s | same thing happened of greater ricochet |
| 27s | where greco |
| 29s | um was very strong and we didn't really |
| 32s | change it until a year after its release |
| 35s | um because |
| 36s | you don't want one you don't want to |
| 37s | knee-jerk |
| 39s | you want to let it |
| 41s | find its place you want other rewards to |
| 43s | come out and sort of sit around it uh |
| 46s | whether it's for that style or other |
| 48s | styles |
| 49s | um and then we can sort of uh say right |
| 51s | let's change it |
| 58s | hello and welcome back we are live from |
| 60s | jagex hq and i am joined by mod rahman |
| 63s | today we are going to be talking about |
| 65s | power creep and game balance my name is |
| 67s | kyle uh i go by moderation in the |
| 70s | runescape community i've worked at jagex |
| 73s | and on runescape for nine years now and |
| 75s | i am a senior content developer if you |
| 78s | want to go into some of the products |
| 79s | you've worked on i know i mean one of |
| 81s | them is behind us yeah um over the years |
| 84s | so i've like i did a a round in qa a |
| 88s | couple years um through there so |
| 90s | some of my first projects i worked on |
| 92s | with um |
| 94s | mod crescell things like araksaw uh |
| 96s | virago rise of the six |
| 98s | so i was exposed to um boss content um |
| 102s | weapon balancing i was a player |
| 103s | beforehand um |
| 105s | my favorite boss being nex obviously |
| 108s | next really changed the game when |
| 110s | it brought in the zarite bow uh we had |
| 112s | stepped up from the original god was |
| 114s | dungeon which was tier 70 or 275 i |
| 117s | remember |
| 118s | um and then we brought in you know torva |
| 120s | vertis and pernics and you've got these |
| 122s | tier 85 |
| 123s | pieces of armor |
| 125s | that was like the first big park it was |
| 127s | it was a big step in in in the game's |
| 129s | history you know |
| 132s | it wasn't too many years after god was |
| 134s | dungeon the original um because this was |
| 137s | obviously the fifth boss for for god's |
| 139s | dungeon um but we had had engineering |
| 142s | prior to that and as a game grows |
| 145s | you kind of need rewards that feel good |
| 148s | and players want to strive for um but |
| 150s | back to the original question |
| 152s | so i was exposed to |
| 154s | um yeah boss content and then after my |
| 158s | years in qa |
| 159s | i made uh such pieces of content like |
| 161s | angel of death |
| 163s | um solac uh lost grove and then all all |
| 166s | of these bought into the game powerful |
| 168s | pieces of equipment yes um |
| 171s | and then in more recent years i've done |
| 174s | things like uh kerapak and most recently |
| 177s | uh worked with the team on the zamarak |
| 179s | lord of chaos boss encounter when you're |
| 181s | introducing power creep there's has to |
| 183s | be you know an amount of thought that |
| 184s | that goes into you know whether it's |
| 186s | balancing things or just coming up with |
| 188s | creative rewards that are that are |
| 190s | satisfying or fun to use and i think |
| 193s | you have these phases kind of like what |
| 194s | you said with the torah the perkins the |
| 195s | verse that like that was a phase we went |
| 197s | from the bandos phase to you know yeah |
| 200s | and i think the most recent example of |
| 202s | like the game changing in a full phase |
| 204s | would be the fractured staff of armadale |
| 206s | because |
| 207s | it just it completely changed the way |
| 209s | that people approach the game it |
| 210s | completely you know took blew all the |
| 213s | damage open numbers out of the water |
| 215s | and |
| 216s | i think a kind of first specific |
| 218s | question on that is just were you |
| 220s | satisfied with the power of the |
| 222s | fractured staff normal or do you think |
| 224s | it came out in a good way or do you even |
| 225s | think about that when you're designing |
| 227s | it or is it more concept based this |
| 228s | would be fun |
| 230s | um |
| 231s | so we're presented with when we're |
| 233s | designing something we are obviously |
| 234s | aware of the game's meta right |
| 237s | with a game with three combat styles um |
| 240s | we know which one is the best which one |
| 242s | is the worst and obviously that leaves |
| 244s | then |
| 245s | the the odd one out |
| 246s | sort of in the middle and we have a good |
| 248s | understanding of whereabouts that is |
| 250s | what what is use usually pretty good is |
| 253s | we release a piece of gear |
| 255s | and then later on down the line |
| 258s | there is a piece of content that sort of |
| 260s | requires this piece of gear right so it |
| 262s | would be useful for you to have this |
| 264s | strong weapon to take down this stronger |
| 266s | bus now you saw that with 2011's uh |
| 270s | chaos 2010s chaotix with into 2011's |
| 273s | next |
| 274s | but then as the |
| 276s | company was developing the evolution of |
| 278s | combat obviously we needed to take |
| 280s | combat to a new place |
| 281s | um |
| 283s | on on release uh you know it didn't go |
| 286s | down so well uh it's in a in a really |
| 288s | good place now there's so many |
| 289s | interesting intricacies of of |
| 291s | runescape's combat system so we're |
| 293s | obviously super happy |
| 295s | but there was a there was a gap um and |
| 296s | then eoc came out and that completely |
| 298s | changed everything |
| 301s | then california king launched |
| 303s | what was important after dragons came |
| 305s | out is it wasn't long after that the |
| 307s | ascension dungeon came out i think it |
| 308s | was um must have been around junish of |
| 312s | 2013. |
| 313s | that's that was one of the first |
| 314s | projects i worked on when it came to |
| 316s | jagex so in a short time span we had |
| 319s | dragons |
| 320s | yeah we had um seismics from virago yes |
| 324s | and then we have the ascensions so |
| 326s | already there's a pool of hey here's a |
| 328s | t90 for this style here's the 1090 for |
| 330s | this style and here's the 290 for this |
| 331s | style |
| 332s | so there's almost a there's a combat |
| 334s | style discrepancy and they're kind of |
| 335s | there have been many you know over time |
| 337s | or one style takes precedence but the |
| 339s | the significance there is that although |
| 340s | one style was stronger than the others |
| 342s | for a period of time it wasn't long |
| 344s | before the others were also brought up |
| 346s | yeah up to speed and |
| 349s | the the evolution of combat was also in |
| 351s | a very infant state right yes all the |
| 354s | ability all the different styles had a |
| 356s | here's a stun ability here's just a |
| 358s | basic shot ability and a hit ability and |
| 360s | a fire mage ability yeah it's probably a |
| 362s | lot easier to |
| 364s | balance the combat styles when |
| 367s | each each style didn't really have a |
| 368s | unique feel at all there's there's |
| 370s | balance right yes you know there's a |
| 372s | there's a there's a line and they're all |
| 374s | sort of |
| 375s | there are moments where you'd want to |
| 376s | use each combat style exactly iraq's all |
| 378s | came out and that was a way of going hey |
| 380s | here's all the |
| 382s | two-handed versions because the previous |
| 384s | were were door-willed |
| 386s | and then |
| 387s | uh rexella came out and it was like okay |
| 389s | here's all the 290s and again |
| 391s | maintaining a little bit of balance |
| 393s | now in my opinion now this is just |
| 396s | obviously my |
| 397s | viewpoint on the game as a player over |
| 399s | the years and having worked here |
| 401s | things started to get a little bit crazy |
| 404s | around telos |
| 406s | launch |
| 407s | okay um take me through that at this |
| 409s | point we had reacted to |
| 412s | um |
| 414s | the the full some of the fallout of |
| 416s | evolution of combat so we decided okay |
| 419s | we need to sort of make special attacks |
| 421s | again start thinking about special |
| 422s | attacks because we had started to offer |
| 424s | legacy mode for |
| 426s | players who weren't so |
| 429s | into |
| 430s | evolution of combat right yeah there's a |
| 433s | there's a there's a whole array of |
| 436s | players that wanted to use legacy mode |
| 438s | so legacy made when you think about that |
| 440s | and its combat system and what |
| 441s | everything was prior to ufc was you |
| 444s | would |
| 445s | and then you would use a special attack |
| 447s | right so you're effectively it was |
| 449s | looking at a way to give abilities to |
| 451s | someone who was not using it exactly so |
| 453s | one of the important things from the |
| 454s | telos release again it's a it was a solo |
| 456s | boss and it introduced |
| 459s | a two-handed item for each of the attack |
| 462s | styles |
| 463s | um we had to make them good and they had |
| 466s | to have special attacks the mage one the |
| 468s | maids pressure attack is a dud right no |
| 470s | one no one uses it our players have been |
| 471s | crying out for us to yes |
| 474s | make it relevant or rework it um over |
| 477s | the years and um so that instantly from |
| 480s | the get-go |
| 481s | of that point |
| 483s | mage had four tick auto attacking sort |
| 486s | of kind of coming to the light so that |
| 488s | was already the best attack style |
| 490s | um but then you had the sgb the xaros |
| 493s | black hole and then |
| 494s | well you had the zgs yeah the sgb all |
| 497s | these acronyms yeah um |
| 499s | and that's where things start to go whoa |
| 502s | what's going on because metas such as |
| 504s | four tick auto attacking were coming to |
| 506s | the top and now we're at a point where |
| 509s | players are going hey |
| 512s | mage is major's the best mage is the |
| 514s | best mage is the best |
| 517s | x is the worst there's a point at which |
| 519s | we we looked at what we were doing and |
| 522s | in my opinion it's a mistake for us to |
| 524s | release something and go right here's |
| 527s | the whole set |
| 529s | ranged weapon ranged melee mage and go |
| 533s | right |
| 534s | boom |
| 534s | here's all three |
| 536s | in one content drop whereas what would |
| 539s | be what is beneficial to us one as a |
| 541s | as a company um is to say right this |
| 544s | piece of content has this piece this |
| 546s | reward this piece of content has this |
| 548s | reward and this piece of content as this |
| 549s | award when we don't make meaningful |
| 551s | rewards |
| 552s | um or something launches and it doesn't |
| 555s | have a a good set of rewards |
| 558s | there's no secret like players are |
| 559s | disgruntled about it and they do kick up |
| 561s | a bit of a fuss and they do make noise |
| 564s | and we hear that so we need to be very |
| 566s | careful with |
| 568s | how we are sort of giving rewards to the |
| 570s | players |
| 571s | and when we do that |
| 574s | that attack style is like cool zoom |
| 577s | sometimes up to the top and sometimes |
| 580s | when we release a piece of content with |
| 582s | a reward |
| 583s | that reward isn't enough to |
| 587s | push it past this |
| 589s | right so maybe release like when uh |
| 591s | greater ricochet came out yeah that zoom |
| 594s | range yeah range all of a sudden |
| 596s | the strongest style for a lot of things |
| 598s | range sits in a really interesting place |
| 600s | because |
| 602s | it |
| 602s | of the attack styles it has the most it |
| 605s | has ecb |
| 606s | sgb |
| 608s | it's got the criminals we we did it's |
| 610s | got the dark bow it's got the new arrows |
| 611s | as well it's got the dark eof you know |
| 613s | eof is one of the most complicated |
| 615s | things we've we've added to runescape |
| 617s | and super interesting i imagine we'll |
| 619s | sort of get on to that yeah actually if |
| 620s | we could hop into that now yeah no |
| 622s | problem but you can see how when we |
| 624s | release a piece of content |
| 625s | and we are now doing here's one style |
| 629s | per piece of reward content how we now |
| 632s | go |
| 632s | and it goes up and then |
| 634s | that's the top attack style actually |
| 636s | before we get into eofs because i think |
| 637s | that's a really interesting topic and |
| 638s | that completely changed the game in so |
| 640s | many ways i realized you you asked about |
| 642s | the staff of armada we are we're here |
| 643s | well we are in a place just to call back |
| 645s | to the staff nominal um i think you |
| 647s | could compare it to one of those areas |
| 649s | like drag risk where magic all of a |
| 651s | sudden became the best at just about |
| 653s | everything if you can physically bring |
| 655s | the combat style there it will either be |
| 657s | the best or it will be the easiest and |
| 659s | one of the things you said is that that |
| 660s | is okay so long as in the not so distant |
| 663s | future the other styles also get brought |
| 665s | back up so is that something to be to be |
| 668s | expected with the other styles where |
| 669s | it's like okay magic is now here so now |
| 671s | we have to touch the other ones |
| 672s | absolutely um it's it's it's a design |
| 675s | philosophy that is often done you know |
| 678s | flavor of the month and in in recent |
| 680s | years the the |
| 682s | it's kind of flavor of the year because |
| 683s | sometimes yeah there's a little more |
| 685s | time yeah things dominate for so long |
| 687s | and that comes with problems um because |
| 690s | if someone if range is so good for so |
| 692s | long then a player might get comfortable |
| 694s | only using ranged and even when we start |
| 696s | to drip feed in let's say magic gear |
| 699s | they might be like well range is still |
| 700s | so good so why bother i mean they sort |
| 702s | of fall behind on the whole even out of |
| 705s | the hypothetical we can look at melee |
| 706s | right now there have been a number of |
| 708s | melee updates that have made melee you |
| 710s | know a little bit better a little bit |
| 711s | better a little bit better where at this |
| 712s | point if you're experienced in melee you |
| 715s | know how yeah you can compete decently |
| 718s | well with the other styles right now |
| 720s | yeah it's not quite quite there but it's |
| 722s | pretty close but for most people at this |
| 725s | current juncture magic is your bread and |
| 727s | butter you know how to use it it's easy |
| 728s | to use so for a lot of people they're |
| 730s | not going to switch over unless |
| 731s | something happens that just brings it to |
| 733s | the point where it's like okay i have to |
| 735s | now switch it up yeah no for sure um |
| 740s | the intricacies of some some combat |
| 742s | styles ranged is quite intricate and i'd |
| 744s | say melee is the most intricate because |
| 746s | once you know how to |
| 748s | put all these pieces together and really |
| 751s | um some of the magic of of runescape |
| 754s | really the sandbox combat system the |
| 756s | fact that players are able to switch |
| 758s | pieces of gear |
| 760s | in the flick of a switch right and then |
| 762s | switch back |
| 764s | just to benefit |
| 765s | naught point something from this piece |
| 767s | or 0.2 from this ring or i have an |
| 770s | adventure component on sorry i mentioned |
| 773s | perk on this piece of gear and i want to |
| 775s | use it because it goes with this ability |
| 778s | whilst |
| 779s | there is a a say a call out for hey |
| 782s | switch cape's kind of getting a bit out |
| 783s | of hand it's like |
| 785s | it's kind of the magic of runescape |
| 787s | being a sandbox the fact that the |
| 788s | players can switch between three |
| 790s | different combat styles seamlessly |
| 793s | seamlessly you know in a quotation yeah |
| 796s | it's like it's it's all player skill |
| 797s | it's how quick yeah it's a number of |
| 799s | instruments |
| 801s | unless you're using a robot exactly |
| 803s | uh-huh |
| 804s | um |
| 805s | but compare that to when eoc first began |
| 807s | like players |
| 809s | over the years have slowly figured |
| 811s | things out figured things out and |
| 813s | sometimes things aren't |
| 815s | they |
| 816s | do methods that weren't in |
| 818s | really intended or designed but when you |
| 821s | look at it as a |
| 823s | as a company and and people who balance |
| 825s | this game and just sort of our |
| 827s | caretakers |
| 828s | you can go |
| 830s | it's fine like onslaught like fractured |
| 832s | stuff of armadale right yeah just for |
| 834s | just for context for for those that |
| 836s | maybe don't know um onslaught was a |
| 839s | guaranteed critical strike every time so |
| 840s | if you're an onslaught in a fractured |
| 842s | staff normal special you would basically |
| 844s | get an infinite onslaught it would never |
| 846s | really end it would just keep stacking |
| 848s | up damage over and over again because |
| 849s | you'd continue to replenish adrenaline |
| 851s | with every critical strike |
| 852s | so it was never intended that way and i |
| 855s | can say that because i designed the |
| 856s | ability you designed outside um i did it |
| 858s | yeah back in 2014 of raids didn't code |
| 861s | it but designed it yes um |
| 864s | and |
| 865s | it was fine because we weren't leaning |
| 867s | into crep but then once you start um |
| 870s | leaning into um |
| 872s | intricacies of the combat system again |
| 874s | the fracture staff of armadillos sort of |
| 876s | lets off an extra spell cast every time |
| 878s | you crept right yes |
| 880s | so players would activate the special |
| 883s | attack get to 100 adrenaline |
| 885s | jump onslaught right so you're going |
| 887s | crap crap craig crick correct now these |
| 890s | spell attacks can craft themselves |
| 893s | so we were looking at that and going |
| 896s | whoa |
| 899s | what are we what do we touch here what |
| 901s | do we have to touch something yes |
| 903s | something's got to give right so we |
| 905s | looked at the the way onslaught was |
| 907s | working we're like oh that you know |
| 910s | originally isn't working as intended so |
| 912s | we tone that back |
| 913s | um rather than than tone tone-ups as |
| 917s | long as it doesn't completely |
| 919s | strip away everything that the original |
| 921s | ability did which it doesn't it just |
| 923s | does the same amount of damage it just |
| 925s | isn't just right as an accurate that's |
| 926s | all it was doing it wasn't doing any |
| 928s | more damage wasn't doing any less damage |
| 929s | it was just like |
| 931s | going through the combat system is this |
| 932s | a critical strike |
| 934s | no |
| 934s | that's all we took away |
| 936s | um so nothing really lost or gained but |
| 939s | because this was the first thing we |
| 940s | started to lean into critical strike |
| 942s | with |
| 943s | it came to |
| 944s | it was the best thing then but then on |
| 947s | the flip side we looked at things like |
| 948s | tendrils right |
| 950s | tendrils isn't intended to be a |
| 953s | that's fine so we actually turned around |
| 955s | and said |
| 957s | that one's okay and we won't we won't |
| 960s | change that yeah even if it's not |
| 961s | planned for this doesn't work now |
| 965s | comparatively comparatively to other |
| 967s | games right we often let things go |
| 970s | whereas um |
| 972s | a game like uh |
| 974s | world of warcraft or league of legends |
| 975s | can just go |
| 978s | hey we're gonna do a whole redesign |
| 981s | this this this item or this |
| 983s | ability |
| 984s | we're going to change it |
| 986s | but don't like the way it works on the |
| 987s | matter anymore so |
| 989s | it now does the x y or z |
| 991s | and that's something we don't do we |
| 993s | won't go back and go to berserk |
| 996s | all right berserk is now 10 seconds |
| 998s | instead of whatever the cooldown is now |
| 1000s | pull down or |
| 1001s | 20. um so that's something we don't do |
| 1003s | so we are an evolving game |
| 1006s | that |
| 1007s | stats will stay the same so um that's |
| 1011s | one of the bigger things that i think |
| 1013s | makes power creep |
| 1015s | seem way worse than it is is because a |
| 1018s | lot of players go back to a lot of older |
| 1020s | content that hasn't ever had a stat |
| 1022s | squish or a bring up |
| 1025s | so other games again |
| 1028s | they some they do things in seasons |
| 1030s | so |
| 1032s | when a new season or dlc or patch or |
| 1035s | whatever comes out |
| 1037s | they often say cool here's everything |
| 1039s | from that previous patch and we don't |
| 1040s | worry about it right and then everything |
| 1043s | that they release from the new patch is |
| 1045s | relevant to the new patch to the power |
| 1048s | um and that's something we've never done |
| 1050s | we sort of did it with uh evolution of |
| 1052s | combat where we tweet some some damage |
| 1054s | levels across the game but it's not |
| 1056s | something we do runescape is a live game |
| 1060s | um |
| 1061s | anything relevant from 20 years ago is |
| 1064s | is |
| 1065s | as it was 20 years ago with relation to |
| 1069s | you know things staying the same as they |
| 1071s | are |
| 1072s | do you feel as though |
| 1073s | the |
| 1074s | the i think there's a sentiment among |
| 1076s | people towards the end game that like |
| 1077s | the game is getting easier and easier |
| 1079s | over time um |
| 1081s | and i think a lot of that probably stems |
| 1083s | from you know maybe a lack of difficult |
| 1085s | thing to continue to push the end game |
| 1087s | you know to a to another level |
| 1089s | um |
| 1089s | [Music] |
| 1090s | just from a from a design standpoint do |
| 1093s | you feel that the fractured staff of |
| 1094s | armadale for example because let's say |
| 1096s | that gave you the ability to do half a |
| 1097s | million damage per minute it's somewhere |
| 1099s | around there in like a perfect vacuum |
| 1102s | yeah um |
| 1103s | do you think that that was okay for the |
| 1106s | game so long as future content could be |
| 1108s | made potentially requiring those levels |
| 1110s | of damage output |
| 1112s | yeah so is that a caveat that that's |
| 1114s | important |
| 1115s | i believe i personally believe so i |
| 1118s | think um |
| 1119s | as long as we are |
| 1120s | giving challenging content that requires |
| 1124s | um the use of |
| 1125s | this dpm output or these weapons um |
| 1128s | as long as there eventually is something |
| 1130s | that |
| 1133s | allows that to to work and to have its |
| 1135s | place then uh that's important um i do |
| 1139s | personally feel that |
| 1141s | the staff of armadill |
| 1142s | went too far |
| 1144s | okay um |
| 1146s | you know but there is likelihood that it |
| 1147s | will |
| 1149s | get looked at we |
| 1150s | we're not idiots like um |
| 1152s | we're aware when things are are super |
| 1154s | strong |
| 1156s | and sometimes it's okay to just say hey |
| 1158s | let's let's see where we're yeah |
| 1160s | essentially let's see where it settles |
| 1161s | and this kind of thing |
| 1163s | same thing happened of greater ricochet |
| 1165s | where greco |
| 1167s | was very strong and we didn't really |
| 1170s | change it until a year after its release |
| 1173s | um because |
| 1174s | you don't want one you don't want a |
| 1175s | knee-jerk |
| 1177s | you want to let it |
| 1179s | find its place you want other rewards to |
| 1181s | come out and sort of sit around it uh |
| 1184s | whether it's for that style or other |
| 1185s | styles |
| 1186s | um and then we can sort of uh say right |
| 1189s | let's change it and that's where we do |
| 1191s | the whole |
| 1193s | we don't completely change something or |
| 1195s | redesign something yeah you need to keep |
| 1197s | its core functionality because a player |
| 1199s | has invested time into this and reaches |
| 1201s | into this and yeah if they're trying to |
| 1202s | buy something like a staff armor that is |
| 1205s | you know pretty busted in any nerf |
| 1207s | capacity it still needs to come out and |
| 1209s | be very strong exactly still needs to be |
| 1210s | the strongest magic weapon in the game |
| 1212s | that still allows you to do nuts amount |
| 1214s | of damage it's just it's kind of almost |
| 1216s | a tuning thing more than a than a change |
| 1218s | of everything about how it works yeah |
| 1220s | the the the connectivity of the economy |
| 1223s | is uh |
| 1224s | a massive factor in this as well like |
| 1226s | the |
| 1227s | the fact that you know an item can be |
| 1229s | five billion coins and then we change it |
| 1231s | and then overnight it's now three |
| 1233s | billion coins right yeah because |
| 1236s | a a snap reaction can do just that |
| 1240s | um and then you have a lot of |
| 1241s | disgruntled players not only because |
| 1244s | the item that they had is now less but |
| 1246s | they're not worried about the the gp |
| 1248s | loss because sometimes like |
| 1250s | when they purchase something that gp's |
| 1252s | gone yeah um but then there are players |
| 1254s | who are like i literally just bought |
| 1256s | this for five billion yeah |
| 1259s | so there's there's always disgruntled |
| 1260s | players that will come out the woodwork |
| 1262s | but that's video games that's really |
| 1263s | that's that's live games |
| 1265s | um |
| 1266s | runescape's so unique |
| 1268s | um this this |
| 1270s | this constant state of |
| 1273s | runescape the fact that you know you can |
| 1276s | go to |
| 1277s | general gradle with all the gears you've |
| 1279s | you've earned over the last 10 years and |
| 1282s | you hit grad or and he's the same as he |
| 1284s | was when he first released in 2009 |
| 1286s | 2008 2007 a long time ago yeah one of |
| 1289s | those |
| 1290s | and that's the crazy thing it's not like |
| 1292s | a a stat squish it's just that the |
| 1294s | player has got so much stronger |
| 1296s | um and as we release new abilities |
| 1299s | players find intricacies that we didn't |
| 1300s | even think of i have a hot take for you |
| 1302s | okay or a question i don't want to say i |
| 1304s | strongly feel this way but i think |
| 1307s | overall |
| 1308s | if you like just look at the the full |
| 1310s | scope of the game uh especially you know |
| 1312s | maybe from uh from a high level end game |
| 1314s | perspective |
| 1315s | um |
| 1316s | how do you feel about the phrase that or |
| 1319s | the idea that eofs were a mistake |
| 1322s | i disagree um |
| 1325s | there are elements i disagree with i |
| 1327s | disagree with the idea that now every |
| 1330s | special attack needs to be relevant i |
| 1332s | think that ideology needs to go |
| 1335s | um that's like saying hey my dragon long |
| 1338s | is is you know it's the spec was good |
| 1340s | back in the day so it needs to still be |
| 1342s | good now no no it doesn't it doesn't |
| 1344s | this is my own personal opinion but i'm |
| 1347s | okay with old content dying |
| 1349s | like i think we we personally have done |
| 1351s | something |
| 1352s | too much like torva right torva now |
| 1355s | breaks down into various different |
| 1356s | components it's just like |
| 1358s | let next die like at a certain point |
| 1360s | yeah it doesn't need relevancy a decade |
| 1362s | after exactly 11 years after release it |
| 1365s | it doesn't need relevancy |
| 1367s | um and i know we were very |
| 1369s | careful to to |
| 1371s | when we're designing things we're like |
| 1372s | oh but bandos might crash it's just like |
| 1374s | no this has been out for x amount of |
| 1376s | years it's fine to go eof added so much |
| 1379s | to the combat system like truly added |
| 1381s | added |
| 1382s | the fact that |
| 1384s | it is a combination of two amulets and |
| 1388s | that amulet is then stronger but then |
| 1389s | you can then put a special attack power |
| 1391s | creep power creep i think it could have |
| 1393s | been |
| 1395s | um and i |
| 1396s | i didn't design the essence of finality |
| 1398s | but i'm the dev that made it yeah um |
| 1402s | the |
| 1403s | it could have been its own amulet and |
| 1406s | then you have a choice of amulets that |
| 1408s | you would take do i want to take my eof |
| 1410s | or do i feel that i need my berserker |
| 1413s | necklace or my imminent souls |
| 1417s | necklace |
| 1418s | um |
| 1420s | but |
| 1422s | the fact that you could sort of use old |
| 1424s | spec i love using a dark bow it added a |
| 1427s | lot of fluidity |
| 1428s | obviously it's a it's a it's a cost it's |
| 1430s | a sink like if you want to put your sgb |
| 1432s | into an eof |
| 1433s | um then by hormones go for it you're |
| 1436s | losing |
| 1437s | you know however much the sgb is and |
| 1439s | it's still quite an expensive item |
| 1441s | but then you can just wear that and you |
| 1443s | can just pop that every time it's off |
| 1445s | cooldown without having to go |
| 1447s | all right switch because players would |
| 1448s | switch anyway right i mean i think it's |
| 1450s | the difference between switching to uh |
| 1452s | i mean you still need a ranged weapon |
| 1454s | exactly so it's still a switch and |
| 1456s | sometimes in a lot of cases it can be |
| 1457s | even more of a switch interesting enough |
| 1459s | there was the the original design |
| 1462s | was to have |
| 1464s | the special attacks weapon work |
| 1467s | regardless of attack style |
| 1469s | oh yeah okay there's a there's a bit of |
| 1473s | a bit of tea so |
| 1475s | if you were to store an sgb you'd be |
| 1477s | stor storing just the special attack and |
| 1480s | you would use you'd be wearing melee |
| 1482s | and you'd use your sgb and it would zoo |
| 1485s | and do melee damage |
| 1487s | but |
| 1488s | there was no way i'd be able to do that |
| 1489s | in that amount of time and that is like |
| 1492s | game breaking |
| 1494s | interestingly enough i almost feel like |
| 1497s | case by case there are certain instances |
| 1499s | where you could almost do that as like |
| 1501s | more of a switchscape reduction than |
| 1503s | anything else because for example if |
| 1505s | you've got a sarin godbow eof and you're |
| 1507s | mailing currently you gotta put on a |
| 1509s | different bow you've got your bolts with |
| 1511s | you everything else it's just you know |
| 1513s | they're |
| 1514s | there's a |
| 1515s | there's a set of things to do that that |
| 1517s | do make it a little more complicated but |
| 1519s | i also think yeah being able to debo or |
| 1521s | whatever on any style that's absolutely |
| 1522s | game breaking that would that wouldn't |
| 1524s | work you could not do that in the game |
| 1526s | there's a line and we we know where the |
| 1529s | the big line is obviously the |
| 1531s | technicalities of it um but from uh |
| 1533s | uh were difficult but from a power creep |
| 1535s | standpoint i was like hell |
| 1537s | because |
| 1538s | one of the one of the crazy things is |
| 1540s | and we see this a lot with any piece of |
| 1542s | content is we can we can devote and we |
| 1545s | can only spend so much time playing and |
| 1546s | thinking about the intricacies of how |
| 1549s | might players use this yeah of course i |
| 1551s | mean there's a realistic time crunch of |
| 1553s | you you can't spend a year thinking |
| 1555s | about this you can't and then you |
| 1557s | release it and then a hundred thousand |
| 1559s | players you have the brain power of a |
| 1561s | hundred thousand players who might pick |
| 1563s | up the uf on the first day |
| 1564s | and they're like |
| 1566s | what if i use it with a grandmother more |
| 1568s | and then i switched it to this and then |
| 1570s | and you're just like |
| 1572s | sorry you you so you like we'll see they |
| 1574s | twitch clips or videos and we'll we'll |
| 1577s | look at something and be like bandage |
| 1579s | just disappeared |
| 1580s | little bit and then they'll be like no |
| 1581s | they just killed bandos in 0.6 seconds |
| 1584s | so you'd have to go through and like |
| 1585s | they're switching and doing everything |
| 1587s | crazy and you're like |
| 1588s | fair enough it's not it's not like uh |
| 1590s | that's an old bus exactly and it's not |
| 1593s | feasible to do that every kill so it's |
| 1597s | okay with relation to the eof i think |
| 1599s | one kind of slightly less intended |
| 1601s | mechanic of it was or maybe i'm sure it |
| 1604s | was intended from a design standpoint |
| 1606s | but i'd love to hear your thoughts on |
| 1607s | sort of how this was was brought up or |
| 1609s | considered but the ability to cast a |
| 1611s | special attack with anything on the |
| 1614s | style so for example a dark bow is a |
| 1617s | two-handed weapon and you can now cast |
| 1619s | it while you are with a shield on under |
| 1621s | barricade and i think that's one of the |
| 1623s | big power creep points that allowed |
| 1624s | players to |
| 1626s | maximize their level of |
| 1628s | damage output while also mitigating |
| 1630s | damage and i think the the impact of |
| 1632s | that was very significant on a lot of |
| 1634s | you know what were considered the end |
| 1636s | game bosses at the time so whether |
| 1637s | that's a telos or like a hard mode |
| 1639s | or or anything there |
| 1641s | yeah i mean it obviously switched things |
| 1643s | up but um the the one rule set we gave |
| 1646s | was |
| 1647s | it's freedom right you're you're |
| 1649s | absorbing the power of the special |
| 1651s | attack so as long as you meet certain |
| 1652s | criteria like |
| 1654s | style matching because if you had to |
| 1656s | wear a two-hander to use a two-handed |
| 1658s | special attack |
| 1660s | the only benefit you'd really get is it |
| 1662s | scaling up exactly exactly like you're |
| 1664s | you're |
| 1665s | you're only getting the scaling but the |
| 1666s | fact that i can um be duel wielding and |
| 1670s | then all of a sudden i'm doing my sgb |
| 1672s | spec without having to worry about |
| 1673s | switching to a two-hander |
| 1675s | um is is is a nice idea um because uh |
| 1678s | it's a it's a bit more fluid that's |
| 1680s | something that got away from us over the |
| 1682s | years um is all these switches and |
| 1685s | different things and and we started to |
| 1686s | address it and say hey |
| 1689s | uh let's make things a little bit more |
| 1690s | accessible by introducing hey here's the |
| 1693s | ring a vigor passive hey here's the |
| 1695s | essence of finality you like that |
| 1696s | special attack |
| 1697s | but it's not like handed to them it's |
| 1699s | like hey yeah you're going to have to |
| 1701s | sink this item out the game that's a |
| 1702s | cost to you but now you have this in |
| 1704s | there in an amulet and you can benefit |
| 1706s | from it to the to the tune of that and |
| 1708s | sort of the you know vigor passive for |
| 1711s | example as a switch keep reduction which |
| 1712s | was i believe functionally that was the |
| 1714s | objective of it um do you i know you |
| 1717s | look at the power of all three combat |
| 1719s | styles but do you guys look at or do you |
| 1722s | look at |
| 1723s | the amount of like actions per minute |
| 1726s | required on a different combat style and |
| 1728s | say this is a lot more engaged than this |
| 1729s | for the same amount of damage um |
| 1732s | it's something we're aware of but it's |
| 1733s | not something we actively |
| 1735s | say hey |
| 1737s | you know melee is way more apm |
| 1739s | i think the thing that made the |
| 1740s | fractured staff of armadale so entirely |
| 1743s | busted is |
| 1744s | just allowing a player who does not want |
| 1746s | to do a lot of switch scape to camp the |
| 1748s | thing and still drop 350k dpm just |
| 1751s | spamming the armored battlestat spec |
| 1753s | um |
| 1753s | and i think that is one of the reasons |
| 1756s | why it's such a sought after weapon i |
| 1758s | don't think it's specifically oh end |
| 1760s | game like at the super super top end |
| 1761s | because at the very top end |
| 1763s | the this there's a decent amount of |
| 1765s | balance in the styles there are i mean |
| 1767s | the records the number of bosses the |
| 1768s | telos record is done with ranged yeah |
| 1770s | which is that blows my mind considering |
| 1772s | how much mage dominated for so many |
| 1774s | years but at the at the same time |
| 1778s | melee um |
| 1779s | the apm versus maging to compete with |
| 1781s | the fractures have armor it's probably |
| 1784s | 3x yeah and i think |
| 1787s | that's kind of i don't want to say a |
| 1788s | pain point for for a lot of players but |
| 1790s | i think from a consideration factor it's |
| 1792s | it's not so much that the fracture type |
| 1794s | of armor is broken in terms of the |
| 1796s | damage output it allows it's the ease |
| 1798s | with which it allows that damage |
| 1800s | it's more accessible damage output yeah |
| 1802s | on the on the subject of power creep on |
| 1805s | like a broader spectrum we've spoken on |
| 1808s | the idea that so long as there is more |
| 1811s | difficult stuff uh coming out um it just |
| 1814s | kind of moves the mid game and the |
| 1815s | previous end game bosses become mid-game |
| 1817s | and they become more accessible and |
| 1819s | that's generally speaking a good thing |
| 1820s | so long as there is more difficult stuff |
| 1823s | coming so you are one of the one of the |
| 1826s | leads on the zamrock boss fight yep and |
| 1829s | um |
| 1830s | so just take me through sort of how much |
| 1832s | thought has gone into |
| 1834s | allowing or creating something |
| 1836s | that is i don't want to say power creep |
| 1838s | proof but that is difficult enough that |
| 1841s | even with all the power creep of recent |
| 1842s | months and years um is going to be you |
| 1845s | know a difficult boss fighter even you |
| 1846s | could go as far as say the most |
| 1847s | difficult boss in the impossible boss |
| 1850s | fight in the game |
| 1852s | it does it does reach it reaches heights |
| 1854s | where it is impossible this one is super |
| 1856s | interesting because you know you and i |
| 1857s | have both touched upon |
| 1859s | um |
| 1860s | mainly power creep um and |
| 1863s | having rewards that work |
| 1866s | for years to come |
| 1868s | um now one of our main goals in zamarak |
| 1871s | is to sort of touch upon that let's |
| 1873s | let's test the waters |
| 1874s | um and that's why xamarin comes with an |
| 1876s | enrage system and we've we've |
| 1879s | fiddled with enraged systems with telos |
| 1881s | telus was the first one god was engine |
| 1883s | two |
| 1884s | um to have an enraged system |
| 1886s | um |
| 1888s | and then arc glacial came out and that |
| 1889s | had its own rage system uh so we looked |
| 1892s | at the two of them and we learned from |
| 1893s | them and players got to 4k art glacial |
| 1896s | really quickly |
| 1897s | um we looked back in the day to tell us |
| 1900s | um players were sort of hitting brick |
| 1902s | walls |
| 1903s | to where they were they were struggling |
| 1905s | but and correct me if i'm wrong with the |
| 1907s | release of telos 4k was never meant to |
| 1910s | be actually attainable |
| 1912s | yeah yeah there's a comment in in code |
| 1915s | um saying hey you know this cap's at 4k |
| 1918s | good luck though with a winky face okay |
| 1920s | yeah um so it wasn't ever expected that |
| 1923s | players would ever be able to get there |
| 1924s | but |
| 1925s | the |
| 1927s | the one |
| 1928s | takeaway from being a runescape |
| 1930s | developer and especially working on boss |
| 1932s | encounters and this the stuff i |
| 1934s | i say to all our new devs um like mud |
| 1937s | luma and |
| 1938s | um |
| 1939s | sponge when he sort of came along is |
| 1942s | never underestimate runescape players |
| 1944s | because you will give them a door and |
| 1946s | say hey this is how the mechanic is |
| 1948s | intended to be done |
| 1949s | and they will find every other way |
| 1951s | possible |
| 1953s | to go around |
| 1955s | under over |
| 1956s | not through that door so players will do |
| 1960s | mechanics not the way you intended they |
| 1961s | will always prove you wrong they are so |
| 1963s | clever |
| 1965s | so you need to sort of always bear that |
| 1966s | in mind and that's you know they they |
| 1968s | did achieve 4k tell us even though we |
| 1970s | internally thought it was impossible |
| 1971s | so we try and do less of even though i |
| 1974s | literally just said hey time rages this |
| 1977s | is literally impossible it is |
| 1979s | um but that's because we've lifted the |
| 1982s | bar from 4k up to 60 000. so you want it |
| 1985s | to be virtually uncapped that's that's |
| 1987s | 60 thousand is an arbitrary number that |
| 1989s | is picked |
| 1990s | no one's getting there yeah there are |
| 1992s | there are certain mechanics in the fight |
| 1993s | that scale to a point where |
| 1995s | players maximum life points literally |
| 1997s | can't handle that |
| 1999s | the players will figure out a way the |
| 2000s | main eye the main ideology behind |
| 2003s | pushing way beyond 4k as one it will get |
| 2005s | to a point where it's theoretically |
| 2007s | impossible |
| 2008s | but two |
| 2009s | it gives players a pla it gives players |
| 2012s | a platform along with the boss high |
| 2014s | scores so with the zamrak lord of chaos |
| 2016s | boss encounter |
| 2018s | vm rage obviously goes up to 60 000 um |
| 2021s | but we're giving |
| 2023s | boss high scores a go um so players who |
| 2026s | are these amazing |
| 2029s | players can group together and |
| 2031s | uh groups of two three four or five or |
| 2034s | going solo |
| 2036s | achieve a kill |
| 2037s | and they are immortalized forever on the |
| 2040s | boss high scores |
| 2041s | so we're able to then see how far |
| 2044s | players can really take it get a good |
| 2046s | understanding of what points are they |
| 2048s | starting to fall off at and us |
| 2050s | internally that that gives us a |
| 2053s | that's the power level |
| 2055s | that players start to falter at that's |
| 2057s | the |
| 2058s | the average of the high scores and rage |
| 2061s | so that's maybe where we can aim some |
| 2062s | future content |
| 2064s | where we want to go hey |
| 2066s | we need something mega mega hard so we |
| 2068s | have a benchmark to sort of go up |
| 2070s | against |
| 2071s | um but it's also going to be amazing to |
| 2072s | really see |
| 2074s | how far some of our players can take it |
| 2076s | we have incredibly talented people who |
| 2078s | know the combat system |
| 2080s | way better than we do |
| 2082s | and i expect to see them sort of at the |
| 2084s | top of the high scores but also |
| 2086s | it's nice for new names to come into the |
| 2089s | fold new |
| 2090s | legends to be born |
| 2092s | um |
| 2094s | the fact that i can go onto the the |
| 2095s | website the runescape's high scores |
| 2097s | click refresh and i'm like |
| 2099s | who's billy041272 |
| 2103s | and i mean i think personally that's the |
| 2105s | that's one of the things with the zem |
| 2106s | rock fight that i mean i've been playing |
| 2108s | it all week pre-release but one of the |
| 2110s | things i'm most excited for is exactly |
| 2112s | what you said because in my head i have |
| 2114s | an idea of who the top dramas in the |
| 2115s | game are and i know kind of where i fit |
| 2117s | in you know an echelon below that and |
| 2119s | whatever else but the idea that is baked |
| 2122s | into the game it is a part of the game |
| 2124s | now to be able to see these new players |
| 2125s | because there's a real chance there are |
| 2127s | some people that have never |
| 2129s | they're not on broadcasted |
| 2130s | pdm clan but they are absolutely |
| 2132s | phenomenal and uh just to see those |
| 2134s | names and get to hear those stories i |
| 2136s | think it's going to be fascinating as |
| 2137s | well even if you're not engaging with |
| 2138s | the boss to be able to |
| 2141s | follow it and watch it and and to me it |
| 2143s | sort of recreates a similar |
| 2145s | a similar feeling to seasonals in i |
| 2147s | believe 2017 where like that was where |
| 2150s | couchy really put himself on the map as |
| 2152s | i am the best runescape player yeah he |
| 2154s | had players like sadden who you know no |
| 2157s | one had really heard of until |
| 2158s | players starting to push |
| 2160s | tell us and hopefully with this and |
| 2162s | groups and |
| 2163s | and different things we're going to |
| 2165s | bring a lot of players into the |
| 2166s | limelight but these are the players who |
| 2168s | have really learned how to use the power |
| 2170s | we've introduced to them over the years |
| 2173s | gives them that platform and |
| 2175s | [Music] |
| 2177s | allows us again as i said to benchmark |
| 2179s | and really figure out where are we at |
| 2182s | what's next what's to come |
| 2185s | what style dominates what things do we |
| 2188s | need to tweak change um |
| 2190s | and yeah i think it's gonna be probably |
| 2193s | one of the most successful bosses we've |
| 2195s | ever done just because of longevity and |
| 2197s | in years to come when we release |
| 2199s | let's say a new codex players might be |
| 2202s | able to finally |
| 2204s | push past the |
| 2206s | the mechanic that or the mechanic with x |
| 2208s | and rage that's been blocking them for x |
| 2210s | amount of years and then we can see how |
| 2212s | far they can even push it further yeah |
| 2214s | it's almost i mean i don't wanna say |
| 2215s | it's power creep proof but because it |
| 2218s | goes uncapped fairly infinitely i think |
| 2220s | you get to a point where |
| 2223s | yeah any any new release that gives you |
| 2225s | power will still be relevant at that |
| 2226s | boss and whether it's the top people |
| 2228s | getting an extra five in rage or it's |
| 2231s | you know someone who's stuck at 80 in |
| 2232s | rage getting up to 100 i think there's a |
| 2234s | there's a really really good longevity |
| 2236s | relevancy there that uh i don't think |
| 2238s | you see in a lot of other bosses that's |
| 2240s | the thing like like this new reward |
| 2242s | might only be able to get them to eke |
| 2244s | out an extra 10 to their high school |
| 2247s | best |
| 2248s | but that's an extra 10 that they didn't |
| 2249s | have beforehand so |
| 2251s | there you go and they'll be in the top |
| 2252s | spot |
| 2254s | with relation to making a boss that is |
| 2256s | you know potentially not power creep |
| 2257s | proof but i mean you use the term |
| 2258s | impossible at a certain level of |
| 2260s | difficulty i think with the archbase or |
| 2262s | there's a lot of you know playing around |
| 2264s | with certain mechanics that scale up |
| 2265s | within rage and certain ones that don't |
| 2267s | and and figuring that out but how do you |
| 2270s | manage defensive abilities because of |
| 2273s | how ridiculously strong they are |
| 2275s | because to me they're in a weird spot |
| 2277s | most players don't use them but as soon |
| 2279s | as you know how to use them you can now |
| 2281s | know food every single boss in the game |
| 2283s | yeah no defenses um they're my personal |
| 2286s | biggest gripe with the game |
| 2288s | um they've been too strong from the |
| 2290s | get-go |
| 2292s | if we want to do something about them |
| 2295s | then it's the same formula for every |
| 2297s | single boss um |
| 2299s | a attack comes out a player will do |
| 2301s | disruption shield and completely nullify |
| 2303s | that a attack comes out a player will |
| 2305s | use resonance and they will fully heal |
| 2308s | and mitigate that entire the entirety of |
| 2311s | the damage a |
| 2312s | big set of attacks comes out a player |
| 2314s | will just pop on barricade and that's it |
| 2317s | they've got 18 seconds of invincibility |
| 2319s | right |
| 2321s | so |
| 2323s | we have to start thinking about this |
| 2325s | they've been too strong since to eoc |
| 2328s | launch |
| 2329s | it's the same |
| 2330s | formula that the players take to every |
| 2333s | boss so we need to start challenging |
| 2334s | that we need to start testing that |
| 2336s | um and we need to break the |
| 2339s | of of |
| 2340s | players rotations and and survivability |
| 2343s | and boss fights so |
| 2345s | where |
| 2346s | zamarak |
| 2347s | now starts to push damage through that |
| 2350s | um he also layers his own |
| 2352s | you know taste taste |
| 2354s | his own um flavor on top to even further |
| 2359s | push push through that so players that |
| 2361s | have just been doing the same thing for |
| 2363s | x amount of years will now have to come |
| 2366s | up with ideas and methodologies to |
| 2370s | break the cycle break the mold and |
| 2372s | figure out how to push these higher |
| 2373s | ranges because they're going to be |
| 2375s | tested |
| 2376s | so you know with all that in mind and |
| 2379s | everything we've discussed powerful |
| 2380s | rewards and and bosses that |
| 2383s | now infinitely scale |
| 2385s | i think the majority of our future |
| 2388s | bosses will have this sort of experience |
| 2390s | where |
| 2391s | they get an elder mode or an enrage mode |
| 2394s | that has a |
| 2395s | supreme hard difficulty whether that |
| 2398s | uses the enrage system so it goes |
| 2400s | infinite |
| 2401s | and players hit a brick wall and they |
| 2403s | have high scores |
| 2404s | um |
| 2406s | i think that's where we're headed |
| 2407s | in terms of |
| 2409s | flavor of the year flavor of the month |
| 2411s | however you want to call it in terms of |
| 2412s | combat styles is |
| 2414s | one will always be dominant |
| 2416s | one will always be the worst not |
| 2418s | necessarily the worst but it will be the |
| 2420s | weakest and one will always sit in the |
| 2421s | middle that's how it will always be i |
| 2424s | don't think |
| 2425s | or i don't believe that we'll ever |
| 2428s | actually aim to say hey |
| 2431s | we want to get these to a point where |
| 2432s | they're all on on a level playing field |
| 2435s | the way we do design and the way |
| 2437s | we listen to our community is |
| 2441s | we'll look |
| 2442s | we'll listen we'll react |
| 2444s | and that's the the magic of it like |
| 2447s | players like hey |
| 2448s | this style doesn't have this threshold |
| 2451s | stun is it coming for the next |
| 2454s | boss is it coming from the next layer |
| 2455s | creatures this is this would really help |
| 2457s | us and we can listen to that and go |
| 2460s | you know what |
| 2461s | they're they're right in that regard so |
| 2465s | they'll suggest ideas and we'll listen |
| 2468s | to them it's not a |
| 2470s | oh we think this will be cool but we |
| 2472s | don't know how it's going to fit in and |
| 2473s | we'll just release it we'll hear what |
| 2474s | they have to say |
| 2476s | we'll react and then |
| 2478s | it's very much yeah it's it's out in the |
| 2480s | open it's very i mean it's not reactive |
| 2482s | but it's it's very calculated based on |
| 2485s | player feedback |
| 2486s | how players collaboratives are really |
| 2487s | gonna put it with regard to |
| 2490s | yeah you see what the pain points are |
| 2491s | the things that people aren't happy with |
| 2493s | and then it's just a situation of does |
| 2494s | this actually make sense can we do this |
| 2496s | should we do this and then |
| 2498s | if you know it checks all those boxes |
| 2499s | then it probably happens or doesn't mean |
| 2500s | there's a good chance there but there's |
| 2501s | still so much room for us to |
| 2504s | to do what we did with things like the |
| 2506s | fracture staff of armadale where we're |
| 2507s | like hey this is a cool idea to us |
| 2510s | we want to start playing with crit more |
| 2512s | or we want to |
| 2514s | investigate or or trial or experiment |
| 2518s | with new |
| 2519s | niches of the combat system and say hey |
| 2523s | we're now going to push for the |
| 2524s | next maybe a year or so and just see |
| 2526s | what happens because at the end of the |
| 2527s | day |
| 2529s | we're the ones making the game yeah um |
| 2531s | we can push and pull and and change |
| 2533s | things in any any direction whether |
| 2535s | that's going back and and completely |
| 2538s | changing the identity of magic or |
| 2540s | changing the identity of range we have |
| 2542s | that power but |
| 2543s | we know that players get comfortable |
| 2545s | with um |
| 2546s | certain styles and we don't want to |
| 2547s | disrupt that but we also want to take |
| 2549s | the game forward take it further so we |
| 2551s | we build on the foundation we have |
| 2554s | and we start tangenting and pulling in |
| 2556s | in different directions and |
| 2558s | again flavor of the year flavor of the |
| 2560s | month however however you want to see it |
| 2562s | um one style will always dominate um |
| 2565s | and players will cry out for the lowest |
| 2567s | style to to have its time in the sun |
| 2570s | and the one thing we can look back on |
| 2572s | and know that |
| 2573s | that that style will one day |
| 2575s | sit in the throne um and then other |
| 2579s | players looking at the woodwork yeah i |
| 2580s | want mage to be good again um but it's |
| 2583s | part of uh game design it's part of |
| 2585s | balancing a a sandbox like runescape so |
| 2588s | it's magical but it's difficult yeah of |
| 2590s | course it's |
| 2591s | extremely daunting so with all that in |
| 2593s | mind and as a high level player yourself |
| 2597s | what do you think about the the future |
| 2598s | of infinitely skating bosses |
| 2601s | boss high scores etc |
| 2603s | i think the high level community for a |
| 2605s | long time has wanted more content like |
| 2608s | that where they can actually push |
| 2609s | themselves and it feels like |
| 2611s | an opportunity for them to you know work |
| 2613s | their way through bosses and take them |
| 2615s | to to higher levels |
| 2617s | i think it's fantastic because you're |
| 2618s | not alienating other players you're not |
| 2620s | alienating you know newer or less |
| 2622s | experienced people but at the same time |
| 2624s | you are granting an extra challenge to |
| 2626s | those endgame people and i think so long |
| 2628s | as they're scaled and balanced in a way |
| 2630s | that it is somewhat rewarding to |
| 2632s | challenge yourself and take yourself to |
| 2634s | greater heights i think a lot of |
| 2636s | high-level players will be very excited |
| 2637s | to hear that and i think it's |
| 2638s | aspirational content for for newer less |
| 2641s | experienced players as well which is |
| 2642s | extremely important i think something |
| 2644s | that for me personally i feel has been |
| 2646s | missing from the game for for a very |
| 2648s | long time |
| 2654s | so with relation to you know you asking |
| 2656s | me how i feel moving forward if you're |
| 2658s | trending in the direction of skilled |
| 2660s | bosses |
| 2663s | i couldn't tell if he was doing a battle |
| 2664s | for the show |
| 2666s | okay i'm actually i'm actually going to |
| 2668s | stitch that together in post right |
| 2671s | so long as those |
| 2675s | at least it happened at the end |
| 2678s | ah right ready |
| 2682s | he just gave me a look and it just |
| 2685s | i'm sitting there like |
| 2687s | so long as those i'm like not looking at |
| 2689s | you |
| 2698s | i think |