I had a bit of an idea for how the future of SK could be formed.
What if SK enabled the Steam Workshop? Users could generate levels using the preset assets in the game, or if you really wanna go all out, have them be able to put custom models for weapons and items in the game.
Sound good? No? Discuss your opinion.
I agree, best to not restrict it to steam-only players and let everyone take an opportunity at it (yep I'm someone who uses the official launcher here.)
...I agree that community content shouldn't be restricted to Workshop, there should be a button "Community Content" on Knight Selection Screen.
But there may be situations where some people go wild and develop maps containing traps activating simultaneously, so the players won't be able to complete it without expending lots of Sparks of Life. But it won't happen of course, Gray Havens will review content and delete those which are impossible to complete.
On a side note, map edition can make possibilities for guild 'crash courses', Clockworks Chess game and many other defacto game modes in the Clockworks. Once Gray Havens will remove the Energy requirement to create a guild, then it will be possible. Maybe.
The chess game wouldn't work without new mechanics, did you really thing you can use a sandbox for so to make a board game?
Also, guild energy requirements are fine, it prevents people from making junk guilds and it seems you are the only one who has a problem with it, making guilds isn't a limiting factor in community content, people can join guilds, not like they have to make their own for this if its implemented
Lastly, don't start saying that grey havens "will" do anything, you sound ridiculous when you assume that they are going to do everything you want
But I am saying what would happen if the community created content (maps) will happen.
in case of Clockwork Chess, it will be a guild game that will be like real chess played in Clockworks enviroment. A small event or friendly game. Played correctly it will bring lotsa fun.
P.S. Why I can't earn more crowns to form a guild:
- not a Vanguard
- Cannot advance without Advanced Alchemy Orbs
- Cannot find Alchemy Orbs
- Don't have time to find Alchemy Orbs
it's a neverending list.
Not having the patience to farm an MMO is not an excuse for not advancing in an MMO.
That like saying "I don't want to upgrade my weapons, they all should start at maximum level because I don't have time to play the game!"
Arcade is still great for gathering resources. Hell, the 3* orbs of alchemy aren't hard to get at all from drops. Are you playing on normal difficulty? Play on elite and just go through tier 2 arcade and you'll get drops as you adventure... And if you don't find orbs at least you'll get the crowns to get energy for orbs.
Energy requirements for guilds is fine. You pool resources together to do this, or you should at least. If you're forming a guild just for yourself and you can't keep crowns coming in then you'll be in default a lot.
If they ever open up SK a bit, I have a feeling the relevant pieces would pop up at https://github.com/greyhavens next to Whirled and Bang Howdy.
@Fangel
People don't like playing in a game with too little of validation for playing. You wouldn't play Pokemon if it took 1000 hours to go from level 5 to level 10 for one Pokemon, so why would you do so here? The reality is a significant portion of end-game people here idle and chat with the remaining community, rather than focus on farming. There's a significant portion of the community missing because that's not sustainable (SEGA tried, look what happened).
Best way to support custom content is not to do so through Steam since a large number of players play from other places (Kongregate, official launcher). This would essentially cut out the ability to contribute to the game.
Instead I would recommend releasing some public tools. In-game tools can consist of a level editor or hue shifter (for reskins). Out of game tools can consist of model and texture documentation and a public place to submit items. Additionally some "code package" to have the items prepared for releasing.
Have all community content be publicly viewable on github or something. People can "fix" items introduced in this way, submit their fixes, and potentially get better items.
So yeah, community content good. Limiting all community content to steam workshop bad.