Hello i've just returned to the game after a LONG LONG TIME, i was here since when we used the mist energy to do missions and craft weapons and armors, so i have a few questions...
1: the game had any major updates?
after playing for years we didn't have any more new missions and new depths in Arcade, back in the time i only saw people doing Vanaduke runs, so is the Devs planning to add more missions and Depths with the time?
2: how's the activity in the game?
when i stopped playing, we had a few numbers of players in the game but arcade runs was still active back then and also we had some players doing prestige Danger Missions, so how's the activity going right now?
3: The Devs are planning to focus only on this game and bring more players?
i know Grey Heavens is a Indie Company but do you have a vision for the future that could bring Spiral Knights to a new public?
like improvements that could help in making contents faster and also new mechanics, weapons, armor Etc.
i really have a high hope for this game and i would love to see him back to his old glory days when it was with SEGA and THREE RINGS.
1: the game had any major updates?
Well, a few:
-Forge update
Now instead of just heating a weapon to lvl 10, you have to spend heat crystals to u[grade to the next level. There is a chance for the upgrade to fail if you skimp out on crystals. Fully heat a 5* weapon to lvl 10 will cost you around 500 radiant crystals (RADs as we like to call it back in the good ol' days).
The problem? Rads are rare, you are lucky to get 20 per a single clockwork run/vana run. So nowadays it is recommended to only heat 5* armors to only lvl 5 to get the +1 health bar.
With mist done away with, you now need alchemy orbs to craft gears, 3 per gear. They are lootable but are rare, and most likely you will have to buy them with CE or your hard earned RL cash. While I have a decent stash of 5* alchemy orbs myself there is little reason to craft new gears due to the aforementioned heat problem.
-Gunner update
Gunner update makes gunner playstyle the most viable in the game while bombers are left out to dry, no really, the only piercing bomber set in the game is resistant to sleep. A status that only exist in one place in the clockwork.
The update did add a lot of armor and guns into the game, but most of the gun are just "new element variants of an existing gun" and gears are just "pick what element you want resistance against'.
-New dungeons
Most of the new dungeons are, how should I put it, tedious. The new compound instance introduces minis, which are small enemies that can swarm you and kill you by a thousand cuts. This in of itself is not a problem, but often in certain areas they infinitely respawn. They don't drop anything either, and as we all know, grindy MMO players love grinding mobs that don't drop anything /s
The next new dungeon is, well, not new, is just GH recycling old contents by reintroducing sleep status inflicting slimes and their dungeons into the game. These old slumber valley shouldn't pose a challenge to old players.
The next new dungeon is the treasure vault, not to be confused with old treasure vault (now dubbed treasure trove). Is a pain in the back side, the area features infinitely respawning minis, echo blocks that reflect damage back to you and a final room boss with infinitely respawning minis are backups. I call this place trashsure vault for a reason.
-New missions
Some new missions are added to the game, not spoiling the plots here but not much happens in the end. We are trapped on cradle for good. But at least one of said mission is good for grinding RADs if you need them.
2: how's the activity in the game?
I haven't played in a while so my guess is that it is more or less dead with only merchers still skulking infront of the AH. And no, I am not coming back to do the missions that I have done thousands of time over.
3: The Devs are planning to focus only on this game and bring more players?
SK has been effectively in maintenance mode since you left with only the updates I mentioned. GH (the remnants of OOO) are more insular than ever, trying to reach out to them via legal channels are impossible. Though to be fair, what do you expect them to say other than what we already know about the game?
I once joked that SK is the carrion lord of the MMO scene in years past (WH40K reference FTW), and now looking at the game I was right on the money.
Forget the promises of balance patch and new contents, for Nick has left and never to return.
Forget the promises of a MMO rejuvenated with new players, for in the grim darkness of the 3rd millennium there is only grind, there is no fun amongst the clockwork only an eternity of raging and spending... and the laughter of former players who left for better games.