Thoughts on the Release version, from an alpha player

[Lancefighter]

I took a somewhat intentional leave after the beta went live - I wanted to be able to look at AVWW from a basically new perspective. I didn't really want to be burdened with the knowledge of what was, and I mostly didn't want to be arguing for grandfathered in mechanics (lol mana not regenerating on its own). I messed around here and there, but never really did anything other than check up on how the ui and some basic mechanics were going.

Overall, I really like this release version. Me and a friend have spent ~10 hours now messing around on a multiplayer server, doing stuff. We arent really that far (still on the first continent). We ended last night attempting to defeat the overlord guy.. Who is apparently pretty difficult. I like the cape, by the way, a nice touch. I like how the combat feels, I seem mostly limited by mana as a regenerating resource, as opposed to earlier when I felt restrained most by cooldowns. (then again, it doesnt help that I am running a 60% cdr enchant..) I feel like some things are too useful to give up (light enchant.. though I did find a resistance+light enchant), while some things are kinda useless (I feel like I've found a lot of enchants I will plain never use).

I'm not particularly amazing at the combat, but overall I feel like it is rewarding - I like how we have moved away from potions and instead are using those regen things (Diablo 3 made the same change), however I dislike being completely unable to heal outside of going all the way to a settlement.. If i cant kill stuff. I dont really understand the way mana regen, and a lot of other mechanics actually work (I've been mostly deliberately ignoring the wiki, for the most part). I wonder how I am supposed to use the shield and pretty much any other spell at the same time (it seems more shields are completely reactionary, not preemptive?). What are the numbers on mana regen, anyway?

Not really sure where I am going with this post, except to say that I really can see why a lot of stuff is the way it is. I really like the way AVWW ended up, and glad to see its been released

[keith.lamothe]

I like the cape, by the way, a nice touch.

First plot after becoming overlord was getting a really good tailor.  Priorities!

I feel like I've found a lot of enchants I will plain never use

Yea, overall enchants are working out pretty well but there's still some pretty broken design when it comes to the acquisition of them, particularly in multiplayer.  Tons and tons and tons of enchants, nothing to do with the ones you don't like, no very easy way to manage the inventory, etc.  Definitely thinking through various approaches to fixing it

however I dislike being completely unable to heal outside of going all the way to a settlement..

Yea, we just couldn't find much of a way to do it that wouldn't get back to the same problems as potions.  And to some extent there is one way: use upgrade stones to upgrade your health.  Not exactly what you're looking for, of course

I wonder how I am supposed to use the shield and pretty much any other spell at the same time (it seems more shields are completely reactionary, not preemptive?

Yea, short of a _massive_ mana-cost-reduction enchant (possibly plus guardian buffs for it) I don't think you could keep a shield up very long at all; it is indeed a "press this when you notice you're about to get hit" rather than a "toggle on" sort of thing)

What are the numbers on mana regen, anyway?

I don't know off the top of my head, I think it's such that your base (before upgrades) bar will refill from zero in five seconds.

Not really sure where I am going with this post, except to say that I really can see why a lot of stuff is the way it is. I really like the way AVWW ended up, and glad to see its been released

I'm really glad you're having fun with it and like it   It's been a long 14 months of solid development... But it seems to be selling fairly well

[x4000]

Cheers!

Keith got most of these, but to the remaining ones:

1. You can see the mana regen rate by hovering over the mana bar in the game.  I forget what it is, too; it's changed a lot recently.

2. The shields can also be toggled off.  So pop them on, block, pop them off.  You can still shoot when doing that.  But just using them as a way to tank some damage for a while is definitely not the intended purpose of these specific shields.

[Oralordos]

I wonder how I am supposed to use the shield and pretty much any other spell at the same time (it seems more shields are completely reactionary, not preemptive?).

I also highly recommend binding the shield key to a nearby button on your keyboard like shift.  I was getting slaughtered in a multiplayer server I was on for a while until I did this. Then the server was too easy. I think shields are one of those things that can be a great help but can also distract you from other things. I never want to fight fairies without a shield ever again though. Those guys are a pain without said shield.

[mrhanman]

I also highly recommend binding the shield key to a nearby button on your keyboard like shift.

Pfft.  Shields are for ninnies! 

[Lancefighter]

mana regen seems to be a flat 83/s - I guess its by design that its not influenced at all by upgrades or anything?

The shields.. I'm just not sure. I feel like they are designed such that you cant really do any counter attacking, just soaking damage while they are on.

Also, just got to the second continent.. and It feels terrible. Lacking all of our unlocks, no mobility spells (this is the huge part - Havent been able to find a doublejump legs enchant, so ride the lightning was kinda important) From what I understand, I need to just get new resources on the second continent - But none of the missions provide resources at all. They are virtually all buildings or guardian powers or whatever. I dont really understand how i am supposed to be upgrading my spells again when I cant gather resources to do it..

[mrhanman]

Many of the resources come not from missions, but from prop busting and underground gem veins.  Don't forget secret missions, too.  Even so, all my missions on the second continent have rare commodities as well as a few guardian powers and buildings.  Feels like a good mix to me.

Maybe the RNG was unkind to you.

[Lancefighter]

Well.. I dont think I actually found any magma on the first island outside of missions on the first continent. I imagine it would be slightly difficult to upgrade fireball without it

[Mánagarmr]

I also highly recommend binding the shield key to a nearby button on your keyboard like shift.

Pfft.  Shields are for ninnies! 

I see what you did there.

[zebramatt]

Shield is bound to space bar for me - I find it best to have a nice big panic button.

[Wanderer]

Shield is bound to space bar for me - I find it best to have a nice big panic button.

Turn on the shields whenever you jump?  Nice!

[Quaix]

Shields use mana at 125/sec, while it regenerates at 83/sec at a constant rate. (Unlike in MMOs where mana doesn't regenerate while casting spells)

So shields only use 42 mana/sec. I'm still trying to find circumstances to use them, but the potential is there. At 42/sec it takes almost ten seconds to drain my mana pool completely, so they would be good for a quick strikes in really dangerous areas.  Shields are instant and only share a cooldown with each other and armor suits (which hopefully you aren't changing mid-fight).

[zebramatt]

Shield is bound to space bar for me - I find it best to have a nice big panic button.

Turn on the shields whenever you jump?  Nice!

I use W to jump! (I know, I know, I'm crazy.)