Topic

Thoughts on the latest Rook attack

OK, I don't see a thread on this anywhere so I'm starting one up. There may be spoilers here: if you have never experienced a Rook attack and want to be surprised when you do, read no further.

There was a Rook attack today around 5 PM PST or so. We got to try out our Rook attack skills for the first time, and it was quite different from the last Rook attack a few tests ago. Here are my thoughts on it:

 Things I liked
1) The music and sound effects are utterly awesome.

2) It is way too cool to see the Rook come out of the game window and attack my screen. LOVE it!

3) The ability for us to fight back with our skills is a big leap in the right direction, and it makes it much more interesting and interactive than it was last time it was tested.

Things that could be improved:
1) I got there shortly after it was announced in general chat: I might have been late, but as far as I could tell there was little to no build-up before the Rook attack happened. I think a build up (similar to the way it was in the previous test but not as long) would make the experience more intense and also give players a chance to discover the attack and alert others, rather than having to have a dev do so.

2) The whole experience was rather confusing. It took me awhile to figure out what was happening, and I'm still not sure I totally understand it. It could be made clearer. I think these are some of the reasons why:
        a) It wasn't clear what impact the "stun" attack with the orb was actually having on the Rook. More clear animation showing it working (or failing) would be helpful. There was a number appearing over my head when I was using the stun attack (0 counting up to 2 at most), but I have no idea what that meant.
        b) Not sure I like the Rook head at the top--yes, a counter is needed, and I understand that... I'm not even sure what I didn't like about it. I guess it looked out of place, and took away from the atmosphere of the whole thing. A counter without the Rook head might be more appealing.
       c) The use of Piety was confusing. It took me awhile to figure out why it wasn't working, and the only reason I did is that I noticed that when I moused over the grayed out option on the shrine it told me the Rook had to be stunned first. At first, I thought that meant the Rook head had to be in the little ditsy phase it got in when someone successfully hit it with a stun attack. Several unsuccessful attempts at using piety during these periods made me finally realize the Rook had to be COMPLETELY stunned first, not just temporarily. 
      d) There was no text to describe what needed to be done after a shrine was primed (also, see below)

3) I had an extremely difficult time donating to the shrine after it was primed. There was a big arrow saying click here to donate, and I sure did try to click.... 50 people standing in front of the shrine made it pretty much impossible. It would be useful if clicking on that big arrow allowed one to donate, rather than having them try with all their might to click on the actual shrine which is hidden behind all those people trying to do the same thing. I tried hitting return and selecting the shrine, but usually the donate to shrine option was grayed out. The one time it wasn't, I wasn't sure if the donation was even being applied to the Rook attack.

Overall, totally awesome, thanks for the opportunity! Sorry to those that missed it... I hope it happens at least one more time so more people can give feed-back before the end of test tomorrow.

Posted 17 months ago by Shepherdmoon Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

  • The Rook is not our enemy. He is our kin. 

    Are you all not imagined by the Giants? Is not too The Rook imagined, as you are... as we all are?

    The Giants, vying for power, as they are... as is evidenced by the accounts of countless creatures' tales of the past... they're attempting to use us as Pawns. What better way to create an imagined threat. One that must be defeated by donations? Donations that the Giants crave.

    The Rook... The Pawn... both chess pieces, my friends. Do not be a pawn in the Giant's giant chess game.

    During the next Rook 'event' (not attack), we must rally together and deny the Giant's their donations. We will not be swayed by imagined threats!
    Posted 17 months ago by Mr. Dawgg Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I totally agree with everything you have said Shepherdmoon.  I did manage to get at least one donation into the shrine, but it was almost impossible with so many people, and for me, it was very laggy.  In my opinion, it would be better to try it again, but in a few more locations so you don't have 200 people in the same place at the same time.
    Posted 17 months ago by Mer Maid Subscriber! | Permalink
  • awwww, shoot I missed it.. anyone have screenshots? :P
    Posted 17 months ago by Harvey Dent Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I second the idea of having it in multiple locations. I missed the attack, but I heard from a lot of people that there was a lot of lag. My impression was that it was supposed to affect an entire region - at least in theory, this sounds like a more effective way to execute the Rook attack because then it'll prevent the overcrowding that a LOT of people complained about in global chat.
    Posted 17 months ago by LitaPie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Some things I forgot until now:

    Another thing I like: mood/energy oscillated wildly during an attack--cool!

    Another thing I didn't like: the screen panned left or right occasionally for no apparent reason. Perhaps this was to show me that a nearby butterfly or tree was in trouble? I don't know, and I don't care.... the screen should stay centered on me.
    Posted 17 months ago by Shepherdmoon Subscriber! | Permalink
  • This was my first rook attack. I teleported in during the attack. I was completely baffled during the whole episode. I tried to click on the rook many times, but nothing happened. People said to click on the numbered orbs, but I had no idea what those were for, and I didn't want to risk messing up what other people were doing. Then I saw someone mention something about donating to the shrine, so I was going to do that, but by then the rook had been defeated. 

    Bottom line: I had no idea what was going on. If special skills are needed to battle the rook, then maybe that can somehow be indicated?

    Edited to add: The lag was ridiculous, because there were so many people. Also, I got "kicked out" to the white screen with the exclamation point and had to reload.
    Posted 17 months ago by Becky Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Mr. Dawg: I thought the rook wasn't imagined by the giants. Instead, I thought it was at the same level as the giants???
    Posted 17 months ago by magic panda Subscriber! | Permalink
  • That's what they want you to believe. 
    Posted 17 months ago by Mr. Dawgg Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I was thrown off by the screen moving as well, SM.
    Posted 17 months ago by Dr007 Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I personally liked the Rook attacks better before the new skills. the build up was slow, but the attacks on the screen were a lot of fun. now they are an annoyance: trying to look past them and click on an orb or shrine to attack is frustrating. the screen shaking is meant to make it harder still, but gives some people headaches and was disorienting. Maybe some common ground between the first and second, where the rooks attack your screen for a minute or two, and then you attack back?
    Posted 17 months ago by bored no more Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Becky said: "People said to click on the numbered orbs"

    OOOOOHHHHHH! Is that what we were suppose to do?? I had no idea.... Makes sense now....
    Posted 17 months ago by Shepherdmoon Subscriber! | Permalink
  • You sure summed up my thoughts, Shepherdmoon. Thank you. For the most part, I was dazzled and frazzled by the event. I loved it, though I didn't know what the heck I was doing. LOL There was so much going on: people talking, rooks flying, orbs spinning (whose?), numbers floating, screen moving from side to side, chickens dying....I used the stun option often but couldn't tell its effect.

    I didn't figure out about the prime donation until it was all over. It felt like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and it was great fun---too crowded this time--but great fun! I can hardly wait for another attack!
    Posted 17 months ago by GreyGoose Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Shepherdmoon said: OOOOOHHHHHH! Is that what we were suppose to do?? I had no idea.... Makes sense now...

    Does it? It made no sense to me. LOL
    Posted 17 months ago by Becky Subscriber! | Permalink
  • LOL, Becky, yeah... I guess "makes sense" is relative.... It makes sense that it would be a collaborative effort: Someone uses the stun attack. It has no effect unless fellow Glitches help out by clicking on the attack to boost its power. I like that alot--it just needs to be made more clear.
    Posted 17 months ago by Shepherdmoon Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Very well put Shepherdmoon, it was crazy, confusing, but has great potential. I really didn't like the way it panned, felt like I was being dragged around like rag doll. The lag was unbelievable, almost impossible to even type in local chat. It didnt improve until I restarted my browser.

    I will no doubt think of more and edit later...
    Posted 17 months ago by Teena Subscriber! | Permalink
  • In regards to your point that you thought the attack was region wide I think it would be cool for the rook, instead of "dying", it would retreat to other streets within the same region. Or, instead of leaving completely, the rook could leave behind a less-powerful minion of sorts to keep up the attack on that street while the rook himself goes to attack another street. I think it would make the battle more interesting and make multiple groups form in order to deal with the minions and the rook until the attack is over.

    As for all the rest of your points, I completely agree. I arrived in the middle and was absolutely confused and just used the new skills, without any reason other than I knew they related to the rook attack. And there was way too many people to get any sort of accurate feedback on the skills I was using. Just complete chaos. And I don't understand what happened at all, really.
    Posted 17 months ago by Garbara Subscriber! | Permalink
  • i said 6p not 5p
    Posted 17 months ago by Not IxAEoN Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Not meaning to thread sidetrack, but Mr. Dawgg brings up a fantastic idea of thought.  And a great insight of wordage. We are indeed the pawns of the GameMasters. The Rook is a linear force of evil with a long reach to most places on the board. But In this game of chess, the cards are in our hands. We feed the giants mindlessly because they force us to. They are making our moves and the lot of you allowing it to be your game play.  Ask yourselves, "Why do I do X?"  Because the Giants will you to do it. If a Glitch sees the Rook as a threat or enemy (As your actions prove it is) then you must fight the source. The Giants created the Rook whether they meant to or not. And It is a great burden to us little Glitches. The Giants sit idly by constantly and allow this evil to terrorize and murder us and the things around us. So be it. It is in the Giants hands, so be the Giants will. Put your faith in your Giants to the test. Let your donations mean Something!. The Giants will be your salvation. If the Rook arrives. Let it be the keeper of things to come. The next chapter in the never ending game. Your Giants will not fail you. It is up to you Glitches, to allow yourselves to be saved by faith. Let the the Giants that we worship blindly do something for you. The Rook is the gatekeeper.
    Posted 17 months ago by Adidas Demon Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Addidas Demon "But In this game of chess, the cards are in our hands."

    Best mixed metaphor of the week.
    Posted 17 months ago by Vordus Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Would have been nice to see, except the game crapped out on me from what must have been just before the attack happened. Still not working properly for me today. So I'm blaming the rooks for it. Do Not Like. 
    Posted 17 months ago by Ebil Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Is there any way to anticipate when and where a stupid bird attack will occur?
    Posted 17 months ago by Cerulean Subscriber! | Permalink
  • For all those who missed it  >> THE BIRDS ARE BACK IN TOWN! << - Enjoy!
    Posted 17 months ago by Morticia Addams Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I agree with pretty much all of this, would just add one suggestion.  Rather than the shrine donation be routed through just that one shrine, which seemed to cause a laggy, messy pile up on top of the shrine in the attacked street, what if the repelling power could be focused through any shrine across the region (that is, for Giant that is represented on the attacked street)?  So if on that street where the attack is occurring, an Alph shrine is there, then all Alph shrines around that region could become conduits for donation/repelling the Rook.   

    During the build up while players on the attacked street are stunning with orbs, updates/chat could be used to get people to streets with the same shrine and so they could be ready to donate (if they have the skill).   The shrines for the "attacked' Giant on other streets could also have some kind of wild animation going to alert players that an attack is going on somewhere else.
    Posted 17 months ago by Nanookie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • To be honest, after just now viewing Morticia's pics I feel kinda gypped. Some people were lucky enough to see Stoot stand there and tell them what needed to be done, while others of us just got thrown the deep end without a clue :(

    Was there any lead up at all? I liked how in the previous Rook attacks we had the warning with the Rooks hanging around, just threatening. I dont know if that happened this time? 

    The first I knew of the Rook attacks was when I saw Stoot in Global, say about it being in Darnefree Air and rushed to post to the Rook Attack group, while teleporting to the Heights, thinking this was the first attack as nothing had been posted about an earlier one.
    I arrived to chaos and confusion, with seemingly no-one knowing what we were supposed to do, until I saw someone say we needed to click on the orbs over peoples heads. But that was difficult to do with the screen panning left and right and the lag from so many of us, most of the time I didn't know whether I was helping or not?

    Donating was just as confusing not being able to see the Shrine and again difficult to click on it. I did see the yellow arrow saying donate but that didnt work for me. I presume I needed to prime the shrine first, but I wasnt able to get close enough to fathom it out. 

    I'm glad we won, but I don't know how! This has great potential, I love how its coming together but please give us some info so we all know what to do :)

    ETA: Nanookie, I love that idea of the other Shrines that represent the Giant under attack could be involved in the donations.
    Posted 17 months ago by Teena Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Thanks Teena, I had a similar experience as you...the most bothersome part was during the second attack that I experienced, I didn't want to do the orb stun thing, so I went about reviving animals but kept getting physically pulled back to the central location of the attack..very discombobulating. 

    I sort of envisioned Glitchen being able to choose specific roles (stunner, reviver, donater, energy radiator, awesome stew/bubble tea provider) during an attack but it seemed like the game was bent on having me stand in that pile of avatars and click on someone's orb, by Lem!   An then donate NOW, by Cosma!

    I was glad they got rid of the long, corny preamble, and I still like the idea of advance warning, just that it come very quietly...like a single black feather appearing on streets in the to-be-attacked region on the day of ...I like the idea of Black Feather Alerts showing up in my Updates stream.  Posted about that somewhere else, but I like it so much, I am bringing it back for an encore!
    Posted 17 months ago by Nanookie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Darn it I missed it again! I agree it should be spead out and 'played' in other areas as well so more people get the chance to experience it.

    And Mr. Dawgg I like what you said and am glad you said it(and that I read it) because it finally put some pieces together for me that my brain just didn't want to do. =}
    Posted 17 months ago by Sir Mixalatte Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Whew - this is the start of a great thing, thanks for letting us test it!

    I found the whole thing to be a frenzied mob, which was part of the fun, but also led to a lot of confusion.  By the end of the second rook test, I felt like I had a handle on it, but it was only in watching Morticia's video again that I saw sooo much I missed during the attack.

    1. The rook and its counter.  
    There is *so* much happening on screen that during the attack, I wasn't even aware of the counter up by the rook's head.  I was too busy fumbling with menus, trying to click the numbers over people's heads and getting dragged around the screen to see that there was actually something to tell you how much damage was left to inflict.  So, I'd argue to make that graphic slightly larger (I know the OP says it looks out of place, but I don't think so).

    2. Using stun on the orb
    --- I think someone on staff mentioned that a quest would be made for this?  If so, that'd be great for stunners, but still, not many people knew to click the numbers above someone's head to help out.  Some of us were chatting to do so... and then the numbers would get above 7 and sort of fizzle out.  

    --- While I do like challenges in Glitch, I think with the frenzy of everything, having a challenge of not having too many people on one orb is too much.  When it hits 7, just activate the stun, leaving others to click some other number, rather than having it get above 7 and fizzle out.  

    --- If there is to be a time-out on stun, that needs a little help (like maybe a buff in the usual place) without the thing where you get dragged around the screen.

    --- I'd like to see much more graphic stuns... the little stun that did happen on activation didn't direct my attention to the top graphic. Maybe a bright shooting graphic that hits up top with a bang to let us know.

    3. Priming.

    -- Whew, this was the most frustrating part for me.  The arrow letting me know to Prime was helpful, but I didn't get that Prime actually primed the thing for a donation to attack the rook. A quest for this skill, too, perhaps?

    -- When I did prime, I couldn't donate.  I tried 3x to donate a smelter, with it just not doing anything.  I'd click donate, then click the smelter icon, then nothing at all happened and I still had a smelter.  It finally took on the 4th try. I didn't realize it worked on the rook until I saw the video showing that I'd attacked the rook.

    -- That prime/donate graphic - is that instanced to me or just the same for all?  It got confusing: had I primed the shrine? Had I donated?  Trying to even get to the shrine with the mess of people around it was difficult beyond the point of a good challenge.  The donate menu is always a problem for me - I have so many things that it's impossible to find what I want to donate in the giant graphic that appears. What if we had to click the shrine to prime it, but then have 'donate' show up on every donatable item in our bags to choose that way?  I guess you'd have to factor in proximity to shrine to get that to activate... but the way it is now, it's pretty frustrating.  Maybe there was just too many people so....

    ....In the future, will rook attacks be regional or just limited to one street?  I liked how before the rook attacked the entire region, so that we weren't bunched up on one street.  I'm assuming we were just on the one street for testing, so +1 for regional attacks. :)

    As for preludes, I did like the old build-up but +1 for the idea of a black feather dropping on the streets in a region to signify that something is afoot!

    Cheers - I really like how this is shaping up!

    Hrm, a last side note on the points about 'don't be pawns in the Giant's game'.  It's my understanding that fleshed out, the rook will attack neglected areas?  I'm not sure what constitutes a neglected area (and I might be wrong here, so please correct me, staff), is it that a giant isn't getting as much love as the rest of the Giants or that the area has a lot of decaying trees/little traffic?  One thing about the whole rook attacks which can wipe out animals and trees in an area if the rook succeeds is that so what if it hits an area neglected in terms of little traffic/decaying trees?  Or, given the glut of animals/lack of patches in the game, is it really going to be considered a problem that the rook levels all the trees/animals in an area?

    I bring this up to suggest that the devs consider something tangibly punishing from the rooks beyond animals and trees dying, because I think a valid point could be made to just go ahead and let the rooks take all the trees/animals in an area out - we can always rebuild it.  I dunno (these will sound harsh, but it's just freeform thinking to get ideas out there).... maybe wipe out a subway in that region, wipe out half the homes, wipe out a street or two, wipe out half the contents of your slots.  Make it really tangible to all Gitches - let it hit home that the rook means business.  

    Also.... the rook has never successfully killed off anything, has it?  Because we always swoop in to save the day.  In that regard, it seems inevitable that we'll win out over the rook?
    Posted 17 months ago by zeeberk Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Sorry — we should have made this clearer to everyone, but: we were just testing a few components of the whole thing to see if they worked, not releasing the whole finished feature.

    "Real" attacks will be on a whole region, but concentrated on a few epicenter streets (and you can only fight back from the epicenter streets). Also, there is a pretty elaborate training quest which will teach people how all the pieces fit together. I don't think the crowding will be nearly as bad when it is not The Brand New Thing which everyone is rushing to see.
    Posted 17 months ago by stoot barfield Subscriber! | Permalink
  • A training quest yeah! Thanks Stoot :) Looking forward to the next attack :)
    Posted 17 months ago by Teena Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Well any chance to bake a bird is a chance I'm taking, even if it isn't new. :P
    Posted 17 months ago by Cerulean Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Thanks, Stoot! That's good to know. I can't wait to see how it pans out.
    Posted 17 months ago by Shepherdmoon Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Notice how he persists to use the term attack! Event. Rook EVENT! Let us not jump to conclusions about the motivations of The Rook... or The Giants. Be wary of the Giants beguiling ways, friends!
    Posted 17 months ago by Mr. Dawgg Subscriber! | Permalink
  • (A total aside -
    @Mr. Dawgg, I fully approve of your Rook posts. I like to cut of your jib.)
    Posted 17 months ago by Lord Bacon-o Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Lol @ Mr. Dawgg.  You sound like you have been living near the bubble trees for a long time.
    Posted 17 months ago by Nanookie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Shhh! Pop Pop Pop. You didn't hear this from me.
    Posted 17 months ago by Mr. Dawgg Subscriber! | Permalink