Is monster respawn a good thing?

The role-playing games (I-X) that started it all and the various spin-offs (including Dark Messiah).
RyuMaster
Leprechaun
Leprechaun
Posts: 18
Joined: 22 Jul 2012

Is monster respawn a good thing?

Unread postby RyuMaster » 16 May 2014, 19:30

Hey, everyone, while working on my current game, I struggled with one question.

Basically, in RPG, I like to be perfectionist: clear every map, every corner. Diablo 1 was superb for me, while Diablo 2 felt not so fun - everytime I reloaded the next day I wanted to play, map respawned, I could not completely clear the game maps :/

I know there are people, who love grinding in RPG's. They feel awesome, when then can loot same dungeon 10x time for items, or just raise some levels on weak monsters, in order to overcome next challenge by brute force.

And so, should I keep respawn cycle once every year, as it was in MM7 game, or keep game completely without respawns?

Is it just me, who hates this?

User avatar
koval321
War Dancer
War Dancer
Posts: 368
Joined: 20 Jan 2008

Unread postby koval321 » 16 May 2014, 22:29

Possibly it was reason for that in M&M, if player make crime then he go to jail for one year, which is equal to respawn rate. From one side it may be interpret as to prevent players from evil path, but in other hand its favor for others, quick method to respawn and grinding

In M&M am would change that cycle to about 5 years giving chance to win game without encounter respawn. In games with very quick respawn cycle it look bit pointless and mad like trying to dry ocean, in that situation only best way is to run forward ignoring most of content of game and grind occasionally to claim victory. Where you actually don't miss anything important on way as such games are cheap, empty, not tested and not balanced. Bit weird that it happen to Diablo because first part was solid and then it seem to constantly downgrade own mark.

User avatar
Arret
Hunter
Hunter
Posts: 540
Joined: 12 Oct 2011

Unread postby Arret » 17 May 2014, 02:48

I look at it as a punishment for being so slow. In most of the games you are trying to save the world, so taking extra years merits making you do tedious things. As long as there is a reasonable pattern there isn't a problem. It is "random encounters" that are frustrating, but there aren't many of those in the later MM games.

The thing is that the loot also respawns, so you can use this to your advantage depending on the zone. I almost always get 2 ring of planes in MM8.

That being said I wish there were places with permanent containers (other than MM7).

RyuMaster
Leprechaun
Leprechaun
Posts: 18
Joined: 22 Jul 2012

Unread postby RyuMaster » 17 May 2014, 10:17

Hmmm, maybe I should keep respawn cycles only in the locations, where it makes sense.

I personally hated, if goblins respawned in Harmondale area. But, if rats respawns in the sewers, maybe it is fine.

I never thought of respawn cycle as punishment, actually, looking at if from this point of view, actually brings some fresh ideas to mind.

User avatar
Xfing
Vampire
Vampire
Posts: 929
Joined: 04 Jul 2011

Unread postby Xfing » 17 May 2014, 18:19

Respawn is necessary. Without respawns you can only get your party to level 70 after clearing all monsters in every dungeon. And most of that exp will have come from the quests anyway. So you need the respawn if you want your party to get to level 200.

MM7 was terrible in that regard, the Arena was practically all that you had. MM8 was slightly better with many more areas with monsters next to 1k hp (the four elemental planes +castles, the PBP, the Dragon Caves, 3 rogue Dragon caves).

RyuMaster
Leprechaun
Leprechaun
Posts: 18
Joined: 22 Jul 2012

Unread postby RyuMaster » 18 May 2014, 15:16

If respawns are all about levelling up, then I find it more interesting to add extra high-level areas, which will allow to grind up to level 200 without respawns, or, which is more practical, few random-generating dungeons seems like a better solution to this. Random-generated dungeon is a respawn in come aspect, but adds at least extra layer of exploration.


Still, if game is going to be balanced to end up at level 100, where main story ends, I usually do not play more past this point. I wonder, why would I go and try level up to 200.

User avatar
Panda Tar
Forum Mascot
Forum Mascot
Posts: 6709
Joined: 21 Feb 2006
Location: Florianópolis - Brasil

Unread postby Panda Tar » 19 May 2014, 19:29

I'm more inclined to see respawns regarding 'natural life', such as the speed they breed. If you kill all enemies in a place, it would take much longer to respawn. Killing few would make their number to replenish fast. To humanoids, though, respawning would take much, much longer.

I also don't fancy much random encounters, even being a fan of FF series.

I do like, though, mechanics that allow players to always evolve. If you take it from them, you might upset a great bunch of players.
"There’s nothing to fear but fear itself and maybe some mild to moderate jellification of bones." Cave Johnson, Portal 2. :panda:

User avatar
Xfing
Vampire
Vampire
Posts: 929
Joined: 04 Jul 2011

Unread postby Xfing » 22 May 2014, 09:53

Story-wise the area respawns are almost certainly non-canon, but gameplay-wise they are a necessity. I don't know why it should even upset your sense of completionism. I'm also a completionist in Diablo 2, but I clear an area once and then when exiting the game, I just omit that area and move on to the next one, so that the automap is full. That way I have cleared everything anyway. Diablo 1 Multiplayer was much worse in that regard anyway, as there was no saving and every time you entered a game, all the dungeons were reset. Basically quit once and you have to start all over again. You can play Multi on SP, too, but from what you're saying, you'd hate it :P

RyuMaster
Leprechaun
Leprechaun
Posts: 18
Joined: 22 Jul 2012

Unread postby RyuMaster » 23 May 2014, 12:01

Thank you for the replies. I decided to go MM5-like way. There will be possibility to perform a ritual in every area, completely cleaning it from monster respawn and getting many XP for this. But as an option, there will be always a choice not to do so, and grind on the monster and loots every year.

User avatar
the beavers1
Assassin
Assassin
Posts: 299
Joined: 20 Feb 2011
Location: Lil town in Oregon

Unread postby the beavers1 » 23 May 2014, 19:20

RyuMaster wrote:Thank you for the replies. I decided to go MM5-like way. There will be possibility to perform a ritual in every area, completely cleaning it from monster respawn and getting many XP for this. But as an option, there will be always a choice not to do so, and grind on the monster and loots every year.
I like that
"Rot in Hell You Penny Pinching Miser!"

User avatar
Arys-Pole
Leprechaun
Leprechaun
Posts: 1
Joined: 29 Sep 2013
Location: Russia

Unread postby Arys-Pole » 09 Jun 2014, 12:53

It's like a double-edged weapon: at the same time a game became endless, a little more difficult and boring for everyone who doesn't like to kill the same infinite monsters)

User avatar
Rune_Caster
Demon
Demon
Posts: 304
Joined: 02 May 2010
Location: Attacking you behind a wall (Texas)

Re: Is monster respawn a good thing?

Unread postby Rune_Caster » 20 Jun 2014, 02:09

RyuMaster wrote:Hey, everyone, while working on my current game, I struggled with one question.

Basically, in RPG, I like to be perfectionist: clear every map, every corner. Diablo 1 was superb for me, while Diablo 2 felt not so fun - everytime I reloaded the next day I wanted to play, map respawned, I could not completely clear the game maps :/

I know there are people, who love grinding in RPG's. They feel awesome, when then can loot same dungeon 10x time for items, or just raise some levels on weak monsters, in order to overcome next challenge by brute force.

And so, should I keep respawn cycle once every year, as it was in MM7 game, or keep game completely without respawns?

Is it just me, who hates this?
You could just change the time that your in jail maybe one month rather then a year or increase the number of days in the year to 365 or make the passage of time in the game longer and have the jail time about 90 days 3 months...


Return to “Might and Magic”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 52 guests