Opinion: Is Dueling A Broken Experience?
Sun, 01/24/2010 - 20:48
After much experience with this game, I have come to the conclusion that DUELING is absolutely pointless and is overall a broken experience in the game. (Editor's note: This isn't the official position of the site, we just thought it was a well-written piece that makes interesting points so we put it on the front page.)
I will state my reasons:
A) Modified characters - This can be subtle or not, modified characters can be obvious (Lvl 50+) or they won't be so obvious and much sneakier. ie: Greater then 46 skill points at Lvl 50, or Lvl 50 proficiencies on all weapons when not earned.
B) Modified weapons/Items - There is alot of debate about this. There are THREE categories of Modified weapons in my opinion -
i)There are the severely overpowered unbalanced abominations out there that are obvious and very quick to spot
ii)The modified weapons which are 'upgraded' versions of real weapons in the game. This offense though, is not so bad - under the condition that the weapon is still a legitimate weapon that can be found in the game.
iii)The sneaky pass-offs. This is where it gets tough. These are weapons that look and fire appearing legitimate - however ONLY on close inspection can be identified as an illegal weapon because of one or two unbalanced boosted stats.
C) No tangible rewards for dueling -
There is no reward for dueling other then some unlockable game achievements. Win/Loss ratio is not posted either.
Closing comments
In conclusion given the evidence, dueling against any unknown player in Borderlands is really just not something you should partake in. Given the high likelihood that you would be up against modified characters/weapons the likelihood would be that you would be severely outmatched if you only play legit, period. Note that this is only with strangers and if you can organize private games with legitimate players or build the base rules from the beginning, the competition can be leveled out much more fairly.
Feel free to discuss. I think Gearbox should do something to fix this. Straight gamers should not have to fair grossly uneven odds the majority of the time, there is far too little control over this aspect of the game.
Mon, 01/25/2010 - 21:57
#2
Hey, look at that Cooool Gun ;)
Modded guns had become an invasive reality in Borderlands. I'm from France and I only saw the firsts ones like 2 month ago, now it's all over the place.
At first I thought "That's Funny !", but it quickly annoyed me (like 10min after the firsts try). The "too much" was that modded kind of shield that drops money, couldn't find the way to just put it out of my inventory !
That's why I do not take just any weapon that someone just give to me (anymore), cause believe it or not but there's newbie that think that those guns are legit ! That just happen recently in Mad Moxxi's, the guy just told me "Wow, your guns are not powerful at all", told him the gun he use were modded, he didn't even knew about it... So just to say those Mod spread like viruses. Fortunatly the Gearbox's update will fix this and you'll hear those modders complain the game's too hard (Mad Moxxi's already too hard for them already LOL).
For the Duels + Arena I just did it for the achievement, no fun really + Borderlands is a real coop game, there's plenty of other game to fight your contact.
Tue, 01/26/2010 - 01:45
#3
I kick more then half the players who join...
..sad really. And then they complain by messaging me: "Why did you kick me???"
Answer: Erm, I do apologize but please take your Lvl 70 character who shoots a bagillion rockets that turn into a zillion more rockets into bazillion million grenades somewhere else.
What these idiots don't realize is:
A) This ruins the multiplayer experience as character classes are supposed to have distinct advantage over others with certain weapons. The game is all about the BALANCE
B) That they are idiots
C) One hit killing anything that moves is superbly lame, especially when your NOT supposed to be able to
D) That they are idiots
E) Your not impressing anyone by exclaiming "hoopa! look at my super modded gun! bet your jealous huh?" Erm, no sorry I'm not jealous but I do think your an idiot. And then you have the audacity to challenge me to a duel. Real fair, bud. Real fair.
F) Guns with invisible parts and that do 650000X10 damage are real 'rare' borderlands weapons. No really, look hard enough you may find one in a skag pile or dumpster.
G) Your gun lags my whole bloody game and everyone else who is on the server.
Tue, 01/26/2010 - 16:06
#4
As a modder, I totally
As a modder, I totally understad what you guys are talking about. Sure its fun for a moment but too much is too much. but there are idiot modders who fool unkowing new players to think that the modded guns are normal and thus ruin their game experience.
I do like blasting evreything pieces once in a while, but I wouldnt even think about hading that kind of stuff over to anyone. Unless they had asked for it and understand what it means.
I am really hating myself for playing trough zombie island waving my 1800x5 fire damge rapid fire sniper rifle, wich is why im transferring the normal loot i have collected to my unmodded charater just so I can redo zombie island and start doing moxxis underdome with it, tough I already tried that with this modded one, even with all skill trees and profiencies maxed out and using these normal loot guns, I only managed to beat the 5 first rounds of Hellburgia, the other arenas were just too strong at me. Afterall I have completed Playtrough 2, I can imagine zombie island being just as bad without these super guns. But hey no pain, no gain.
Tue, 01/26/2010 - 16:12
#5
lol
you pretty much have to do the underdome with friends if you're on the third playthrough with no modded guns
Tue, 01/26/2010 - 16:29
#6
Thats what I was thinking(i
Thats what I was thinking(i didnt make it to round1 wave 4 in Angelic ruins), but I have a feeling im going to have to play it with random people or with some of you guys, since I only know 2 people who do play it, but other one is too hooked in modding, the one that teached me modding and then this onther one I have known for a while but didnt know he had borderlands too and now his computed has had a fatal crash so hes back to starting point, im going to try and powerlevel him some and give a bit of my own loot to him.
So if you guys wanna help me out on that just add Insane8009 (im posting that in the PC player list aswell)
Tue, 01/26/2010 - 18:55
#7
Mad Moxxi's "Old School"
Do not forget that you have 2 playthrought in Mad Moxxi's (to gain your 2 skill point). The first playthrought, even if the enemies are still LvL 50, is a bit easier than the second playthrought. With patience it is duable, using snipers to eliminate the most enemies you can then carefully finish it in a close range (well except for the vampire and close range damage wich is a real pain in the ...).
Only the 20 rounds (and even in Playthrought one) needs at least 3 players and get really nasty after the 10 first ones.
Wed, 01/27/2010 - 01:04
#8
"I only managed to beat the 5
"I only managed to beat the 5 first rounds of Hellburgia, the other arenas were just too strong at me...."
I managed to beat all 20 rounds (100 waves) with my asskicking siren in Angelic Ruins like yesterday (This is playthrough 2+). It was a real mutha**ker to do, let me tell you, but planning and strategy is extremely important. Some superweapon or a modded gun won't help you much here, but still it kind of ruins the challenge. People were dropping in and out of my game it took so long no one stuck around all the way through, especially after many defeats at Rounds 14+. This can take 6-7 hours to play.
My Siren is a very versatile character, and is speced out specifically for Underdome fights. I don't carry alot of weapons, however I carry effective enough weapons for every type of enemy/handicap scenario possible. I usually left my Mercenary mod on, however changing between certain mods given certain handicap rules is useful.
Oh yeah, I also carried a whole bunch of med kits with me - which come in extremely helpful especially in later rounds. (The last three waves was like 80+ enemies each... I was 'naked' and let me tell you have to play Modern Warfare 2 style - peek and shoot with extreme caution)
Wed, 01/27/2010 - 23:57
#9
Did 13 rounds Alone in
Did 13 rounds Alone in Playthrought 1, Siren, Gully Arena, never died but took me 4 hours to complete this, I was online but no one came, so I thought to just disconnect, pause the game and continue later on... Wrong idea, went strait back to the menu.
No Med Kit, used mostly : the shield mod, my health would came back with her ability, Anarchy, Vitrolic Crux, Maliwan's Sniper Volcano, a bit of the Orion snipe and a Savior to regen my ammo.
Boy even on playthrought 1 you must be really carefull on what to do and where to go at the right time and not being afraid of just run away to regen your character.
Sat, 01/30/2010 - 21:32
#10
I think if anyone plays duels
Terminal Ferocity i was thinking about what you said about Modding and for the most part its right however i dont agree that option 2 of your 3 forms of modding can be deemed as ok. I dont think any form of modding is acceptable at all for duels or online (unless agreed upon by all players involved)
I think if anyone plays duels then there should be no Modding whatso ever. This includes upgrading weapons. I spend alot if not 80% of my time farming and if peopl upgrade weapons then it makes all my efforts useless. I think modding of any form should be kept to ones self as a hobby but should never be used to show off nor to be used against other players.Doing so with out the knowledge of another player can be considered cheating IMO
In any event i dont think dueling is completely fair as some characters arent suited to it as good as others.
Mostly agree. I still just enjoy fighting legit 50's. But I'm in full agreement of these 'Modders'. No honor in them, smple as that. Just sad that it spreads so fast.......
Misanthropy is my Religion