Addressing Some of Lost Ark's Issues

Lost Ark is a complicated game. With as many issues as systems, Johnpal explains how he would approach solving some of the problems presented by Lost Ark's infrastructure, such as its controversial card system and its convoluted new player experience.
Of course, there is no single solution to making Lost Ark a better game. What do you think?
#lostark #mmorpg #twitchstreamer
LINKS:
Twitch: twitch.tv/johnpal
Discord: / discord
Editor: ‪@embersarcade‬

[@TyroneBigguns-mk3og]

Been saying remove cards. I dont understand how people are against this.

[@juniisenpai3777]

ofcourse they are, people bought cards in cash shop hahaha

[@TyroneBigguns-mk3og]

@@juniisenpai3777 They bought them out of fomo to get them earlier they got what they paid for now remove them to help the game. I've got my los 30 i bought a card pack or two but who cares now its been over a year since i got my los.

[@s.a4034]

Loa has so many collectibles , you say remove card because u couldn't complete it , i say remove ignia tokens , someone else says island souls , this is just stupid ...

[@TyroneBigguns-mk3og]

@@s.a4034 I say Remove cards because its toxic for the game and is preventing new player gain. its been over a year since i completed my LOS 30. I'm not saying this for my benefit i'm saying this to help the game. They do need to remove character power behind any deep horizontal Skill points should not be part of RNG. All the island souls and mokoko should be titles and appearance nothing to do with character power. Ignea tokens should have nothing to do with character power. You should not have to get ignea tokens to be able to join groups.

[@joeyb8727]

no one i know i against this. I can only assume its a cash cow for smilegate, is the only reason.

[@johndwyer7630]

Could not agree with this more. I started playing 1.5 years ago and very recently completed LOS30. Between being a Reaper and 180 roster level, I was gatekept HARD due to LOS18 - Even had someone pull me into a lobby just to call me out and kick. I'd go even further though, there are way too many progression systems, especially for new players. In addition to this card set change, they should remove gear quality, bracelets, stones, and elixirs ENTIRELY. The guild I found has been playing since launch so I've had to constantly grind/get lucky (seeds) to catch up. I almost did until T4 just launched yesterday. All were sitting on 1M gold though and are now going to zoom away again. I've considered quitting more frequently than ever. For new players, it's insurmountable.

[@johnpaltv]

Thanks for the feedback. They're taking steps in the right direction is the good news!

[@camouflage1086]

They should just update solo raids, it's the best solution for most of the game problems. Can't gatekeep and discourage new players if they can just enjoy the content solo. Nothing wrong with having a choice to progress solo or in groups. If new players are always behind with solo raids then they will be always gatekept once they reach group play. Even if they give them LoS30, then people will gatekeep them on Transcendence/elixirs and other new systems coming to the game. It's a neverending cycle.

[@ylightloa]

no one wants to do raids alone, its an mmo

[@TyroneBigguns-mk3og]

Trans and Elixirs are part of the game progression if you haven't interacted with it or done them and you are 1630 then thats a personal problem. Solo raids are not the solution. They have given so many free exlirs and trans that if you don't have them by now its because you aren't playing the game.

[@petetam7394]

agree they should have more solo raid

[@camouflage1086]

@@TyroneBigguns-mk3og Solo raids are absolutely the solution. Why do you have a problem with new players being able to progress in solo mode, you can still play with your group and get more gold then them. Don't understand people like you. You cannot continue like this in the west, the game is dying and loosing veteran players. The past few days player count at peak is below 20k. And no, they haven't given free elixirs or trans, they gave you free elixir attempts and tickets to retry trans. Besides that was just an example of system that currently gatekeeps solo players when they finish Voldis.

[@jormungandr4690]

@@TyroneBigguns-mk3og Solo raids are the only objective solution. You lost 99% of your population , this game will die in another year and so far the only fix that actually brought players back is solo raiding. If they dont lean into solo harder the game will die.

[@basuncion1985]

The fact that I've been playing this game since launch AND just got LoS 30 back in April of this year...yes please remove cards or revamp the system where you can get all of them in merchants. Also make them not cost so much card exp to awaken them. I have LwC 30 but it's been sitting there because I've been using my card exp on awakening cards for demon damage

[@johnpaltv]

Oof, I'm sorry man. Hopefully they do something about it sooner than later!

Gatekeeping and the encouragement of antissocial behaviour in PUGs is insane in this game. Such a shame.

[@TyroneBigguns-mk3og]

Gatekeeping is normal you have people playing on their mains and people that are trying to join with rat alts. They don't have any reason to invite their rat alts. Nothing wrong with gatekeeping its normal. Just join a lobby of your peers and it will be fine.

[@sorsalala3906]

problem of lost ark: a lot of system to progress are pretty much solo systems, 1)relying ONLY on your own luck, (elixir,cards,ability stones,quality,bracelet), there are others 2) with pity which i think are ok (weapon honing,transcendence) and 3) I´d call them community balanced , where you can buy them(accesory,gems) , which is fine as well, but 1) all those systems need to be changed to 2) or 3) , because they take to much time , here would be my proposal to change those systems with the minimum amount of changes: cards make them tradeable 1x like engravings, quality put in a pity system , and the rest, make them tradeable after being cut

[@johnpaltv]

Yup, all good suggestions!

[@MostWantedWannaBE]

I have been saying that ALL LoS cards need to be in merchants yesterday I even said this back when the forums were still up I said this after spending god knows how many hours doing card runs i said this after spending gold on this shit i don't really care that they added new los cards let those be the new t4 grind but holy hell give the baseline of LoS to everyone at this point like add a selector or 2 in the event shop per week and even that is too fucking slow right? 2 per week is 45 weeks to finish los 30 let that sink in and people have always been "but hurr durr whales money sg monetization squeezing they never gonna do that" bruh but to be fair i don't know if those fuckers play the game so their comments might have lower value than the hairs on my butthole Off topic: Appreciate the yaps, not many people talk about the game anymore. This is probably towards Mr Editor. Please upload more yaps

[@johnpaltv]

Appreciate the feedback. It is a common talked about thing in the community. I hope eventually it will reach the right ears. :)

[@dutchbozo]

Not only do they refuse to remove cards/card sets, they also doubled down in T4. In T4 we will have even more card sets to finish

[@johnpaltv]

Yeah, it is unfortunate they used the same implementation of another card set.

[@ShuffleAssi]

well actually the new card sets are quite unnecessary. And do the new sets consists of new cards only? I guess you already have most of the needed cards. They should just give LOS 30 with the card support on the ignite server and give the real LOS 30 or at least LOS 24 added in the gift cashes - would love to see that for newer or returning players!

[@johnpaltv]

The good news is that the new set I believe is only used on the first gate of Brel as of right now in KR.

[@s.a4034]

​@@johnpaltvis it true brel become weak to lightening ? So summoners should do crazy good on that raid without any special card , am i right ?

[@eliezerrocha8252]

@@johnpaltv the major problem with the new sets is that the new raid (brel v2) uses the echidna/behemoth card sets, they know what they're doing and its dirty

[@Emptei]

The card set should be completely unlocked with 1 card. They need to do something to keep vet players happy. How about some cosmetic glows for completing the set.

[@johnpaltv]

I do like me some cosmetic glows!

[@rtd23]

Anyone that finished card sets would never say "they can't change because ppl spent". We know the pain of completing it so we want newer player to have way easier times. Card system is simply fucked up.

[@johnpaltv]

Yeah, I've asked this question on stream countless times and I've never had anyone say I'D BE MAD!

[@IntoTheCrawlspace]

My man is locking the thumbnail game down, very nice!

[@johnpaltv]

That is Mr EmbersArcade

[@BeefBuns-h1z]

My only issue with Lost Ark is why Johnpal wasn't picked for the 8 man team. Johnpal why? Why Johnpal? AGS why? Why AGS? Why no Johnpal? I also kind of question why two spots were taken by KR players and the third spot by the guild leader from a world's first WoW raiding guild. I guess AGS milking that RWF win. Oh well whatever. But, even world's first teams need backup players: Johnpal for 9th man!

[@johnpaltv]

Haha all good homie, next time!

[@joeb734]

The rate of vertical progression in T3 was absolutely nuts for NA...after finally reaching the end and looking at having to regrind almost everything on top of new systems...yeah nah, I'm done, screw that, have fun guys...a new progression system every two/three months players MUST do before being accepted in PF is disgusting

[@jay3865]

"How long does it take a player to stop playing your game?" Well fucking said. It saddens me to see players leaving the game because Smilegate priortize short-term profit over the long-term health of the game. The game has so much to offer but it's plauged with so many prerequisites (cards, demon damage, etc.) that it deters new players from trying and staying with the game.

[@johnpaltv]

Appreciate the feedback man!

[@pattasel4259]

10:31 so GGG failed when developing POE ? So did Mojang with Minecraft ? I could even add Fromsoft with Elden ring even if it’s not the same thing here

[@johnpaltv]

I was loosely talking about base systems with a broad stroke from my perspective. Not necessarily saying the studio has failed, I'm talking about me, as a developer. I do think it is a fair and good callout to say studios and games can survive without that.

[@sophistasquare7804]

I think changing the card system would be super beneficial but if they aren’t wanting to (which has seemed like they don’t want to) maybe they could do something like adding an item that’s a rare drop from fate embers or comes around with events that +1, +2 to a cards awakening level for free or something. So if you got the +2 item and you had Nineveh at 3 awakening then you use the item and now she’s awakening 5 and finished. Sure, changing the amount of cards needed to only being +1 per awakening would basically accomplish the same thing with selectors. Not denying that. Just brainstorming for SOMETHING.

[@TyroneBigguns-mk3og]

Seem like they don't want to? They literally added more cards you will get gatekept at brel. Lightning damage or some crap. All Legendary cards. No idea who made this call but they need to be demoted.

[@johnpaltv]

Yeah man, like I say, there's 100s of ways and ideas to solve a problem. It is about pooling them together and figuring out which synergize the best!

[@imcoach6978]

I have all my card sets mostly done. Card runs. Spent a little bit. Mega bid challenge abyssals but that all seems so long ago. I don’t care if everyone were to receive it relatively easier personally rather than remove it. Just put all those sets in wandering merchants and 3x their spawn rates so people who come in the game now can catch up on these old systems. The damage is meaningful but it’s a grind of pain to get. If people come into the game it’d be a nice reward to play for about a month or so and complete sets each week after you’ve actively engaged in the game. I know my friends would always gripe about the cards. TL;dr old systems in general should be easy for players to feel like they can complete

[@annekire]

there should be a community board npc where ppl can ask for help, (global chat too finicky) and rewards for vets helping new players. Also fck cards, the full ones should be removed form card pulls. I am literally aging in this system.

[@johnpaltv]

Would be pretty cool if they added ins ome level of a mentor or helper system for sure!

[@IiMsharyy]

really u got all the point if they change the card system would improve the game experience for all new players....... like they wont never get into lobby with deep dive 30 or los 18

[@johnpaltv]

Appreciate the feedback man!

[@panicattheyoutube]

can we also talk about rice farmers and bare minimum leechers

[@neogpt]

Couldn't agree more with cards. I started playing 31st of december. I have 1500 hours, and still dont even have LoS24 for the new update. I have 15 selectors saved, still need like 15 more cards because random legendary simply dont give me the non merchant LoS cards. Its ridiculous that i have KLC 20, a whole set of rng cards, but Los22, a set where FIFTEEN levels are merchant. I hate being gatekept over cards cause its simply out of my control to not have the rng to get the cards i need.

[@johnpaltv]

Appreciate the feedback and I'm sorry you're having a tough time. Hopefully they do something eventually!

[@neogpt]

@@johnpaltv eh it's not the worst cause my main is pretty built, but it does make it rough to find lobbies, especially on alts. Thankfully they seem to be trying, here's hoping that the ignite servers give LoS selectors that aren't just merchant cards

[@ylightloa]

@@neogpt I’m gonna be honest man 1500 hours and not anywhere near LOS30 is likely you doing something wrong. You should buy Mari’s cards and be doing all the card runs you can with the characters your roster has. I’ve helped a lot of newer players and with them doing this they’ve gotten LOS30 within 6-8 months. Not trying to take away from your struggle but there are things you can do (that suck to do) that lessen it.

[@PureRandumosity]

T4 was their chance to remove cards, people in KR have complained for years about cards and what do they do? Doubled down on the system and added MORE sets.

[@ascend111]

Fr just remove all cards and supplement every class with a dmg buff that was equivalent of LoS30, it's that fkin EZ. Having a 6-month MINIMUM time gate in order to start playing the game is stupid asf

[@nlatole8067]

cards are the reason I won''t be taking part of tier 4 or ignite servers

[@johnpaltv]

Oh no!

[@jrzlz]

Hearthstone is the most sucessful cardgame online and they don~t have dupes for about 10 years why? coz dupes a fucking dumb and hurt the player base.

[@johnpaltv]

Yeah, they do hurt. Thanks for the feedback man!

[@Drummerfy]

Oh the days of "To Yorn/ Orehas" for MONTHS to get the last 10 cards for LoS 30 LMAO

[@johnpaltv]

Yeah man, farming and swiping. Woof.

[@FlashyFlash-cp9gn]

Exactly! I tried convincing my 2 brothers to play the games but once they saw that card system they just said fuck no xD, they know it would take tooooo long to complete and it would be a reason to get gatekept for, they were all in to invest their time in raising a roster and it's level to not get gatekept but even if they do that they know those cards are horrible system

[@dragonquake]

Tier 4 killed any chance of f2p to keep up

[@kbm-iy9tj]

Meh, there is still hope that AGS takes a somewhat different direction with the game compared to Smilegate

[@johnpaltv]

Here's hoping.

[@drgremory5275]

just make cards be 6 cards not 15 each awaken 1 card

[@johnpaltv]

That is another way to do it!

[@dominikb9202]

There is/will be a new set for lightning dmg I believe. So LoS 30 isnt the best set anymore. Meanwhile people still hunting for it.

[@johnpaltv]

LOS30 is still valid and used in a lot of content for a bit here. The latest raid, Brel, has I think 1 gate that uses the new set. (First gate)

[@mctonyward]

they need to give new people free card slots

[@johnpaltv]

Yeah, the card slots are something I didn't mention on this segment. I have a character on another region with a stash filled with cards. IT isn't super fun!

[@mctonyward]

@@johnpaltv explaining to a new person they need to use gold to get blue crystals then buy slots never goes well you should be able to ever just expand with gold or be able to get/be taken to blue crystals exchange from the card slot area

[@Atyuialsen]

AMBATAJOHN

[@johnpaltv]

AMBATAJOHN