As I am typing this, I have logged 837 hours in Conan Exiles. I did not get the opportunity to vote and was blindsided by the event log update. I am loyal to this survival game so I hope that earns me the opportunity to have my voice heard.
I was there rubber-banding with the rest on day 1 of beta. I was celebrating when Funcom dropped their original server host. I survived, I built, I dominated. I got wiped, rebuilt and dominated again. I’ve done it all. I’ve never minded the bugs, the disconnects. In my eyes they add character to this amazing game.
But one thing has always detracted from the wonder, mystique and immersion. It contributed to my nearly year long hiatus from Conan. Once I returned a month ago, it helped hook me back in.
Event log privacy. More-so the dynamic it adds when enabled and subtracts when disabled.
Coming back from my break as a solo player, I found that I could steal fish when no one was looking. I could raid weak structures when its inhabitants were “out hunting.” I could be a sneaky vulture coming up behind major raids and take leftovers.
As part of a clan, I could take things even further. I now had the resources to play my enemies against each other to buy time after a major defeat. I could keep my enemies off balance and my allies in check. Using anonymity I could play political games that added intrigue, brought about peace or conflict.
I also got caught red handed many times. I’ve been sold out by curious solo players checking out explosions. Spotted and chased down by my enemies and their allies, sometimes they saw my face, sometimes I escaped!
I can no longer do any of this. Having no event log privacy means Conan is LINEAR. X attacked us, we attack them. We attack Y, they attack us.
Full stop.
But lets look at this another way.
The first step to playing Conan is to survive. Find water, find food, etc… Part of that survival is the outcome of the confrontation between two players that meet randomly in the world. At first, you can’t see their name. You don’t know who you’re dealing with. There is a sense of panic and excitement. Who am I dealing with, a blood-crazed maniac or a level-headed adventurer?
It’s great right? That’s why we game! To have these experiences! To feel and overcome this sense of fear!
Having event log privacy is the macro version of this intrigue, this immersion in a brutal world. You can’t see their name, you’re getting attacked from all sides and you don’t know who it is! There’s no time, they’re coming in. You go into repair mode, you place thralls, where’s my f**king repair hammer??? Who are these savages??? I have to know, they’re going to pay! There’s only one way to find out gulp it’s time to go out and check… drumroll… the event log.
How anti-climatic and immersion shattering. Is this a game of survival or a game of menus?
Funcom, you’ve made a truly fantastic game. I come from an FPS background and Conan is the ONLY survival game I can play. I’ve tried them all. Let me assure you, you have the best one.
You’re known for not giving players an easy ride, thus you’ve earned my respect. Conan is challenging and harsh and that adds to its greatness. However, by removing event log privacy, you’ve allowed a small group of people on the forums to quickly make a decision that should have been administrative.
Sometimes it’s not okay to give the players what they want. You already know this. It’s why we don’t have farming and mason thralls. It’s why we have to build from scratch rather than purchase blueprints. It’s why we have to run everywhere on foot. I could go on and on!
The immersion of the unknown and the unrelenting harshness of our world keeps us invested. Keeps us playing and holds new players interests.
I beseech you, undo this change. Bring back the dynamics we have lost. Make Conan nonlinear again.
Thank you,
Q
