The Division - Angry Joe Gameplay Impressions

[Nefaro]

;D

[Dread Rlyeh]

I'm angry that Angry Joe is complaining about the storyline and lame final boss in a loot grinder. 

So onto what matters:  can you farm the encounter bosses by replaying the encounters?  It seems like you can't or there is a timer, though I haven't really tried.  I've pretty much just been leveling and only replayed encounters that I failed.  I just had the boss with the riot shield (assault encounter near The Firewall) drop two purples. 

[Dread Rlyeh]

Oh, and I'm not sure if this was covered up-thread, but I highly recommend using the reconfiguration station to add some scavenging to your knee pads and masks, or reroll that stat if it is low. 

[Apocalypse 31]

can you farm the encounter bosses by replaying the encounters?

Yes, in fact, a great way to complete the story missions with other players and rack up insane XP and loot is to use the match making system.

Go to map
Go to Matchmaking
Select Missions
Select Difficulty

wait

hold TAB to join a game.

I did this, rather than trying to tackle the main missions myself and it was much easier and more fun. Also, you get Phoenix Credits from main bosses,  which is essential for buying high end gear. I enjoy the missions, and like Borderlands, have no issue replaying them.

[Dread Rlyeh]

can you farm the encounter bosses by replaying the encounters?

Yes, in fact, a great way to complete the story missions with other players and rack up insane XP and loot is to use the match making system.

Go to map
Go to Matchmaking
Select Missions
Select Difficulty

wait

hold TAB to join a game.

I did this, rather than trying to tackle the main missions myself and it was much easier and more fun. Also, you get Phoenix Credits from main bosses,  which is essential for buying high end gear. I enjoy the missions, and like Borderlands, have no issue replaying them.

Right, I knew you could do that.  I'm referring to the side missions and encounters (that give you +wing supplies).  Some of the missions, like the one I mentioned, have a boss right at the start, just on the street and they are close to safe houses. 

It would be much faster to farm them (if it's even possible) than farm the roaming bosses.  I don't even know if that is a good use of your time anymore as it apparently got nerfed. 

I am looking forward to running some challenge missions with other players as you mentioned.  Also, if I can find the time, I'm going to try to grind some dark zone this weekend.  I read somewhere that the patch next week will reduce the rogue agent death penalty so I need to get cracking.

[JudgeDredd]

Having watched his review (or only?), I can see why he may feel the way he does.

SPOILERS in the video as it's a review by the way.

I'm only level 9, 12 hours of game time, I have only tried a match up once and I haven't been to the DZ yet and I'm really enjoying it.

BUT I can see what he's saying may well come true for me further down the line. I love the game so far but even I'm starting to see some repetition.

As I said, I'm early doors here and so I don't feel how he does - yet - but I can see how he got there and that it might be waiting for me down the road.

I definitely hate some of the loot stuff...particularly the clothing. I am definitely done dropping med kits and tins of food or drink for civvies to get a hat

[Dread Rlyeh]

BUT I can see what he's saying may well come true for me further down the line. I love the game so far but even I'm starting to see some repetition.

As I said, I'm early doors here and so I don't feel how he does - yet - but I can see how he got there and that it might be waiting for me down the road.

There is quite a bit of repetition, but I went into it knowing that.  I kind of view the story, voice acting, setting, as a cherry on the top of the gameplay sundae.  So, I'm plenty satisfied and feel like I got my money's worth so far even (just hit 30) and I plan on putting in quite a bit more time.

They did a wonderful job with the engine, and most elements of the gameplay.  Looks great, optimized, very smooth, I like the feel of the weapons. 

I do wish there was a bit more variety in how you move between or go into cover.  I've also seen enemies perform a slide into cover that is longer and might actually replace/compete with my diving roll into cover which becomes repetitive.  I can slide into cover but you have to be very close and it's almost always preferable to dive if you are under fire.   Maybe I there is something I'm missing.

One of my biggest gripes is the "on the rails" feel of your ability to navigate obstacles.   I'm thrilled with their decision to not include a jump key.  I hate people bunny hopping everywhere, it looks stupid and destroys immersion.  But the other edge of that sword is not being able to jump over some random crate, pipe, whatever.  Or not being able to climb a certain wall that looks identical to a wall I just climbed 10 feet away.

The other is the damn consumables UI wheel.  It works for crap on the PC - small, similar icons, and it is very, very easy to accidentally select the wrong thing, especially under fire.  You pretty much have to have to use hotkeys.  Which, if you are going for true l337, you need to do anyway, but my keypad is already cramped.  I would love the trade off of just being able to hold my med kit key, grenade key, and then make a quick mouse movement vs binding another 10 keys.   

I definitely hate some of the loot stuff...particularly the clothing. I am definitely done dropping med kits and tins of food or drink for civvies to get a hat

Sometimes they will drop a gray/green item, but it is like a 95/5 split in favor of clothing.  The xp gain is pretty laughable too.  The only time I will give them stuff is if I'm running around collecting mats and know I will be headed back to my base where I can replenish in the med wing.   

edit: Well I guess you can chord (alt, ctrl) to use the consumables.  Still, I just want to use a UI wheel that works.  Is that too much to ask?   ;)

[JudgeDredd]

Yep - agreed about the jumping and the "wheel"...bloody awkward with a mouse. There was another game that had something similar but it seemed to be implemented so much better. I think it was The Witcher III...and perhaps one of the Far Cry games? I think it may be partly to do with the wheel being so small. A bigger wheel would've made it less prone to selecting the wrong thing.

Thanks for the consumables trick. I have gathered a shed load and forgot all about them!

I also on the engine. I think the game looks great and I like the story - for what it is. Like him, I was left thinking "WTF is that virus?"...but nevermind. So far I've found enough to do to clock 10 hours - which is a damn sight more than most games I buy.

I do wonder what the design decision behind having car doors ajar and you being able to rub up against them and close them. That seems to totally, uselessly random!

But - onwards. I'm enjoying it thus far.

[Arctic Blast]

24 hours in, halfway to Level 20. I'm enjoying it, but I think I need to take a breather. In any of these types of games (Far Cry, Saints Row, Just Cause), I find that I start getting a bit burnt out and need to spend a week or so away. I have now hit that point here, for now.

If you're going to solo the missions, wait until you're at least 3-4 levels above their suggestion. Otherwise, you will get WRECKED.

I recommend unlocking the Armory for your Security Wing, too. It gives you a second weapons vendor at the main HQ who sells high end rare guns.

[Dread Rlyeh]

If you're going to solo the missions, wait until you're at least 3-4 levels above their suggestion. Otherwise, you will get WRECKED.

Good advice here.  On my way to 30, I bypassed many of the main missions (unless I needed the +500 unlock) and focused on the side missions which I could often do equal to or a bit above my level.  Some of the side missions will also unlock "visit safe house X" missions which end up granting you a ton of XP for simply traveling to a safe house.  I've had these chain like 3 times as well.

I think the best skill combo is seeker mine gas charge, first aid (either overdose or booster).  The best part of the seeker mine is that you can deploy it, and as it follows you the recharge timer is ticking down.  So, it can deploy and crowd control a group of enemies, and 5 seconds later you can use it again.  Also nice is to CC a group then toss a nade that they won't dodge or, as they writhe in the in the gas, you can easily head shot them.

[JudgeDredd]

...
If you're going to solo the missions, wait until you're at least 3-4 levels above their suggestion. Otherwise, you will get WRECKED.
...

I actually do this anyway, but always felt I was cheating. I feel cleansed  O:-)

I am level 10 and took a mission in the Level 5-9 (can't remember the area)...I was killed twice doing the main mission in that zone (restoring the power I believe).

I actually stuck another 4 hours in yesterday - so it can't be all that bad - or I just don't feel the way AJ feels yet and if I get 30 hours in, I may well do. In his video, he was ranting about the ridiculous penalties going rogue. I am fine with those huge penalties as I want to go in the DZ and co-op against tough AI.

However, I also took his point. Why have a PvP area (and apparently even advertise going rogue as an option) and then punish it so heavily. TBF, if they did remove the penalties, I probably wouldn't go into the DZ at all (I haven't yet, but I am thinking of doing so for a change of pace).

He did suggest having a dedicated PvP area where you go. I think that's good idea. Two DZs - one with PvP and one without.

[spelk]

Unlock the signature skill for the Medic Wing, to have an emergency AOE insta-heal. Well worth the investment to get the 1000 medic wing points to unlock it.

Sweeper mine seems more effective than the Taser turret, even with the 30% AOE effect - because the gaseous sweeper mine actively seeks out other targets, they don't just have to be in a radius.

Half the battle is crowd control, get that under your belt, and then you just need a gun with decent damage to take them out as they write and twitch in place.

[Yskonyn]

Aaaaalmost level 30 now.
I love the setting and the story. Weapons don't feel too different from model to model within a type. Loot game is nice, but I don't think the DZ will hold my attention for long.
They will come with Incursions (Raids) fairly soon, so perhaps this gives some incentive for me to play more.
About 35 hrs in now and I guess I've had my money's worth in the end, but ultimately its just another video game. ;)

[sandman2575]

Received a key for this as part of a gfx card purchase -- really was not expecting this would be my cup of tea, but right now I'm seriously hooked.  Only Level 8 after around 11 hours of play... guess I need to pick up the pace!

Seems like a basic thing, but the thing that I find so compelling about this is the cover system -- it's really incredible how fluid it is, and love being able to creatively use the cover of the city environment for these intense fire-fights. I thought the stealthy-cover system of MGSV was great (and it is), but this tops even that I think --

Also, as happened in Fallout 4 -- modding weapons has become kind of an obsession and end-in-itself...

[Apocalypse 31]

The Dark Zone just got ridiculous.

I honestly think Massive was upset with the lack of PvP, and in today's patch they severely reduced the penalties for going Rogue.

The result.. Large groups of insanely powerful players going around the Dark Zone just killing everyone in a server.

This is exactly what I didn't want out of the DZ, and up until now I only had a few cases of Rogue agents.