so why would I assume they'd take a different approach with Destiny?

Because all the evidence suggests that they have. I agree it wasn't needed with Halo, and frankly I don't think it was needed with Destiny either, but nevertheless, it's what they've done.

I'm starting to understand the point that Halo had a better signal to noise ratio. The SC to AotCR run with a TB finisher was just so consistently awesome. Destiny doesn't really have anything like that; though some of the missions are pretty awesome (the strike on the Winter Ship, the Black Garden, Omnigul's strike).

*mulls ideas around in his head*

If all the missions were as fun as Assault on the Control Room, would Assault on the Control Room stand out like it does?

Exactly. Destiny has a huge amount of geometry and play space, but most of it is either scenery for when you whip by on your sparrow, or wasted on mediocre missions. Halo simply does more with less. Destiny should be doing more with more.

I have three characters. According to the app, 2/3 of my time has been with my hunter, and 1/3 each for my warlock and titan.

Um... that's 4/3 of your time. Are you a wizard?

Well, 1/3 of the time, yes.

I have three characters. According to the app, 2/3 of my time has been with my hunter, and 1/3 each for my warlock and titan.

Um... that's 4/3 of your time. Are you a wizard?

I really enjoy mixing it up with each different character. Each has his own weapon specialty, so I get to play them very differently. This has helped me not get too burned out on running the same content over and over.

Can you think of any other games with a similar enough reward system, that was quicker, that you still play because it's fun?

Just Cause 2. There is a rewards system, though it's very simple and inconsequential compared to what you get in Destiny.

so why would I assume they'd take a different approach with Destiny?

Because all the evidence suggests that they have. I agree it wasn't needed with Halo, and frankly I don't think it was needed with Destiny either, but nevertheless, it's what they've done.

I'm starting to understand the point that Halo had a better signal to noise ratio. The SC to AotCR run with a TB finisher was just so consistently awesome. Destiny doesn't really have anything like that; though some of the missions are pretty awesome (the strike on the Winter Ship, the Black Garden, Omnigul's strike).

*mulls ideas around in his head*

If all the missions were as fun as Assault on the Control Room, would Assault on the Control Room stand out like it does?

Would love to see you in the crucible doom tour. Trying to get a running fireteam set up on Thursday.

Should be! Let's do it.

Because Destiny is a casino with guns and activities instead of slot machines, roulette wheels, and card tables. You bet time instead of money, and can play coop with your friends.

Think about it. Patrol is the penny slot machines, the raids are the high roller blackjack tables.

In a way, it's not even in the same genre as Halo.

Yes but my point is that doesn't matter, when you simplify the equation to "if it's fun, I'll play it". I would play just as much, and have more fun (and maybe play more as a result) even if acquiring fancier stuff was "easier" and took a fraction of the current leveling-time to max out. I just don't get how the current drag-it-on system is "better" than one that rewards you "quicker". So what if I max everything out in a week? If it's FUN, I'll KEEP PLAYING.

Destiny IS fun to play, but there are too many time-consuming and time-conflicting tasks that get in the way of MORE fun, that it's becoming frustrating at times (and the Halo 5 Beta is actually not terrible right off the bat, so there IS competition for my time).

Can you think of any other games with a similar enough reward system, that was quicker, that you still play because it's fun?

I'm also wondering how we can be sure the reward system doesn't influence us to keep playing when we might otherwise might. I mean running around in patrols is cool, but that's because I'm gonna finish a bunch of bounties and earn XP to get that cool Titan mark I want. Otherwise I'm just like why bother.

Asking myself this question at least as much as anyone. Thinking I'm just ok with it, and that I should never actually get into gambling. :P

Destiny has been my biggest time sink as of late; and can see it getting to Skyrim or Civ5 levels of playtime. But those aren't really the same are they. Hmm. I'm rambling now.

*My wife will be very happy about this, which will make life that much better. :)

Most of what you get doesn't have to be fully leveled. Once you are able to pick and only level your workhorse and special condition guns, you will be a lot happier :-)

I'm at this point, too. All my armor is maxed, got a nice mix of build options, and I've got a set of weapons able to handle anything I feel like doing.

As I've only really played one character (a Titan with an utter embarrassment of riches right now) I wonder how my experience compares to folks that had multiples with significant time investment.

Probably has a lot to do with how much interest one had in getting to end game content asap.

*My wife will be very happy about this, which will make life that much better. :)

Most of what you get doesn't have to be fully leveled. Once you are able to pick and only level your workhorse and special condition guns, you will be a lot happier :-)

I am really enjoying doing only nightfall, heroic, and raids. Not doing the daily story or bounties is really great and I don't feel like I'm wasting my time anymore.

I think you've got a good method there.
My only reason for doing Bounties is to aid in leveling up my newly-"upgraded" Exotics (weapons AND armor), across three characters (one of each class), but I'm very close to having them distributed and almost max'd, so I think I will settle in to a similar pattern and have more fun *playing less time*.

*My wife will be very happy about this, which will make life that much better. :)

so why would I assume they'd take a different approach with Destiny?

Because all the evidence suggests that they have. I agree it wasn't needed with Halo, and frankly I don't think it was needed with Destiny either, but nevertheless, it's what they've done.

Destiny IS fun to play, but there are too many time-consuming and time-conflicting tasks that get in the way of MORE fun, that it's becoming frustrating at times (and the Halo 5 Beta is actually not terrible right off the bat, so there IS competition for my time).

I am really enjoying doing only nightfall, heroic, and raids. Not doing the daily story or bounties is really great and I don't feel like I'm wasting my time anymore.

Because Destiny is a casino with guns and activities instead of slot machines, roulette wheels, and card tables. You bet time instead of money, and can play coop with your friends.

Think about it. Patrol is the penny slot machines, the raids are the high roller blackjack tables.

In a way, it's not even in the same genre as Halo.

Yes but my point is that doesn't matter, when you simplify the equation to "if it's fun, I'll play it". I would play just as much, and have more fun (and maybe play more as a result) even if acquiring fancier stuff was "easier" and took a fraction of the current leveling-time to max out. I just don't get how the current drag-it-on system is "better" than one that rewards you "quicker". So what if I max everything out in a week? If it's FUN, I'll KEEP PLAYING.

Destiny IS fun to play, but there are too many time-consuming and time-conflicting tasks that get in the way of MORE fun, that it's becoming frustrating at times (and the Halo 5 Beta is actually not terrible right off the bat, so there IS competition for my time).

There are many other "chance like" choosing methods that could incorporate several skill-related factors...why they insist on RANDOM still eludes me.

Well I just got the boots, so as soon as I get the shards, then 32 here I come.

Do you really have to ask why it's based on RNG? Because they don't trust folks to play their content for the length of time they want without it.

I do have to ask, because that "logic" doesn't follow for me. I don't think that way. People played the CRAP outa Halo without ANY of this fluff'n'stuff investment-system BS, so why would I assume they'd take a different approach with Destiny?

Because Destiny is a casino with guns and activities instead of slot machines, roulette wheels, and card tables. You bet time instead of money, and can play coop with your friends.

Think about it. Patrol is the penny slot machines, the raids are the high roller blackjack tables.

In a way, it's not even in the same genre as Halo.

There are many other "chance like" choosing methods that could incorporate several skill-related factors...why they insist on RANDOM still eludes me.

Well I just got the boots, so as soon as I get the shards, then 32 here I come.

Do you really have to ask why it's based on RNG? Because they don't trust folks to play their content for the length of time they want without it.

I do have to ask, because that "logic" doesn't follow for me. I don't think that way. People played the CRAP outa Halo without ANY of this fluff'n'stuff investment-system BS, so why would I assume they'd take a different approach with Destiny?