They actually mentioned in one of the pre-game interviews that 3 was the perfect number for creating activities for. The mentioned how in Halo when you had 4 people the game became super easy, even on Legendary, and it was difficult to make it harder for 4 even with scaling built in. I don't know the full details of what they mean, but I definitely felt like that playing Halo. It does make a certain amount of sense too since scaling from 1-3 people will always be easier than scaling from 1-4 just because it's a smaller scale.

"...more players in a space doesn't always mean better gameplay. In fact, we learned from the work we did on previous Bungie games that three was very much the sweet spot for fireteams to be able to coordinate. It creates a triangle formation, so you can always have a good combatant experience and always be progressing."

Having played a lot of four-player Halo co-op, I can vouch for this. As much as I enjoyed it, there were lots of games where it felt like there was nothing left for me to shoot. I seldom feel that way in Destiny.

Raids are experiences that are designed to give all six players a job to do most of the time. It's a different beast.

It also has to do with the 'risk' factor. Three of us gives us *just* enough cushion that if someone fucks up, we can still pull a clutch. With four, you can basically split into two teams and have you're own 'games' if you so preferred; let your guard down and be a bit more careless, etc. I don't want that.

I'd love larger groups for more player interaction, but that'll probably be something for later, as a different game type. Right now as it is, it's perfect.

- M

They actually mentioned in one of the pre-game interviews that 3 was the perfect number for creating activities for. The mentioned how in Halo when you had 4 people the game became super easy, even on Legendary, and it was difficult to make it harder for 4 even with scaling built in. I don't know the full details of what they mean, but I definitely felt like that playing Halo. It does make a certain amount of sense too since scaling from 1-3 people will always be easier than scaling from 1-4 just because it's a smaller scale.

"...more players in a space doesn't always mean better gameplay. In fact, we learned from the work we did on previous Bungie games that three was very much the sweet spot for fireteams to be able to coordinate. It creates a triangle formation, so you can always have a good combatant experience and always be progressing."

Having played a lot of four-player Halo co-op, I can vouch for this. As much as I enjoyed it, there were lots of games where it felt like there was nothing left for me to shoot. I seldom feel that way in Destiny.

Raids are experiences that are designed to give all six players a job to do most of the time. It's a different beast.

This is pure speculation though...

So yeah, Destiny going from 3 man fireteam to 6 man raid is great, actually. Now to just hope for that 12 man custom MP game mode...

Some reasons they didn't:
- Matchmaking: Since it's a matchmade activity at the lowest level they have to set the exact number of players for the activity.
- UI Complexity: Keeping the team size set allows them to keep the UI simple.
- Code Complexity: Keeping the team size simple probably allowed them to add a lot more variety to the activity with the time they had to build it.

I still wish there was a way to adjust the number of fireteam members for a given activity, but they didn't build Destiny with that in mind originally so I'm sure it's a ton of work to add it now.

I love the game, I love how it plays, I love the choices and options I have and it excites me even more that it seems like they're just scraping the surface with content. I know a lot of people have said that everything should have been included at the beginning but with this kind of a business model I don't think that's what they're trying to do I think that they want people to stick around because every 6 months we might get something new.

Personally I am STOKED for POE and Trials, I can't wait to get into some new situations and really pit myself against the game and others.

BUT

My biggest complaint is the size of teams. I think it's downright ridiculous that it makes it uneven to start with 3 people being the norm for most activities. I would love it to be either 6 or 4 or be able to get 12 in for a crucible night without having to rely on chance to get paired up.

Rev and I will see Sammy and Nando on all the time but we can't join then and play all together because someone would be left out, same thing with a local casual gamer couple we play with, it would be great for all 4 of us to be able to strike each week together, but we can't :( this 3 person thing is crap.

It should give you the choice to run it with up to 6 people and the difficulty adjusts as you go so it's just as hard to run for a team of three as a team of 6.

CC

That's not my point… This week and last week I've been hugely busy: I have run zero raids. That means I have effectively given up 18 chances at a Hawkmoon drop. Those are gone and I can't get them back. 21 strange coins, not acquired. There is an opportunity cost to not playing Destiny, where most game do not have such a drawback.

So what you're say is, the investment system is working.

After watching one of Datto's playthroughs, I think this activity is a good combo of many different aspects of destiny. It has a boss like a strike at the end, but this boss has a special mechanic more like a raid boss. It also has objectives simliar to public events/mini missions in Patrol like the VIP. Capture points from crucible.

I'm also glad that there are three weekly PoE events with different levels, so as to pace the play and create long term replayability. Yet still offering a lower level one for those who crave more.

It also has the skull modifiers to change the way you approach each battle.

Firefight in ODST was a blast, so I think I'll enjoy this. The only downside I've seen so far is that the arenas do look a little small, as compared to many of ODST's maps. But then again, this isn't Halo. I haven't see the other areas i.e. Vex and Fallen because I want to have a little surprise when playing those first time.

When you combine this new activity with all the stuff we already have to offer, we really do have alot of options of how to play your way each week.

1 PoE lvl 28
3 PoE advanced levels
1 nightfall
1 weekly
2 normal raids
2 Hard mode raids
ToO

Multiply by 3 characters... sheesh.

Plus your normal Daily mission, bounties for crucible, vanguard, eris, and the reef.
Plus special event IB with added bounties
Plus the new story missions/weapons/armor

Man, I was disappointing in no raid, but when I think of all the different things I can now do in Destiny, I'm glad they've added what they have.

Tl;dr PoE is a cool mashup of Destiny's best content, and I'm looking forward to it. Also there's lots of shit to do in Destiny.

I'm excited for PoE and, to a lesser degree, ToO, but I'd like to see some variation to the existing end game content. Raids with burns, for example, would be a really interesting change of pace. I think I'm most excited to see the new Queen's Wrath quest line. I yearn for a plot in the game to take advantage of the incredible lore. There's just so much untapped potential.

When you combine this new activity with all the stuff we already have to offer, we really do have alot of options of how to play your way each week.

1 PoE lvl 28
3 PoE advanced levels
1 nightfall
1 weekly
2 normal raids
2 Hard mode raids
ToO

Multiply by 3 characters... sheesh.

Plus your normal Daily mission, bounties for crucible, vanguard, eris, and the reef.
Plus special event IB with added bounties
Plus the new story missions/weapons/armor

Do you really want to have to SCHEDULE and PLAN OUT your playtime every week? I want to be able to just get a group together whenever, and not feel like I'm missing anything.

Options, meaning choices. Do I want to raid every single week? Not really. Do I want to enter Trials of Osiris every weekend? Probably not, it sounds pretty competitive. I'm just saying there are lots of choices for what mood you are in each day of the week. Or choices for what player type you fit.

I don't feel like I have to plan out or schedule anything and if you try to do all this content each week, good luck.

I'm honestly curious as to the maths.

AFAIK, it would be a lot more than 18 in 2 weeks, for 3 chars.

18 is one week. 3 Chances per run (on hard), times 3 characters times 2 raids.

I wish you could do it with 4 or 6 people though.

AFAIK, it would be a lot more than 18 in 2 weeks, for 3 chars.

Do you really want to have to SCHEDULE and PLAN OUT your playtime every week? I want to be able to just get a group together whenever, and not feel like I'm missing anything.

Cody 3 months ago: Boo hoo! There's not enough for me to do!
Cody now: Boo hoo! There's too much stuff for me to do!

That's not my point… This week and last week I've been hugely busy: I have run zero raids. That means I have effectively given up 18 chances at a Hawkmoon drop. Those are gone and I can't get them back. 21 strange coins, not acquired. There is an opportunity cost to not playing Destiny, where most game do not have such a drawback.

Do you really want to have to SCHEDULE and PLAN OUT your playtime every week? I want to be able to just get a group together whenever, and not feel like I'm missing anything.

Cody 3 months ago: Boo hoo! There's not enough for me to do!
Cody now: Boo hoo! There's too much stuff for me to do!

When you combine this new activity with all the stuff we already have to offer, we really do have alot of options of how to play your way each week.

1 PoE lvl 28
3 PoE advanced levels
1 nightfall
1 weekly
2 normal raids
2 Hard mode raids
ToO

Multiply by 3 characters... sheesh.

Plus your normal Daily mission, bounties for crucible, vanguard, eris, and the reef.
Plus special event IB with added bounties
Plus the new story missions/weapons/armor

Do you really want to have to SCHEDULE and PLAN OUT your playtime every week? I want to be able to just get a group together whenever, and not feel like I'm missing anything.