As I noted before (regarding this new partner system), the grind would be ridiculous (similar to the grind to level 70) if you play normally and/or have lousy RNG. Myself, I tend to have piss poor luck in these type of games (like I don’t know how many Ghillieglade runs before I saw my first diamond drop). So I see zero reason for bothering to tryhard with these new companions.
The new update offers up the Partner quest which requires 7 more Legacy Essences to complete (the quest gives one for free). The reward from the quest is a free Cocomin companion. What many players may not realize is this isn’t a normal main line quest that can be completed quickly. Why?
Legacy Essences (which are also tokens used to buy legacy style pets that can also be used as combining material for leveling them in order to combine them at level 10 for a 99% chance at getting a companion) are already rare drops from level 65 field monsters (I have yet to see one drop). I’m not the only who tried (for science) for at least an hour to get zilch. The current TERA development team knows exactly what is fun (if you are a sado-masochist) with their recent end game designs.
All they are doing is putting a very hard line in the ground at level 65 where the less than hardcore/dedicated will eventually stop playing (doing little for metrics across all published regions). Just like how I refuse to mindlessly grind out hundreds/thousands of higher level BAMS just to level to 70, I also don’t have plans to mindlessly grind these field monsters for these essences. When I posted my “one week later” entry regarding patch v80 where I had dinged level 66, I am now only around 60% into level 66. I probably won’t hit level 67 until the end of this month. Simply put, it will probably take me the rest of the year with the way I am playing to even reach level 70 on just this one character. I’m fine with that and is meant to be a virtual middle finger to Krafton and by extension, their NA publishing subsidiary EME (who haven’t been doing their market any favors).
I am also NOT stupid and have no plans to even try on my alts. The same goes with this pet partner system. It’s a grind that will happen on my own terms. That includes NOT sacrificing non-functional pets earned via achievements. Anyone who also resorts to purchasing functional pets from the cash shop to use as fodder is adding to these type of design practices (and unfortunately, games like this tend to have people who have way more money than actual sense).
I will document how long it takes to complete that quest via the non-tryhard route. This design team wants to kill the notion of putting any serious time into alts so I’m planning to oblige (that also translates to not spending any money on those alts that I would’ve spent not to mention the game in general; this is like me with Devilian and Trion Worlds all over again). My goal in TERA hasn’t changed; I will play the parts I enjoy and slowly progress while riding out my remaining EMP for as long as possible.
With this said, I definitely do not trust how Krafton will work with Kakao Games for A:IR since there are way too many avenues in that game to exploit with the designed removal of convenience or functionality along with poor RNG, that can be bought back from the cash shop.
