The other thread about favorite mechanics is great, so let’s also do the opposite: what are some of your most hated mechanics?
The other thread about favorite mechanics is great, so let’s also do the opposite: what are some of your most hated mechanics?
Loot
I hate collecting it, managing inventory, selling it, crafting it, and so on. I used to love it, but these days I much prefer a more guided experience where the only items I get are interesting. Elder Scrolls completely destroyed this whole mechanic for me because I’m a bit obsessive and would try to bring literally every plate back to town to sell.
As a corollary, I’m not a fan of dealing with shops in general. I’m fine if they exist, but I really think the game should supply you with everything you need to complete the game, and shops should be a backup plan, not a core mechanic.
Loot is great when it’s unique, or at least rare. Unique weapons and lore items in Dark Souls come to mind.
But yeah, loot that just fills up your inventory (or worse, your equip load) until you go sell it is just Worse Money.
I wish games like that had an auto loot feature where you take what you can use, then hire an NPC or something to go sell the rest. I think that could be a cool, immersive middle ground.
Oh god yes. I literally check every single urn in every dungeon, grab every mushroom or plant, check every shelf. It’s like this goblin comes out of me playing TES
Yup, and unfortunately I ruin the game for myself by doing it. Why? Because I can fit within my encumbrance limit, so I’m just leaving money on the table if I leave it there.
It’s completely illogical, but I think if I had a way to auto loot and just turn extra junk into cash, I’d do it. Whether that’s with a mechanic like Dishonored has where loot turns into money, or a mechanic where I can hire someone to follow me to dungeons to loot for me doesn’t really matter, I just want to essentially ignore the looting mechanic while still getting the benefit from it.
I forget which game unfortunately but it would tell you what junk you picked up but then autoconverted it to a gold value and gave you that instead.
I know Dishonored does it, and I love it.